Wilmslow Landscape Character Assessment

Submission Draft December 2018

Foreword

The Wilmslow Landscape Character Assessment is an appendix to the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan and was initiated to provide an evidence base and support to some policies on environment and heritage topics proposed in the WNP. This document has been prepared to supplement Cheshire East’s forthcoming Landscape Character AssessmentForeword by providing a more detailed local perspective on the countryside around Wilmslow. 1 The survey Introductionwork involved groups from the WNP team walking, photographing and noting the nine character2 areas identified and, at the end of each sometimes wet and muddy session, making an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses,Appendix opportunities One and: Landscape threats to Characterthe landscape. Types 8

This work wasAppendix done under Two the : Landscape expert guidance Character and leadership Map of Professor John Handley. His knowledge,12 experience and enthusiasm for the environment and landscape, complemented by his research into the local ecological and historical reviews of the nine areas and his clear written descriptive style, has resulted in both a Landscape LandscapeCharacter Assessment Character and Area document Profiles: of record that stands in its own right as a point of information and reference which will be of value for years ahead.

John also had the benefit of working with Consultants Jonathan Porter and Jemma Simpson at Countryscape, a Manchester based consultancyRiver Valley with Landscapes expertise in (A) and : knowledge of Landscape Character Assessment work and principles. This, together with their admirable mapping, editing and formatting of the text, has been an invaluable A1 Upper Dean 13 contributing factor to the production of the Wilmslow Landscape Character Assessment. A2 Lower Dean 19 Thanks must also go to all the WNP Group members who contributed and in particular to Fred Rayers who provided very comprehensiveA3 written Upperand photographic Bollin information on the district of Morley, Jean Hill25 who co- ordinated the work and Chris Hills of the Wilmslow Guild Photographic Society who supplied photographs and assisted with image management.A4 Wilmslow Bollin 31

Brian Donohue A5 Lower Bollin 38

Chairman Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan Group.

August, 20th, 2018 Lower Wooded Farmland Landscapes (B) :

B1 Chonar 44

B2 Morley 51

Higher Wooded Farmland Landscape (C) :

C1 Dean Row 57

Mossland Landscape (D) :

D1 Lindow Moss 63

Glossary of Terms 71

Foreword

The Wilmslow Landscape Character Assessment is an appendix to the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan and was initiated to provide an evidence base and support to some policies on environment and heritage topics proposed in the WNP. This document has been prepared to supplement Cheshire East’s forthcoming Landscape Character Assessment by providing a more detailed local perspective on the countryside around Wilmslow.

The survey work involved groups from the WNP team walking, photographing and noting the nine character areas identified and, at the end of each sometimes wet and muddy session, making an assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the landscape.

This work was done under the expert guidance and leadership of Professor John Handley. His knowledge, experience and enthusiasm for the environment and landscape, complemented by his research into the local ecological and historical reviews of the nine areas and his clear written descriptive style, has resulted in both a Landscape Character Assessment and document of record that stands in its own right as a point of information and reference which will be of value for years ahead.

John also had the benefit of working with Consultants Jonathan Porter and Jemma Simpson at Countryscape, a Manchester based consultancy with expertise in and knowledge of Landscape Character Assessment work and principles. This, together with their admirable mapping, editing and formatting of the text, has been an invaluable contributing factor to the production of the Wilmslow Landscape Character Assessment.

Thanks must also go to all the WNP Group members who contributed and in particular to Fred Rayers who provided very comprehensive written and photographic information on the district of Morley, Jean Hill who co- ordinated the work and Chris Hills of the Wilmslow Guild Photographic Society who supplied photographs and assisted with image management.

Brian Donohue

Chairman Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan Group.

August,October 20th,2020 2018

1 Introduction

toda ho it came to e lie that and ho it ma What is landscape? change in the future Landscape is often understood isuall ho a place ‘Landscape results from the interplay of the looks but it is more than just ‘the view’. It refers to phsical natural and cultural components of our the relationship eteen people place and nature surroundings ifferent cominations of these and ust as these things are constantl changing elements and their spatial distriution create the and eoling so is the resulting landscape distinctie character of landscapes in different o the different components of our enironment – places alloing different landscapes to e mapped oth natural and cultural – interact together and are analsed and descried Character is not ust aout perceied us creates the landscape people alue the phsical elements and features that mae up the landscape for man different reasons t is landscape ut also emraces the aesthetic important to understand hat the landscape is lie perceptual and eperiential aspects of the landscape that make different places distinctive .’

Landscape nstitute and E uidelines for Landscape and isual mpact ssessment rd Edition outledge

2 he ilmslow Landscape haracter ssessment The Wilmslow Landscape ilmslow L is a systematic review of the ver half the area covered by the ilmslow character of the landscape around the town of eihbourhood lan consists of open countryside a ilmslow. It provides a key part of the evidence resource which is hihly pried by both residents base and directly informs a number of policies and visitors. within the eihbourhood lan. heshire ast ouncil encourae the use of landscape character he ilmslow landscape is varied and comprises a assessment in neihbourhood plannin and they rich diversity of landscapes with river valleys have prepared a Landscape and ettlement mosslands and pastoral and arable farmed haracter oolkit to support that. landscapes. his landscape provides the town with vital services such as food production and flood Policy Context reulation opportunities for sport recreation and tourism and as a settin for the town itself. he uropean Landscape onvention L came Wilmslow’s countryside includes a rich variety of into force in the in arch . he onvention wildlife habitats and the connection between these establishes the need to reconise landscape in law at the landscape scale is critical to sustainin to develop landscape policies dedicated to the ecoloical function. protection manaement and plannin of landscapes and to establish procedures for the he local importance of the countryside resource is participation of the eneral public and other hihlihted by a recent joint study between the stakeholders in the creation and implementation of ational rust and heshire ast ouncil which landscape policies. It also encouraes the explored notions of ‘significance’ and ‘spirit of place’ interation of landscape into all relevant areas of at a landscape scale in the northern part of heshire policy includin cultural economic and social ast includin ilmslow. he followin themes policies. he uropean Landscape onvention emered from a wideranin consultation defines landscape as

 iews and landscapes are very hihly valued by “an area as perceived by people whose character is residents who reconise a rich mosaic of the result of the action and interaction of natural different landscape character areas and places and/or human factors” of special interest and deliht efra coordinates implementation of the L  ccessibility of urban and rural places and the across the and in nland works closely with relationship between urban and rural supported atural nland and istoric nland throuh the by transport links are valued ‘Framework for Implementation in England’. The uropean landscape onvention relates to the  ense of insecurity about how peaceful the area ouncil of urope not the uropean nion and is will be in future and potential for loss – people therefore unaffected by reit. see this as a countryside under pressure. The joint study concluded that a ‘Quality of Place’ In turn the ational lannin olicy ramework approach should sit at the heart of place makin ives considerable weiht to conservin the natural strateies. and historic environment and the conservation of the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside is a core plannin principle. Landscape haracter

ider . Landscape cale artnership for heshire ast ouncil he heshire ast heshire ast he ational rust and heshire ast eihbourhood lan Landscape and ettlement ouncil haracter oolkit uropean Landscape onvention ouncil of urope trasbour

3 ssessment is recognised as a aluale aid to to enefit a wide range of serices such as achieing these ojecties and recent guidance landscape character sense of place water from atural England expresses ery well the uality and iodiersity. enefits of a landscape focus  E anage and restore lowland heathland ‘Our landscapes are extremely important to us, they and ancient and plantation woodland support are part of our cultural heritage. With sympathetic partnerships to plan appropriately scaled new planning design and management they offer an woodland coer particularly where this will link opportunity to proide a more harmonious link and extend existing woodlands restore and etween man and the natural world for the enefit reinstate traditional orchards and increase of oth. ensitie informed and integrated iomass proision to mitigate the impact of approaches should help us all to consere enhance climate change where this will enefit restore and regenerate landscapes that are iodiersity landscape character and enhance attractie diers and pulicly alued showing that the experiential ualities of the area. enironmental social and economic enefits can go  E Protect and manage the nationally hand in hand.’ important geological sites and heritage features ational haracter rea is a natural demonstrating how the interaction of natural sudiision of England ased on a comination of and historical factors influenced the distinctie landscape iodiersity geodiersity and economic character of its landscape and settlement actiity. There are ational haracter reas and patterns and help to promote greater they follow natural rather than administratie understanding of the link etween wildlife oundaries. The Wilmslow landscape lies within the heritage and geodiersity particularly the hropshire heshire and taffordshire Plain importance of former extraction sites for oth ational haracter rea. The statements of geodiersity and iodiersity. enironmental opportunity for the are any of these opportunities are releant to the Wilmslow landscape and where appropriate they  E estore manage and protect from hae een properly reflected and coered in the diffuse pollution the riers streams lakes andscape trategy eriew. ponds and wetland haitats including flood plain graing marsh and wet woodland and The heshire East ocal Plan recognises the support partnerships to maintain the integrity importance of landscape and Policy E states that and uniue conditions for the preseration of ‘all development should conserve the landscape the internationally important meres and mosses character and uality and should where possile and ier ee to enefit water aailaility enhance and effectiely manage the historic natural water uality landscape character iodiersity and manmade landscape features that contriute and climate regulation. to local distinctieness of oth rural and uran landscapes’  E Protect the landscape of the plain recognising its importance to food production In eptemer heshire East ouncil pulished and incorporating wellmaintained hedgerows the draft ite llocations and eelopment Policies ponds and lowland grassland margins within ocument. Policy E concerns landscape agricultural systems to secure resource character and further emphasises that deelopment protection and maintain productiity while proposals should respect the ualities features and reducing fragmentation of seminatural haitats characteristics that contriute to the distinctieness

atural England n pproach to andscape heshire East ouncil heshire East ocal Plan haracter ssessment ocal Plan trategy Profile hropshire heshire and taffordshire heshire East ouncil First raft ite llocations Plain E . and eelopment Policies ocument

4 o the local area as descried in the heshire ast hich in turn inluenced early land use and andscape haracter ssessment. he heshire settlement ast is strateic, ocusin on andscape  Human activity and settlement pattern have a haracter ypes. he ilmslo operates at the stron inluence on the landscape neihourhood scale and ocuses on individual andscape haracter reas.  Land Use is heavily inluenced y soils and relie, ut is also y cultural actors such as he heshire ast ocal lan ives particular eiht mechanisation and maret orces. arly to the notion o andscape esination reas here settlement is oten revealed y piecemeal the landscape is sinled out or special protection enclosure o small irreular ields, hilst larer, olicy. hese are deined in a report y and reular, planned enclosure came later. uman se onsultants hich identiies the ollin alley, activity also had an impact on tree cover and includin several o the river valley landscapes in manaement o oodland and other natural ilmslo, as ocal andscape esination reas. haitats hich aects landscape character his applies to the olloin character areas in the today ilmslo , , part,and  Vegetation and tree cover aects our What is landscape perceptions o the deree o enclosure and characterisation? scale, and ramin or ilterin vies he process o landscape characterisation involves ssessment o landscape character involves a comination o des study and ield survey to examination o physical elements such as eoloy, systematically divide the countryside into discrete landorm and soils, and the cultural inluences o and relatively homoenous units o land, ithin settlement, veetation and tree cover and land use, hich the constituent physical, ioloical and that comine to inluence the character o the historical elements occur in repeatin patterns and landscape share similar aesthetic characteristics.  Geology siniicantly inluences landorm and soils Method of Working he ilmslo andscape haracter ssessment  Landform is larely determined y the has een prepared y memers o the underlyin eoloy. he older, harder rocs are eihourhood lan team ith technical support more resistant to erosion and usually orm and uidance rom ountryscape, a leadin areas o more prominent toporaphy, hereas landscape consultancy ho specialise in this area soter rocs tend to underlie areas o loer o or. he ilmslo uilt on a tae round andscape haracter ssessment hich involved a  Soils are ormed throuh the eatherin and orshop and des study olloed y extensive ield readon o the underlyin rocs and drit or in the countryside around the ton to deposits. he physical and chemical properties characterise the landscape and uild up a photo o the underlyin roc stronly inluence those allery o each character area. he heshire ounty o the resultin soil, hich in turn roadly andscape haracter ssessment provided the determines the natural veetation and haitats template or this or. his reconised our a soil ill support and ho it can e armed, principal landscape character types in the countryside around ilmslo iver alley, oer

and se onsultants a heshire ast andscape heshire ounty ouncil heshire andscape haracter ssessment haracter ssessment and use onsultants heshire ast ocal andscape esination evie

5 arms and oods, iher arms and oods and Landscape condition is concerned with ‘the physical ossland see ppendix one. hese same state o the landscape, and aout its intactness landscape types eature in the updated heshire rom visual, unctional and ecoloical perspectives. ast andscape haracter ssessment althouh t also relects the state o repair o individual to o them have een renamed oer arms and eatures and elements hich mae up the character oods ecomes oer ooded armland and in any one place’. or each character area this as iher arms and oods ecomes iher ooded summarised in the orm o a O analysis hich armland. e have adopted this updated documented the strenths, eanesses, terminoloy in the ilmslo . opportunities and threats. he survey inormation as rouht toether in a andscape haracter urin the eihourhood lan team made a rea roile. his approach as developed ointly series o survey visits to all parts o the countryside. ith ountryscape in a pilot proect on the ilmslo hey conirmed and inetuned the landscape ollin andscape haracter rea. character areas or ilmslo and produced a andscape haracter ap see ppendix to. he landscape character areas s are named ater The Landscape Character Area places ithin ilmslo or, or the river valley Profiles landscapes, tae the name o the river hich runs he andscape haracter rea roiles are intended throuh them. here a character area straddles the to provide a ull picture o the character o each oundary eteen to administrations e.. the andscape haracter rea in ilmslo. hey iver ean eteen ilmslo and andorth and include the hitehall roo eteen ilmslo and lderley de the assessment covered oth sides o the  andscape haracter – an overvie o the oundary. here the character area is partially in character area and the ey characteristics ilmslo ut continues or some distance over the hich comine to create it, toether ith a map. oundary the andscape haracter ap shos the hole character area, ut the description ocuses  andscape coloy – a rie description o the mainly on the ilmslo section e.. indo oss, ecoloical structure, haitats and ildlie hich extends into oerley, reat arord and present, notin especially areas desinated or horley. their nature conservation importance such as ites o pecial cientiic nterest and ocal he andscape haracter ssessment paid special ildlie ites as reconised in the heshire attention to the ay in hich landscape eatures ast ocal lan, olicy , toether ith rivers, tree cover and open space permeated the potential . heshire ildlie rust provided uiltup area, so providin visual and ecoloical maps and supportin documentation on nature continuity, and actual or potential visitor access. conservation sites and priority haitats. hus, the iver ollin landscapes ere reconiured to create a ne landscape character area or central  andscape istory – a rie explanation o ho ilmslo the ilmslo ollin and in a similar the chanin pattern o land use throuh time ay eteen ilmslo and andorth the pper has shaped the landscape. ey sources ean . included early maps such as the ithe maps, the st edition maps o the Ordnance he ield or y the eihourhood lan team also urvey or , the heshire istoric made an assessment o landscape condition. andscape haracterisation, isted uildins

and se onsultants a heshire ast heshire ounty ouncil heshire istoric andscape haracter ssessment andscape haracterisation anic, . andscape haracter ssessment uidance or nland and cotland, ountryside ency and cottish atural eritae

6 and the ites and onents ecord and a Consultation and application ariety o oos and other plications he reerence collection o the ilslow Local within the Wilmslow istory Lirary was a ey resorce especially Neighbourhood Plan the transcriptions o the ithe aps ro oriinal sorces y the ilslow istorical his inoration has ed directly into a ner o ociety policies within the ilslow eihorhood lan especially ection atral nironent and  pirit o lace – a stateent o what it is that ection ownscape and eritae t will also aes an area special and distinctie drawin assist the ipleentation o these eihorhood ot the way it is sed and aled y the people lan policies and inor the assessent o o ilslow and how the landscape is deelopent proposals oe o the practical perceied proposals or coordinated worin with neihorin arish oncils and or action on the Landscape strategy overview rond are or the consideration o the ilslow own oncil and their partners incldin heshire he heshire ast Landscape haracter ast oncil ssessent proides an oerall ision and stratey or each Landscape haracter ype e hae he eihorhood lan ea liaised closely with inclded this ision in ppendi ne or each o the heshire ast oncil drin the deelopent o the or Landscape haracter ypes ond in the ilslow L he eihorhood lan ea et ilslow eihorhood lan rea he heshire with a senior oicer o heshire ast oncil in ast L proides landscape idance or each o oeer to discss the copatiility o these Landscape haracter ypes wor coissioned y the heshire ast Landscape haracter ssessent with the locally orin at a ore detailed leel the ilslow L ased L or the ilslow eihorhood lan has identiied local priorities or each Landscape he eetin conclded that the two approaches are haracter rea whilst hain reard to the oerall hihly copatile with oth sin the sae idance in the heshire ast L hree interlined nderlyin landscape classiication sections sarise the crrent landscape how it is chanin and opportnities or positie ecase the ilslow Landscape haracter interentions to strenthen the character and ssessent is a ey docent in the condition o the landscape eihorhood lan the relation onsltation rat inclded a sstantie accont o the Celebrated landscape deines what aes the ilslow L ection p oth the area special and how it is aled eihorhood lan and the ilslow L were Changing landscape descries the orces or sect to a si wee consltation period with chane especially where this is detriental to copies posted on the ilslow eihorhood lan character andor condition wesite and hard copies ade aailale in the ilslow plic lirary and the arish all he Landscape Opportunities identiies how the ilslow L and the eihorhood lan policies strctre and nction o the landscape or oth which it nderpins hae een well receied with no people and wildlie can e optiised speciic oections ade to the ilslow L itsel

7 AppendixLandscape Landscape One : Typical Photograph of the Wilmslow Landscape LandscapeCharacter Characteristics Character Types and Type within Wilmslow Character Areas within aTypesssociated characteristics this Type River Valley    Landscape Landscape Typical Photograph of the Wilmslow Landscape Character Characteristics Type within Wilmslow Character Areas within Types this Type  – River Valley   

Overall Vision and 17 Strategy   –  

Overall Vision and Strategy17

8

Landscape Landscape Typical Photograph of the Wilmslow Landscape Character Characteristics Type within Wilmslow Character Areas within Types this Type Lower  Wooded Farmland 

 –  –    Overall Vision and Strategy

9

Landscape Landscape Typical Photograph of the Wilmslow Landscape Character Characteristics Type within Wilmslow Character Areas within Types this Type Higher  Wooded Farmland    –   

Overall Vision and Strategy

10

Landscape Landscape Typical Photograph of the Wilmslow Landscape Character Characteristics Type within Wilmslow Character Areas within Types this Type Mossland    –  –       Overall Vision and Strategy character and the distinctive ‘moss rooms’. The diversity and extent of areas of wetland

11 Appendix two: Landscape Character Map for the Wilmslow LCA

12 Upper Dean Landscape Character Area: A1 Landscape Character Type: River Valley

Key characteristics  A well wooded river valley landscape  Strong human influence with urban development and sections of engineered river corridor  Post-industrial landscape with mill dams  Mature riparian woodland

 The landscape provides good recreational Figure 1. The wooded river corridor between Wilmslow and opportunities in places Handforth  An ecologically rich landscape with ancient woodland, riverine habitats and species-rich grassland

13 From Handforth Bridge the river corridor is narrow Landscape Character as it passes under the imposing arches of the The Upper Dean landscape character area follows Manchester/London railway. Urban development the River Dean from Handforth Bridge eastwards presses in on either side but does not intrude on to the A5149 after passing the Deanwater Hotel. the landscape because the river corridor is densely wooded; this woodland has developed naturally This is a landscape of variation comprising riverine and provides a fine example of what ‘urban woodland, urban and residential development, a watershed forestry’ aspires to (Fig.1). The river and post-industrial landscape with mill dams the woodland provide ecological connectivity but associated with former works, and a riparian access is limited. Similarly, residential corridor through open countryside. development comes close to the river and the woodland fringing the river bank reduces the

14 urbanising impat. The mill dams assoiated with suh as lder and ra illow. oodland the former 1th entury industry are evident and the haraterises the northern ban whilst on the river orridor is heavily engineered and narrow southern ban there is a more open landsape through to the ollinfee ridge (fig.). omprising a partiularly speies rih wildflower meadow (Fig.). The final setion of the valley proeeds through open ountryside to the ilmslow boundary. The surrounding landsape forms part of the igher ooded Farmland landsape harater type.

Figure The engineered river orridor alongside Finsbury ay

eyond ollinfee ridge the harater hanges and beomes more open as the river enters a omplex landsape with vestiges of former mill dams open streamside habitats and all ood whih omprises stately mature trees mainly eeh with assoiated stands of luebells in spring Figure owslips flower in a biodiverse riverside meadow (Fig.). small lough woodland feeds in from the north with andforth all an liabethan manor Landscape Ecology house at its head. feeling of ountryside is maintained here despite the proximity of the The valley represents an important eologial andforth bypass () whih sirts it to the east. orridor it narrows beyond the andforth ridge as it passes between ilmslow and andforth but the river flows freely beneath an almost ontinuous tree anopy. The river is onstrained to an artifiial hannel as it passes the site of the former print wors (now residential development) but there is ontinuity of woodland and wetland habitats on the andforth side of the stream orridor before the whole landsape opens out beyond the ollinfee ridge. The triangle of land between ean oad oodlands oad and the andforth ypass () Figure tately eeh trees at all ood a sheduled anient is an important node within the wider eologial woodland networ. all ood whih has anient origins1 has long been designated as a oal ildlife ite The iver ean with a footpath alongside passes but it is the omplex mosai of wetlands (former beneath the andforth bypass after whih the river mill dams) streamside habitats and woodlands reverts to a natural state with meanders and rih whih together mae up a habitat path of great streamside vegetation inluding riverside trees

1 atural ngland nient oodland nventory

15 rihness and omplexity (Fig. ).

Figure There is a rih mosai of habitats at all ood iver ean ans oal ildlife ite Figure The river orridor upstream of all ood

The river ontinues beneath the andforth bypass Landscape History (Fig.) and there is a ontinuation of all ood with here too luebells on the woodland floor. The pper ean valley has a signifiant role in the From here on the river beomes inreasingly industrialisation of the loal landsape. t natural with riparian woodland and other provided an initial soure of power for loal industry and also a soure of proess water. The streamside habitats (Fig.). ater uality is good first mill is reorded in 11 when enry de and the river supports a rih invertebrate fauna onford obtained the right to eret a mill and dam with addis tonefly ayfly and amsel Fly on the river. There is evidene that milling together the native rayfish. ot surprisingly this ontinued into the 1th entury. y 1 a alio is an exellent fishery with Trout hub rayling printwor was loated at eanwater near to oah and ae. The river valley and the flower oodford omprising print wors bleahing and rih meadow aross the footbridge have all been dye wors. This venture failed but the alio designated as a oal ildlife ite. printwors of ymonds unliffe and o at andforth proved a more suessful venture and several mill dams were reated on the site whih also served the bleah wor by andforth ridge beside anhester oad. ater was supplied by a mill lade running from a weir upstream of all ood. The arhes of the ondon to anhester ailway viadut opened 1 straddle the river and reate an imposing feature (Fig.).

Figure The eologial orridor is onstrained beneath the andforthilmslow bypass

eusel F.. 1 andforth Through the ges ilmslow istorial oiety 1 itorian andforth heshire ibraries and useums

16 Spirit of place

Figure arts of the river orridor are almost inaessible

This is a landsape with strong but ontrasting historial haraters from the postindustrial urban edge where the railway viadut dams and remnants of historial land use sit within a wooded orridor tightly surrounded by residential and business land uses to the anient woodlands of all ood and the more open ountryside towards the eanwater otel. There are strong loal memories assoiated with this landsape the former printwors and the prisoner of war amp have signifiant roles in the Figure The viadut arrying the anhesterondon railway history of the area. n plaes the river orridor is opened 1 diffiult to aess and this inaessibility whilst off The site of the printwors was used during both world putting to many offers a plae of exploration and wars it served as a erman prisoner of war amp freedom for younger people (Fig.). all ood is during the First orld ar and as a tan depot during loally herished for the luebells in spring and the the eond orld ar. The site of the printwors is opportunity to enoy ountryside lose to the town now a residential development whilst the bleah (Fig.1). Further upstream publi aess is limited wors is a business par. but authorised fishing taes plae here and offers a further use to the river landsape.

Figure 1 luebells in all ood

17 Celebrated landscape heshire ast ounil the ational Trust and the ollin alley artnership to help realise the  lean river with a rih biota and thriving eosystem servies of the ean valley and fishery pper ean in partiular  The river and its assoiated habitats onstitute  mprove aess in the river orridor through a a valuable eologial orridor as reognised by footbridge at ollinfee ridge (Fig.11) reation the designation of oal ildlife ites of new routes between andforth ridge and ean oad and on the south side of the river  all ood is an important anient woodland from all ood to eanwater ridge and and the native luebells it supports are loally onsider regularising aess to the land treasured between ean oad oodlands oad and the  distintive and important loal industrial and bypass soial history  The all ood and iver ean ans oal  n important rereational landsape whih has ildlife ite would mae an exellent oal potential to offer further opportunities to the ature eserve loal population  stablish a management plan to safeguard landsape harater inluding biodiversity and Changing landscape industrial history  The postindustrial landsape features  stablish a volunteer ranger servie and assoiated mainly with the 1th entury are interpretive programme to over the iver ean being sueeded by development landsape from Twinnies ridge to the  eondary woodland has olonised the stream eanwater ridge and inrease publi orridor between ilmslow and andforth ownership and understanding of the area providing a rih habitat and eologial resoure  heshire ast oal lan proposes a maor housing development ust to the north of this landsape harater area the orth heshire rowth illage. This will reate its own rereational demand and further inrease pressure on the surrounding ountryside

Landscape opportunities

 The reommendations of the ollin alley Figure 11 new footbridge over the ean at ollinfee ridge anagement lan (1) for improved visitor would greatly improve ountryside aess aess and ountryside management have been partially realised and there is potential to enable greater aess and rereational use of the river orridor.  stablish oint woring between andforth Town ounil ilmslow Town ounil

all . 1 The ollin alley – tudy of land management in the rban Fringe ountryside ommission

18 Lower Dean Landscape Character Area: A2 Landscape Character Type: River Valley

Key characteristics  The landscape provides good recreational opportunities  An incised river valley landscape  Valley sides are often wooded creating a strong sense of enclosure and seclusion  Patches of species rich grassland provide ecological value on valley sides  Poorly drained grassland on the valley floor managed for grazing  Mainly undeveloped with a strong pastoral character and sense of tranquillity Figure 1 Species rich grassland on the valley slopes

19 character area of the Cheshire County LCA Landscape Character (Cheshire County Council, 2008). The Lower Dean landscape character area follows The valley floor is widest where the Bollin and Dean the River Dean from the confluence with the River watercourses converge; before this the river Bollin at Twinnies Bridge to Handforth Bridge follows natural meanders with steep valley sides further east. which have cut through the mantle of boulder clay. The valley is undeveloped and unsettled, woodland The valley sides support species rich grasslands often screens nearby settlement creating a strong (Fig.1) and woodlands; these include the clough sense of enclosure and seclusion. The river forms woodlands feeding in from Lacey Green in a common boundary with Styal and Handforth. Wilmslow and the Dobbin Brook, Handforth (Fig 2). This area is included in the Lower Bollin landscape The valley floor is pasture over soft, silty alluvium,

20 which is often poorly drained and can become is a waterlogged and poached in winter.

Figure 4 Invasive plants like Himalayan Balsam are present, but the rich variety of habitats promotes high biological diversity Figure 1 The woodland at Dobbin Brook Clough scheduled Local Wildlife Site (River Dean, Banks The view from the railway, as it crosses the valley, and Meadows). is of an inviting, pastoral scene. Within the valley itself the railway arches add visual interest (Fig 3). The river has cut through boulder clay and water seepages are common on the slopes. These Other infrastructure, such as the waste water ‘flushed’ areas support attractive species rich treatment works near Twinnies Bridge and HMP grassland (Fig.5). The realisation of the full Styal near Deadman’s Wood, tend to be well ecological potential on such flushes depends on screened by woodland, although the large waste timely and careful grazing management. The water pipes which cross the valley are locally clough woodlands on small streams which have prominent. cut into the valley sides may have been modified through time but the ground flora, with plants like Sanicle, Hairy Woodrush and Yellow Archangel, suggests an ancient origin (Fig. 6). Dobbin Brook Clough, feeding into the valley from Handforth is a scheduled Local Wildlife Site.

Figure 3 The railway arches add interest and help frame the view

Landscape Ecology

The River Dean is an important ecological corridor Figure 5 Flower rich meadow with Common Spotted Orchid, Red running from the open countryside to the east of Clover, Meadow Buttercup and Yellow Rattle Wilmslow, through a wooded corridor between Wilmslow and Handforth and into the established The secondary woodland on the south bank of the river valley of the Lower Dean. The valley supports river below the Wilmslow Garden Centre and a wealth of species in a matrix of habitats including adjoining gallops has become a useful and well blocks of woodland and trees, hedgerows, streams, ponds and scrub (Fig.4). The entire valley from the Styal Road (B5166) to the railway arches

21 reorded wldlfe habtat er spees of Wlmslow to anhester a Styal he handsome brds hae been reorded, nludn awny wl, ralway adut aross the ower Dean, adds to the uthath, ree reeper and Sparrow aw, harater of the alley and affords eellent ews of mammals nlude baders, bats and hedehos the alley for traellers on the ralway and spees of moth, nludn a frst reord seond maor nfrastruture deelopment was the for heshre waste water treatment falty of Wlmslow D at the bottom of the alley, lose to wnnes rde he ornal wors were onstruted n , rebult in 1934, and extended to assume a ‘modern’ onfuraton n lmost the whole flow was gravitational with a high level ‘aqueduct’ over the er Dean to arry all the effluent from the northern dranae area he treatment falty seres the athment towns of Wlmslow, andforth and Styal ffluent ualty had already mproed reatly from the early days of the olln alley proet but a maor nestment proramme was reured to meet the reurements of the sh Drete by st arh hs was aheed by nstalln a tertary treatment and other measures wthn the estn footprnt of the wors whh were suessfully ommssoned n arh,

n the postwar S map, to the west of the er Dean, fan Wlmslow aboe the alley, s the Styal ottae omes of anhester orporaton ere, from to , poor hldren from anhester were housed and eduated he last hld left n by whh tme anhester had opened famly roup homes, housn hldren he

ure he stream, and woodland below ttle Stanneylands children’s home was succeeded by HM Prison Styal n , wth women transferred from Landscape History Straneways oday Styal s a losed ateory prson for sentened and remanded female adults he rdnane Surey map for Wlmslow shows and youn offenders the ower Dean landsape n fne detal , sale t that tme ths seton of the Dean alley and the surroundn plateau were undeeloped, wth water meadows n the alley, louh woodlands and retlnear felds n the surroundn ountrysde

he ralway lne, onstruted by the ondon and orth Western alway, opened n to onnet

Stones, , , roposed ttle Stanneylands all,, , he olln alley – a Study of and deelopment – eoloy, eport for ttle Stanneylands anaement n the rban rne, ountrysde and Dean alley ton roup ommsson nsttute of Water olluton ontrol, , eport of ste st

22 main road, where one or two still remain isitors could then enoy the massed luebells in the woods, the delicate coverage o Primroses in sring, the clouds o lueits which haunted articular trees, and the general beauty of the area.’

he valley is a natural layground or children rom nearby housing but visitors can be deterred by uncertainty about access, desite the act that much o the valley is ublicly owned ccess can also be diicult due to oor conditions underoot – graing in winter causes severe oaching and in laces the ath can be almost imassable igure waste water ie crossing the iver ean he 199 S ma shows residential develoment Celebrated landscape underway in ilmslow around acey reen on the east side o the valley today, develoment here and  ttractive recreational landscae underused by in Handorth is visible on the syline but does not local residents intrude into the valley, ig  atural lay areas close to housing  lear river with meanders and other natural eatures  ich diversity o wildlie habitats including the stream, lowery grasslands, hedgerows, scrub and clough woodlands  ailway viaduct adds visual interest  ower section ublicly owned and managed by ollin alley Partnershi with a ocus on ecological value igure esidential develoment in ilmslow and Handorth aroaches the valley but does not intrude into it Changing landscape

Spirit of place  heshire ast ocal Plan includes a strategic he ower ean valley is an attractive but little site or housing around dwellings on the nown landscae n a warm summer’s day the river terrace at Stanneylands the site is artially valley oers an inviting rosect n 199 ilmslow screened rom the valley by mature woodland Historical Society ublished an engaging account o  ew develoment will be buered rom the ‘Victorian Handforth’ but it is their description of the valley by an area of ‘protected open space’ with area in the th century that is articularly telling4 ublic access and a new ootbridge over the ‘In the present century, Handforth became known as iver ean which will increase awareness and a beautiul sot or holidays, with its woods, use o the valley streams and eaceul undulations Holiday cottages were ut u, some in the ields and some on the

4 ilmslow Historical Society, 199, ictorian Handorth heshire ast ocal Plan Strategy 13, Site PS , land at ittle Stanneylands, ilmslowdeveloemnt brie

23  Invasive species have the potential to affect the ecoloy and floral diversity of the valley

Landscape opportunities

 llocation of protected open space, new multi user path and footbride over the ean in association with proposed housin development at tanneylands will improve public access alon the valley  ew footpath link needed on the southeast side of the river below tanneylands oad to provide safe connection to the proposed multi user path at the tanneylands development  Improve condition of footpaths, sinae, accessibility and visitor provision with a multi user path on publicly owned land between Twinnies Bridge and Linney’s Bridge  romote access to the ean valley and make it better known to local people  ealise the potential for interpretation and environmental education, especially in relation to the river itself  rotect wildlife habitats alon this important wildlife corridor maintainin the pastoral character and workin with the ollin Valley artnership to continue the ecoloical manaement of the landscape, includin manaement of invasive species  nsure any future development follows plannin conditions to restrict development to less sensitive locations within the valley and respects ecoloical constraints on site whilst ensurin a lon term manaement stratey for the land alon the valley

24 Upper Bollin Landscape Character Area: A3 Landscape Character Type: River Valley

Key characteristics  A broad pastoral valley landscape with long views to the Pennine hills beyond  An actively farmed landscape with both cattle and sheep  Historical landscape is prominent through field pattern and the Vardon Bridge  Rich ecological character with a floodplain grazing marsh, species rich hedgerows, marshy remnants of oxbow lakes and gravel and sand beds within the river Figure 1 The river meanders through a pastoral landscape  Meandering river with meadows providing natural flood storage capacity upstream of Wilmslow

25 banks. Landscape Character The river valley landscape follows the River Bollin from Vardon Bridge upstream towards Mottram Bridge. From Vardon Bridge the river valley opens out to form an expansive landscape where the river meanders through pastoral land comprising riverside meadows and farmland grazed by cattle and sheep (Fig.1). At times the river is hidden from view by fringing vegetation, including well- grown Alder and Crack Willow trees (Fig.2). This is an active river and, in places, builders’ rubble has been used inappropriately to ‘stabilise’ the Figure 2 In places the river is hidden by fringing vegetation of Crack Willow and Alder

26 ooded corridors eed out ro the river on both a locally scarce species, is present in the central sides but the oodland screen that characterises section o the site the steeper slopes o the ilslo ollin is ostly absent here here are ar buildins on the syline, notably the ollies solated larer houses on the valley sides can appear proinent i he valley becoes increasinly rural urther upstrea toards restbury, ith ine vies to the distant ennine ills

iure arer houses on the valley side can appear proinent

Landscape Ecology

he river, ith its rinin veetation, loodplain iure ravel beds and riles create ood conditions or ish rain arsh and species rich hederos is a spanin scheduled ocal ildlie ite ollin alley, , he ater uality o the iver ollin has iproved i reatly over the past years, especially due to investent by nited tilities at the lare restbury eae ors hich is ust upstrea his, toether ith the rich variety o riverside habitats, aes or a hih level o biodiversity he very attractive ello atail, hich has suered a catastrophic decline nationally and in heshire, is still present in its traditional haunt o cattle raed dap eados arland birds associated ith dap eados have been in eneral decline but urle and apin persist here and they have iure he river and associated habitats are a scheduled been oined by ystercatcher, hich is sitchin its ocal ildlie ite breedin territory ro the coast to inland heshire he citation states that ’this section of the Bollin is ‘Red list’ farmland birds such as Reed Bunting and an actively eanderin river syste ith ravel and ello aer are also present ere as elsehere sand beds i and the arshy renants o o along Wilmslow’s river systems, invasive plant bow lakes’. n ‘oxbow’ is a bend in the river shaped species are an issue art ay alon the river is a lie the collar o a yoed o an obo lae is sall lder copse here the native round lora ored hen the nec is pierced and the bend cut ood neone, luebell and ed apion is o he river supports ron rout and iver ater doin battle ith the invasive ialayan alsa rooot is present throuhout esser arshort, i apanese noteed occurs in places, hilst

27 other nonnative species are present on imported adoining the ollies on its north side was once material along the river banks. ‘Wheat Field’, with ‘Sawpit Field’ next to that.

igure n lder copse where imalayan Balsam is igure n old hedge bank demarcates the water meadows of ‘Near Far Carr’ from he once cultivated ‘Brow Side’ outcompeting the native ground flora Thehe valley is surrounded by a landscape of large Landscape History rectilinear fields and, and, even even in in , 1842, the the ollies Hollies is is prominent with, as today, a large uninterrupted field ardon Bridge is a rade listed building in ashlar ‘Barn Field’ running down from the farm to Meadow pink sandstone, dating from , ig.. Brook field besidebeside the the river, river, ig..Fig.9. n In earlier earlier times times soil fertility was maintained byby spreadingspreading limelime richrich clay marl(marl) onto the fields and and on on the the boundary boundary between Wilmslow and restbury,Mottram St. at Andrew, the foot at of the the footnorthern of the slope, northern is a remarkable slope, is a remarkableassemblage of assemblageformer marl pitsof former which marlappear pits today which as appear a cluster today of aspools a cluster overgrown of pools with overgrown trees and otherwith trees vegetation, and other vegetation,ig.. Fig.10.

igure ardon Bridge is a rade isted Building

he scene beyond, with the river meandering through floodplain meadows, seems to have changed little since that time field boundaries on the ithe ap for Bollinfee are mostly still recognisable. he general course of the river here is eastwest and on the northern side of the floodplain is a prominent hedgebank, topped with wellgrown hawthorn, which clearly marked the upper limit of Figure 9 Sheep with lambs in the ‘Barn Field’ below Hollies arm the water meadows ear ar arr on the ithe Map, Fig.8. Above this, ‘Brow Side’ on the south facing slope, would once have been cultivated land. ere, on what today is semiimproved grassland, the prominent ridge and furrow marking the cultivation pattern of earlier times are still visible indeed

28 Buttercups in the water meadows Fig. and in une great rafts of white flowered Water Crowfoot in the river. n winter, waling can be more difficult on the soft waterlogged ground which, in places, is heavil poached b cattle.

Figure Former marl pit on the border with restbur

Spirit of place he heavil trafficed ardon Bridge mars the entrance to the pper Bollin landscape. he Bollin alle roect fficer in a 9 report states that Figure he landscape in spring with Buttercup meadows and ‘east of Vardon Bridge an attractive rural Ma blossom atmosphere persists with superb views of the hills around ainow’; this remains an accurate Celebrated landscape description of the current landscape. here is a  roductive farmland with livestoc graing, rewarding riverside wal along the Bollin Wa from creating a pastoral scene Wilmslow to restbur, with circular wals possible in Wilmslow via the footpaths which oin the valle  Attractive riverside wal along a e section of from the north Fig.. the Bollin Wa, between Wilmslow and restbur  An active freeflowing river with meanders, sand bars and gravell riffles – well suited to native Brown rout  esignated wildlife site with a rich complex of streamside habits  Strong sense of the historical landscape remains with field patterns and boundaries intact

Changing landscape Figure he Bollin wa looing towards restbur and the hills above ainow  Heav traffic on the A at ardon Bridge is a haard to pedestrians and ma threaten the he landscape is at its best in late spring and earl integrit of the bridge summer with Hawthorn blossom in the hedgerows,

Hall, A., 9, he Bollin alle, A Stud of and Management in the rban Fringe, Countrside Commission

29  he eroding rier an and changing rier course has ed to inaroriate an management  he Boin a can e difficut in inter due to soft udded ground  soated aeside ias can e isua intrusie and further such deeoments ma affect the andscae character  nasie secies are affecting the haitats aong the rier an incuding imaaan Basam and aanese noteed

Landscape opportunities

 romote use of the Boin a ith education regarding resonsie ehaiour toards iestoc and idife  nterret the historic andscae and the idife  mroe footath condition esecia for inter use  se naturaistic methods such as fagotting if erosion contro is reuired  anage the sread of inasie secies eg imaaan Basam  otentia for natura storage of food ater hes to reduce food ris for imso donstream  romote an actie artnershi eteen farming and nature conseration interests to sustain and enhance iodiersit esecia irds of stream and meado

30 Wilmslow Bollin Landscape Character Area: A4 Landscape Character Type: River Valley

Key characteristics  Sense of history associated with the built character e.g. the Parish Church and railway  Flat floodplain landscape with a wide river arches meandering through it  Parkland character in places  Steep sided, mature woodland valley sides creating a strong sense of enclosure  Recreational landscapes with grassland habitats, car parking, play and sport facilities  Transport routes crossing the landscape creating structure and scale  Pastoral grazing in some locations  Wetland habitat mosaics e.g. carrs, ponds,

marsh and tall fen Figure 1 Play facilities at Wilmslow Carrs

31

landscape which plays a significant role in the Landscape Character character and setting of the town, including the 16th The Wilmslow Bollin landscape character area century parish church, and provides routes and follows the River Bollin through Wilmslow running recreational opportunities for residents and visitors. east to west from Varden Bridge to Twinnies Bridge, Valley sides are often high and steep, in places at the confluence of the Rivers Bollin and Dean. The closing in to create a narrow valley landscape. These landscape is characterised by mature wooded banks steep slopes support mature woodlands which and grassland habitats, often used for recreation (Fig create a strong sense of enclosure and obscure, or 1), along the flat, valley floodplain. There is strong more often block, views to surrounding properties human influence around the river with parks, whilst also creating an abrupt transition to the urban pathways and development. This is a cherished local edge that lies beyond the character area. In the east there are occasional views to the distant Pennine

32 hills and some pastoral land uses on the more bypass (Fig 2) and streamside vegetation helps gently sloping valley sides. maintain the riverside character. Two large railway arches cross the valley creating a sense of The river meanders along a flat valley floodplain imposing scale and framing views of the town. which supports amenity uses, pastoral grazing Commercial development along the riverbank and, in places, a matrix of wetland habitats. contrasts with the easily accessible grasslands Wilmslow Park and Wilmslow Carrs offer good and Wilmslow Parish Church creates a valued and access and recreational facilities and are popular, impressive viewpoint, marking the transition from well used locations. They contrast somewhat in the valley landscape to the urban town area. character: the Park offers a less formal recreational setting with the grassland largely managed by grazing longhorn cattle whilst the Landscape Ecology Carrs provides a network of paths, play facilities, tennis courts and car parking. In places mature woodland and specimen trees create the perception of a parkland landscape, echoing the former land management of the area.

Figure 3 Habitat diversity at Wilmslow Carrs with grassland, marsh and wet woodland

The river, streamside vegetation and extensive mature woodland provide excellent ecological connectivity, creating an important ecological corridor. This corridor continues through the town centre and connects two designated Local Wildlife Sites, Wilmslow Park (upstream) and Wilmslow Carrs (downstream) (Fig 3).

The fertile alluvial soil of Wilmslow Park supports a species-rich grassland, maintained by grazing of Longhorn cattle, themselves a rare breed and a distinctive landscape feature. The grassland supports plants such as Black Knapweed, Common Cat’s Ear and Devil’s-Bit Scabious. The grassland, together with patches of tall herb and scrub, provides a diverse habitat complex for birds Figure 2 The river flowing under the Wilmslow bypass and insects, especially butterflies. Grey Wagtails nest close to the Town weir. In places the river is Adjacent to the town the character of the eroding its banks, providing valuable nesting landscape is influenced by development and habitat for a colony of Sand Martins (Fig 4). transport infrastructure. The river flows through an engineered channel below the Wilmslow

33 aitat diversit in te ilmslo Carrs is even stands on a rvilinear l aove te river rior reater eseiall toards te estern end it to te estalisment o te irst r ere in te onds mars tall en semiimroved rassland t oodland lses oodland streams and secondary ‘hanging woodland’ on the valley slopes. ere is an eetional olation o te ommon ro and on smmer evenins several seies o at an e seen aove and arond te river is eoloial riness ontrites to visitor enoment and is sstained desite a ver i level o rereational se

ire ilmslo aris Cr and te ld ride over te ollin at Canel ane

entr te site ma ave een an nloaon aan rial site ielmesla e eistin St Bartholomew’s Church, ilt nder te diretion o te retor enr raord as omleted arond t as sstantiall restored te itorian aritet illiam rasear in t te same time te rard as etended and te river diverted to aommodate it

e river as an imortant oer sore te irst edition rdnane rve ma o sos a mill leat leadin rom te ton eir i in ilmslo ar to ilmslo Corn ill is orn mill stood near te orner o anester oad and ollin al ntil ere illan ose no stands n te oosite an is te toort Cororation ater treatment ors no manaed nited tilities and rter donstream stood te ilmslo il ors reviosl Barber’s Silk ill is mill reeatedl looded ilst oeratin ire e erodin riveran and sand martin aitat in ilmslo ar as a landr in and as destroed ire in October, 1923. It’s remains exist on te nort an Landscape History o te Carrs e iver ollin as saed and ontines to e ilmslo Carrs oriinall art o enr sae te landsae e oal oint o ilmslo Boddington’s Pownall Hall estate as ited aris Cr a rade listed ildin i oddinton in ‘for the recreation, health and

Cesire Cont Conil and Enlis eritae noles ivin tones – e stor o t Cesire istori ons rve ilmslo – Bartholomew’s Church and the faith to which it bears raeoloial ssessment itness arrender ollin alle – rom alesield to te i Canal illo lisin

34 pleasure of ilmslow and her children for ever’. 3 across the Bollin upstream of the railway. urther land was acuired by the council in the 1930s and ‘The Carrs’ are shown on the revised Ordnance Survey map of 193. he remains of St Olaf’s Chapel built by Boddington on the upper slopes evidences the former ownership. ilmslow Park was also acuired by the local authority. Since 19 this area has been managed by the Bollin alley Partnership, a countryside management scheme established in 192, to promote access along the valley, working with landowners and farmers to support recreational uses.

igure he dominating railway arches

Spirit of place

his is a varied landscape with a strong association igure he town weir in ilmslow Park to the town centre and identity of ilmslow. he he deeply incised Bollin valley, as it passes relationship to the built environment means in through ilmslow, is crossed by transport places this is a busy landscape where transport infrastructure, illustrating the challenging and infrastructure and buildings dominate the spirit of changing relationship of humans and landscape place. lsewhere the strong woodland slopes Samuel inney, ustice of the Peace for ilmslow, essentially cut the landscape off from surrounding oversaw the construction of several roads and areas and create a sense of enclosure and relatively bridges. he first was the new anchester oad pastoral feel. lthough this is a much visited landscape, particularly at the Carrs, the river imparts crossing in 1 followed by ardon Bridge 1. a strong sense of tranuillity and calmness even on Both are rade II listed structures. he brick busy days. his is a relaxing landscape which is arches of the anchester to Birmingham railway enoyed for recreation, sports, picnics, walks, viaduct also rade II listed dominate and impose solitude and reflection. he play euipment in the upon the landscape ig . he railway, opened on Carrs means this is a landscape enoyed by many ay 1th, 12, obliterating the medieval Bollin children and thus is a place with a hugely important Hall. second railway linking ilmslow to role in creating childhood memories and enoyment. anchester via Styal opened in 199. atterly, the In this location the sound of children playing is often ilmslow Bypass was constructed to carry the an important contributor to the spirit of place.

An inscription at the entrance to the children’s Hodson, H., 191, he Story of ilmslow, . ndrew and play area off Chancel ane Co. td., shtonunderyme

35 ilslo ar is a less foral landscape and here Changing landscape there is a sense of ein in the contr and the adacenc to the ton is eas to foret i . n  The eolin rier an proides haitat places close to the ton especiall here access is opportnities t also ipacts on access and ct off or coproised the spirit alters and a threaten footpaths and rides ecoes less enoale and elcoin ecase  ier ater alit is constrained diffse pathas are often oerron and the need to polltion and the rier corridor facilitates the neotiate transport infrastrctre sch as the spread of inasie species sch as ialaan pass can feel nelcoin oerl enclosed and alsa intiidatin.  isitor pressres and the liited capacit of the eistin infrastrctre near Tinnies ride to eet these pressres here car parin capacit does not eet deand and here toilet facilities are no loner fnctional neatiel ipacts on the landscape landscape perceptions and enoent  Office deelopent has closed the rierside al and ipacted pon the character of the rier corridor i 9

 n places deelopent is encroachin into the ire onhorn cattle in ilslo ar here the landscape feels less foral ooded slopes ith a detriental ipact on the stron sense of enclosre characteristic of this Celebrated landscape landscape

 ood alit access and recreational opportnities land anaeent enales this  arish chrch the landar sense of histor and settin for the ton this proides  The raila arches and ho ies of the raila frae the entrance to the ton  ater alit haitats and ildlife opportnities alon the rier e.. alon and Trot iration

potential for Otters haitat osaics in oth the Carrs and ilslo ar ire 9 The closed rierside al  Sense of enclosure and ‘rural’ experience so Landscape opportunities close to the ran ede and the atre oodlands that create this hilst proidin  Opportnit shold e ade to enale eas haitat and connectiit alon the alle access rotes alon the alle eteen the Carrs and ilslo ar addressin  The ale of a larel ndeeloped and accessiilit and road safet to create a reen fnctional floodplain corridor linin p the landscape character area

36  e undeeloped floodplain needs o e reconised as a flood ris anaeen asse and proeced in polic  e oodland alle sides sould e ell ainained and aciel anaed  eelopen sould no encroac ono e ooded slopes so e sense of enclosure creaed e oodland is ainained  e aer reaen ors land sould reain an open space and access could e creaed rou i so i can ecoe par of a reen corridor i  aciliies a e arrs in ers of car parin and oiles need o e ainained o ee deand and an furer faciliies need o e desined i ecoloical ineri e rasscree parin reen roofs on uildins solar ener and aer reuse  n ilslo ar e on eir could suppor fis iraion and dropoer  e exensie rain of ilslo ar onorn ale sould coninue  ouni enaeen and inoleen ill ensure e landscape coninues o e alued and cerised i e suppor of roups e e riends of e arrs ollin alle arnersip and ollin nironenal cion and onseraion

iure e nied iliies aer reaen ors eside e ollin

37 Lower Bollin Landscape Character Area: A5 Landscape Character Type: River Valley

Key characteristics  An enclosed river valley landscape  The river takes a sinuous and meandering course, winding along the valley bottom  Valley sides support continuous, dense woodland creating a strong sense of enclosure and seclusion  Cultural and industrial heritage with the presence of Quarry Bank Mill Figure 1. The Lower Bollin – an enclosed valley with fringing  Strong ecological integrity provided by the woodlands ancient woodland and the river which has good water quality

38 Landscape Character Manchester Airport’s second runway. garden of the National Trust’s Quarry Bank House Over most of Wilmslow’s countryside, the underlying which features ‘quite exceptional Permo outcrops’

Owen, F., 2009, The ‘Secret Garden’, Sty –

39 aout 20 degrees north of the equator, roughly integral to the Bollin system. The most notale equivalent to the position of the Sahara today and clough woodlands are the Pigginshaw Brook, which the geology reflects that. Further downstream these extends from the Bollin along the north west edge of rocks are succeeded y the ower euper Marl. Wilmslow’s builtup area, and Burleyhurst Wood, which marks the historic oundary etween This is an enclosed landscape where the steep valley Wilmslow and the parish of Moerley. sides, continuous woodland and the natural sinuous passage of the river comine to reduce visiility within the river corridor, preventing views to surrounding landscapes Fig.. The intimate character of much of the area contrasts with the western edge where the river is channelised in a tunnel under the runway. Here the human influence and scale of the A and engineered structures associated with the airport override the natural character, however this impact is localised Fig.2.

Figure 2 Footpaths pass y and through the river tunnel eneath Figure lough woodland with the aromatic Wild Garlic Manchester Airport’s second runway

This river valley represents a strong ecological Landscape Ecology corridor oth along the valley sides and in the river The ower Bollin forms a very strong ecological where good water quality supports migratory fish corridor, including the river itself and the almost including Salmon. The landscape has strong cultural continuous woodlands of the valley sides providing heritage value including Quarry Bank Mill, which was ideal haitat for the Otter which is making a come sited so that the river could provide power and now ack in heshire Fig.. iver water quality has represents a significant national tourist destination. improved consideraly in the Bollin over the last Footpaths follow the course of the river and enale forty years, particularly as a result of upgrades at occasional views to surrounding pasture land. the Wilmslow and Prestury waste water treatment A numer of side streams feed into the valley, cutting facilities, which have improved effluent quality. down through the mantle of glacial drift and the soft underlying euper Marl to form narrow, steep sided, wooded valleys known as cloughs Fig.. These are

Hill,P. et al, ‘Mammals of Cheshire’, in Norman, D. Ed., 2013, Fifty Years of Cheshire’s Wildlife, Cheshire Wildlife Trust

40 he landscape ecoloy of the ollin woodlands is no less sinificant. he steep slopes of the alley hae carried a continuous woodland coer for centuries, and indicator plant species for ancient woodland such as anicle, Woodruff, and Hairy Woodrush are present. Hoosban Wood and urleyhurst Wood in Wilmslow are both included in the national inentory of Ancient Woodland, Fi.. Piinshaw roo and urned Hey Wood at the upper end of the CA, close to Wilmslow itself, and Hoosban Wood and urleyhurst Wood, close to Manchester Airport, are scheduled ocal Wildlife ites. Fiure he ier ollin forms a stron ecoloical corridor – ideal habitat for the returnin tter

he ollin system now offers suitable habitat for miratory fish, includin Atlantic almon and ea rout which hae reappeared in the ollin for the first time in almost two centuries. he lare weirs constructed to harness water power are a maor obstacle to fish miration two fish passes were constructed downstream and in 201, the Enironment Aency and the National rust opened a combined fish pass and hydropower scheme at uarry an Mill, enablin fish to circument the metre high weir, Fig.5. The name ‘Bollin’ is said to mean ‘torrent of eels’ so it is hoped that the Eel, a Figure 6 Ancient woodland at Hooksbank Wood, Wilmslow critically endanered species, will also benefit. mproed water uality has encouraed rierside Landscape History bird species such as Dipper, rey Watail, he central section of the character area lies within oosander and infisher. the parish of tyal, the path across the alley here has real antiuity as eidenced by a pachorse bride, Fi.. he rapid 1ft fall in the rier here proided opportunity for amuel re to establish uarry an Mill. uarry an Mill is now the focal point of the ower ollin and with its associated buildins and ardens, is a site of national cultural and historic importance. t is internationally renowned and one of the National Trust’s top visitor attractions, making it a ey asset to the local economy.

Fiure he combined fish pass and hydropower scheme at uarry an Mill

Revell, D.,2013, ‘Rivers’, in Norman, D. Ed. Fifty Years of Hyde,M. and Christine Pemberton, 2002, indow and the Cheshire’s Wildlife, Cheshire Wildlife rust o warriors, p. Warrender, ., 2013, ollin alley, Willow Publishin

41 minimise the ecological impact and create compensatory haitats Fig. the landscape around the airport tunnel approach is now a scheduled ocal Wildlife ite ooksank Wood and Bollin ows.

Figure Environmental mitigation inside the irport tunnel includes turulent flow in the river, selfadusting lighting, haitat corridor at roosts and wagtail nest oes

Spirit of place For the many locals, spring is not complete without Figure The packhorse ridge over the Bollin and a walk through the Blueells of Burned ey Wood uarry Bank ill and along the south ank of the Bollin to ownall Bridge Fig.. The wider landscape around uarry Bank ill is managed as a country park. n 12, Cheshire County Council and the Countryside Commission estalished the Bollin alley roect to improve access along the valley, working with farmers and landowners to minimise conflict etween visitors and the rural economy. The construction of a footridge linking Wilmslow Carrs to the Country ark represents an early achievement. The proect continues as the Bollin alley artnership through which a small team provides countryside management services along the length of the valley from acclesfield to the anchester hip Canal. Figure springtime walk in Burned ey Wood, Wilmslow In the 1990’s the ecological integrity of the valley was challenged y the construction of a second runway at The oard walk fringes a floodplain forest with a anchester irport. Construction egan in 1, blaze of Marsh Marigolds growing ‘straight from the despite strong opposition from protestors who dark mud amongst Willow and lder roots in wet camped in the Bollin alley woodlands. The new woods.’ Fig.10. uarry Bank ill and tyal Country runway opened in 2001 and the irport carried ark are favoured locations for a family outing with through an eemplary programme of measures to a lively events programme orchestrated y the

all, . , 1, The Bollin valley, tudy in and Warrender, ., 201, Bollin valley ast and resent, anagement, Countryside Commission Willow ulishing aey, R., 1, Flora Britannica, inclairtevenson

42 ational rst. he natral cre of the alle  osed roc formations roide added maes for a longer circlar wal from ilmslow that character and geological interest taes in the landscae soth of Manchester irort with iews of the airort itself contrasting with the  ffectie contrside management b the srrisingl tranil and biodierse landscae with ational rst and ollin alle artnershi its rofsion of sring flowers alongside the Changing landscape rierside footath along the alle floor. hallmar of the ower ollin is the aromatic amsons ild  er hea isitor se ma oerload facilities arlic which grows abndantl on the moist and can detract from contrside eerience ntrient rich lower sloes of the clogh woodlands.  esidential deeloment is intrding into the woodland fringe along the alle of the igginshaw roo  ree diseases new to the in the 1st centr are a otential threat to woodlands – arch trees in tal ontr ar hae been felled as a recationar measre to contain the sread of htothora ramorm  ere as elsewhere along the ollin inasie lant secies sch as imalaan alsam are imacting biodiersit ig.10 Marsh Marigolds in the flood lain forest below rned e ood Landscape opportunities Celebrated landscape  romote sstainable transort otions from ilmslow railwa station to arr an Mill  distinctie steel incised wellwooded alle with a strong sense of enclosre  lore feasibilit of a new circlar footath from arr an Mill ia an ose arm and  arr an Mill with its associated bildings rned e ood to winnies ridge and gardens is an imortant historic asset and a maor isitor attraction  lore the otential for creatie se of bildings on ational rst land at an ose  tal ontr ar is an attractie and aled arm as art of the arr an Mill isitor landscae with good footath access eerience  here are seeral access oints to the alle  romote interretation of natral enironment and oortnities for circlar wals inclding geolog to comlement eisting  reatl imroed water alit and fish ass social histor interretation encorage migrator fish sch as almon and  ontine to combat inasie lant secies sch water birds sch as oosander ingfisher as imalaan alsam and maintain sreillance ier and re agtail and control measres for noel tree diseases  ncient woodlands with a rich grond flora form  edndant toilet bloc adoining ilmslow an interlined ecological networ arrs cold be refrbished to roide isitor  he floodlain forest stream of the Mill is a facilities alable habitat roiding flood storage and attenation

43 Chonar Landscape Character Area: B1 Landscape Character Type: Lower Wooded Farmland

Key characteristics  A gently undulating pastoral landscape  Medium sized, irregular fields divided by hedgerows with abundant hedgerow trees  Strong rural character despite the urban fringe location  Alderley Edge Golf Course occupies a large area and is associated with mature tree planting  Hedgerows and field ponds provide important ecological resources Figure 1. Davenport Green – looking across Alderley Edge Golf Course to the Butterfly Bank  Transport infrastructure bisects the landscape but has limited impact on character

44 Landscape Character east of the Wilmslow bypass, known locally as ‘The Hough’. Despite the urban fringe location this area is

45 ientify former enclosure patterns. iel pons are Landscape Ecology numerous. The woolan at lerley ge in the south forms a prominent iew out of the area ig. . The Whitehall rook plays a prominent role in the ecology of the honar lanscape ig..

igure Wooe slopes of lerley ge ominate iews to the south

The lanscape is bisecte by the railway an bypass but neither hae a significant impact on character beyon the transport corrior.

igure The Whitehall rook – a functional ecological corrior

t is fe by the ott rook, which rises at Hare Hill an skirts the northern fringe of lerley ge. eyon the Wilmslow ypass, the Whitehall rook emerges as a substantial stream which meaners through the lerley ge olf ourse to the open country beyon rook ane. The poorly raine alluial soils associate with the brook support rushy pastures an wet meaows with patches of uckoo lower, a foo source for the range Tip utterfly ig..

heshire ounty ouncil, , heshire anscape haracter ssessment

46

Wet meadow with Cuckoo Flower (Lady’s

– Fifty Years of Cheshire’s

47 warlers i summer ad there is also a lare ader Farm atch of alluial soil i this locatio o the sett (Fi eoloy ma teds to cofirm this eside Choar Farm there is a remarkale rade listed uildi his was oriially a late th cetury timerframed uildi eside eto ld all which is ow demolished the uildi was dismatled ad reerected as a ar at Choar Farm he west ale cotais oriial timerwork ad icludes a mullioed widow ad uatrefoil decoratio Fi

Fiure ciet oak ad secodary woodlad o the utterfly ak

Landscape History he ithe a for olli Fee shows a comle

atter of small fields with farm uildis distriuted throuhout Field ames o the ithe a ie a Fiure he remarkable 15th century ‘barn’ at Chonar isiht ito the historic ladscae for eamle arl outh of Wilmslow a lo ride with a riht of way Field Wheat Field ad Cloer Field ie idicatio of alo it kow as utterfly ak eteds from rook lad use rick il Field ad rick ouse Yard ear Lae to tockto Farm s it aroaches tockto lderley de suest that clay was also used for Farm the trackway rus etwee two well searated rick maki ad costructio he resece of hedes creati the appearance of a ‘drove road’ ushy Field ad ouh Field idicates the draiae (Fi Formerly this feature cotiued ast issues associated with heay clay soils Lawi tockto Farm ad alo tockto oad to oi the Field idicates the eistece of secies which are still utsford oad reset i the area today oss Farm close to lderley de couled with the field atter of a he achester to Crewe railway oeed o ay former mosslad to the south of oss oad suest th he railway comay worked with the a ow etict mosslad the ame Lifeless oss ricial ladower ir umhrey de rafford to suests that the eat had ee ehausted y a create lderley de the first laed railway early date A cluster of field names (‘Little Moss’, commuter illae i the reio he railway also Potato Moss’, ‘Big Moss and ‘Moss Field’) suggest trasformed the fortues of Wilmslow the presence of a smaller ‘extinct’ mossland on the he lderley de olf course has occuied it curret east side of ouh Lae ust to the orth of Choar site sice whe it was kow as Fulshaw olf

st editio ma Leah et al ( he Wetlads of Cheshire orth orma ( irds i Cheshire ad Wirral West Wetlads urey Lacaster iersity reedi ad Witeri tlas Lierool iersity ress rchaeoloical it Burdett’s 1777 map of Cheshire ithe ma for Fulshaw Clare ye Wilmslow ad lderley de istory ad Celeratio the Fracis Frith collectio

48 Club (renamed 1) he course as an effective Celebrated landscape barrier to development in the avenport reen landscape but further north housing extended from  his landscape has a strong rural character ilmslo into open countryside along ough Lane despite its proximity to ilmslo and Alderley and the Prestbury d beteen 11 and 15 he dge designation of the orth Cheshire reen Belt  he reen Belt designation has successfully prevented further encroachment and had a positive limited development and this landscape plays a impact on the Chonar landscape vital role in protecting the separate identities of ilmslo and Alderley dge  he ell managed hedgeros, hedgero trees, and excellent vies to the ooded slopes of Alderley dge to the south affirm the pastoral character of the landscape  his is an accessible landscape ith a good footpath netork  Alderley dge olf Course is an attractive sporting and amenity landscape hich has retained its ‘countryside character’  he hitehall Brook is a functional ecological

corridor, enhanced by mitigation etlands close Figure he old trackay across Butterfly Bank approaching to the ilmslo Bypass tockton Farm  The history of ‘marling’ has created many small

ponds hich form an important habitat netork Spirit of place  tockton Farm presents an important gateay to the countryside (Fig 1), leading to the his area of countryside protects the identity of Butterfly Bank – a feature of ecological and both ilmslo and Alderley dge and provides historical interest countryside access for people from both communities he strong hedgero netork and the medium sied fields create a rural character hich belies the urban fringe location of much of the landscape he Alderley dge olf Course offers countryside access along to public rights of ay and is a valuable recreational and sporting resource t has a sense of community history and value being such a long established feature in the area

Figure 1 tockton Farm – an important gateay to the countryside

ixon, () Alderley dge olf Club, 177, eaton Press, tockport

49

Changing landscape

 eeloment ressures on this landscae hich could alter the astoral character eg infill deeloment on the land eteen aenort reen and the southern end of ulsha ar ould narro the ga eteen ilmslo and lderley dge  eeloment close to the arterial entrances to

ilmslo along the restury oad ough ane and the at arden ar could igure ootath to horley ith lac olar eyond imact on the ‘reen ateways’  There is a strong case for a etland inentory  e deeloment on the site of former y the heshire ildlife Trust ith a ie to agricultural uildings ould affect the astoral identifying imortant ond clusters hich could landscae character e designated as ocal ildlife ites  ontinued increase in field sie ith loss of  The utterfly an at aenort reen may hedgeros and isolation of hedgero trees meet the criteria for a rosectie ocal ildlife affects the landscae structure ite  onds in former marl its are at ris from  trengthen the ecological corridor along the natural succession tree shading and delierate hitehall roo and deelo ne linages infill ith construction aste  or ith farmers and landoners to consere  ome ellused footaths are informal and lac and rene the faric of the countryside signage maing them ulnerale to closure esecially hedgero trees and farm onds  oise from the ilmslo yass can e  egularise the use of informal footaths and intrusie ut the road enefits enironmental roide signage uality ithin the Ton and resents a hard oundary to the eansion of ilmslo  romote countryside access and interret the landscae Landscape opportunities  lore oint oring aroaches eteen ilmslo Ton ouncil and lderley dge  There is otential for introducing the scarce arish ouncil to enhance the landscae and lac olar on the alluial soils of the create strict deeloment control hitehall roo such as can e found south of aenort reen ig

50 Morley Landscape Character Area: B2 Landscape Character Type: Lower Wooded Farmland

Key characteristics  Gently undulating topography with boulder clay and glacial sand and gravel  A pastoral landscape with small settlements  Strong rural character despite the urban fringe location  A small scale post medieval field pattern with mature hedgerow trees is evident  Heavier soils support grazing and grasslands; Lighter soils support some arable farming Figure 1. An old pasture with traces of ridge and furrow cultivation  Strong hedgerow network and characteristic mature hedgerow trees

51 from arable and short-term leys in enlarged fields, Landscape Character to smaller fields with semi-improved grassland and This is an agricultural landscape extending north- a high species diversity. Some grassland has west from Wilmslow towards Manchester Airport. developed on medieval ridge and furrow illustrating a time-depth to the land use (Fig.1). Geology comprises Triassic rocks covered by a Field boundaries, particularly on the heavier soils mantle of glacial drift, with a central plateau of which support grasslands, comprise hedgerows boulder clay. This is surrounded by gently sloping with mature hedgerow trees. ground with fluvio-glacial deposits of sand and gravel. There is a clear transition from the The landscape includes two small settlements of landscape at Morley Green to the lower lying peat Morley Green and Morley which are characterised th soils of the Lindow Moss character area to the by red-brick 19 century buildings. These are south. There are varying levels of farm intensity dispersed settlements and a heritage survey for

52 the Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan identified more Holly, Sallow and Guelder Rose (Fig. 3). than 30 buildings, mostly dating from the first half of the 19th century1, including cottages, farmsteads, out-buildings and the former United Reformed Church (opened 1869), all of which contribute to the distinctive character of the landscape. Heald House Farm is a Grade II listed building of early 19th century Flemish brick with yellow headers and a Welsh slate roof. Oak Farm has similar decorative brickwork and is fronted by a traditional Cheshire orchard (Fig.2). The Morley Landscape Character Area is buffered from surrounding development by the Bollin Valley Figure 3 The landscape includes species rich hedgerows and Burleyhurst Wood. The Lower Bollin LCA almost encircles the Morley LCA, with Lindow The hedgerows are sometimes intensively cut and Common and Lindow Moss close by to the south species poor, but even here hedgerow trees (Oak (Lindow Moss LCA). The busy Altrincham Road and Ash) have been retained (Fig.4). The northern (A538) which cuts through it is a significant Wych Elm has survived by suckering in the ‘disturbance corridor’ but despite this the Morley hedges but once the trees become large enough LCA has a strong rural character. to attract the Elm Bark Beetle they succumb to Dutch Elm Disease. The hedgerow trees are mainly Oak, Ash, Alder, Crack Willow and Sycamore. There are also field corners with scrub and tall herbs.

Figure 2 Oak Farm with its traditional Cheshire orchard

Landscape Ecology There is a well-developed hedgerow network Figure 4 Hedgerow trees have been retained providing ecological connectivity throughout the This is an agricultural landscape with varying character area. Many hedgerows support a levels of farming intensity including arable diverse range of species including Alder, Alder cropping and semi-improved grasslands. In Buckthorn, Blackthorn, Dog Rose, Elder, Hawthorn, Cheshire, there has been a very significant decline in populations of farmland birds in recent

1 Heritage Survey of Morley Green and Morley, Wilmslow Neighbourhood Plan, 2018

53 decades but in the Morley landscape species postedieal and tentieth century ields i such as ello aer innet and ree parro are suriin toether ith a rane o suer isitors includin hitethroat and esser hitethroat allos and ouse Martins nest in the scattered ar buildins i onds are less reuent in this landscape because the etent o boulder clay is liited and soe areas hae been odiied by etraction o bric clay lare pond on the orer bric ield site to the north o Morley reen oad is no dried out to becoe a rushy pasture

iure oppiced hael ars an old ield boundary n the case o Morley the close proiity o indo Moss ould hae had a stron inluence as is clear ro Morley placenaes such as Moss ouse ottae and Moss roe ar ans Moss ane sees to be associated ith a orer etland to the north o ans Moss ar his peat illed hollo shon on the drit eoloy ap is shon as oer and iher an Meado on the ithe ap – both ields are still present today n Morley reen the reen itsel ay hae been used or transhipent o peat hilst Morley reen is a sall illae in hen the railay arried in ilslo it ay iure ar buildins add character to the landscape and hae been a ore siniicant place ith seeral proide aluable ildlie habitats substantial buildins and a thriin aricultural econoy he orer nited eored hurch Landscape History opened in is a siniicant eature o Morley he placename Morley (‘Woodland glade near/at a reen it closed in and is no oices here as moor’) is irst recorded around he presence a stron nonconorist tradition in Morley ith o seeral oated sites and nuerous reens in the uaer inluence proinent uaer ottae and icinity includin Morley reen suests eidence o enn ottae surie today close by hat the an assartin landscape in the later Middle es Tithe map shows as ‘Meeting House Field’. Quaker andor early postmedieval period. An ‘assart’ is a ottae the old riends eetin house dates ro ield or roup o ields created by edieal clearance usually o oodland but also soeties o heath er the ilslo boundary as the ersleyord and en he heshire istoric andscape ric ors proinently shon on the haracterisation reers to eidence o assartin in rdnance urey ap here is clearly a history o the area producing ‘a near equal mix’ of irregular and clay etraction or bric ain in the Morley seireular ields there is a iture o ancient ith a lare bricield eident on the rdnance

oran d irds in heshire and irral – a heshire ounty ouncil and nlish eritae reedin and interin tlas ierpool niersity ress he heshire istoric andscape haracterisation iha rontier andscape – he orth arrender ollin alley ast and resent est in the Middle es indather ress illo ublishin

54 urvey map ehind the cottages which front Morley it. The area is crossed y a numer of pulic reen oad. The very distured topography of the footpaths which are a vitally important part of the fields south of Dooley’s lane suggests a similar footpath network ecause they provide links ack to history here. Wilmslow from the encircling ollin alley.

ome postwar infill development contrasts with the existing uilt character ut the estalishment of the Celebrated landscape orth heshire reen elt proposed in and  This historic landscape with associated confirmed in Cheshire County Council’s Green Belt vernacular uildings is cherished y residents uect lan of has een paramount in and visitors preventing further uran incursion and maintaining the distinctive uilt environment.  The landscape supports a strong agricultural economy with sustainale examples of diversity

 There is a good footpath network linking the landscape to the wider area (Fig. )  This is an accessile landscape with a good footpath network  There is a rich iodiversity and haitat matrix including farmland irds  There is a strong sense of enclosure and tranquillity despite proximity of Manchester Airport and the A

Figure An authentic farmed landscape on the approach to Wilmslow

Spirit of place Morley reen and Morley have a very strong sense of community. oth the uilt and natural environment are rich in history and there is a strong sense of landscape character despite the immediate proximity of Wilmslow to the south and reater Manchester to the north. This is an Figure There is a good footpath network authentic farmed landscape (Fig.) and it is valued for that oth y local people and for commuters the sudden transition from the Airport tunnels across Changing landscape the ollin and into a pastoral heshire landscape is  The landscape is at risk from intense very refreshing. Historically even the main roads development pressures and the gentrification of twisted through an earlier farming landscape and the vernacular uilt form the ends on the A effectively change the tempo of driving on the northern approach to Wilmslow.  ranisation and development associated with The improvement of the A whilst it significantly road corridors particularly at the fringe of impacted the landscape character of the Morley Wilmslow has the potential to alter the rural landscape did estalish a multiuser path alongside landscape character

55  he otential for further road imroements eanding into the landscae could affect the iodiersity and character of the landscae  he imact of a changing farm economy on the landscae structure could lead to alterations in the faric of the landscae

Landscape opportunities

 he Green Belt olicy does not need to stifle enterrise here it is in eeing ith landscae character  he urchase of Ban ouse arm y the ational rust offers oortunity to encourage aroriate land management  tend the current study of the uilt enironment and classify the ernacular style in order to encourage it’s use on new development or hen eisting uildings are eing conerted or altered  Comlete multiuser ath eside to ilmslo and address aring issues at the im ison laying ields  reare a lanning statement regarding the treatment of the uran edge and the transitional one eteen this landscae and ilmslo

56 Dean Row Landscape Character Area: C1 Landscape Character Type: Higher Farms and Woods

Key characteristics  A pastoral landscape on poorly drained boulder clay soils  Small, irregular field boundaries, some dating from the medieval period  Small nucleated settlement of Dean Row surrounded by historical field system  An urban fringe landscape with a good footpath network  A transitional landscape between the Cheshire Figure 1. There are scattered ponds (former marl pits) on the Plain and the adjacent uplands poorly drained Boulder Clay soils

57 rolling topography becomes progressively more Landscape Character marked and views of the uplands to the east, around This landscape, on the eastern side of Wilmslow, is Lyme Park become prominent. Soils tend to be situated on the higher ground between the Bollin and predominantly poorly draining boulder clays with Dean river valleys. It marks the transition zone some ponds and support mostly grassland farming between the Cheshire Plain and the uplands, the (Fig. 1).

58 Dean Row is a small nucleated settlement focused Here the hummocky topography and poor drainage around the Unitarian Chapel close to the junction of support fields of semi-improved grassland and Adlington Road and Dean Row Road. It is surrounded diverse sward including Yorkshire Fog, Sweet Vernal by small, irregular fields dating from the medieval Grass, Crested Dogstail and Meadow Foxtail. This period1. provides a habitat for Meadow Brown Butterflies and Brown Hare whose population has greatly The presence of development and busy roads declined in Cheshire2. affects the tranquillity of this landscape but in places, such as the area to the north east of Dean Row Road, there are stretches of countryside marked by small fields of permanent grassland, tall, mostly Hawthorn hedgerows and mature hedgerow trees, particularly Oak and Crack Willow.

Figure 3 A former mossland now supports a diverse wetland behind Moss Cottages at Heathfield Farm

Small ponds created by marl extraction are dotted through the landscape (Fig. 1) and an area of former mossland behind Moss Terrace, parallel with Cross Lane includes stands of water loving plants such as Figure 2 The hummocky topography of the Dean Row landscape Branched Burr Reed, Lesser Reedmace and Hairy (to the left) contrasts with the flat flood plain of the River Dean (to the right) Willow-Herb (Fig. 3). The last remaining area of open water on the former mossland is The hummocky topography here is very striking and overshadowed by Willow; this wetland is part of a contrasts sharply with the alluvial floodplain of the larger area now reserved for future development at adjoining Dean Valley (Fig.2). This landscape Heathfield Farm. provides an important fringe and buffer to the adjacent river valleys and the public footpath which crosses Heathfield Farm is important because it provides a key link between the Bollin and the Dean, making possible a circular walk which takes in both valley landscapes.

Landscape Ecology The open farmland at Dean Row, on the watershed between the Bollin and Dean valleys, is an important buffer for these ecologically sensitive landscapes. The area framed by Dean Row Road, Woodford Road and the River Dean is a valuable habitat.

1 Cheshire County Council (2008) Cheshire Landscape 2 Cheshire Mammal Group (2008) The Mammals of Character Assessment p.89 Cheshire, Liverpool University Press

59 Figure 4 Wild flowers are encouraged in the grave yard at Dean Row Chapel

Within the settlement of Dean Row the graveyard of the Chapel supports a range of wildflowers such as Figure 6 Green-flowered Helleborine orchid at the Well House Ox-eye Daisy and Orange Hawkweed (known colloquially as ‘Fox and Cubs’) which are flourishing amongst old Yew trees, together with Scots and Landscape History Corsican Pine (Fig.4).

Figure 7 Vicar Farm – the type of small mixed livestock farm once common in Cheshire Figure 5 Wildflower meadow in the NGS garden at the Well House The field pattern around the nucleated settlement of Dean Row is small scale and indicative of an ancient The adjacent 3 acre garden of the Well House, a field system. There has been an increase in lowland member of the National Gardens Scheme, is a vivid sheep farming in the county in the last 50 years and demonstration of ‘gardening with nature’ which this is evident in the landscape3. Vicar Farm, with its includes semi-natural grassland with a variety of red brick buildings, is typical of the small mixed native orchids, including Common Spotted Orchid in livestock farms which were once common in this the meadow (Fig. 5) and Green-flowered Helleborine part of Cheshire (Fig. 7). The tree belt along the (Fig. 6) in more shaded areas eastern edge of Vicar Farm marks the historic boundary between Wilmslow and Prestbury (Fig. 8).

3 Norman, D. Ed. (2013) Fifty Years of Cheshire’s Wildlife p24-27 (Agriculture), Liverpool University Press

60

Figure tree belt on the eastern fringe of icar farm mars the historic boundary between Wilmslow and restbury Figure 10 New deeloment at ric Yard Farm on the dlington Dean ow, along with the other outlying settlements oad around Wilmslow, has a strong nonconformist tradition. he first chael at Dean ow, initially Spirit of place resbyterian, was comleted towards the end of the his landscae is a ey gateway for both Wilmslow 1th century, following the ct of oleration in 1. and andforth. t is a isual buffer for the rier alley t fell into disreair in the mid 1th century and was landscaes of the er ollin and er Dean. n a restored and rededicated on ril 23rd, 1 . he busy and changing landscae the nitarian Dean chael is built in red bric with sandstone dressings ow Chael and the farmland beyond is an island of and a roof of erridge slates (Fig. ). oday this tranquillity. historic rade isted uilding is a nitarian Chael. Celebrated landscape

 his landscae is an imortant setting and gateway to the settlements of Wilmslow and andforth it is a critical art of the North Cheshire reen elt  he landscae roides a isual and ecological buffer for the adacent rier alleys and contains ecologically aluable semiimroed grasslands and an imortant estigial wetland  his astoral landscae has rich cultural history with medieal field boundaries still eident and Figure Dean ow nitarian Chael historic buildings including Dean ow nitarian Chael (rade listed) For most of the 1th century Dean ow was ery much remote from both Wilmslow and andforth.  ey footaths cross the landscae creating Deeloment then extended out along dlington lins across the character area and out to the oad and Dean ow oad and infill deeloment in wider landscae the triangle framed by these two roads has continued aace into the 21st century (Fig.10).

Warrender, . (201) ollin alley ast and resent, 3 (Dean ow Chael), Willow ublishing

61 Changing landscape Landscape opportunities

 here is significant deeloment ressure uon  here is oortunity to ensure that new this landscae with the character becoming deeloments hae good landscae design increasingly urbanised and the landscae associated with them in order to retain and ‘squeezed’ between the adjacent urban areas of strengthen landscae character and the Wilmslow and andforth interface between the urban and rural landscae  Within andforth a ery large housing allocation on former reen elt land on the north side of  ood deeloment control olicies can hel to the ier Dean at the North Cheshire rowth retain the character of the existing rural illage, will extend south to lossoms ane landscae  he road networ within the landscae is  esidual wetland at eathfield Farm needs to becoming busier which affects the oerall be retained and enhanced it is a otential tranquillity and ercetual qualities of the area sustainable drainage feature in association with future deeloment and may ustify scheduling  andscae fabric (trees, hedgerows, onds and as a ocal Wildlife ite (Fig.11) seminatural meadows) otentially ulnerable to change associated with urbanisation  andscae interretation could enrich the countryside exerience and ensure that the  ree coer around oen water can become local footath networ is alued and well used dense and requires management such as thinning or ollarding to create a more dierse freshwater habitat  he Cheshire East ocal lan has allocated land for immediate deeloment at eathfield Farm and also resered land for future deeloment

Figure 11 eathfield Farm where land is both allocated and resered for future deeloment

Cheshire East Council (201) Cheshire East ocal lan trategy 20102030 331

62 Lindow Moss Landscape Character Area: D1 Landscape Character Type: Mossland

Key characteristics  Valued local recreational landscape, including restored sand extraction and land fill sites  A large wetland landscape supporting a mosaic  Continuing industrial scale peat extraction and of valuable habitats, including Lindow Common water table draw down SSSI  Surrounding areas of dispersed settlement and distinctive narrow fields (‘moss rooms’) associated with historical peat extraction  Geology is characterised by peat surrounded by glacial sands and gravels and a ridge of boulder clay  A particularly rich cultural landscape with international value

Figure 1a Reed swamp on Lindow Moss today

63 64 srs o os so s r Landscape Character rorss oos o orm r sm rr ( oo) (s ) s s sor ormo o rr oos m m oos os rms o s or r ( )

r r rr o oss o

s s s s o s o mso r rom or r or o

o so o oss s o o r m moss roos sr o rs ss sr s rs oss s s mo or m rs s ss rr r s moss r ro o r oos m o m o sr sos o om oos ( ) rrs om s r o r moss s r ms rs o o s r rmr ros r ro o ormo sr rso rom rro m o oro s m rms s ros os ro or r o s rso sms o orr ro ro

r oss os ro rs oss

r oo omrss r r o Fig.4 Former ‘moss room’ at Lime Cottage Farm (top end of srro ss rs r rrr mso) o or r o o rom so s o oss s

() s o sr or Burdett’s Map of Cheshire, 1777 s s r sr rs oso sr soro o roo sr oo

65 istoria oand mosses in Cheshire hae proided a soure of fue ith peat eing ut from the outer fringes in thin fieds non as moss rooms these patterns are eident in enosure patterns from the 1th entur. he are partiuar eident at the top end of traerr Lane here the are ounded poarded der and io (Fig.4 as e as on the north side of the moss near More reen. ndustria peat etration on a muh arger sae is sti atie in the entre of the area at aterse Moss. Figure ossmere – a former sand oring, no an attratie fishing ae ith fringing footpaths

and sois supported heathand Lindo Common eing the ast remaining eampe. oodand fringes the Common reating enosure and reduing the impat of near residentia deeopment and roads. t the entre of the Common is Ba Lae hih is enoed for its tranuiit (Fig.7.

Figure Beef atte graing at Lindo Moss

n the edges of the mossand, reaimed peatands support and uses inuding eef prodution, horse pasturing and aotments (Fig. . pia uran fringe enterprises suh as hauage and ontrating aso our. here and has faen out of management oodand and sru deeop this is eident on the fringe of imso. o former Figure 7 Ba ae, Lindo Common andfi sites to the north of egate are e egetated and offer ies to the ooded ridge of Landscape Ecology dere dge. n the fringes of the mossand the he andsape supports a ompe mosai of sand geoog has proided opportunit for minera haitats inuding open ater, reed samp, mire, etration and after uses inude ossmere, a heathand, grassand and oodand. Cimate hange oarse fisher ith a pui footpath around it is enaing pants and animas to etend their range (Fig.. in the ngish oands and this andsape is an important stepping stone eteen the southern hropshire Meres and Mosses and the etands of the Merse ae in the north.

66

as Royal Fern, Britain’s largest fern

67

Figre Roteroo Roa – a rileay aross ino oss Figre nient sre oer eat orings at ino oss By te s oal as relaing eat as a fel sore an te oss roos ere rogressiely Landscape History enlose an relaie for agriltre it ites ino oss is internationally renone for te eing lante it egeros, reslting in te discovery of Lindow Man, Britain’s most intact bog istintie lansae attern still eient ne of oy, o as interre ilst te oss as still tese areas, nort of Ro of rees, is reognise in atiely groing in te st entry is te ites an onents Reor R e reains are no islaye in te ron ge gallery of story of te first enlosres at ino, i te Britis se nstrial eat etration as sae of soial engineering, are ell tol y reoe te eat layer in i ino an as oson fon t te loation is reisely non n te elti era ino oss as a sare site By te e lansae as iortant soial istory in te ile ges eat as eing ore, rinially as a late s tere as a olnteer rifle range fel By te entire osslan is reore as assoiate it te riean ar etening aross ino oon , sggesting tat tere ere te oss to te east of Roteroo Roa n ooners rigts to trary eat tting aross annal gysy fair as resent on te oon it te oss e eto of oring y tting tin a ile long orse rae along Raeorse Roa n stris in oss roos ontine ntil te t te oon as enlose y li entry an te lansae eteen ino ssrition an resente to te eole of Common and Saltersley Moss still contains ‘the ancient scrubbed over domestic peat cuttings’ ilslo for rereational se ere is an eoatie Fig esrition of tis lansae at te trn of te entry y te great esire natralist an ator, oar

‘The Wilmslow Council have enclosed a portion of ino oon i lies to te left of te roa is as forerly te raeorse, an tey ae eeene soe oggy sots – te Bla lae of t entry arters onerting te into ools, an trne te sany raetra into als an

tea, , Bore, B an Brotell, , ino ort est etlans rey, an, e Boy in te Bog, il lising for e Britis oson, , , e tory of ilslo, se ye an eerton, ino an te Bog arriors, oy, , , ino an, e Britis se iga, , , Frontier lansae, e ort oar, , , itrese esire, eten an est in te ile ges, ingater ress o otation fro r eition Burdett’s Map of Cheshire, 1777

68 drives it is a breey, desirable spot, for sooner or  Lindow Moss is an important ‘stepping stone’ later residential Wilmslow will reach here and this habitat for species moving across the region lung be appreciated Lindow Common proper etends beyond this, and though much curtailed is  The landscape has a good and well used still a healthy waste where reptiles and insects sun footpath networ ig 1 and Lindow Common themselves and where the ightar churrs and the is a valued recreational site and an ecellent Owl beats his nightly round.’ eample of an accessible greenspace

Spirit of place Lindow Moss is a rich historical archive, an important wildlife asset and an accessible and highly valued recreational landscape The discovery of an ron ge bog body gives the area international renown as well as a sense of mystery and intrigue The moss rooms help to provide a tangible lin bac to an earlier time whilst the industrial peat etraction site creates an activity at odds with the rest of the landscape in terms of land use, igure 1 The ewgate landfill sites are now restored but tranuillity and perceptions nd yet, the landscape leachate contaminates neighbouring streams retains a special atmosphere  Land uses such as beef production, bee eeping ‘Lindow’s peat bog, especially the tiny slice which and allotments and the coarse fishery all has remained relatively untouched until now, by the support the integrity of the landscape peat etractors, still has that indefinable uality, the capacity to eert a strange and ancient pull There is Changing landscape a sense of unease and sadness on a bad day, but in the summertime this is replaced by an almost  This is a landscape which has been subected hypnotic feeling of relaation, lulling one into the to eploitation commercial peat etraction, desire to sit and ruminate amongst the heather and beginning in the 1s and intensifying in the bilberry bushes, dozing in the warm sunlight.’1 1s, and waste disposal by landfill now restored Celebrated landscape  nappropriate management of the peat soils, including peat etraction, has far reaching  This is an internationally renowned landscape landscape impacts, with a drawdown of the with a rich cultural history which is well water table causing peat shrinage, ground recorded and still visible today with the sub instability, oidation of peat and a conseuential fossil pines, moss rooms and Lindow Man release of fossil carbon into the atmosphere as  Lindow Moss is one of the largest mossland carbon dioide landscapes in the county and supports a  Long term planning consent of the peat mosaic of habitats several of which are etraction site runs to and planning designated for their ecological value including conditions reuire bacfill with inert waste and Lindow Common, a rare eample of a lowland restoration to agriculture which represents a heath poor ecological and landscape outcome

1 yde and emberton, Lindow and Bog Warriors, , p7

69  ootpaths on the ragile peaty soils are ulnerable, particularly during wet spells and winter, and reuire actie management  Leaching o liuid rom ormer landill sites pollutes nearby streams ig  ncrease in the number and intensity o haulage and contracting land uses is impacting upon tranuillity  edgerows are tending to be replaced by barbed wire ences and tape associated with horse paddocs  he heshire ast Local lan has remoed ha o ormer mossland at pcast Laneumber Lane rom the reen elt and saeguarded it or uture deelopment

Landscape opportunities

 ee opportunities to bring an early end to peat etraction, recoery o the water table and ecological restoration o the cutoer peat bog  educe the impact o landill leachate by eectie bioremediation  here is an opportunity to increase interpretation o the landscape, particularly the site o the Lindow Man discoery which is currently not interpreted, along with other eatures such as groes o subossil pine trees, the olunteer ile ange, and the best examples of ‘mossroom’ hedges  here is a strong sense o ownership by the local community and this could be enhanced through a programme o outreach and education accompanied by eorts to maintain and enhance the access networ and condition o ootpaths  stablish a landscape scale partnership with ilmslow own ouncil, neighbouring parishes and other ey staeholders to saeguard the landscape and bring orward positie landscape management proposals, such as a Local ature mproement rea and to saeguard the ecological character o the landscape

70 Glossary of terms Alluvium Material deposited by a river Land Cover Combinations of natural and man-made elements including vegetation which cover the land Ancient woodland Land continuously wooded since surface 1600AD. It is an extremely valuable ecological resource, usually with a high diversity of flora and Landscape an area perceived by people whose fauna character is the result of the action and interaction of natural and/or human factors Biodiversity The variety of life, including all habitats and species Landscape Character Area (LCA) A single unique area which is the discrete geographical area of a Ecological corridor An area of vegetated land linking particular landscape type. Each has its own other areas of biodiversity interest, encouraging the individual character and identity spread of plant, animal and insect species. Landscape Character Type (LCT) Distinct types of European Landscape Convention The ELC is the landscape that are relatively homogenous in first international treaty dedicated to the protection, character. Wherever they occur they share broadly management and planning of all landscapes in similar combinations of geology, topography, Europe. Signed by the UK government in 2006 and drainage patterns, historical land use, and introduced in March 2007, the ELC provides a settlement pattern people-centred and forward-looking way to reconcile management of the environment with the social and Landform A landform is a feature on the Earth's economic challenges of the future, and aims to help surface that is part of the terrain. people reconnect with place. Listed building Listing marks and celebrates a Field pattern The distinctive pattern created within building's special architectural and historic interest, the landscape by the size and shape of contiguous and also brings it under the consideration of the fields. The relationship between size and shape is planning system, so that it can be protected for often strongly related to the age of the pattern itself. future generations. Irregular, smaller fields are generally older than Local wildlife site identified and selected locally, by larger, more regular field patterns partnerships of local authorities, nature Green Infrastructure A network of multi-functional conservation charities, statutory agencies, green space, urban and rural, which is capable of ecologists and local nature experts, using robust, delivering a wide range of environmental and quality scientifically-determined criteria and detailed of life benefits for local communities ecological surveys. Their selection is based on the most important, distinctive and threatened species Habitat The place where a particular species lives and habitats within a national, regional and local and grows. It is essentially the physical context. This makes them some of the most environment which surrounds and is utilized by a valuable wildlife areas and are protected through species population the planning system. Heathland Usually open habitats characterised by Riparian Of, or on, a riverbank dwarf shrubs (e.g. heather) and certain tree species. Associated with unimproved areas underlain by Semi-natural habitat Vegetation which has been infertile acid soils modified by humans that is still of significant nature conservation interest Iron Age Archaeological period c.400BC-43AD

71 Spirit of place The unique, distinctive and cherished aspects of a place

Unimproved grassland Grassland which has not been treated with fertliser, lime or artificial drainage to improve yields

Vernacular architecture concerned with domestic and functional rather than public or monumental buildings. It generally utilizes locally-available materials and techniques to create buildings with a distinctive local character

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