adopted March 2007 Landscape Character Area 9c

Ffrith Valley 9c

This is one of a series of Local A relatively hidden but scenic deep wooded valley on the border Planning Guidance Notes based on LANDMAP (adopted November 2004), setting out Landscape context recommendations for each The Valley is one of several wooded river valleys which have been affected by Landscape Character area industrial uses, past or present. The other landscape character areas of this type are Clywedog Valley (9a), Valley (9b) and Dee Valley - to Newbridge (9d)

Map of Ffrith Valley Landscape Character Area

map not to scale

Ffrith Valley summary

O Deep wooded valley running west to east from Moors to -y-bedd

O Transition from upland to lowland

O Industrial archaeology - old quarries, disused railways, mines, iron working Character Area boundaries should be considered transitional rather than precise O Tributary valleys with farmland © Crown copyright. All rights reserved Licence No.100023429. 2006 and woodland

O Potential for informal recreation Key characteristics Geological character: O The Ffrith valley follows fault lines, Visual character: cutting into rocks of Carboniferous O Relatively high quality landscape - age, including an outcrop of scenic and rural in appearance, with limestone near , and backdrop of hills Cefn y Fedw sandstone (millstone grit). There are disused quarries O Good views northwards from Bwlchgwyn and Windy Hill O Mixed sedimentary rocks (Coal Measures), often overlain by glacial O The Ffrith rises on the edge of the till, are also found in the character area Llandegla Moors, where the valley has an open, grazed upland O Artificial restored landforms at character Glascoed following mineral extraction O From the Nant y Ffrith reservoir in to the River Alyn at Ecological character: Cefn y Bedd, the valley becomes O Woodlands of value include beech, steep sided and more wooded, with wet woodland, oak/ash/sycamore minor tributaries joining and upland mixed ash woodland O The lower part of the valley includes types. There are also conifer more settlement, farmland and plantations disturbed land while retaining an O Other habitats include lowland overall wooded character

Wrexham Landscape Character Area Guidance Landscape Character Area 9c Overall management strategy: Conservation and enhancement Management guidance Aims Guidelines

Conserve and O Continue restoration of former quarry/industrial sites within enhance landscape a predominantly natural landscape, and manage for character recreational and rural land uses O Maintain the low key balance of wooded valleys with limited visual development O Promote cross-border co-operation with Flintshire on management, to preserve overall character

pasture, dry lowland heath and Conserve geological O Maintain continuity and integrity of rock exposures and lowland acid grassland and rush features landforms, and promote education and understanding of geological heritage O Remaining areas are mostly improved grassland and farmland of low Enhance and extend O Replace coniferous trees with native broadleaved trees in biodiversity value woodland and other woodlands and increase diversity in woodland structure and habitats retain old/dead trees, standing or fallen. Expand native Historical character: woodland types and restrict grazing in woodlands O Remnants of former railway lines and O Enhance lowland pastures industrial uses including stone O Diversify general agricultural land and enhance and extend quarrying, coal mining and metal hedgerows. Protect otters, water voles and bats processing (Ffrwd iron working) Assess and preserve O Assess Coed Celyn quarry O Industrial archaeology includes former archaeology O Survey Ffrwd iron working complex, encourage re-use of buildings water mills O Preserve disused railway lines, assess relation to wider O Part of Wrexham borderlands industrial context fieldscape O Carry out further field and desk study of Wrexham borderlands fieldscape Cultural character: Preserve cultural O Preserve character of countryside - field systems, O Agricultural land uses, mainly pasture heritage settlement and industrial sites on less steeply sloping ground O Develop public access and interpretation O Informal recreation

For further information contact: All our information is available in Landscape sensitivity: Planning Environment accessible formats Planning Department The area is sensitive to any Council development which could detract Lambpit Street, Wrexham. LL11 1AR or erode its rural character Tel:01978 292019 www.wrexham.gov.uk/planning

Wrexham Landscape Character Area Guidance © Wrexham County Borough Council 2007 Back