Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
Area 1 Badminton Plateau
Contents
Sketch map 26
Key characteristics 27
Location 28
Physical influences 28
Land cover 28
Settlement and infrastructure 29
Landscape character 30
The changing landscape 32
Landscape strategy 34
Photographs
Landscape character area boundary
www.southglos.gov.uk 25 Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
á1
è2
á3 ä4 è5 å8
6/7•
á9 •10
å12 •13 å14 ä11
å15
Figure 4 Key Badminton Plateau å15 Photograph viewpoints Sketch Map Scale: not to scale
26 www.southglos.gov.uk Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
Area 1 Badminton Plateau
The Badminton Plateau landscape character area is a gently sloping, open, agricultural area evenly scattered with Cotswold stone structures and field N boundaries.
Key Characteristics
¡ Gently sloping and undulating, dip slope ¡ Calcareous grassland present across the plateau landscape. Cotswolds including within the Badminton Plateau supports a diverse range of flora ¡ Large regular shaped fields, mainly arable including areas of species-rich grassland. defined by Cotswold stone walls, (often in a state of disrepair), clipped hedgerows or ¡ Arable farmland provides nesting in places by post and wire fencing. The opportunities in the spring and foraging hedgerows and walls provide connectivity potential in the winter for farmland birds and habitat for notable species including Amber and Red listed species. European Protected Species across the area. ¡ Villages, hamlets and farm buildings are scattered over the plateau and are united ¡ Open exposed landscape punctuated through their common use of Cotswold by mature trees, copses and scattered stone as a building material. woodland of oak, ash, beech and sycamore including ancient woodland. ¡ Quarries and mines across the Cotswolds provide habitat for many species of bat, ¡ Expansive views over the plateau are including those on the Badminton Estate common, with limited focal points. dating from the 1800s. Panoramic views westwards are obtained from the scarp plateau edge. ¡ Major roads cross the open landscape - the lack of significant surrounding ¡ Large areas of woodland, formal planned vegetation making them a strong visible landscape and architecture associated and audible element within the landscape. with Badminton Park. The Badminton Away from these there are however tranquil Estate covers and influences most of this areas that are undisturbed by visual, noise character area. and other disturbance.
www.southglos.gov.uk 27 Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
its focus, with the remaining area covered by Location extensive, mainly arable, tenant farms. The large The Badminton Plateau landscape character regular shaped fields are typically defined by area is located in the north east of South Cotswold dry stone walls (in various conditions), Gloucestershire within the Cotswolds Area of low clipped hedgerows, and some post and Outstanding Natural Beauty. wire fencing. The location of former stone wall boundaries are often evident as grass mounds This landscape character area is defined to the within large fields, or remaining walls are north and east by the South Gloucestershire sometimes overgrown with vegetation. Authority boundary, although the landscape character of the plateau does extend beyond. Some local variation in the field sizes and boundary type are found within the area. For The southern boundary follows the M4, which example, large fields with stone walls to the marks a subtle transition between the Badminton south and east of Hawkesbury Upton (Photo Plateau and the slightly more undulating 2); medium to large fields with stone walls and Marshfield Plateau to the south. To the west, clipped hedgerows adjacent to Badminton Park; the boundary follows the often sharp change in medium fields with stone walling within the area topography, along the top of the Cotswold Scarp. of Tormarton (Photo 15); and fields with clipped (See Figures 7 & 13). hedgerows in the area of Acton Turville (Photo 12).
Badminton Park occupies a significant area of Physical Influences land to the east. The Registered Historic Park is a The underlying geology of the area is a varied combination of medieval park and 18th and 19th combination of principally north-south bands of century designed ornamental landscape, with the Bathonian Limestone, Great Oolitic Limestones, settlement of Great Badminton and Badminton Fullers Earth, Oolitic Limestone and Forest House at its focus. Marble Limestone. These bands of stone narrow towards the Cotswold Scarp to the west. The soil The parkland includes stands and clumps of cover is a simple mix of Brown Rendzinas and mature and over-mature beech and oak trees typical Calcareous Pelosols. within open grassland, with lakes and ponds in the immediate area of Badminton House This geology creates a landform of gentle dip (Photos 4 & 8). Broad tree avenues project slope and plateau, at approximately 200 metres from the house northwards (Worcester Avenue) a.o.d. in the west, sloping to 120 metres a.o.d. in and south eastwards (Centre Walk Avenue). A the east. prominent modern land use is the mown-grass landing strip to the west of Badminton Park There are very few watercourses in this area, due (Photo 3). Badminton Park and its landscape to the permeability of the underlying limestone. features extend beyond this area, into the wider Short sections of stream rise from springs before Badminton Estate to the east and north. flowing eastwards and disappearing into swallow holes (see Figure 10). To the north east of the area lies a large and prominent area of mature mixed woodland / beech plantation, fringed by the A433 and Land Cover segmented by country lanes and the northern The Badminton Plateau area is largely influenced extent of Worcester Avenue. by the Badminton Estate, which covers most of this character area and extends over parts of the Within the wider plateau area, small copses Marshfield Plateau and Cotswold Scarp. The and woodland blocks of oak, ash, beech and estate includes Badminton Park and House at sycamore (Photo 5), punctuate the landscape,
28 www.southglos.gov.uk Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
with isolated specimen trees along some of the Species) which are vulnerable to any loss of field boundaries. habitat including the terrestrial habitat around ponds as well as the ponds themselves. The plateau also has a scattering of archaeological sites such as long barrows and The characteristic and historic dry stone walls tumuli, e.g. The Starveall Long Barrow and also provide valuable wildlife corridors, which Round Barrow, north east of Hawkesbury Upton can be utilised by a diverse range of species (both SAM’s) and the Grickstone, which lies to from invertebrates to reptiles and amphibians for the west of Great Badminton. There are also commuting, foraging and as a refuge. two prominent Iron Age hill forts located on the crest of the Cotswold Scarp, Sodbury Camp and Much of the land use within this area is now Horton Camp (both SAM’s), which give visible arable farmland, an ideal habitat for many species reminders of ancient land uses in this area. of ground nesting farmland birds including birds which have been listed by BirdLife International as being Globally Threatened Red listed species. Biodiversity The stubble left over winter across the farmland The Badminton Plateau comprises a mosaic of provides a precious foraging resource when food important habitat for a diverse range of species. sources are scarce for many farmland birds. These include nationally important habitats such as calcareous grassland and ancient woodlands. The Badminton Estate was quarried for Bath Stone in the 1800s and closed in the early Within this area there are seven separate wooded C20th. These underground quarries provide an areas that include approximately 100 hectares ideal habitat for many species of bat including of ancient woodland. Four of these ancient European Protected Species. woodlands are also designated as Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) and one, Bodkin Settlement and Infrastructure Hazel Wood, is designated as both an SNCI and a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Settlement on the plateau is scattered and recognising the importance of these habitats limited to a number of nucleated villages within the national context for flora and fauna. including Hawkesbury Upton with its planned Key species associated with these include bats medieval core, Tormarton, Great Badminton, and dormice. Good connectivity exists for Little Badminton and Acton Turville (Photo 13), all species such as these between the wooded designated Conservation Areas. The Somerset areas and other habitats via hedgerows and Monument, also within the extended Hawkesbury scattered trees. Conservation Area, is located north west of the village just outside the landscape character area. There are five sites within the Badminton Plateau designated as SNCIs for the calcareous grassland The villages are typically a mix of former workers’ present on the sites. This diverse habitat supports cottages, farm buildings and ‘grand’ houses a range of invertebrates and ant hills are a regular and properties (Photo 4, 7 & 13). A village green feature. These invertebrates in turn provide a food and/or church is typically present at the heart source for mammals including bats. of the settlements which, together with the houses, creates a rich mix of building styles and As there are few watercourses within the sizes. The settlements have all been part of the Badminton Plateau area, species within these Badminton Estate at some point in their history, habitats are likely to be sensitive to any changes influencing their use, growth and style. impacting upon the ponds and pools within the area. These may support amphibians such as great crested newts (a European Protected
www.southglos.gov.uk 29 Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
The character of Great and Little Badminton north-south, west of Hawkesbury Upton along contrasts noticeably with other villages within the crest of the Cotswold Scarp. The Circular the area. Both comprise estate villages (Little Ride has several routes in the south west, linking Badminton is built on the site of a previous Old Sodbury to Tormarton and to the west of medieval village, with earthwork remains) set Badminton. around and enclosing a village green, with wider parkland setting. The architectural style of the A number of historic green lanes which are visible villages is varied, influenced by both estate and as unpaved paths, tracks and bridleways, often agricultural heritage, but unified through the between stone walls, lie within the western part of use of Cotswold stone and vernacular details. the area. These include Marshfield Path (running Both villages have examples of stone tiled and north west to south east), Bodkin Hazel Lane and thatched roofed cottages. Great Badminton the former Bristol to Oxford road north of the M4 has more prominent architectural structures and Tyning Lane (Photo 9) (both running east/ associated with Badminton House (Photo 4). The west). stone wall-lined wide roads through the village are another distinctive feature. Only one major powerline crosses the area in the south west, generally in a south easterly direction, Cotswold stone is the common building material passing east of Little Sodbury and Tormarton. used in all settlements, including the scattered and isolated farms and many field boundaries Landscape Character across the area. The northern, western and southern areas, The settlements are connected by a network of have an open and exposed simple character, minor roads and lanes (Photo 11). The B4040 arising from its combination of gently sloping and between Chipping Sodbury and Malmesbury undulating topography together with a general runs east to west and passes through Acton lack of any significant barriers to the open views, Turville. The M4 defines the southern boundary or focal points within this expansive landscape. of this landscape character area and connects Views and a similar landscape character continue to the A46, which runs north east to south west eastwards into Wiltshire. Views are partly between Bath and Cirencester on the western obscured however along some roads, with the fringes of this landscape character area. growth of self-seeded trees and shrubs.
The South Wales to London railway passes The western boundary in contrast, provides through the centre of this landscape character extensive panoramic views from the Cotswold area from west to east, with the western Scarp, over the lower vale landscapes to the half in tunnel. The track emerges in cutting west. Wetmoor Woods and the towns of and then continues at ground level to the Chipping Sodbury and Yate, form prominent large east. Several brick airshafts designed to look scale features in the middle distance. like small castellated towers or turrets in a pastoral landscape demarcate the route of The agricultural landscape within the dip slope the underground section of the line (Photo 10). and plateau contrasts significantly with the more Both tunnel portals and the six airshafts are planned landscape of Badminton Park to the all designated as listed buildings (grade II) by east, which generally has a greater and richer virtue of their special architectural, design and vegetation cover. engineering interest and group value. The formal character of the park extends out Two major recreational routes pass through the into the broader landscape of the character area area, the Cotswold Way and one of a series and into Wiltshire to the east and comprises a of Circular Rides. The Cotswold Way passes landscape of hedgerows, mature trees, woodland
30 www.southglos.gov.uk Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
and avenues. The distinctive vegetation cover Acton Turville is however quite prominent within of the park also gives definition and scale to the local views from the south (Photo 14). More landscape from many view points within the recent built development, such as at Hawkesbury character area. Upton, is situated on higher ground on the edge of the older village core, where the new rooftops Occasional blocks of woodland and copses break the skyline and there is little tree cover, are scattered throughout the area, beyond making it visually prominent within the wider Badminton Park and help to contain views and landscape (Photo 1). provide the main definition of space and scale in the broader landscape. Isolated properties and farms including their associated modern buildings are also prominent Some hedges are overgrown and in need of in the generally open landscape. appropriate management. Within the Badminton Estate however, hedgerows are clipped and The Somerset Monument, to the north near better managed, with evidence of woodland Hawkesbury Upton, is situated on the crest of the management and new planting, for example at Cotswold Scarp. Although outside the plateau Caroline Wood. character area, it is a prominent feature and distinctive local landmark, visible not only from Low grass mounds within fields indicate the the plateau, but also from the scarp and the lower location of former stone wall boundaries, in ground to the west. common with other areas where there has been a significant transition from pasture/mixed The earthworks at Sodbury Camp Hill Fort are a agriculture to arable and, where maintenance and prominent local feature seen from the A46. The management of field boundaries has declined. site forms a large, irregular landform and skyline feature on the western plateau edge. Villages, hamlets and isolated houses are fairly evenly scattered throughout the plateau. The The settlements, set within the open rolling special character of the main settlements countryside, are connected by a network of is recognised through their designation as roads. The minor roads are generally lined by Conservation Areas. mostly low Cotswold dry stone walls (Photo 11), often in a state of disrepair or overgrown The architectural diversity within these with vegetation and some have been removed settlements is united through the common use of completely. There are open views from these Cotswold stone as the principal building material. roads across the wider landscape with occasional tree belts enclosing some views. Cotswold stone also features in field and settlement boundaries and thus assists the The M4 cuts through the plateau running east gentle transition between settlement and the to west and defines the southern boundary. wider landscape, creating an integrated and Large portions are in cutting, minimising its harmonious appearance, particularly within the visual and audible impact, although its traffic older settlements. volumes impact on the otherwise rural and tranquil character of most of the area, and more The historic settlements are often situated within recent gantries and signs have increased the slight depressions in the topography, or include prominence of the motorway. The A46 is largely mature trees and vegetation, which assists their unenclosed: the traffic on it creating a prominent integration within the wider landscape. visual and audible feature through the open landscape. Traffic movement along minor roads is similarly evident.
www.southglos.gov.uk 31 Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
The overhead powerline which crosses the south ¡ The characteristic landscape framework of western part of the character area is also a highly dry stone walls is generally in a poor state visible element within the open rolling landscape. of repair. In some locations the walls have Other powerlines are visible within the Marshfield not been maintained or rebuilt, so that only Plateau to the south and beyond the South a remnant grass mound remains, and their Gloucestershire boundary, in Wiltshire to the east. habitat value has been lost. Their replacement with hedging or post and wire fencing, or The railway line, largely in cutting or within a visual loss behind self-seeded vegetation tunnel, is not generally a visible element within the along verges, erodes local distinctiveness and landscape. However, the prominent ‘castlelated’ character. Extensive sections of wall have air-shafts provide distinctive features within the however been repaired along the Badminton rural landscape. Estate boundary, following the A433 and at Dodington Park alongside the A46, where the entrance gates and landscaping has also been The Changing Landscape restored and is now in active management. The character of the Badminton Plateau landscape character area is rural, with a ¡ A decline in the management and/or significant part being strongly influenced by the maintenance of existing hedgerow field designed landscape and distinctive architecture boundaries, which provide landscape associated with Badminton Park and the structure, would further erode the character of agricultural landscape of the wider estate. A key some parts of the area. aspect of the built environment of this area is the consistent use of Cotswold stone for buildings ¡ Similarly, the tree structure is in a variable and other structures, including boundary walls. condition. Some areas retain an ageing Where reconstituted stone has been used, structure of mature and over-mature trees. the building form, appearance and weathering There are, however few juvenile trees to qualities integrate less well, resulting in an erosion sustain this framework beyond the next few of the distinctiveness and character of the area. decades. This trend will similarly impact upon woodland with their eventual decline unless The framework of walls, hedgerows, woodland brought back under management. and trees within the Badminton Estate are largely well maintained. Measures to conserve the long ¡ Self-seeded trees establishing along road term framework of trees and woodland within the verges throughout the area and within field park have seen relatively recent planting of young boundaries, as well as other tree planting, trees, laid out in avenues. The more recent whilst contributing to the landscape structure tree planting of Caroline Wood is influencing and habitat value, such tree cover has the views from the A46 as it matures, and providing potential to change the open character, vistas additional habitat for a diverse range of species. and views. Tree planting on the Badminton Estate is also changing the character of the historic landscape. The open and exposed character and biodiversity value of this area means that it is highly sensitive The character of the plateau landscape beyond to change. The change in agricultural land use, the Badminton Estate is however influenced from pasture to predominantly arable in the in places by limited maintenance of the area’s 20th century, together with the loss of walls or principal landscape features: hedgerows to increase field sizes, has resulted in a significant change in the colour and texture of the landscape on the plateau. Examples include:
32 www.southglos.gov.uk Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
¡ The development of horse paddocks, walling, the introduction of fencing and the use of particularly around villages, with their reconstituted stone materials, the introduction of associated subdivision of fields by electrified insensitively located solar panels or alien building fencing, introduction of stables, exercise forms, can have a significant and erosive impact facilities, parking, sheds and other features on the distinctiveness of this locality. erodes the character and quality of the landscapes around settlements. The M4 has been widened within the highway boundary resulting in a reduction of landscape ¡ Potential interest in locating Solar farms and mitigation works and the extent of habitat, and wind turbines gantries and signage have been added, resulting in an increase in its prominence. To the north of ¡ The pressure for larger industrial style ‘barns’ the motorway, recently implemented land raising can result in visual impact across a wide area outside the highway boundary will provide some of an open landscape, adversely impacting on screening to the north. the character of the wider area. At Tormarton, an informal ‘park and share’ facility ¡ Pressure for further barn conversions, is leading to the erosion of grass verges and the can often result in a domestication of rural cluttering of the lane near the M4 roundabout farm building complexes, and result in loss with parked cars. of habitat particularly for birds and bats. Pressure for larger farm buildings, and for The annual Badminton Horse Trials leads to ‘agricultural workers dwelling’ can result localised changes in land use and pressure on in pressure for larger visually prominent the road network from the influx of vehicles and dwellings. visitors.
¡ Further changes in agricultural land use or management in the future may result in further significant impact, due to the open character of the area.
In common with the rest of South Gloucestershire telecom’s masts have been introduced across a wide area, however where these have been incorporated onto electricity transmission infrastructure, this has reduced their impact by reducing the need for further poles in this sensitive landscape.
Any vertical built forms would be visible, not just from within the plateau, but potentially from the surrounding wider landscape.
Any development which ‘breaks’ the skyline, such as housing, large agricultural or other shed type buildings, wind turbines, masts, traffic on roads etc, has the potential to be visually prominent and introduce a discordant element within this open plateau. Similarly, the cumulative effect of a multiplicity of smaller impacts, such as loss of
www.southglos.gov.uk 33 Area 1 Badminton Plateau Area South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment Draft Proposed for Adoption 12 November 2014
Landscape Strategy
¡ Retain the open and rural character of the Where such development is acceptable, Cotswold Plateau and the historic parkland telecom’s infrastructure, mast, pole or landscape associated with the Badminton pylon sharing should be considered to estate to the east avoid the need for addition of new towers or masts to the landscape. ¡ Conserve the existing populations of notable species and ensure that there is no ¡ Wind turbines should be modest in scale net loss of biodiversity. and carefully located, in order to confine visibility, and to avoid intervisibility between ¡ Retain and enhance the mosaic of installations. grasslands and woodlands with connectivity through characteristic ¡ Wind farms are likely to be inappropriate drystone walls and hedges. as are large scale biomass generation facilities1. ¡ Restore, conserve and manage the characteristic and historic pattern of dry ¡ Any new vertical development should stone wall and/or hedgerow framework, as avoid dominating, or visually competing appropriate to the particular character of with, other landmark landscape or heritage the local landscape. assets in the character area.
¡ Retain, manage and enhance the areas ¡ New development including buildings of woodland, copses and formal planned and other structures should use locally landscapes that contribute to the character appropriate materials such as locally of the area. sourced Cotswold stone of the appropriate colour and texture that respect and ¡ Avoid the introduction of uncharacteristic enhances local distinctiveness and the features such as field subdivision by traditional character of the area. electrified and post and rail fences which are devoid of habitat value, and the ¡ Control change of use to horse keeping degradation of the sward by overgrazing. where the erosion of landscape character would result. ¡ Ensure that any new development is integrated with, and where necessary ¡ Given the openess of the landscape screened from the wider landscape and importance of maintaining the rural and avoids the domestication or character of skylines, careful consideration industrialisation of the rural character of should be given to the location and design the locality. This includes consideration of of highway signage and lighting. the night time landscape and the retention of dark skies as well as protecting the ¡ Cumulative impact with other tranquility of undisturbed areas. developments will require particular consideration due to the openness of the ¡ Any new vertical development should landscape. avoid eroding the natural beauty of or the settings of heritage assets in the wider landscape. 1 Cotswolds Conservation Board Position Statement: Renewable Energy Projects October 2005
34 www.southglos.gov.uk Landscape Character Areas
3 His Grace’s private landing strip, 1300 metres long. Showing 1 New development on the edge of and gateway to part of 7 mile plantation, the boundary of Badminton Estate. Hawkesbury Upton. 2 Large cornfields now a feature of the Cotswolds, replacing the grasslands, looking west towards Dunkirk.
5 On top of the scarp land is used for cereal crops. New forestry 4 Badminton House with lake foreground. Celebrated lake jump planted to facilitate pheasant shooting. Seven Mile plantation was 6 Thatched Cottage. Toad Hall, Old Down Road, Badminton. 7 Typical Estate cottages, Badminton. Built and maintained by at 3 day international horse trials event. planted by Capability Brown. One of only two on the Badminton estate. Estate yard workers.
11 Oakes Lane with characteristics of an “Enclosure” road: straight with large verges. The Warren buildings on left and Park Farm on right. Names derived from medieval rabbit 10 Air shaft turret for Sodbury rail warren and Deer Park. Power lines cross the horizon. 8 Badminton Park. Track leading from Luckington Road to sewage filter 9 Green lane near Lyegrove (Tyning Lane). Dry stone walls in poor tunnel. One of 6 in the LCA. beds. condition.
15 Tormarton from south east. All dry stone wall field boundaries predate 1637. 14 View from Burton Road back towards Acton Turville. 12 View to north west from Sodbury Road. Flat arable land 13 View from Burton Road at junction with The Street. The Fox Horses in field reflect the fact that horse breeding is a Figure 5 – Area 1 with railway cutting in middle distance and woods in and Hounds Public House, the Old Tithe Barn and Turnpike major activity in the area. background. Cottage. Old Scots Pines along road. Badminton Plateau Figure 6 Area 1 Badminton Plateau