Marden Green, Calne Landscape and Visual Appraisal and Landscape Strategy
ANNEX B
Extracts from Landscape Character Assessments
CE/232/06 Final_Planning Issue November 2012
Marden Green, Calne Landscape and Visual Appraisal and Landscape Strategy
National Character Area
CE/232/06 Final_Planning Issue November 2012 Character Area 117 Avon Vales
Key Characteristics
● Undulating clay vale with varied hedgerow pattern and a mixture of arable and pasture.
● Low ridges from which the frequent medium-size towns are viewed.
● Wide river corridor with ancient pattern of flood meadows but much influenced by modern development.
● Attractive, old, stone-built centres to market towns.
● Small woods.
● Large historic parks and mansions.
● Wide views across the area from the higher surrounding chalk downs. JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE
Landscape Character Avon Vales, a characteristic view: near Dauntsey Lock between Swindon and Chippenham. The Avon Vales are a low-lying clay-dominated landscape bounded by the dip slope of the Cotswolds to the west and However, it is the towns that make the area distinctive. by a band of Corallian Limestone and Greensand to the Some, like Malmesbury, are very ancient and most, east, with the Salisbury Plain and West Wiltshire Downs including Calne, Chippenham, Melksham and Trowbridge, beyond. In the south there is a gradual merging with the are dominated by attractive centres built of limestone clay of Blackmore Vale and the Vale of Wardour. ashlar, reflecting their post-medieval prosperity as centres of the wool trade. Many towns contain exceptional In contrast to the strong character of the nearby Downs and collections of buildings closely linked to the rivers and Cotswolds, the distinctiveness of the Vales is less obvious there is an interesting range of stone across the area from and lies as much in the settlement pattern and building styles rough brown Corallian Rag to the smooth splendours of along the Avon as in the countryside. It is a varied landscape Bath and Cotswold stone. Within a short distance of many with a considerable extent of open arable land with low of the towns there are large landscape parks, for example hedges, particularly in the west. However, there are many Bowood, some reflecting the work of major landscape areas of smaller fields, often with overgrown hedges and designers like Capability Brown, and it is around these pasture. The landform is generally flat, rising to long, low parks that many of the larger woodlands are found. Most ridges with small streams between them, often with willow of the towns lie close to the Avon. The floodplain is still pollards and occasional alders. The open quality is dominated by the low mounds of abandoned flood emphasised by the lack of hedgerow trees in some areas, a meadows and there are many attractive and remote areas consequence of Dutch Elm disease. There is, however, with pollards, alders and lush pasture. The Kennet and considerable local variation. On the northern boundary, for Avon Canal is an attractive feature in the south of the area. instance, an open, exposed, flat area around Brinkworth Brook contrasts abruptly with the undulating ground, Near the Avon and its tributaries there are pleasant, frequent hedges and hedgerow trees around Malmesbury. compact stone-built villages with spired churches and
62 Character Area 117 Avon Vales Area 117 boundary
Adjacent Area 107
Motorway
A Road
B Road
Railway and Station
County boundary GLOUCESTERSHIRE 107 Cotswold District boundary A433 District Shipton 9 Moyne
Easton Grey Malmesbury 108 Norton Corston
A429 Great Hullavington Somerford M4 Wootton Lower Stanton Bassett St Quinton Tockenham Wick 8 M4 Lyneham Tockenham Sutton Christian Church End Kington Benger Malford St Michael Bushton Kington Goatacre A350 Langley Foxham North Wiltshire District East Tytherton Hilmarton A420 Tytherton A3102 CHIPPENHAM Lucas Bremhill A4 WILTSHIRE
A350 Notton Calne A4 7 River Avon Lacock 116 107 Bowden Sandy Hill Lane Stockley Whitley A365 A342Bromham Broughton A3102 Gifford Melksham Bradford Rowde on-Avon Holt A365 A361 Devizes Kennet & Kennet District Avon Canal Seend 6 A363 Ashton Poulshot Stert Common Potterne A342 TROWBRIDGE Great Bulkington Hinton Wedhampton A366 Marston A360 A383 A36 Wingfield Steeple Urchfont A361 Ashton Southwick West North Ashton Great West Wiltshire District Coulston Cheverell Market Rode Bradley Hawkeridge Lavington SOMERSET Bratton Edington 600-800' Beckington 132 Mendip District 400-600' Westbury Oldford Dilton 200-400' A350 5
A361 Marsh Berkley ST 0 SU 0-200' A3098 A36 9 Upton Scudamore height above sea- FROME Chapmanslade level in feet 141 A362 Corsley WARMINSTER Heath
8 133 0 10km
63 manor houses which mirror the character and history of the high Middle Ages, there were probably extensive open towns although brick is also a frequent material. Around fields around most settlements. the larger villages and most of the towns there has been During the later Middle Ages new monastic sites were quite extensive 20th century development. Some of it is founded at places like Lacock and Stanley in addition to the sprawling and intrusive, as at the northern edges of Calne growth of the ancient foundation of Malmesbury. At the and Chippenham where there is an open landscape. dissolution of the monasteries the land acquired by gentry and noblemen formed the basis of large estates and ultimately of the imposing landscape parks like Spye or Bowood. Although in the Middle Ages wool and cloth had been important industries throughout Wiltshire, in the post-medieval period the processing and sale of cloth became concentrated along the Avon Valley and the ‘wool towns’. Prosperity continued through the 18th century and is reflected in the town houses and the mansions as well as the civic buildings. Although it remained competitive during the 19th century the industry gradually lost out to northern manufacturers. JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE
Avon Vales, Cowage Farm west of Malmesbury.
Physical Influences
This undulating area is dominated by the Oxford Clay and is cut through by numerous tributaries of the river Avon which drain westwards to join it on its generally southward course. There are gravels and other alluvial deposits along the river and the eastern boundary is formed by Corallian Limestone. JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE
Lacock village, an outstanding example of a village estate Historical and Cultural Influences vernacular cared for by the National Trust in the clay vale between Trowbridge and Chippenham. In contrast to the early clearance and ancient occupation of the Chalk areas of Wiltshire, the Vales’ major clearance and During the 20th century the towns continued to expand settlement probably took place much later and its period of although on the basis of their residential and light industrial prosperity did not come until the post-medieval period. outer areas rather than their traditional industries. With the building of the M4 there has been a major shift in expansion Prehistoric occupation is evident. The area was overlooked to the adjacent towns. Although the area’s association with by hillforts and barrows on the surrounding high ground of writers and artists, apart from regional novelists, are few, it the Cotswolds and the Chalk downs. Bath, just outside the has great cultural significance as the location of many designed area, was a major Roman centre but there is limited Roman historic parks and the work of Capability Brown in particular. evidence from within. In the Saxon period the locations of the later towns like Calne along, or easily accessible from, Buildings and Settlement the Avon began to emerge as major centres and Malmesbury was one of the great ecclesiastical sites of pre- Most of the major settlements lie along the Avon, which Conquest England. Although much of the area lay within must have been the major axis of communication until the the later medieval forests of Chippenham, Melksham and turnpike roads and the Kennet and Avon Canal was built. Selwood, the placenames indicate that by the Saxon period Around the historic cores of the towns, built of a variety much of the land had been cleared. The principal of stones ranging from the warm yellow of Cotswold stone settlements of the tons and hams were along the river and to cold grey limestone and the rough brown of the low-lying ground but there were considerable patches of Corallian Rag, much of the settlement is 19th and 20th woodland marked by leah and wood names, for instance century. It extends out along the principal roads but with around Bowood. Commons were also frequent and, in the the river and stream corridors forming frequently quite 64 wide green corridors in between. The towns are linked by ● With such a dense network of settlements and industrial valley bottom roads but also by longer distance ridgeline activity there are more substantial urban fringe areas than roads like the A4 Great Western Road. in neighbouring landscapes. The ‘land in between’ is often neglected. Outside the towns, the villages are generally clustered along stream sides and linked by narrow, winding lanes ● Several major roads cut through the area and there is which also serve the scattered farmsteads. On areas of pressure for roadside development. Infill between former common there is settlement spread out along the settlements and bypasses or realigned roads is roadside with a dense network of tracks and pathways. widespread. New roads need to take account of the subtleties in the landform.
● Agricultural intensification has led to hedgerow loss and neglect. Fields have been enlarged and areas of ridge and furrow lost, as well as hay meadows.
Shaping the Future
● Although many of the major historic parks are already in sound management many of the lesser parks would benefit from further conservation.
● The valley bottom wetlands are an important characteristic of the area.
● There is scope, in both landscape and nature- conservation terms, for the enhancement of the more degraded agricultural landscapes.
● Design guidance for historic settlements would help to
JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE re-establish their sense of identity. Caen Hill lock flight on the Kennet and Avon Canal climbs out of the Vale west of Devizes. ● New housing throughout the area needs to use materials and styles in keeping with its diversity. The transitions Land Cover of such diversity across the area need to be respected.
Away from the built-up areas, the land cover is Selected References predominantly agricultural with a mosaic of arable and pasture uses. The hedge cover on the arable land is often Watkin, B (1989), A History of Wiltshire, Phillimore, poor. However in the pasture areas, especially the lower- Chichester. lying meadows around the many small streams, the hedges are frequent and overgrown. Hedgerow trees are also characteristic. Woodland is concentrated in a few areas, notably the large complex of mixed and deciduous woodland between Chittoe and Studley. However it is also present on former commons and on the steeper slopes around places like Lyneham. Some areas are very open, affected by the clearance of hedges and loss of trees from Dutch Elm disease, such as the land just north of the M4. Military airfields are also conspicuous features.
The Changing Countryside
● The area is surrounded by high-quality designated JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE AGENCY JOHN TYLER/COUNTRYSIDE landscapes which are strongly protected. This, and the landform of the Avon Vales, mean that there is intense Bowden Hill Church,Wiltshire: on the Jurassic limestones above the Avon Vale near Lacock. pressure for commercial, residential and industrial development. Other uses, such as landfill, are widespread. 65
Marden Green, Calne Landscape and Visual Appraisal and Landscape Strategy
Extracts from Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment
CE/232/06 Final_Planning Issue November 2012 DecDecemberember 22005005
Wiiltshirltshire LLandscapeandscape CharCharacacterter AAssessmen ssessmen t
FFINALINAL REPOREPOR T
Preeparpareedd oonn bbehalfehalf ofo WWii ltshirtshire Counount y Councilouncil By LandLand Usese Consultanonsultantsts
IISBNSBN 00-86080-508-5-86080-508- 12A
11B 8A
8A
11A
9A 16A 4A 9A 12B 1B
9A 10A 5A 7C 1A 8
2A 6 3 2 5 8 D L A o N e c n
10B e c i 15A L C U L , t h g i
11C r y p o
2B C n w o r C , e c i f f O y r e n o
3B i t a 6A t S s '
3A y t s e j a M
7A r e H f 5D o r e l l o r
5E t n o C
2E e h T 6B 5C f o
2E n o 3C i s s i
7A m r e p e
7B h t h t
7B i
14A w n o i 13A t 2F a m r o f n i
5F y
6C e
2C v
5B r
7B u S e
2D c n a n d r 14B O m o r f d e c u d o r p e R
file:S:\3700\3773 Wilts LCA Amendments\GIS\Themes\ WILTSHIRE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT ArcGIS9\3253-01_WiltsLCA_fig-19_LCA_Altered.mxd Figure 19: Landscape Character Areas Kilometres Key County Boundaries 0 1 2 4 Landscape Character Types LAND USE CONSULTANTS 1 Open Downland 5 Chalk RiverValley 9 LimestoneWold 13 Wooded ClayVale 43 Chalton Street 2 Wooded Downland 6 Greensand Terrace 10 LimestoneValleys 14 Forest-Heathland Mosaic London, NW1 1JD Ph: 020 7383 5784 3 High Chalk Plain 7 Wooded Greensand Hills 11 Rolling Clay Lowland 15 Greensand Vale Fax: 020 7383 4798 4 Low Chalk Plain & Scrap 8 Limestone Ridge 12 Open Clay Vale 16 Limestone Lowland www.landuse.co.uk LANDSCAPE TYPE 11: ROLLING CLAY LOWLAND 11: ROLLING CLAY LOWLAND
12A
11B 8A
8A 11A
9A 16A 9A 4A 12B 1B 9A 10A 5A 7C 1A 2A
10B 15A
11C 2B
3B 6A 3A 7A 5D 5E 2E 6B
5C 68 2E
3C 8523 D L
7A A o 7B N nce ce 7B i 14A UC L L ,
13A ht g
2F i r y p
5F Co 6C n w 7B 5B 2C o Cr , ce i
2D f f O y r ne o i 14B t a t S s ' y t s e j a M r e H f o r e l l o r nt Co e h T f o n o i s s i m r
LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREAS pe e h t h t i w n o i t
11A: Calne Rolling Clay Lowland a m r o f n i y
11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland e v r u S ce n
11C: Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland a n d r O m
Urban Area o r f d e uc d o pr e R TYPE 11: ROLLING CLAY LOWLAND
DESCRIPTION
Location and boundaries The Rolling Clay Lowland Landscape Type is a group of low lying areas founded on Clay and situated broadly to the north west of the county. There are three areas in the type: 11A: Swindon-Calne Rolling Clay Lowland sited centrally in the northern half of the county; 11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland further to the north; and 11C: Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland to the west. Boundaries are defined by changes in topography, geology and land cover, for instance Area 11A: Swindon Calne Rolling Clay Lowland is largely bounded by the more elevated areas to west and east and boundaries follow contours at the base of the slopes. Other boundaries are less clearly defined as for the boundary between Area 11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland and Area 16A: Malmesbury-Corsham Limestone Lowlands where the boundaries are along roads that broadly follow the change in geology and land cover to the more wooded landscape of the Limestone Lowlands.
Key characteristics • Gently rolling lowland based on Clay.
• Mixed arable and pastoral land use with pasture concentrated around the water courses.
• Variable field pattern with network of full hedgerows and mature hedgerow trees.
• Presence of streams marked by lines of willows and crossed by modest bridges.
• Woodland blocks including some ancient woodland and wet woodland of high ecological value plus scattered mature trees.
• Small number of meadows of neutral and unimproved grassland.
• Scattered settlement of towns, small villages and farmsteads, many using vernacular materials of brick, half timber, stone, tiles and thatch.
• Roads largely minor and rural with a few trunk roads and sections of motorway.
• Views vary from semi-enclosed by intact hedgerows, riparian vegetation and woodland blocks to more open with views to the rising scarps of the chalk uplands.
• A largely peaceful, rural landscape.
Physical influences The Rolling Clay Lowland Landscape Type is a gently undulating landscape with areas 11A: Swindon Calne Rolling Clay Lowland and 11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland varying from 70 to 130m AOD and area 11C: Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland ranging from 50 to 80m AOD. The type is largely founded on Clay of the Jurassic period with Oxford Clay underlaying area 11B
Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment 119 Land Use Consultants
Final Report December 2005 and Ampthill Clay and Kimmeridge Clay under 11A and the eastern section of 11B. To the west of 11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland there are Corallian and Cornbrash limestones. The underlying clay geology and the many small watercourses give rise to seasonally wet soils of deep clay and loam to clayey soil over shale.
Biodiversity The Rolling Clay Lowland Landscape Type is dominated by a mix of intensively farmed arable and pasture. The landscape is a valuable habitat for bats. The chief elements of biodiversity interest are the woods scattered at varying degrees of density across the agricultural land. The largest blocks and highest density of coverage occurs in area 11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland signifying the remains of the Royal Hunting Forest of Braydon. Here there are a number of ancient and semi-natural woodlands including the largest semi-natural remnant of the Forest, Ravensroost Wood SSSI, a botanically rich wet ash-wych elm and wet ash-maple woodland with a coppice with standards structure that is a legacy of many years of consistent management. Another example of ancient woodland is Picket and Clanger Wood SSSI in 11C. Here despite extensive conifer planting and lack of maintenance of the coppice, there is a rich semi-natural vegetation of broadleaved woodland of pedunculate oak, ash and hornbeam. Green Lane and Biss Wood in Trowbridge Clay Vale is of international importance for bats particularly Bechsteins (maternity roosts) and also Barbestelle and Horseshoe bats. Amongst the pattern of arable and pasture there are some isolated areas of traditionally managed hay meadow such as Cloatley Manor Farm SSSI, Goldborough Farm SSSI and Emmett Hill Meadows SSSI. County Wildlife Sites include: Clyffe Pypard Wood, an ancient semi-natural woodland with some active coppice; Morningside Farm Meadows, unimproved/semi-improved neutral meadows with good species diversity including great burnet and pepper saxifrage; and Somerfield Common Wood, a large wood with remnant semi-natural broadleaved woodland and unimproved neutral grassland glades - this site has a rich butterfly assemblage, which includes brown hairstreak, marsh fritillary and grizzled skipper. Historic environment The lowland Clay areas of Wiltshire contrast with the Chalk landscapes in their much later settlement and clearance. In the Saxon period the locations of later towns like Calne began to emerge as centres of population while the pattern of villages derives from the more populous medieval times. The presence of Braydon Forest, a Royal Hunting Forest has influenced the landscape of area 11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland where there are still substantial blocks of semi-natural woodland. Much of the traditional field pattern has been replaced by large open fields of arable or improved pasture for intensive farming methods, however substantial area of smaller, more sinuous fields survive particularly in Area 11C: Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland. Surviving traces of medieval ridge and furrow have often been enclosed by hedgerows in the 18th or 19th centuries forming a valuable two phased landscape.
Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment 120 Land Use Consultants
Final Report December 2005 Settlement and built character Settlement within the Rolling Clay Lowland generally follows a pattern of sparsely scattered small nucleated villages with farmsteads. There are a few towns; Calne, Westbury and the larger settlements of Trowbridge and Swindon. Brick built buildings reflect the widespread use of the local clay, with red tiled roofs also common. There are some older stone dwellings with stone slated roofs reflecting the influence of the Limestone areas to the west. Views to the large scale industrial buildings on the outskirts of Trowbridge and Swindon and noise and light pollution from urban centres and transport corridors detract from the rural, tranquil feel of the adjacent areas.
CHARACTER AREAS
11A: Swindon-Calne Rolling Clay Lowland The Swindon-Calne Rolling Clay Lowland is a long, narrow gently undulating area sandwiched between the uplands of 4A: Avebury Plain and 8A: Swindon-Lyneham Limestone Ridge. Views to the surrounding hills and chalk scarp emphasise the comparatively level and open character of the area. The Swindon-Calne Rolling Clay Lowland is a mix of arable and pasture with the former more prominent to the north above Swindon. The arable fields tend to be large scale and rectangular with a mix of medium sized irregular fields and small regular strips to the south. Fields are bounded by hedgerows although these have been replaced by fences in some areas and hedgerow trees are sparse. The hedges, scattered small woodland blocks (some ancient) and riparian vegetation particularly willows, give a more enclosed and rural feel to the landscape in some sections. There are also remnant areas of hay meadow of high ecological value such as Goldburgh Farm SSSI. Around Swindon large scale buildings on the outskirts dominate immediate views but the area to the north which is very sparsely settled retains a rural remote feel. To the south views of the modern built edges of Calne influence the surrounding landscape, although this is mitigated to some extent by woodland cover. Elsewhere there is little settlement and rural roads criss cross the area giving access to the uplands to east and west.
11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland The Minety Rolling Clay Lowland lies to the north of the county largely surrounded by other low lying land including areas of Open Clay Vale to north and south. The Minety Rolling Clay Lowland is more wooded and sparsely settled than the others in the type, showing the strong influence of its historic land use as part of the Royal Hunting Forest of Braydon. Substantial blocks of woodland dominate the central part of the area, including some where traditional maintenance methods are still in place as at Ravensroost Wood SSSI and a remnant of wood pasture at Somerford Common. Fields are medium to large, mainly pastoral with a strong hedgerow network in good condition with many mature oak hedgerow trees. The central area is crossed by straight minor roads with sparse dwellings scattered along them and at crossroads. To east and west the pattern is more like the rest of the type with small nucleated villages such as Cloatley, Minety and Charlton with its historic parkland, linked by winding roads. Buildings tend to be of stone at the west of the area such as at Charlton, with brick and render more frequent to the east reflecting the change from Limestone to Clay geology.
Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment 121 Land Use Consultants
Final Report December 2005 11C: Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland
Area 11C: Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland lies at the mid point of the east of the county with the Chalk uplands of Salisbury Plain West to the south and the Avon Open Clay Vale to the north. Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland is a gently undulating, largely rural area of mixed arable and pasture land. Medium to large rectangular fields are bounded by thick hedgerows with mature hedgerow trees. Combined with scattered woodland blocks (some ancient) and rich riparian vegetation along the stream lines the hedgerows make this a semi-enclosed landscape allowing intermittent views to the steep scarps of the Chalk uplands. Settlement is sparse to the east of the area with scattered nucleated and linear villages and farmsteads. Building materials are red brick and tiles to the east and stone for the older buildings to the west, with some more brick and modern stone in more recent developments. To the west there is more settlement including the southern part of Trowbridge with some large scale industrial buildings and modern housing estates tending to extend along roads south towards North Bradley, Southwick and Westbury. This western section of the area, which also contains the A350 trunk road and a concentration of railway lines, is considerably less rural and tranquil than the east of the area.
EVALUATION
Positive landscape features of significance • Largely rural, tranquil landscape.
• Strong pattern of hedgerows and mature hedgerow trees.
• Many streams with rich riparian vegetation.
• Woodland blocks of high ecological value.
• Small scattered villages of traditional pattern and vernacular materials.
• Views to Chalk scarps and Limestone ridge.
Forces for change • Agricultural intensification and introduction of arable rotation threatens the remaining medieval field patterns and traditional pastoral landscape.
• Hedgerow trees are generally mature with few new trees to replace them.
• Elm loss of 1970s.
• Need for sustainable woodland management including traditional maintenance techniques where appropriate to maintain ancient woodlands and particularly areas of coppice and wood pasture.
Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment 122 Land Use Consultants
Final Report December 2005 • Pressure for further expansion of settlement and new development threatening the character of the small villages and scattered farmsteads.
• Pressure to build new roads and upgrade existing roads through additional kerbing and signage to accommodate an increase in traffic volume.
Condition The condition of the Rolling Clay Lowland is generally judged as good. These are areas of mixed pastoral and arable farmland with intact hedgerows, some woodlands and hay meadows of high ecological value and villages of vernacular materials. There are a few elements in poorer condition such as hedgerow trees that are over-mature with few replacement young trees.
Strength of character The Rolling Clay Lowland is in places a peaceful rural landscape with intact hedgerows, woodland blocks and small villages and scattered farmsteads of vernacular materials. However the varied land use of mixed arable and pastoral farming, the coniferous planting which has affected the character of the historic woodlands and the influence of prominent urban edges and transport corridors including noise and light pollution make the strength of character of the type moderate overall.
Inherent landscape sensitivities • Rural tranquillity.
• Hedgerow pattern.
• Watercourses and streamside willows and other riparian vegetation.
• Isolated remnant hay meadows.
• Woodlands of ecological value.
• Views to the scarp slopes of the adjacent chalk downlands.
• Settlement pattern of nucleated villages with variety of vernacular building materials.
STRATEGY The strategy for the Rolling Clay Lowland is to conserve the peaceful rural landscape with its hedgerow network, rich riparian vegetation, remnant meadows, ancient woodlands and pattern of small villages and scattered farmsteads and to strengthen its character through measures to minimise the urbanising influence of large towns, new settlement and transport routes and to improve the woodlands and farmlands by encouraging management to retain or enhance their biodiversity and historic character.
Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment 123 Land Use Consultants
Final Report December 2005 Broad management objectives • Retain and manage the dense hedgerow network and nurture new hedgerow trees.
• Promote appropriate management of arable land including retaining areas of fallow land and maintaining an unploughed margin around fields to encourage wildlife, particularly farmland birds.
• Retain and manage hay meadows.
• Introduce new tree planting along watercourses using typical riparian species such as alder and willow.
• Encourage sustainable woodland management of the varied woodlands using traditional techniques such as coppicing where appropriate to maintain the special historic character and ecological interest.
• Encourage new woodland edge planting of native deciduous broadleaved to reduce the visual and ecological impact of the coniferous plantations.
• Enhance woodland, cattle and horse pasture habitats for bats.
• Minimise small scale incremental change such as signage, fencing or improvements to the road network which could change the rural peaceful character of the landscape.
• Ensure that landscape is at the foundation of decisions about the growth of settlements (e.g.Swindon and Calne) and that landscape is used to provide a strong framework within which changes can happen in a sustainable way. • Consider strengthening the enclosed character of the landscape and screening views to intrusive urban edges through nurturing existing and planting new woodland.
• Consider developing guidance for built development to ensure both future construction and changes to existing buildings are designed to integrate with the existing character and structure of settlements.
THE LANDSCAPE CHARACTER CONTEXT The character of the Wiltshire landscape has already been investigated in a number of studies as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2. A large proportion of the Rolling Clay Lowland Landscape Type is included in the North Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment (2004) where it is largely classified under the Lowland Clay Farmland Landscape Type. 11A: Swindon-Calne Rolling Clay Lowland covers much the same area as the Hillmarton Rolling Lowland; while 11B: Minety Rolling Clay Lowland includes parts of Braydon Wooded Plateau, Minety and Malmesbury Rolling Lowland and Thames Valley Lowland. The Kennet District Landscape Character Assessment includes a small sector of Character area 11C: Trowbridge Rolling Clay Lowland in its Bristol Avon Clay Vale character area but the rest of 11C is outside Kennet and is not covered by any existing assessment.
Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment 124 Land Use Consultants
Final Report December 2005
Marden Green, Calne Landscape and Visual Appraisal and Landscape Strategy
Extracts from North Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment
CE/232/06 Final_Planning Issue November 2012
Volume 1: Final Report North Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment
comprised mainly of deciduous species, although Character Area 14 conifers are present in some cases. Hilmarton Rolling 4.268 The agricultural use promotes a strong unspoilt rural feel over much of the area. At Lowland Calne, commercial units and new housing bounded by a new bypass extend the settlement to the General Description of Character north and west respectively. These create a new edge to the settlement and are visible from higher 4.263 This large area lies between the scarp slope ground to the west in particular. Tree cover linked of the Wessex downs to the east, the Lyneham with the valley topography mitigate the visual Hills to the west and Bowood to the south. The impact of development to an extent to the south landform rises from approximately 70mAOD at and east. Calne to over 110m to the north with localised 4.269 There is minimal evidence of habitation prior areas of up to 128mAOD. The area drains through to the Roman era, when influenced by the Roman minor tributaries and drainage ditches into the Road a number of settlements developed to the River Marden, except the northern part which south. The existing settlements are remnants of drains into Brinkworth Brook. The land is generally more extensive medieval habitation, reduced by gently undulating with areas of level land around Black Death and changes in agricultural practices. watercourses which also run through localised Deserted villages south east of Bushton are a small enclosed valleys. There are a few high points testament to this. and small hills, some bordering higher land outside the character area. This landscape sits on a 4.270 Except for the settlement of Calne, the area geology of predominantly Kimmeridge Clay, areas is now sparsely populated, with much of the area of Gault Clay and Lower Greensand dominant to settled by scattered and isolated farmsteads. The the east, while to the west the clay gives way to town of Calne, mentioned in the Domesday Survey, Coral Rag. is located on historic Bath to London Road, the present day A4. This was part of a highly
developed national road system by the mid- fourteenth century and would have been of particular importance to the local cloth trade on which the town developed in the 16th century. The th town expanded in the 18 century as ribbon development along roads leading from the centre. Infill development of both housing and industry, ‘rounding off’ the town, occurred during the mid 20th century.
4.271 Sand extraction has been carried out east of Calne leaving water bodies and pits used for waste disposal. This is the only evidence of a disturbed 4.265 The landcover is predominantly pasture and landscape. The main roads are the moderately meadow with pockets of arable farming located on busy east west A4 and the north south A3102, both the lighter Greensand. The land is bounded by a running through Calne. The main line London to fairly comprehensive network of thorn hedges, Bristol railway clips the northern extent of the frequently including hedgerow trees, which creates area. These uses affect the tranquillity of their a varied field system of medium sized irregular immediate environs but much of the area has a fields and small regular strips. Through much of quiet settled rural feel, accessed only by minor the area the hedge system is well developed and roads and a network of public rights of way. maintained, creating a sense of enclosure and Recreation is found in areas such as Blackland Park restricted views. On the more intensively farmed which accomodates camping and caravanning and areas the hedges become discontinuous and are cut is located to benefit from the adjacent dramatic low or are replaced by fences, developing a more chalk scarp and downland landscape which exposed character. dominates views east. 4.266 A number of watercourse and drainage ditches lace the area. Their riparian vegetation, with a high proportion of willow, and the Main characteristics surrounding pastures/meadow create a distinctive 4.272 The main characteristics of the area can be lowland landscape with rectilinear fields indicative defined as follows: of more recent draining. Place names such as • Low lying mixed agriculture, between 70m Marsh Farm and Cotmarsh illustrate the character AOD and 130m AOD on geology dominated by of the area. clays. 4.267 Although there is no large scale woodland • Scattered dwellings and small settlements cover, a number of small wooded clumps and away from Calne. shelterbelts create some enclosure, restricting • Areas of valley bottom, dominated by wet wider views, particularly north of Calne. These are grassland and willows.
WHITE consultants 41 June 2004
Volume 1: Final Report North Wiltshire Landscape Character Assessment
• Patchwork of small to medium sized fields, • Consider where development related to Calne mainly pasture but with arable on lighter soils. is most appropriate in terms of landscape and • Hedged boundaries predominantly well visual effects. managed, but becoming discontinuous on more • Discourage development in the rural parts of intensively farmed land. the area. • Mix of brick and stone buildings, the core of • Conserve and maintain river corridors, valley Calne predominantly built from Freestone bottom pasture and meadows and riparian Oolitic limestone. vegetation. • Broad expansive views. • Encourage less intensive farming on arable • Peaceful rural character. land introducing headlands and margins.
Long Term
• Repair landscapes Identify and seek
opportunities to create new woodland belts and copses, in particular to help screen and contain development.
Key Views management strategy
4.277 The rolling landscape, hedge system and shelterbelts, prevent extensive views within this landscape. The isolation of many areas increases
the significance of views from the ‘A’ roads and Management Guidelines views into the area from higher surrounding 4.273 The overall objectives for the area are to landscape. maintain and enhance the tranquil, rural character 4.278 Indicators of change from chosen viewpoints which prevails through much of the area. The within this character area might include: character of areas of low lying drained wetland associated with watercourses should be developed • Loss of or deteriorating condition of and enhanced. hedgerows • Loss of mature trees in hedgerows, 4.274 The integrity of hedges and the maturity of shelterbelts and woodland clumps hedgerow trees, woodland clumps and shelterbelts • Screening of development edges is important in shaping the character of the area • Condition of watercourses and associated and a programme of long term planting should be riparian vegetation eg willows established.
4.275 There should be control of the nature of development; this will require careful decision- Landscape Sensitivity making and design sensitivity, to guide 4.279 Much of the area has a rural character with development where it is considered appropriate, small, scattered settlements and individual and to offer help to existing property owners in dwellings. Vegetation generally prevents extensive improving the visual impact of land uses. This views. This area has an essentially tranquil and should include the retention and where pastoral character. appropriate new planting of woodland blocks to help screen existing development and ensure 4.280 The proximity to Swindon brings with it absorption of future development. particular pressure for development. The landscape is therefore vulnerable to change either through cumulative small scale development which Management Strategy Actions over time will change the area’s character or through larger scale developments which have a 4.276 Conserve and enhance the Character Area more obvious immediate effect. through carrying out the following actions: 4.281 Only small-scale, sensitively designed development, appropriately associated with Short Term existing built form, could be successfully accommodated without adverse landscape • Encourage repair, replanting and extension of impacts. hedgerows and development of hedgerow trees where hedgerows are in poor condition. 4.282 Around Calne, the original settlement in the • Conserve mature trees, woodland clumps and valley bottom has expanded up the valley sides. shelterbelts. These areas are exposed to wider views and are • Enhance the valley bottom character along sensitive to further development. The south watercourses by planting willows in informal western fringes bordering Bowood are sensitive due groups and broken lines. to the character of the valley and its relationship with the parkland area. The setting of Cherhill Downs to the east is an important consideration.
WHITE consultants 42 June 2004