JCA No. 150 - Dartmoor
Overall comments (note 1)
A well known dramatic high moorland landscape, valued for its wildness and extremely rich and often very visible historic heritage. Much of the area falls within Dartmoor National Park reflecting its distinctiveness, strength of character and importance.
Potential yields of energy crops would render them uneconomical on higher land due to exposure and infertile soils. Planting highly inappropriate here, very visible and immediate changing open upland character. Opportunities for small scale miscanthus planting in the few areas of mixed farming on lower lying land and valleys off high moor but will alter the pastoral character.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | High irregular upland moorland plateau with dramatic granite tors rising up and punctuating the skyline. |
Growing conditions would not support energy crops due to exposure and poor soils. |
Growing conditions would not support energy crops due to exposure and poor soils. |
Gentler landscape as the moorland core drops away to the surrounding lowlands but cut by many steep sided river valleys radiating out from the granite mass. |
N – Valley slopes prohibitively steep. Lower slopes & valley bottoms may provide small scale opportunities |
N – Valley slopes prohibitively steep. Lower slopes & valley bottoms may provide small scale opportunities |
|
| Woodland (note 6) | High moor largely treeless - some stunted ancient woodlands and a scattering of relatively large plantations. |
PA – Planting would be inappropriate in this open unenclosed landscape. |
PA – Planting would be inappropriate in this open unenclosed landscape. |
Valleys well wooded especially on steeper slopes. Trees extend out onto some upper valley sides. Some small areas of conifer plantations. Small clumps of woodland at moorland edge and around farmsteads. |
PA – planting would mask existing small tree features and alter character through increased enclosure. Impractical on slopes alongside existing woodland |
PA – planting could mask existing small tree features and alter character through increased enclosure. Impractical on slopes alongside existing woodland |
|
| Boundary features (note 7) | Enclosed land on moorland fringes characterised by dry stone walls, lower down by stone-faced hedgebanks and hedges. Field patterns on higher ground rectilinear ‘new take’, those lower & around farmsteads smaller and irregular. |
PA – Planting would obscure the field patterns, unless within high hedged fields on lower ground. Could lead to physical damage of boundaries during access and management. |
PA – Planting would obscure the field patterns, unless within high hedged fields on lower ground. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Rough grazing on the moorland which is mainly common land |
PA – Cropping out of character with extensively grazed landscape. Yields prohibitive. |
PA – Cropping out of character with extensively grazed landscape. Yields prohibitive |
Land on edge on moor is a mixture of rough grazing and more improved grassland, with occasional pockets of cultivation. |
PA – Arable cultivation limited. Planting would introduce new features in a pastoral landscape thus altering its character. Yields would be low.
|
PA – Cropping would be out of character with pastoral landscape. Yields would be low in much of area. N – some opportunities within the existing crop patterns of mixed farming areas |
|
More mixed farming to the south and east that includes some limited arable areas. |
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| Settlement and development (note 9) | Dispersed farmsteads and hamlets around edge of high moor, a few scattered on the upland itself, mainly in more sheltered locations. Ancient network of roads and lanes. Towns and villages mainly on outer edge linked by ancient roads and often sunken lanes |
PA – Planting close to settlements would restrict extensive views and change wild exposed unenclosed character. Difficulties of moving machinery along road/lane network. |
PA – Planting close to settlements would restrict extensive views and change wild, exposed, unenclosed character |
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Heathland, blanket bogs and mires, rough grassland, heather and bracken, stunted ancient woodland on high moor. Species rich grasslands and ancient woodland within valleys |
PA – avoid loss of important semi-natural habitats that contribute to strong landscape character and nationally recognised sense of place. |
PA – avoid loss of important semi-natural habitats that contribute to strong landscape character and nationally recognised sense of place. |
| Historic features (note 11) | An extremely rich historic landscape with many visible features from bronze age to more recent mining industry, agricultural reclamation of 19th century, on going military use and current china clay industry on southern edge. |
PA – Avoid these and other known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic landscape character. |
PA – Avoid these and other known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic landscape character. |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Many rivers radiating out from central granite dome of the high moor cutting steep sided enclosed, often well wooded valleys as they flow down into the surrounding lower areas |
N/PA – Impractical on steep sided slopes or valleys on the high moor. Opportunities on lower flatter land but pastoral character would be altered. |
N/PA – Impractical on steep sided slopes or valleys on the high moor. Opportunities on lower flatter land but pastoral character would be altered. |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Extensive dramatic views across open expanses of moor. High visitor numbers and recreation use. |
PA – Any change in the open wild moorland character would be extremely visible |
PA – Any change in the open wild moorland character would be extremely visible |
River valleys where dropping off the plateau into and through lower land are more enclosed with shorter more intimate views |
PA – Planting less intrusive in valleys on edge of moor if not impeding views, but would still change the character of views |
PA – Planting less intrusive in valleys on edge of moor if not impeding views, but would still change the character of views |
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The information contained in the above table and accompanying footnotes has been produced by Natural England, on behalf of Defra, to assess opportunities and optimum sitings of energy crops
1. Overall comments
This section summarises the key characteristics of the JCA and the potential impacts and issues concerned with energy crop planting. It aims to provide an overall indication of the suitability for biomass crop establishment. In JCAs where the physical characteristics are so extreme that it is unlikely that land managers will want to plant biomass crops this is generally noted.
2. Generic landscape characteristics
The headings are based on those used in Natural England’s Countryside Quality Counts (CQC) project, with the addition of ‘topography’ and ‘views and inter-visibility’. They provide a way of breaking down the physical and visual qualities that help to make up the landscape. The potential impacts of energy crops have been assessed against this common framework.
3. Key landscape characteristics
This section aims to highlight for each of the generic categories, the specific landscape features and characteristics within each JCA that may be relevant to the growing of energy crops
4. Potential effects
This section summarises the main potential effects of SRC and miscanthus on each of the key landscape characteristics and features. In making the assessment we considered both the presence or absence of crops, and the the effects of scale and pattern in the landscape. Where the impacts are likely to differ between SRC and miscanthus this has been noted. Although it is very difficult to estimate impacts at such a general level we have attempted to assess whether the landscape impact could be beneficial, neutral or adverse, as follows:
- PB - Potentially beneficial
- N - Neutral
- PA - Potentially adverse
5. Topography
Topography, or landform, is often one of the main influences on landscape character, particularly in hilly or upland areas. We have summarised the overall topography of each area, together with an explanation of any specific or exceptional areas or major landform types. Topography will influence how obtrusive energy crops might be in some areas, or how they might fit in well in others.
6. Woodland
This covers all types of woodland, from ancient and semi-natural woodlands to commercial plantations, and includes broadleaved, conifer and mixed woodlands. As well as woodland type, we are interested in the pattern and scale of woodlands and how woodland cover varies across the JCA. In some areas there are close associations between specific types of woodland and particular landforms. Issues of concern include how biomass crops might contribute to or impact on local patterns of woodland cover, and what layouts or scale might be appropriate.
7. Boundary features
These include all forms of traditional boundaries, including hedgerows, stone walls and ditches. We are also interested in field patterns, particularly where these are of historic importance or are distinctive to the area. Issues considered included whether the establishment, growth or harvesting of energy crops could have an impact on traditional and valuable boundaries, either through direct damage (eg to allow access for farm machinery) or by obscuring or affecting the integrity of existing field patterns.
8. Agriculture
Agriculture includes arable, pasture (livestock), horticulture and mixed farming. In areas that are already intensively cropped, energy crops are likely to be less of an issue, and the impacts could be beneficial or neutral depending on scale. Adverse impacts are more likely in pastoral areas, particularly in low10 May, 2007 there is an existing underlying trend from grass to arable, the assessment has taken account of any existing landscape and land management priorities that may exist.
9. Settlement and development.
This covers population centres, roads, other infrastructure and mineral workings. In most cases energy crops are unlikely to have a significant impacts. However, in some cases there may be issues concerning the scale or pattern of planting where this would impact on the character of the local road network, or significantly affect the setting of towns or villages.
10. Semi-natural habitats
In this section we are concerned with the presence or absence, scale, and pattern of semi-natural habitats, other than woodland which is covered under 6. In general, many impacts will only be apparent at the detailed site level, which is outside the scope of this exercise. We have only commented where it is likely that biomass crops would impact on semi-natural habitats that are an integral part of the landscape.
11. Historic features.
Historic features refer not just to visible monuments and remains, but also historic areas such as parks and battlefields. As well as the presence or absence of features, we are interested in their density and pattern of distribution, and whether they are above or below ground. Specific, extensive archaeological or historic landscapes are noted. Issues considered included whether planting would obscure or damage historic sites, or whether it would affect the setting or integrity of a historic site. It is important to note that historic remains are extremely widespread and many have not been fully recorded. At this scale we have only referred to obvious sites and concentrations of sites. More detailed site assessment will normally be necessary.
12. Rivers and coasts
Water plays a key role in determining landform and defining landscape character. Issues of concern include whether energy crops could obscure watercourses or disrupt drainage patterns, and any hydrological and coastal management issues.
13. Views and inter-visibility
In some JCAs, views in, out or across an area are a key characteristic of the landscape. These may be broad, sweeping views or local, intimate ones. A key concern will be whether biomass crops would obscure or otherwise have an impact on the nature of these views.
Page last modified:
15 March, 2007
Page published: 10 December, 2002