JCA No. 153 - Bodmin Moor
Overall comments (note 1)
An upland plateau with extensive views across a wild, open, exposed landscape. A more gentle landscape is found on the fringes where river valleys provide more shelter and enclosed pasture dominates. An extremely rich historic landscape with distinctive archaeological and mining remains and ancient field patterns. Much of the area falls within the Cornwall Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Exposure and soil conditions would generally limit potential for planting apart from within more sheltered parts of the lower moorland fringe areas. In most areas energy crops would be highly visible, mask field patterns and change the character of the landscape through creating new enclosure and introducing cropping to a pastoral landscape. Some small scale planting opportunities may exist in localised areas linking or extending existing woodlands or within larger fields enclosed with taller hedges.
| Generic landscape characteristics (note 2) | Key landscape characteristics (note 3) | Potential effects (PA, N, PB) (note 4) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRC | Miscanthus | ||
| Topography (note 5) | Exposed irregular granite upland topped by tors & clitter slopes. The central part is an irregular rolling plateau with shallow river valleys. To the south there are broad undulating hills, steep in places. |
N – Impractical on steep valley sides & open moorland due to exposure. Undulating land on fringes to south and east may offer opportunities. |
N – Impractical on steep valley sides & open moorland due to exposure. Undulating land on fringes to south and east may offer opportunities. |
| Woodland (note 6) | Upland plateau generally treeless apart from some large conifer plantations. Scrub in shallow moorland river valleys. |
PA – Planting would introduce enclosure which would alter the landscape character |
PA – Planting would introduce enclosure which would alter the landscape character |
Deciduous woodland mainly restricted to slopes of steeper river valleys. Copses and shelterbelts around farmsteads. |
N/PA – impractical on steep valley sides. Planting would introduce enclosure that would alter the landscape character. |
N/PA – impractical on steep valley sides. Planting would introduce enclosure that would alter the landscape character. |
|
| Boundary features (note 7) | Extensive areas of small irregular ancient field pattern contrasting with more regular parliamentary enclosures. Cornish hedges (stone walls/stone faced banks) are sometimes topped with scrub and a few trees - more trees in valleys & sheltered parts of moorland fringe. |
PA/N – Planting would obscure field patterns in more exposed locations and introduce uncharacteristic enclosure. May be opportunities within larger regular fields where hedges have more trees and scrub. |
PA/N – Planting would obscure field patterns in more exposed locations and introduce uncharacteristic enclosure. May be opportunities within larger regular fields where hedges have more trees and scrub. |
| Agriculture (note 8) | Livestock farming. Much of open moor is common land used for grazing. |
PA – Planting would introduce enclosure and alter the open and wild character of the moor |
PA – Planting would introduce enclosure and alter the open and wild character of the moor |
Pasture dominates enclosed land, some of which has been improved. |
PA – Planting would introduce enclosure and alter the pastoral character of the landscape |
PA – Planting would introduce enclosure and alter the pastoral character of the landscape |
|
| Settlement and development (note 9) | Sparsely populated with a dispersed settlement pattern of hamlets and farmsteads. Villages mainly on fringes and in valleys. |
PA/N – Plantings should not impede views in or out of settlements or change open unenclosed aspects/settings. |
PA/N – Plantings should not impede views in or out of settlements or change open unenclosed aspects/settings. |
Unenclosed tracks and lanes across the open moor. Winding sunken lanes on fringes and in valleys. |
PA – movement of harvesting equipment difficult. Planting should not create enclosure around lanes/restrict views. |
PA - Planting should not create new enclosure around lanes or restrict views. |
|
| Semi-natural habitats (note 10) | Extensive heathland, wet moorland, valley bogs willow car and rough grassland. |
PA – Avoid loss of semi-natural habitats. Planting in close proximity would disrupt ‘natural’ character/pattern. |
PA – Avoid loss of semi-natural habitats. Planting in close proximity would disrupt ‘natural’ character/pattern. |
| Historic features (note 11) | Extensive archaeological remains from Neolithic and bronze age to the 18th/19th century mining landscape. |
A - avoid these and other known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic landscape character. |
A - avoid these and other known archaeological sites and their settings, and respect historic landscape character. |
| Rivers and coasts (note 12) | Rivers radiate out from upland plateau in shallow valleys steepening dramatically on leaving the granite to cut through adjoining shales in deeply incised valleys. |
N/PA - Planting impractical on steep valley slopes. Avoid losing pastoral character on shallower slopes and valley bottoms. May be opportunities for small scale planting to link existing woodland. |
N/PA - Planting impractical on steep valley slopes. |
| Views and inter-visibity (note 13) | Extensive open views across moorland |
PA – avoid restricting views & reducing their open wild nature |
PA - avoid restricting views & reducing their open wild nature |
On fringes areas of more local enclosure due to landform, woodland and hedgerow trees views can be more restricted. |
N – where planted in more enclosed areas. |
N – where planted in more enclosed areas. |
|
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 low intensity, unimproved grassland areas. In areas where 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