Boughton Monchelsea Parish Landscape masterplan/management plan INTRODUCTION

Landscape advice with two goals • To inform the Neighbourhood Development Plan • To create a Landscape masterplan/management plan, setting out practical goals for improving, managing and using landscape resources within the parish for the benefit of residents

South of the parish, focus is on protecting and sustaining the existing landscape, keeping change to a minimum.

North of the parish, where pressure for development is stronger, focus is on controlling and mitigating change as well as on protection.

Five pieces of work 1. Landscape Character Review 2. Landscape Condition Review 3. Views Study 4. Recreation and Amenity Study (BMAT land) 5. Access and Movement Study (BMAT land)

.... leading to a set of Enhancement Proposals H L R T U R E S I I HM R O L Track E A G G V S 73m E A N R D Schools U H E E U L C R S E Senacre Wood I E D V E IO N V B A L A O C O 95m U O N N RO L I Primary School D A R N A D E D C M LANDSCAPE CHARACTER REVIEW L D G S V E 89m E Track P Stoneacre O R B R 96m A 90m Mast E O E K W E

R A R T N Recreation

Y A LYNLEY S D

W QUARE A Y S A S E I E P Y Ground Path M N L

S H H CL M TTENNISON N E C G O E E

L R P O N R E

T O D Lane R Pav S 85m G P Path G WAY O T O T N ARRAN N E V School I A N L I ELIZAB L A E T E ROA E S A R S V C HO R ROAD S CLO N E A 93m R S H D E E E S E F T E X I Track I H P R V E County URS Supermarket O E 96m W

E A D L LE IGH QUEEN Constabulary H D A Three Tees HO N 84m SAVIO EY V Headquarters LA NE

R E New Line ST N O Earthwork E A U Learning Academy E Recn Gd D L NO A N RR S C ING Five Acre QUEEN A U S ET TO R A D Z B T O B Sports Ground E L N I T T E A L TRINITY 95m N Wood AVENUE G H O N E O R E A SQ AVENU N Hole U N WA A T U A C Football Y H G DRIVE R T O R 98m RWIN R Playing A A Ground O E D E COVERDALE D N E S Path Field Path L O BS L E C LANSDOWNE L A V AVE N Hall BS A E I ROAD V E HTS N E R O NE'SKEELE R T E E C D E W E R AVE STRA C T 93m T OR CATHERI G TON H O F D T A D Cricket N L O T U 101m D ST L S S A O S O R O B School E DD I NGT N I E I P E C Ground L AVENUE Belts Wood R V LL O Mast LL M D C A WA E R G N A L A D H L LANSDOWNE N BS BS KEELE Y R N BS B O O CLARE A RT HL E I Co W B T O Track IG O 96m E H R Const R W S T C S HA M ROA D U E O C E L Kent County CLARE A C OS E K Bdy BS PENFOLD 92m E C BS LL SHA O R E I W TREE AV E NU Constabulary P BE G S P CL W BS N T Path W A LNU Training F D BS U L A D G R Wood F Y School I Y Path E Pav E B A S L 96m L A R E H L O L B D N T ' Y A A S W Aim R B A King George V D A C E S SUTTON GO Y W ULD WAY W L W I Track L L C

Playing Field A O L R ROA O DS N A N M L A A 90m S L LET Track W I C Track T E E R D S Y F A R E K U A O N LN A R F A LAMBERT O UT TR RHA M CL A K N E V E C BA T F E DRIVE LA NE V Bicknor 105m Loose Hill C U 95m BS Social E N MORRIS B A N O Farm P C E FARM AV Education U U E K E W E E O Centre N DR R HARLING I V LOCKHAM R A D E T Path A L 85m A 101m Track CO R N O L A229 G PP E L G N R P I COBNUT E CLOSE O Tree Top H T H Rumwood C L R S K IS O E R T H Academy B W Court E D G • General assessment of ‘what we’ve got’ D A W E 102m N Path M N RO A D I Path 80m B L Boughton A F L R A J BS Mount Halfway O S R E E H Spr Cottage F M NK NS DR V I R I I R M E Offs Path 101m O U Issues I A A N N V D A W E Wks E V C V A L LIS AWALLIS UX N W South E PA RK WOO D W A L D TO Spr N U K R OA N 27-11 UE E AVE RO Lodge K A W B D Falls Boughton Boughton Mount Y D Lockham Rosemary A B Path A L H L A A274 J I A Manor Farm VI O W T Gdns S N C O O T GS E R Path G T T R Y O N NE T WA E O L W K DM O Park Wood L Langley O E

• Highlight distinctions between different areas D T Y BS Sl BS B H Recreation Pav S A Weir O E R Track LB Wks W Vic Ground Y I D Path M P RO G E R A A D CL S Sl IFF RI DER W E DRIV E L S H EB RIDG H W O BS L I LL Weir I A S RO Y The Progress H

A A F D U 102m Hall Salts L R 103m Estate

T D S Path H W F C A SE

82m E A Farm IE D O R L L R

A C Sch S N 70m E 97m RA T E BS L G Heather L T HERONDEN T S O T H O ONE House Golf Driving Range Quarry The Quarries C Depot B D ROAD R • Whether distinctions are recorded accurately Wood F A I Path Spr O B Track Shaw M R N O Spr Chy E S 106m 27-12 R R W O 74m R A N Long O W L Path N 104m K K 27-15 M A A Q U Y C E I COLDRED Track T H A C R L B 85m RI I W ES F E Path work F Drain ROA H N IL A D L L L 106m Filmers Earth L Salts I 79m G H Beresfords N Workings Langley Park Farm Track I Bdy Timber Langley Park Farm Co H Primary Academy 87m S Lodge (disused) D Pp Ho Yard S Cottages I Farm R Const 90m R O B in mbc landscape character assessment F work Coombe S 102m Track Earth E Bank 80m R Beresfords 81m Path Track E Path B 104m Track FB ROMAN BUILDING 95m Campfield Track Barn Brishing 105m 105m Farm Cottage Court work Orchard C HR Industrial Track IS Path B R TE Stream Earth Hogtrough I N Estate 91m S H WA Shaw I NG Y Shaw RO 104m Sl A D 95m 93m TrackSl E 85m N Boat A 27-13L 83m House

E Track E Penfold Pond Sl Path Path R 90m H T A S T Lyewood Loch E E HI D N LL Farm L Drain C ROA Langley 99m A D 93m L L O

L 90m Mount Pleasant ' I Track 91m S A H V E S Farm N ' Track UE H TE Path D A S Path R The Path A Haste Hill G Tk M Plovers B R E E Cottage FB B A E C N U D W H L H A U O Track NE Elm House R W 27-14 Tk C V E VI 99m H RD

P I E 95m T Allot S W 86m R O T Gdns R RO U 105m E A O E D C 96m T Boughton BS

S I Path W Monchelsea E Path L

Track E N A 110m Pav L Track Cornwallis S Recreation ' Pleasant Academy Y D Acres 90m Ground 29 N A G Tilts Track Hall Farm Iden Farm 107m B2163 113m HE AT H R Cottage 112m OA D Track 104m The The Lodge Paddock P Monchelsea Process El A 101m Fleet R Farm Sub K Cock Court

Primary School Sta L Street Farley A Marlpit Farm Marlpit Linton P N 105m Park School W 115m E

Track Parsonage East Four Oaks Farm Lodge Ladys Earthwork (course Four 95m Pleasant Track Track BS of) Wents The Farm BS Co 96m Stables Resr Const Shaw Lodge (cov) Path New Barn • Initial desktop study Earthwork Lested L Cricket 120m Bdy Greeenacre Farm Path E

Farm S

Ground T Pav B2163 PL 103m E of) O UG H D Reservoir Earthwork W Earthwork E BS BA E NT Amber S L C K A (course N L A RO NE A N A Green D Cock Wood 110m E L Loddington 121m C Farm BS H

N Farm U Tilt's Wood O The R Track C W

T H

Vicarage I

E

G 117m

R N H 106m I T I 104m R D L O Riding D D L Earthwork Linton Park Track N School O (course of) N • Field observation L CO BF I L O Track Track

I V T A E

A Earthwork X N N

L 106m A BS E S FLD (course L Track 115m D of) A 112m Wierton M B ER L A WA RM LA K Track NE E ROA 106m D Pheasantry Grange Wood Amberfield Earthwork 110m Path Farm D

A

Track Track O Keepers Earthwork 111m 105m R

Track R Amberfield Path Cottage C 101m 101m 105m House L L M Home Track I MA RS HA

110m Track Farm Track H

T 110m

R

Track A Path Path 105m H 111m C 107m P Track Track 109m Loddington Track HallO Cuckoo Fields House 85m 105m 105m

Path W

Cuckoo Fields I 93m E 85m Track Track R Tk T 95m O The White Boughton N Almery Linton Park Lodge R Wierton Place D Cottages Path 90m Hall Path W 109m Path BS P Farm 110m 85m BOUGHTONW MONCHELSEA CP Wierton Place Ambercourt Track Track Issues Lodge

BS Path Path Path Cavaliers 101m Deer Park Path 62m 3481m Ambercourt 105m Issues Issues Track Playing Issues Track Field Spr 105m Elmden Path 60m Wierton Path Issues East Hall Issues Hill Farm Farm Boat Mon BS Pleasant Field E N House Bungalow A 55m The Old W East Hall Path L Church Track Vicarage Barn N Farm Ladds Court O Tanyard Issues 83m T 52m East Track Farm L Track G

L N Church Farm Hall I I D Barn Track H Ladds Court Linton Park D Path Track O Track N L Sl Path L Sluice O L Chart Hill I 65m T

R

H E Spring Farm Key findings I L L Path Path L 60m L W The CH I A Weir A RT H Keepers H R Bungalow OA H D Cottage T C Track R S 56m U A H E Spr 84m C Issues Sinks Heronden Path Brick Kiln Wood Chart Mill Resr 45m

P

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• North of the parish, some land to join Urban E 45m N Ppg Sta

S Path

L 40m

A

N 39m 40m E Reservoir

34m Drain N G REE L UTT A Bdy Reservoir B NE 35m Track Track Path Extract of LandscapeDrain Character Review plan31m Const 28m Darnold Drain Area of category Co 30m Wood Gravitts Cottage Track Drain Key BS 37m Issues 30m Issues Track

The Mulberry Tree D Drain Whiteways A Existing LCA HERM (PH) Lucks O ITAG E Farm R LA N L Bishop's E Cottage IL Drain H Farm T R classifications A BS 31m H • Land immediately south of Heath Road not Tk C Hermitage LUC Track Boughton White Timber Lewis KS Corner L BS Lodge Horse Yard Row A Orchard N 26m E Path Gravitts 27-11 Boughton Farm 23m Farm Path Ranter's 20m Plantation Noons Farm

Drain BS 41 Horseshoe Boughton Quarries Noons Farm 27-12 23m Paddock 32m adequately distinguished from more E River Wood Bungalow N

A

L Path E

G Boughton Bottom D Lambs Cross I R Cottages B Farm E L 18m 28m I 27-13 Boughton Green Farmland T CHART SUTTON CP S 35m LANE Path Bottom 17m Farm Lamb's Cross 29m

F LONG O 31m Boughton 21m R Park Wood G Peacock Path Eel House Bottom E Farm FB L 27-14 Farm Farm 19m A

developed land to the north N

E Horticultural Land L Hollands O

W 30m E Farm FB R F Chart Track A 20m R Brookside M Grove R O Farm Drain A Langley Park Farm 19m D 27-15

18m Coach Drain House Boughton Monchelsea to White House 29 Farm 23m 17m 15m 26m Chart Sutton Plateau

FB Drain River Beult Charlton Farm Path Drain Chart Bottom 17m 34 Linton Greensand Ridge Charlton Farm Chart Edge Farm Cottage Farm Chart Hall Farm 22m Path Tk BS G Tk R E E White House N 41 Linton Park and Farmlands Puma L Track Track Farm A Lake 18m N Crabtree E 15m Farm BS Drain Drain FB FBs BS Track BS Drain Bridges Moat 58 Beult Valley Lake Farm Stile Bridge 58 Holbrook PH ROAD Sluice MBC Urban Area Tk Monk Lakes Co 17m Const FBs Bdy Mast Hertsfield Lake Farm 23m

Farm Monk ROMAN Lakes 17m Boundary 16m Mallard Lake Sluice House Hertsfield Little Track 23m Oakhurst Designations B2079 A229 Farm Cottages Tk Track 32m 16m Rabbit's Stilebridge Little 19m Nursery Hertsfield Knowlesden Cross Ancient Woodland FBs Farm L Drain M A

H

17m Path Ashurst S 18m Chart Little Barn R O Hurst Green 20m View Ashurst F Farm Reservoir Farmhouse Registered Parks and Gardens Rabbit's Cross Farm Ashurst Lodge Stilebridge Match Little Rabbits Sluice 21m Farm Barn Lakes Cross Non-registered 'other The Old Manor Nursery 15m House Drain Drain Devil's Den 14m Ashurst historic estates' The Gate 20m New Barn Nurseries Drain Track Farm Track Sluice Cottages Drain E

N

Drain

Drain A

L 15m Drain PH N Ashurst

O L Cottages Track

Y River Farm B Reservoir A Tk Elderden Stile Bridge 19m B 22m Farm 23m Farm 21m Proposed LCA BS Track S T Chart Hill Drain A Ashurst P changes L Paddock E Farm H Ashurst Court The U R Monk Lake Vines S Riverfield T Track R Path O Fish Farm 27m A D Area considered as 34-1 FB BS Chaney Court Kencol Drain 15m White House Farm Chaney Farm Bogden Court Track Drain Track Herstfield Oast Underling Green Bridges 17m Tk Branden Track Tk Farm Area to be re-classified as 34 Drain Bogden Kilmaley Weirs Farm House 19m Oast Drain 18m Drain Amhurst House 18m Potential Urban Area 16m Little Branden Drain The Shirley 16m Ashbed Wood

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the ControllerDrain of Her Majesty's Stationery 17m Home Farm Cross-at-Hand Track 16m Farm Office © HopCrown Garden Copyright Colvin and Moggridge Licence No. 1000 06329 Weir Barn LANDSCAPE CONDITION REVIEW

Aim • How resilient is the landscape infrastructure? • What risks to existing character? • Where can character be strengthened?

Method • Detailed field observation throughout parish of soft and hard landscape elements including hedges, woodland, individual trees, fences, walls, public rights of way, surface treatments and street furniture

Key findings • Roadside hedges generally well-managed and strong but some exceptions throughout the parish • Some roadside hedgerows entirely missing • Hedges within fields weaker • Small corner woodlands and narrow woodland margins vulnerable to decline • Village area affected by diverse, overtly urban styles of

public and private hard landscape example images: soft landscape VIEWS STUDY

Aim • Identify key views important to village character, amenity, orientation or local distinctiveness • Protect and conserve good views • Identify where improvements could strengthen character, increase attractiveness and improve perception of parish

Method • Detailed field observation • Deliberately focussed on village area

Key findings • Many attractive incidental views within village, particularly towards woodland • Views at the most important entry or focal points have attractive elements but are often cluttered and unflattering • Simplification and reduction in the influence of cars needed at key points

The green RECREATION AND AMENITY & ACCESS AND MOVEMENT STUDIES

Aim • Explore opportunities to improve outdoor recreation facilities and overall landscape amenity using bmat-owned land • Improve network of footpaths, cycleways and bridleways particularly to serve north ward using BMAT-owned land Key findings • Good opportunities for new informal recreation (walking, running, dog walking) • Opportunity for new more designated and managed community resource at Lyewood Farm • Opportunities to strengthen local character through management of woodlands and creation of new corner woodland and shelterbelts • Much of the BMAT land is best used as a buffer to development; retain in agriculture, preferably traditional orchards to strengthen local character • Potential for network of cycleways linking North Ward to Boughton Lane, The Quarries and North Loose • Potential for new bridleway linking The Quarries and Boughton Village • Potential for new footpath connection between primary school and Lyewood development ENHANCEMENT PROPOSALS

Landscape Enhancement Proposals A response to Introduction Combining the findings of the landscape character review, the views study, access and movement study, recreation and amenity study and the landscape 1 condition review, a number of enhancement opportunities have been identified throughout the parish. These form the basis of the Landscape Masterplan and Management Plan document as Parish Council aspirations, subject to budgetary constraints and further specialist advice. • Perceived weaknesses in landscape infrastructure and 2 3 4 5 The enhancements have varying goals, including: - improving visual coherence and quality - reinforcing or sustaining landscape character 6 - increasing ecological value and connectivity consequently, risks to landscape character - improving access and movement around the village, and 7 - providing better recreation facilities or services around the village. 13 15 Many of the proposals address more than one of these goals. 12 14 8 16 • Areas of poor appearance or character 9 11 17 Locations for 93no. proposed enhancement sites are indicated on the plan opposite and listed below, with text explaining both the goal and the nature of the 18 proposals. 10 27 26 First, please note that enhancement proposals have been made regardless of land ownership. Some relate to land owned by BMAT or the County Council, but 24 25 the majority of recommendations apply to privately-owned features. For that reason, the enhancement proposals are often framed in terms of encouraging or • Opportunities afforded by the bmat land holdings 19 promoting a particular course of action, rather than listing direct and immediate work tasks. 22 23 28 Second, enhancement recommendations are made only for landscape elements that could be seen in sufficient detail. This includes areas of publicly-accessible 20 21 32 land but also elements clearly visible from public highways or rights of way. Whilst this means that some features on private land have been omitted, those 31 29 included are the most prominent and key to the public appreciation of the parish landscape. 33 Finally, please note that these enhancement recommendations do not include or supersede standard ongoing maintenance practices. For example, only those 36 30 34 35 37 hedgerows and woodlands needing unusual or urgent intervention have been included in the list, but clearly ALL require routine periodic management to stay in good condition. 38 42 For quick reference, the enhancements being proposed have been separated into 10no. colour-coded categories, according to the work involved. The 41 appropriate colour or colours relating to each individual site are shown alongside the description. The different categories of work are: Aims 39 40 43 hedgerow repair or replanting 44 48 50 45 49 hedgerow maintenance • Sustain or strengthen landscape character 47 46 53 51 woodland management or replanting 52 specimen tree planting 54 • Improve visual coherence and quality, particularly 55 fencing and gate repair or installation 57 walling repair or installation 58 59 56 60 street furniture changes at gateways 61 surfacing changes 62 access improvements 63 65 • Increase ecological value and connectivity 64 miscellaneous 66 70 The enhancements will be organised into a number of manageable projects for implementation. Each project may be linked by type of work or, if more appropriate, by location and will be classed as short, medium or long term according to the difficulty, cost, sensitivity or logistics of implementation. Many 67 69 70 projects will require additional specialist advice to determine the exact work to be carried out, for example, qualified arboricultural advice will be sought in • Provide additional recreation facilities 68 relation to woodland management and regeneration. Major projects are highlighted in the text with a grey background. 76 75 70 70 71 • Improve access and movement 77 1 Cycleway creation 3 Path widening for cycleway creation, hedgerow replacement or 76 79 renovation/repair, fence replacement and hedgerow tree planting 78 80 74 73 82 81 Goal: To improve access 72 83 Action: Consider introduction of new permitted cycleway alongside Boughton Goal: To strengthen landscape character and improve access Lane through fields. Create entry point in hedge opposite footpath KM98 and Action: Consider incorporating a cycleway alongside the existing 85 86 84 adjacent to footpath KM56 (Eddington Lane), with cycle gates at KM98 end to footpath; clean back accumulated organic matter and verges to establish 87 slow exit onto dangerous road. Excavate a route parallel with existing hedge underlying path condition and width. Remove collapsed timber field but beyond rootzone, install suitable depth of sub-base material and macadam fence, hedge and trees on south side as necessary to accommodate wider wearing course. Install timber post and wire fence to field side. surface. If removal of hedge is not required, trim for density and shape, 88 88 and replace lengths of hedging that are beyond repair with new mix of Hawthorn, Blackthorn, Hazel and Field Maple, incorporating periodic Types of enhancement 89 2 Path widening for cycleway creation, fence and gate replacement and 90 individual hedgerow Oak and Poplar. Install new sub-base and macadam repair, shelterbelt planting and hedge replanting wearing course. Install cycle gate at northern end. 91 92 4 Footpath creation Many minor with possibly 4 or 5 more major projects Goal: To improve landscape quality and access 90 Action: Consider incorporating a cycleway alongside the existing footpath; clean back accumulated organic matter and overgrown path edges to establish Goal: To improve access underlying path condition. Install combined macadam footpath and cycleway, Action: Consider introduction of new permitted footpath alongside Boughton removing (and replacing) collapsed timber post and wire fence and patchy Lane through fields. Create entry point in hedge opposite footpath KM98 and • Hedgerow repair or planting • Walling repair or installation field hedge on south side as necessary. If removal of field fence and hedge run south to meet footpath KM55. Maintain existing grass surface and install is not required, replace fence in any case and renovate hedge by laying and timber post and wire fence to field side, with stile at each end. Return post and gapping up with mix of Hazel, Hawthorn and Field Maple. Remove defunct wire fencing alongside KM55. • Hedgerow maintenance Key kissing gate at Boughton Lane and replace with cycle gate to slow access • Street furniture changes Parish boundary onto public highway. Encourage long term replacement of metal palisade fence immediately adjacent to public right of way on north side with a lower Landscape enhancement areas post and wire field fence, and installation of shelterbelt planting behind. • Woodland management or planting • Surfacing changes Security fencing could be installed on other side of shelterbelt if still required. 93 Shelterbelt planting to be mix of Oak, Poplar, Field Maple, Hazel and Scots • Specimen tree planting • Access improvements Pine. • Fencing and gate repair or installation • Miscellaneous

Reproduced from Ordnance Survey mapping with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office Crown Copyright © Colvin and Moggridge Licence No. 1000 06329 Landscape Enhancement Proposals ENHANCEMENT PROPOSALS

Enhancement example: Village footpaths Proposals include fence repair and replacement, path widening, wall repair and management of overhanging vegetation

Enhancement example: Peens Lane hedge planting Reinstatement of mixed field hedge and hedgerow Oaks ENHANCEMENT PROPOSALS

Major enhancement example: The Green Other major examples: Heath Road junction Proposals include changes in parking permission, surface Proposals include reducing visual intrusion from fencing and treatment, tree planting, hedge planting, regularisation of railings, hedge and tree planting, relocation of zebra crossing and street furniture, and improving appearance of substation and additional parking soup kitchen ENHANCEMENT PROPOSALS

Implementation • In the first instance, proposals are made throughout the parish and are regardless of land ownership • Detailed consideration of the individual proposals by the Parish Council is needed to decide which to take forward • Some easy wins and some more complex projects • Negotiation and co-operation will be essential to make significant gains • Organisation into manageable projects linked by work type or location can follow once scope is agreed