Part One: Landscape Character Descriptions 6. Needwood and South Claylands

Landscape Character Types

• Settled Plateau Farmlands ...... 6.4 • Estate Farmlands ...... 6.17 • Settled Farmlands ...... 6.8 • Riverside Meadows ...... 6.22 • Sandstone Slopes and Heaths .. 6.13

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.1 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands CHARACTER AREA 68 A settled, pastoral landscape on gently rolling lowlands.

Landscape Character Types

• Settled Plateau Farmlands • Sandstone Slopes and Heaths • Riverside Meadows • Settled Farmlands • Estate Farmlands

"... and where at every turn he came upon some fine old country-seat nestled in the valley or crowning the slopes, some homestead with its long length of barn and its cluster of golden ricks, some grey steeple looking out from a pretty confusion of trees.... And directly below them the eye rested on a more advanced line of hanging woods, divided by bright patches of pasture or furrowed crops..." (p16 George Eliot ‘Adam Bede')

Introduction have expanded through the western and southern limits of post-war development, the this area within the county. landscape retains a deeply rural Located in the south-west of the character. county, the Needwood and South Natural Influences Derbyshire Claylands comprise two distinct areas separated by the Physical Influences The predominant land-use is River Dove, which also forms the pasture, mainly for dairy farming, administrative boundary between Within Derbyshire, this character with some arable cropping where Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The area is defined by an underlying topography allows, particularly in distinctive wooded landscape of geology of Mercia Mudstones, with Settled Plateau Pastures. Within Needwood lies exclusively within Sherwood Sandstone to the north, Derbyshire, unlike the Needwood Staffordshire. overlain in the north and west by a area, woodland is not a prominent thin covering of glacial drift. characteristic, although there is a The remainder of this Character Differential erosion by numerous strong sense of enclosure Area within Derbyshire is rolling narrow streams, draining from the pertaining to the patchwork of lowland over glacial till and Mercia Peak Fringe, has created a gently fields enclosed by hedgerows with Mudstones that were amenable to undulating to rolling landform with mature hedgerow trees. Although early settlement and farming. In the glacial drift defining the more much of the pasture has now been contrast to the Needwood area, upstanding Settled Plateau improved, there are still remnants of there is less woodland and more Farmlands. unimproved pasture and meadows. settlement with small villages and Some older hedgerows are scattered farmsteads and cottages. The wide valley and Riverside species-rich. Ridge and furrow and the Meadows of the River Dove define earthworks of deserted villages suggest the area was once more densely settled.

Land-use is typically dairy farming with some arable, set within a framework of hedgerows and mature hedgerow trees. Woodlands are few but locally occurring parkland, such as that at Kedleston Hall, makes a significant contribution to the overall character of the area.

Small red brick villages and estate farms are distinctive features and, although some settlements west of

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.2 Where the underlying geology is surviving ridge and furrow of the The predominant building material defined by sandstone in Sandstone former open fields. Settlement also within the villages is red brick and, Slopes and Heaths, locally spread onto commons and heaths with the exception of villages like occurring heathland with gorse and in the late post-medieval period, , they have remained heather is still to be found, though most notably at Ward with relatively small and loose-knit in mostly confined to the steepest its typical wayside cottages and character. More important buildings, slopes or road verges. straight roads. like churches and the manor house, may be constructed in the local Historic parks, like Kedleston, make Enclosure of the landscape began sandstone. Some very occasional a locally significant contribution to early and areas were already examples survive of half-timbered the ecological value of Estate enclosed by the early 17th century. Elizabethan buildings, most notably Farmlands through the presence of The winding and often sunken Somersal Herbert Hall. veteran parkland trees and the country lanes bounded by plump presence of plantation woodland. mixed species hedgerows are, in part, a product of the long history of Human Influences enclosure and add to the rural character and sense of antiquity on Evidence of early activity is this landscape. In contrast, within generally rare. However, Iron Age the former commons and heathland and Roman settlement suggest the associated with Settled Plateau area was more extensively settled in Farmlands and Sandstone Slopes the pre-medieval period than and Heaths, roads are often straight Somersal Herbert Hall previously believed. and direct with uniform width verges. Winding country lanes bounded by The agricultural quality of the land hedgerows provide a sense of would always have attracted settlers Later, country house parks were enclosure, particularly where the and the present pattern of developed at Osmaston, Sudbury lanes have become sunken within settlement was established in the and most notably at Kedleston. the minor valley sides. Anglo-Saxon period, as indicated Kedleston Hall, set within the Estate by the place name evidence and the Farmlands landscape, remains Other Considerations number of villages already present today as one of the finest examples by the time of the Domesday Book. of a Georgian set-piece, the hall • The Lowland Derbyshire BAP and park both being designed by Following the Norman Conquest, Robert Adam. extensive tracts of land were set aside for royal hunting forests. Duffield Frith is a good example extending over a large area and encompassing a number of deer parks including those at Mansell and near Muggington. Park pale (bank and ditch enclosure boundary), earthen bank gateways, deer courses and other historic landscape features survive to give these former park landscapes a distinctive character. They also incorporate remaining fragments of heathland, particularly within Sandstone Slopes and Heaths at the northern extremity of the area.

In the Settled Farmlands, the density of settlement in the Middle Ages was greater than it is today, as indicated by the surviving earthworks of deserted and shrunken villages, such as and Muggington, and the Winding country lane

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.3 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SETTLED PLATEAU FARMLANDS A medium scale pastoral landscape on gently rolling upland plateaux. A sense of elevation with extensive views filtered by scattered hedgerow trees and small woodlands.

Common/Brailsford areas in the Key Characteristics east.

• A gently rolling upland plateau extending onto ridge tops Ecology • Slowly permeable, seasonally waterlogged soils over glacial till • Pastoral farming with some cropping Much of this landscape type is • Marl pits forming small ponds intensively farmed as permanent • Densely scattered boundary trees and occasional small woodland pasture or for cereals. The improved blocks grassland and cultivated fields have • Small to medium fields surrounded by hedgerows little ecological interest. Where • Parkland estates drainage is impeded, patches of wet • Areas of former common land with clusters of red brick and grassland with rushes occur. Small fragments of degraded rush Staffordshire blue clay tile roofed cottages communities are found in damp • Scattered red brick and Staffordshire blue clay tile roofed patches and hollows. farmsteads and estate farms • Extensive views over lower ground Terrestrial corridors in the form of hedgerows and small blocks of Geology and Landform throughout this landscape are slowly broadleaved woodland persist but permeable, seasonally waterlogged, these are declining due to This plateau landscape is strongly fine loam over clayey soils. The agricultural intensification and field influenced by the underlying gentle relief associated with this amalgamation, most noticeably in geology with reddish till (glacial landscape type ensures that there is the Shirley Common/Brailsford drift) overlaying Palaeozoic and little run-off, so the slowly permeable areas. Mesozoic Sandstone and Shales for soils are waterlogged for long the most part. This occurs as a periods in the winter and are then Where the underlying sandstone is series of "fingers" or narrow ridges inaccessible to stock and machinery. closer to the surface, there are extending southwards from the significant patches of bracken in higher plateau between the gentle This is moderately good mixed hedgerows and along road verges. valleys of the Spinneyford Brook, farmland although dairying and The network of lanes around Bradley Wyaston Brook and Cubley Brook. improved grassland and leys is particularly rich in bracken. dominate. Autumn sown crops of The many marl pits support valuable Soils and Land-Use wheat, barley and oil-seed rape are found throughout this type, but base-rich wetland communities. principally in the Bradley and Shirley Older pastures, particularly if poorly The soils found consistently Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.4 drained, can develop a distinctive Yeldersley but there is also evidence Two large military airfields were base-rich association. At Hulland of early enclosure of open fields at established in the 1940s, to the Moss, a SSSI, there is an important Bradley, Offcote and Underwood. south of Ashbourne. Both are now example of lowland bog and heath used for alternative purposes. The with areas of dry oak and wet alder cultural pattern of this area has been woodland. obliterated as a consequence of the removal of all field boundaries, small Tree Cover woodlands, the diversion of lanes and the levelling of ground on a Boundary trees are scattered large scale. throughout giving filtered views, often over extensive areas. Irregular field patterns Built Environment Occasional small blocks of The cultural pattern is generally broadleaved woodland and shelter intact here but is declining in the This is a landscape of widely groups are found. areas of regular shaped fields as a scattered farmsteads and small result of modern farming practice. settlements. The villages which are The predominant tree species are found on this landscape type, such oak and ash but there is also some Fields are enclosed by hedgerows as Bradley, Shirley, Yeaveley, sycamore. Remnant parkland which can be species-rich in areas Alkmonton and Wyaston, were blocks can be identified in some of earliest enclosure, with holly, originally very small nucleated areas, most notably at Osmaston hazel and field maple, to settlements surrounded by open Park, with its double avenue of predominantly hawthorn in areas of fields, mainly originating in the mature elm trees. late parliamentary enclosure. medieval period.

Enclosure Transport Elsewhere, dispersed common-side cottages can be found, typically This is a landscape of generally The strong ridgelines characterising with long, narrow gardens running medium sized, semi-regular fields, this landscape have been utilised for parallel to the lanes and formed although the size and pattern has transport and there is a fairly dense from the enclosure of wide verges. significant local variation as a result network of country lanes. Former of the diverse history of enclosure. turnpike roads like the A52 and A517 Almost without exception, traditional This varies from narrow, curving strip took advantage of this higher buildings are built of mellow red fields to the regular, almost ground. Many of the roads follow the brick with Staffordshire blue clay tile geometric shapes resulting from the ridgelines, tending to be straight and roofs. late enclosure of common lands as direct, especially where they cross seen at Shirley Common. Former former commons. Where roads Many settlements have grown in commons occur frequently in this cross former wasteland, names like recent years with much type and the names are still retained, Moor Lane, near Osmaston, reflect unsympathetic suburban style such as Snelston Common, Roston past character. In areas of early housing, some in the form of ribbon Common and Shirley Common. enclosure, where lanes are more development. Osmaston by contrast curved, road verges are of irregular is an attractive, unspoilt estate Several pockets of very small width, as opposed to the wider, village, with several thatched and irregular shaped fields still survive. A more uniform width verges on rustic properties in the picturesque good example is the intricate fields former common. Many footpaths style of the early Victorian period. pattern at Hole in the Wall near link settlements and dispersed farmsteads. Summary

A landscape shaped by its underlying geology of glacial drift over sandstone and shale, creating a landform of narrow, upland plateaux. Long distance views are limited by trees that are found scattered throughout most hedgerows. However, with incisions of lower lying land, there is a distinct sense of elevation.

Soils over glacial till are heavy and seasonally waterlogged, lending themselves to good quality pastures for dairy farming but the gently rolling landform ensures that the land-use is more mixed, with autumn-sown crops like barley and wheat.

The settlement pattern is a key feature. Although not densely populated, there is a general scattering of farm- steads with the occasional small village, like Bradley, Yeaveley and Wyaston, with their origins in the medieval period or earlier. The traditional buildings are typically built in brick with Staffordshire blue clay tile roofs.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.5 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SETTLED PLATEAU FARMLANDS

Planting and Management Guidelines

A gently undulating pastoral landscape of very little woodland but densely scattered hedgerow trees.

Primary woodland character: Thinly scattered small plantations

Primary tree character: Densely scattered hedgerow trees

Woodland vision: Thinly scattered small plantations

Tree vision: Densely scattered hedgerow trees

Typical woodland size range: 0.5 - 5ha small

Woodland pattern: Regular plantations

• Ensure the use of indigenous tree and shrub species, including a proportion of large, long-lived species. • Ensure the management and enhancement of hedgerow trees, through selection and natural regeneration, or by planting. • Ensure the conservation and management of mature/ veteran trees within hedgerows. • Ensure new woodland does not conflict with features (e.g. ridge and furrow) that help to define landscape character.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.6 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SETTLED PLATEAU FARMLANDS

Woodland Species Mix Neutral/ More Acidic Soils

Primary Tree Species 50% Acer campestre Field Maple Fraxinus excelsior Ash Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak

Secondary Tree Species 20% Major Betula pendula Silver Birch Malus sylvestris Crab Apple

Minor Populus tremula Aspen Prunus avium Wild Cherry Prunus padus Bird Cherry Salix cinerea Grey Willow Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Taxus baccata Yew

Shrubs 10-30% Major Corylus avellana Hazel Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn

Minor Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Rosa canina Dog Rose Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose

Open space 0-20%

Hedgerow Species Mix

Suitable hedgerow plants Suitable hedgerow trees

Primary 70-75% Primary 70-75% Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Fraxinus excelsior Ash Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak Secondary 25-30% Acer campestre Field Maple Secondary 25-30% Corylus avellana Hazel Acer campestre Field Maple Ilex aquifolium Holly Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Occasional 0-5%* Malus sylvestris Crab Apple Occasional 0-5% Prunus avium Wild Cherry Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Prunus padus Bird Cherry Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Rosa canina Dog Rose * only to be used if occurring locally Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose within the landscape character type

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.7 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SETTLED FARMLANDS An undulating to gently rolling, dairy farming landscape with hedgerow trees, dense watercourse trees and occasional small woodlands. A well-settled landscape of red brick farmsteads and cottages along winding country lanes.

susceptible to short periods of Key Characteristics waterlogging, making them difficult to cultivate and prone to poaching • Gently undulating to rolling lowland dissected by minor stream by livestock. Where the slopes are valleys with localised steep slopes locally steep over sandstone, the • Seasonally waterlogged soils over Permo-Triassic Mudstone, soils are coarse loams and silts, Siltstone and Sandstone and free-draining. • Dairy farming on permanent pasture with localised arable cropping The land-use is predominantly • Small woodland blocks and copses associated with steeper dairying and stock rearing on improved permanent pasture and slopes leys. There is some arable farming • Scattered oak and ash trees along hedgerows where the local topography and soil • Dense lines of trees along streams conditions dictate, particularly • Small to medium size, semi-regular and strip fields enclosed by around Shirley, Brailsford and hedgerows Somersal Herbert. Indeed, this is • Extensive ridge and furrow amongst some of the finest • Network of winding lanes often sunken on steeper slopes agricultural land found in the • Small clusters of red brick and Staffordshire blue clay tile farms county being officially classified and cottages Grade 2.

Geology and Landform incised valleys. The landform Ecology becomes ever more gentle and The underlying geology of Permo- subdued towards the Trent Valley in Much of this landscape is Triassic Mudstone, Siltstone and the south. intensively farmed either as Sandstone and occasional improved permanent pasture or Carboniferous Sandstone creates a Soils and Land-Use arable cropping. As a result, much broadly undulating to gently rolling is of little ecological value. lowland landscape. Where As with much of the lowland However, there are isolated patches sandstone defines the eastern flank , the soils are consistently of unimproved grassland and hay of the Dove Valley, the ground rises reddish, fine loamy or silty over meadow, associated with small steeply to form a distinct clay, with slowly permeable family farms and steeper slopes, escarpment before gradually falling subsoils. The slow permeability of which provide local floristic interest. away to the east, forming a series of the subsoils makes them Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.8 Terrestrial corridors are important throughout, due to the densely Transport with many well-managed, mixed scattered hedgerow and species hedgerows. Hedgerow watercourse trees. Collectively, There is a dense network of trees, predominantly oak and ash, these trees filter views through the winding lanes throughout this add ecological interest. landscape and, at lower elevations landscape, often with irregular north of the Trent Valley, they create width verges. In some areas, the a strong sense of enclosure with network is so dense and intricate more restricted views. there is a choice of routes available between settlements. On the The well-treed character is further steeper slopes around Norbury and supplemented by localised Snelston, lanes are very narrow and parkland with its mature specimen often sunken. trees and small mixed species game coverts. At Longford Park Adjacent to the Dove Valley, many there are several small plantations Well-managed mixed species hedgerow routes run parallel to the river and game coverts. corridor, taking advantage of the These terrestrial corridors are natural gradients. In the south, supplemented by a network of Enclosure lanes travel due north from the watercourses, fringed by dense Trent Valley. The line of the former lines of riparian trees. There are This is a landscape of Ashbourne to railway can patches of rush pasture associated predominantly small to medium clearly be seen following the edge with the stream corridors, most sized, semi-regular fields enclosed of the flood plain to the River Dove notably at Marsh, a by hedgerows, although the field and marking the western limits of designated SSSI. size and pattern varies locally, this landscape type. reflecting the diverse history of On the steeper slopes in the west, enclosure. This cultural pattern A former Roman road connecting there is more woodland, some of remains essentially intact although Derby (Derventio) to Rocester is which is of ancient origin. Parkland, there has been some field followed by the modern Long Lane, such as that at Snelston, provides amalgamation in areas of arable though this deviates from the additional ecological benefit with its farming. original route at Alkmonton to many mature specimen trees and follow an easier gradient. occasional small game coverts. The Several examples of strip fields value of small plantation woodlands enclosed from former open fields There are many footpaths and is often limited by the presence of survive, most notably in Hollington green lanes connecting the small coniferous species. and Boylestone parishes, where settlements and scattered fields display evidence of medieval farmstead. On the steepest slopes over ridge and furrow. sandstone, there at heathy Built Environment associations, with bracken occasionally found in the hedgerows and road verges. This is a well settled but sparsely populated landscape containing Tree Cover small villages, isolated groups of roadside cottages and scattered farmsteads. Villages tend to be The fertile soils and intensive small, like Somersal Herbert and agriculture associated with this Marston Montgomery, and some landscape type ensure that loose knit, such as Roston and woodland is poorly represented. Norbury on the eastern flanks of Exceptions to this rule are the Dove. Many of the villages have interlocking woodlands like Eaton their origins in the medieval period. Wood and Bradley Wood, that Some have shrunken in size since follow the steeper slopes of the Fossilised strip fields associated with the the Middle Ages and are Dove and Henmore Valleys, creating nearby village of Hollington characterised by the earthworks of a distinct wooded edge. Both Many hedgerows contain a good former crofts and tofts, such as at woodlands are rare examples of variety of species indicating age Thurvaston. Others have ancient semi-natural woodland with and maturity. These include holly, disappeared altogether and remain oak and ash. hazel, blackthorn, dog rose and only as earthworks, leaving only hawthorn. single farms such as Hungry Despite the lack of woodland, tree Bentley. cover is well represented

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.9 The predominant building material is Snelston has its own particular Due to the intensive nature of the a warm red brick with Staffordshire character, being the estate village of farming regime and the large size of blue clay tiles. Some local reddish the former Stanton Hall, with a some farms, bulky and poorly sited sandstone is also used, usually for number of cottages and estate modern farm buildings dominate more important buildings like the buildings in the picturesque style. many areas. Some traditional farm parish church and manor houses. A buildings have been converted to few timber framed buildings survive Most of the villages have grown residential use. although these are no longer a very little, though modern infill prominent feature of the area. development has modified their original loose knit character. Modern suburban development has been largely restricted to the outskirts of Ashbourne and Clifton.

Summary

Like much of the Midlands lowlands, the landform and topography is shaped by the underlying sequence of Permo-Triassic Mudstones, Siltstones and Sandstones. The differential weathering of this geology gives rise to gently rolling landscape within incised valleys, locally undulating where the sandstone is most prevalent. Although there is some local variation in soils, relating to the variations in both geology and landform, they tend to be free-draining fine loams over clay subsoils that are prone to short-lived seasonal waterlogging.

A key feature of this landscape is its settled character. Although not densely populated, there is a general scattering of small villages, roadside cottages and farmsteads throughout, constructed in the vernacular style of red brick with Staffordshire blue clay tile roots, and a few older, timber framed buildings.

The area's settled nature reflects its long history of exploitation for agriculture. The predominant land-use is pastoral associated with dairying. Much of the permanent pasture is now improved and some fields have been set aside for fodder crops. Increasingly there is a trend for more arable farming, particularly where gradients and drainage allow.

Trees are well represented, associated with scattered hedgerow and dense lines of watercourse trees. Woodlands occur infrequently, mostly associated with the steeper slopes of the Dove Valley or localised parkland, in the form of small plantations and game coverts. The trees help to define the small to medium scale by filtering views through the landscape. At lower elevations towards the Trent Valley, tree cover can give a strong sense of enclosure, particularly on views to the north.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.10 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SETTLED FARMLANDS

Planting and Management Guidelines

A gently undulating pastoral landscape of very few woodlands but densely scattered hedgerow and watercourse trees.

Primary woodland character: Occasional small woodlands

Primary tree character: Densely scattered hedgerow and dense watercourse trees

Woodland vision: Occasional small woodlands

Tree vision: Densely scattered hedgerow and dense watercourse trees

Typical woodland size range: 0.5 - 5ha small

Woodland pattern: Organic/ linear

• Ensure the use of indigenous tree and shrub species, including a proportion of large, long-lived species. • Ensure the management and enhancement of hedgerow trees, through selection and natural regeneration, or by planting. • Enhance the visual and ecological continuity of river corridors by management, natural regeneration and planting of riparian trees. • Ensure the conservation and management of mature/ veteran trees within hedgerows. • Ensure new woodland does not conflict with features (e.g. ridge and furrow) that help to define landscape character.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.11 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SETTLED FARMLANDS

Woodland Species Mix Neutral/Slightly Acidic Soils Waterlogged Conditions on all soil types Primary Tree Species 50% Primary Tree Species 50% Acer campestre Field Maple † Alnus glutinosa Alder Fraxinus excelsior Ash † Salix fragilis Crack Willow Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak

Secondary Tree Species 20% Secondary Tree Species 20% Major Major Betula pendula Silver Birch Betula pubescens Downy Birch Malus sylvestris Crab Apple Quercus petraea Sessile Oak Salix caprea Goat Willow Minor Populus tremula Aspen Minor Prunus avium Wild Cherry Ilex aquifolium Holly Prunus padus Bird Cherry Populus tremula Aspen Salix cinerea Grey Willow Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Taxus baccata Yew

Shrubs 10-30% Shrubs 10-30% Major Major Corylus avellana Hazel Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Minor Minor Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Salix purpurea Purple Willow Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Salix triandra Almond Willow Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Salix viminalis Osier Rosa canina Dog Rose Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose

Open space 0-20% Open space 0-20%

† Watercourse Trees - tree species most appropriate for planting as watercourse trees.

Hedgerow Species Mix

Suitable hedgerow plants Suitable hedgerow trees

Primary 70-75% Primary 70-75% Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Fraxinus excelsior Ash Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak Secondary 25-30% Acer campestre Field Maple Secondary 25-30% Corylus avellana Hazel Acer campestre Field Maple Ilex aquifolium Holly Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Occasional 0-5%* Malus sylvestris Crab Apple Occasional 0-5% Prunus avium Wild Cherry Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Prunus padus Bird Cherry Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Rosa canina Dog Rose * only to be used if occurring locally within the landscape character type

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.12 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SANDSTONE SLOPES AND HEATHS A landscape of moderate to steep sandstone slopes with prominent rounded undulations and hillocks forming the upper slopes. A pastoral landscape, with small woodlands and scattered hedgerow trees.

cropping areas can be prone to Key Characteristics wind erosion. In addition, cultivated steep slopes are especially • Moderate to steep sandstone slopes and valleys with rounded susceptible to water erosion. undulations • Well-drained sandy soils Ecology • A pastoral land-use on steeper slopes with mixed farming on gentler gradients These free-draining sandy soils will • Heathy associations with patches of gorse on steeper slopes naturally support acid grassland and bracken along some hedgerows and road verges and heathy habitats. In areas of unimproved pasture on the steepest • Tree cover defined by scattered hedgerow trees and patches of slopes, patches of acid grassland woodland persist. Where this grassland has • Small to medium sized regular and sub-regular fields with become neglected, gorse is mixed species hedgerows beginning to colonise and there are • Sparsely settled landscape with the very occasional red brick some sizeable patches of gorse and Staffordshire blue clay tile farmsteads and roadside cottages thicket. In other areas of neglected pasture and grassland some localised scrub has developed. Geology and Landform variable depth, depending upon the steepness of slope. These soils are Another habitat type of this This is a landscape associated with well-drained and, where managed, landscape is woodland which moderate to steeply sloping valleys readily absorb winter rainfall even features as small patches and slopes created by an on the steepest slopes. throughout but is rarely a prominent underlying geology of Permo- visual feature. It tends to occur on Triassic Sandstone. Differential The relatively steep slopes and the steeper, upper slopes where erosion along the slopes, impoverished nature of the soils land is less cultivable. particularly those facing west, has ensures that pasture predominates. created a series of visually However, where the slopes are Ecological corridors are variable prominent, rounded undulations moderately steep or gentle, the depending to some extent upon the and hillocks. agriculture is more mixed with some enclosure patterns and land-use. In arable cropping. Water retention is areas of smaller, irregular fields, the Soils and Land-Use poor and areas under arable hedgerows are commonly mixed production need regular irrigation species with holly, hazel and The sandstone bedrock gives rise during the summer months. Topsoil blackthorn. In areas of mixed to a reddish, coarse, sandy loam of can dry out very quickly and in Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.13 farming and larger fields, the being more visually prominent in brick with Staffordshire blue clay hedgerow network is more areas of mixed farming. On steeper tile roofs, with sandstone having fragmented and beginning to lose slopes where woodland is been reserved mainly for churches its ecological function. In areas of traditionally more prevalent, fields and larger estate houses. In areas late enclosure hedgerows are may be smaller in size and more of remnant parkland, larger estate generally single species hawthorn. irregular in shape. farms and cottages are evident. In areas of former common there are Large mature hedgerow trees and Hedgerows are predominantly small groups of wayside cottages. the occasional parkland tree add to hawthorn, though in areas of semi- the ecological diversity. regular fields or along historic There are remains of medieval deer boundaries, the hedgerows are parks, notably Mansell Park and Tree Cover more diverse, including species like Ravensdale Park, associated with a hazel and holly. once extensive hunting forest; Tree cover is apparent throughout Duffield Frith was established this landscape type but is rarely Transport shortly after the Norman Conquest. visually prominent. There are Today there remain many scattered boundary trees along Lanes through this landscape are fragmentary features including park hedgerows, often a mix of oak and infrequent and often restricted to a pale, deer chase, old routeways ash. These are sparsely scattered in single route running through the and former fishponds. areas of mixed farming. valley bottoms or gentler gradients. When the occasional lane runs up a There are small woodlands usually slope it is invariably winding with associated with the steeper, less irregular width verges and often cultivable areas. The overall sunken. In areas of former common, character is one of a well-treed like that at , the lanes landscape, but the undulating are straight and direct with wide, nature of the landform ensures that uniform road verges. whilst there are open views across adjacent country, views through the Built Environment Ravensdale Park deer chase landscape and along the slopes are often blocked or filtered by trees. Settlement has been sparse in this The main environmental impacts on landscape primarily due to steep, this landscape are large scale sand Enclosure uncultivable slopes, although there and gravel quarrying, a concrete are occasional farmsteads and products factory and modern farm Fields are predominantly small to cottages. Traditional building buildings, including large chicken medium size and regular in outline, materials are almost exclusively red sheds.

Summary

The underlying geology of Permo-Triassic Sandstone strongly influences both the physical and cultural characteristics of this landscape. The harder, more resistant sandstone weathers away more slowly to form this undulating landform of steep valley sides and slopes. Differential erosion has created visually prominent, rounded undulations and hillocks, most obvious on the west facing slopes.

Trees are well represented throughout, mainly as scattered hedgerow trees and the occasional small woodland. Views through the landscape are often restricted by both vegetation and landform, although there are views out across lower lying landscapes, particularly where this landscape occurs as a discrete slope.

The land-use is variable, depending upon the steepness of the slopes. It predominates as pasture with some mixed farming and arable on the gentler slopes. Where the pasture remains less intensive, there are areas of acid grassland. These support localised patches of gorse where the pasture is further neglected. This heathy association, as a result of the free-draining soils, is further evidenced by the amount of bracken that can be seen in road verges, hedgerows and woodland margins.

As a result of the low agricultural potential of this landscape, primarily due to landform, there is very little settlement throughout this landscape type. Some of the more remote slopes are unsettled whilst others have sparsely scattered farmsteads and estate cottages, built in the local red brick with Staffordshire blue clay tile roofs. In areas of former common there are small collections of wayside cottages. Remains of elements of a medieval deer park at Ravensdale constitute an impressive relict landscape.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.14 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SANDSTONE SLOPES AND HEATHS

Planting and Management Guidelines

Moderate to steeply undulating pastoral landscape with thinly scattered plantations and hedgerow trees.

Primary woodland character: Thinly scattered small broadleaved plantations

Primary tree character: Thinly scattered hedgerow trees

Woodland vision: Thinly scattered small broadleaved plantations

Tree vision: Thinly scattered hedgerow trees

Typical woodland size range: 0.5 - 10ha small

Woodland pattern: Regular plantations

• Ensure the use of indigenous tree and shrub species, including a proportion of large, long-lived species. • Ensure a balance is maintained between new woodland planting and areas of nature conservation value.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.15 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: SANDSTONE SLOPES AND HEATHS

Woodland Species Mix

Neutral/ Slightly Acidic Soils

Primary Tree Species 50% Acer campestre Field Maple Fraxinus excelsior Ash Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak

Secondary Tree Species 20% Major Betula pendula Silver Birch Malus sylvestris Crab Apple

Minor Populus tremula Aspen Prunus avium Wild Cherry Prunus padus Bird Cherry Salix cinerea Grey Willow Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Taxus baccata Yew

Shrubs 10-30% Major Corylus avellana Hazel Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn

Minor Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Rosa canina Dog Rose Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose

Open space 0-20%

Hedgerow Species Mix

Suitable hedgerow plants Suitable hedgerow trees

Primary 70-75% Primary 70-75% Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Fraxinus excelsior Ash

Secondary 25-30% Secondary 25-30% Acer campestre Field Maple Acer campestre Field Maple Corylus avellana Hazel Ilex aquifolium Holly Occasional 0-5%* Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Malus sylvestris Crab Apple Prunus avium Wild Cherry Occasional 0-5% Prunus padus Bird Cherry Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn * only to be used if occurring locally Rosa canina Dog Rose within the landscape character type Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.16 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: ESTATE FARMLANDS A broad, gently rolling lowland mixed farming landscape with occasional red brick villages, scattered estate farmsteads and country houses. Tree cover is well represented with small estate woodlands, dense watercourse trees, scattered hedgerow trees and localised parkland trees.

land-use within this landscape type Key Characteristics is mixed farming, with intensive arable cropping and improved • Gently rolling lowland dissected by minor river valleys permanent pasture. Pasture is • Seasonally waterlogged fine loamy soils over Permo-Triassic most prevalent on the slightly Mudstones, Siltstones and Sandstones heavier soils over mudstone and on • Mixed farming with intensive arable cropping and improved the locally steeper slopes. permanent pasture • Prominent estate woodlands with broadleaf and coniferous Ecology species • Scattered oak and ash trees along hedgerows Ecologically, this landscape type is poor as a result of intensive farming • Dense lines of trees along streams practices. The arable crops and • Small to medium size semi-regular and regular fields enclosed improved permanent pastures and by hedgerows leys are of little ecological value. • Small villages constructed of red brick with Staffordshire blue Remnant unimproved grassland is clay tiled roofs now confined to the road margins • Scattered red brick estate farmsteads and the occasional and the occasional field margin in country house pastoral areas.

Geology and Landform Soils and Land-Use Terrestrial corridors are strong with many good hedgerows and lines of The undulating geology comprises The underlying geology supports a trees along watercourses. The of alternating bands of Permo- deep, fine loamy soil with some value of some hedgerows has been Triassic Mudstones, Siltstones and slight local variation based on the much reduced by poor Sandstones. The differential precise nature of the bedrock. The management, with many weathering and erosion of the subsoils are slowly permeable so hedgerows over-flailed and bedrock has given rise to a gently these soils are prone to some becoming gappy. rolling topography where the harder seasonal waterlogging, although sandstone forms the shallow ridges only for short periods. Numerous small woodland blocks and hills. Where sandstone is more interlink, forming a more complex prevalent in the bedrock the The landform and soils collectively network of habitats supplementing landform becomes more undulating form land of above average quality the terrestrial corridors. The value with steeper slopes. for agriculture and, as a result, the of some woodland blocks is

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.17 diminished by virtue of their more Enclosure verges connect the small villages ornamental nature and composition and scattered estate farmsteads. of coniferous and non-native This is a landscape of small to species. medium size fields, which are There are many footpaths and predominantly sub-regular in shape green lanes which also connect the Wet pasture and patches of marsh but display much local variation in settlements. Many of these are with Juncus are a feature of some of pattern as a result of the area's historic routeways and are often the minor stream valleys. Mercaston diverse history of enclosure. The bound by hedgerows with a diverse Marsh is an important wetland intensification in arable farming in species composition. meadow site and is a designated recent years has led to the loss of SSSI. It exhibits a range of habitats many field boundaries with Built Environment which would once have been much numerous small fields more widespread in other stream amalgamated into larger units. This is a sparsely populated valleys that dissect this landscape. landscape. At Kedleston, this is the Around villages the fields tend to be result of the removal of the village, Bracken is occasionally present in smaller and semi-regular in shape, as part of the creation of the road verges being indicative of a reflecting the enclosure of land from landscaped park. Villages, like heathier habitat. This is most former open fields. Where these Weston Underwood and notable where the soils are freer boundaries remain in good Mercaston, tend to be small and draining, over sandstone or on condition, the reverse ‘S' of former nucleated, often being located steeper slopes. selion strips can still be seen. In away from modern through routes. these areas of earlier enclosure, Most of these settlements have Tree Cover many of the hedgerows contain a grown relatively little, although good variety of species including modern infill development is Trees and especially woodlands are holly, hazel, blackthorn and beginning to modify their original well represented in this landscape hawthorn. loose knit character. type and play an important role in emphasising its estate character. Where land was enclosed from Between the villages there are Scattered, mature boundary trees, former parkland, the field pattern sparsely scattered large estate usually a mix of oak and ash, are has a larger scale and regular farmsteads, built in the local red found along most hedgerows. The outline and, as a result, has less brick with Staffordshire blue clay wooded character is reinforced by diverse hedgerows with hawthorn tile roofs. dense lines of trees along as the main species. watercourses, typically alder and A key feature of this landscape and willow but also the occasional oak Today the estate influence is still quintessential to its character is the or ash. In and around the small evident. Many of the hedgerows are Kedleston Estate. Kedleston Hall is villages amenity trees are formally managed and regularly flail a Grade 1 listed building and a prominent, as are the parkland trees cut into a box or trapezoid outline. superb example of a Georgian where they occur. country house. The house, its Transport pleasure gardens and associated Woodlands tend to occur as small buildings stand within an estate plantations, tree belts and There is a dense network of outstanding landscaped park, all small coverts, formerly managed by winding lanes that reflect the designed by Robert Adam. The estates for game rearing. As a irregular outline of the semi-regular pleasure gardens and park are a result, much of the estate fields or follow the easier gradients. Grade 1 Registered Park and woodlands are predominantly These lanes with irregular width Garden. broadleaf species and have regular shaped outlines. Locally around Kedleston Park, the landscape appears to be more wooded due in part to the existence of some much larger woodlands.

Together the trees combine to restrict or filter views through the landscape. Where hedgerow trees are less obvious, woodland blocks may assist in framing longer views to landscapes beyond.

Kedleston Hall

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.18 Summary

The landform and topography is shaped by the underlying sequence of Permo-Triassic Mudstones, Siltstones and Sandstones. The differential weathering of this geology gives rise to a gently rolling landscape, locally undulating where the sandstone is more prevalent. Although there is some local variation in soils, relating to the variations in both geology and landform, they tend to be free-draining fine loams that are prone to short-lived seasonal waterlogging.

However, it is not the physical factors that are most influencing the character of this landscape but its cultural associations with large estates and parks. These include both existing parks like that at Kedleston and former parks such as Meynell Langley.

Woodland is a dominant feature, affecting the character of the landscape, and influencing the views through it and from it to adjacent landscapes. The estate influences are clearly evident, with many of the woodlands being mixed species plantations, managed as game coverts or for commercial timber. The woodlands are generally small in size and have regular outlines. The wooded character of this landscape is further emphasised by dense lines of watercourse trees and scattered hedgerow trees.

The landscape is perceived as medium scale due to the small to medium size fields between the trees and woodlands. The fields display a variety of patterns, reflecting the diverse nature of enclosure and more recent effects of agricultural intensification. Many of the hedgerows are well-managed, and sometimes over- managed, by flail cutting.

At the heart of this landscape lies Kedleston Hall, one of the finest country houses in , standing in an idealised ‘classical' parkland landscape.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.19 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: ESTATE FARMLANDS

Planting and Management Guidelines

A gently rolling mixed farming landscape with densely scattered small estate plantations, hedgerow trees and watercourse trees.

Primary woodland character: Densely scattered small mainly broadleaved plantations

Primary tree character: Densely scattered hedgerow and dense watercourse trees

Woodland vision: Densely scattered small mainly broadleaved plantations

Tree vision: Densely scattered hedgerow and dense watercourse trees

Typical woodland size range: 0.5 - 5ha small

Woodland pattern: Regular plantations

• Small-medium scale woodland planting. • Promote linked extensions to ancient woodland by natural regeneration and planting. • Re-establish and enhance physical links between existing isolated woodland and hedgerows. • Enhance the visual and ecological continuity or river corridors by management, natural regeneration and planting of riparian trees.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.20 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: ESTATE FARMLANDS

Woodland Species Mix Neutral/ Slightly Acidic Soils Waterlogged Conditions on all soil types Primary Tree Species 50% Primary Tree Species 50% Acer campestre Field Maple † Alnus glutinosa Alder Fraxinus excelsior Ash † Salix fragilis Crack Willow Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak

Secondary Tree Species 20% Secondary Tree Species 20% Major Major Betula pendula Silver Birch Betula pubescens Downy Birch Malus sylvestris Crab Apple Salix caprea Goat Willow

Minor Minor Populus tremula Aspen Populus tremula Aspen Prunus avium Wild Cherry Prunus padus Bird Cherry Salix cinerea Grey Willow Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Taxus baccata Yew

Shrubs 10-30% Shrubs 10-30% Major Major Corylus avellana Hazel Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Minor Minor Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Ilex aquifolium Holly Salix purpurea Purple Willow Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Salix triandra Almond Willow Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Salix viminalis Osier Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Rosa canina Dog Rose Viburnum opulus Guelder Rose

Open space 0-20% Open space 0-20%

† Watercourse Trees - tree species most appropriate for planting as watercourse trees.

Hedgerow Species Mix

Suitable hedgerow plants Suitable hedgerow trees

Primary 70-75% Primary 70-75% Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Fraxinus excelsior Ash Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak Secondary 25-30% Acer campestre Field Maple Secondary 25-30% Corylus avellana Hazel Acer campestre Field Maple Ilex aquifolium Holly Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Occasional 0-5%* Malus sylvestris Crab Apple Occasional 0-5% Prunus avium Wild Cherry Cornus sanguinea Dogwood Prunus padus Bird Cherry Lonicera periclymenum Honeysuckle Sorbus aucuparia Rowan Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Rosa canina Dog Rose * only to be used if occurring locally within the landscape character type

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.21 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: RIVERSIDE MEADOWS Flat flood plains, containing meandering rivers and streams with dense trees along riverbanks. A pastoral landscape of large, hedged fields with trees scattered along boundaries.

Ecology Key Characteristics The Sutton Brook and its tributaries • Flat flood plains containing meandering rivers and streams are narrow with unpolluted water • Seasonally waterlogged soils over alluvium making it very valuable as a • Permanent pasture freshwater habitat. The River Dove is • Localised patches of rushes in damp hollows fairly wide and deep with relatively • Scattered locally dense trees along watercourses; widespread clean water. All these watercourses alder and localised willow are important wildlife habitats, as • Scattered trees along boundaries are their banks and margins. Some • Regular shaped fields bounded by hawthorn hedges old oxbow lakes, such as Old Marston SSSI, are diverse habitats • Lanes alongside or crossing the flood plain of value as part of the river corridor. • Active and disused railway lines with secondary woodland along embankments The remaining unimproved pasture occurs in concentrations along the Geology and Landform Soils and Land-Use Dove, north of . Pasture with a high water table and where The underlying sediment of these The soils are seasonally waterlogged the soil is permanently wet is flat flood plains consists of alluvial clayey loams. Some areas are more important ecologically for its mud lying over gravels, deposited permanently waterlogged and some species-rich flora, ground beetles by the rivers in times of flood. The hollows retain floodwater long after and birds, such as curlew and gravel acts as an aquifer carrying the majority of floods have subsided. snipe. However, such habitats are water from the adjoining land into The predominant land-use is becoming increasingly rare, as the rivers and so is permanently pastoral. former pastures have often been waterlogged. In places there are converted to arable following natural raised banks to the rivers The flood plain makes good quality drainage improvements. known as levees. These are formed fattening pastures. The wet, fine as a result of the deposition of textured soils and risk of flooding Further habitat diversity is provided sediment by waning floodwaters. make the land difficult to work for by bands of scrub and secondary The upper flood plain brooks are arable cropping, although some woodland that fringe transport narrow, such as Sutton and arable fields can be found in the corridors. Markeaton Brook. The flood plain lower Dove Valley as a result of broadens out down the lower part of recent drainage improvements and Improved drainage, conversion to the Dove. flood protection measures. arable and localised culverting is

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.22 leading to a significant loss of There are also mature trees plain, raised on embankments that meadowland. scattered along fields boundaries, minimise the risk of flooding. chiefly oak, ash and willow. Occasionally, roads cross the valleys on bridges over the rivers. Both watercourse and boundary trees are noticeably denser in the The railways follow the floor of the more intimate landscape of the flood plain along the Dove, often on Sutton Brook valley, giving a more raised embankments. wooded aspect. Built Environment Enclosure Historically there would have been Pastoral grazing on the flood plain Fields are medium to large sized little built development on the flood and of sub-regular shape; the larger plain, excepting the occasional Tree Cover fields being found in the lower river water mill for grinding corn. There valleys. Many of the boundaries are are occasional farmsteads on the There are dense lines of trees along comprised of tall and gappy thorn higher, better drained areas. Due to riverbanks, mainly alder with hedgerows. Some fields have their unsuitability for built occasional willows. Some trees evidence of medieval ridge and development, some flood plain have been removed from the furrow. areas have been made over to riverbanks, as part of flood recreational use. Sections of the protection works, and there is die- Transport river and meadowland are lost back in other places. entirely in places where they have The lanes and major roads tend to been culverted or drained. run along the edge of the flood

Summary

This flat river meadow landscape is characterised by a narrow alluvium flood plain in the upper river and brook valleys, which broaden out in the lower Dove. The upper river and brook areas are more treed and, as they are also narrower, have filtered views and are more intimate. Views become more open as the tree cover becomes scattered along the lower stretches of the rivers, where there are less hedgerow trees and the flood plain widens.

Medium to large sized pastoral fields of sub-regular shape are enclosed by hedgerows, many of which are gappy and neglected. Historical ridge and furrow add local distinctiveness to the river meadow fields. Changes to river meadows, by the introduction of drainage schemes to produce improved pasture and arable farmland, are threatening the river meadow pastoral landscape.

Although largely unsettled, transport routes (road and railway) dominate the landscape in the lower Dove.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.23 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: RIVERSIDE MEADOWS

Planting and Management Guidelines

An open flood plain with dense watercourse trees.

Primary woodland character: Unwooded

Primary tree character: Dense watercourse trees

Woodland vision: Occasional small wet woodlands

Tree vision: Dense watercourse trees

Typical woodland size range: 0.5 - 5ha

Woodland pattern: Organic/ linear

• Ensure the use of indigenous tree and shrub species, including a proportion of large, long-lived species. • Ensure a balance is maintained between new woodland planting and areas of nature conservation value. • Enhance the visual and ecological continuity of river corridors by management, natural regeneration and planting of riparian trees. • Encourage the continuing practice of pollarding to maintain the traditional riparian character of the landscape.

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.24 Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands LANDSCAPE TYPE: RIVERSIDE MEADOWS

Woodland Species Mix Waterlogged Conditions on all soil types Primary Tree Species 50% † Alnus glutinosa Alder † Salix fragilis Crack Willow

Secondary Tree Species 20% Major Betula pubescens Downy Birch Salix caprea Goat Willow

Minor Ilex aquifolium Holly Populus tremula Aspen

Shrubs 10-30% Major Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn

Minor Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Rhamnus cathartica Purging Buckthorn Salix purpurea Purple Willow Salix triandra Almond Willow Salix viminalis Osier

Open space 0-20%

† Watercourse Trees - tree species most appropriate for planting as watercourse trees.

Hedgerow Species Mix

Suitable hedgerow plants Suitable hedgerow trees

Primary 85-100% Primary 70-75% Crataegus monogyna Hawthorn Fraxinus excelsior Ash Quercus robur Pedunculate Oak Occasional 0-15% Salix fragilis Crack Willow Acer campestre Field Maple Prunus spinosa Blackthorn Secondary 25-30% Acer campestre Field Maple

Occasional 0-5%* Malus sylvestris Crab Apple Prunus avium Wild Cherry Prunus padus Bird Cherry Sorbus aucuparia Rowan

* only to be used if occurring locally within the landscape character type

Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands Character Area 68 Part 1 - 6.25