Landscape Character Areas

3 His Grace’s private landing strip, 1300 metres long. Showing 1 New development on the edge of and gateway to part of 7 mile plantation, the boundary of Badminton Estate. . 2 Large cornfields now a feature of the Cotswolds, replacing the grasslands, looking west towards Dunkirk.

5 On top of the scarp land is used for cereal crops. New forestry 4 Badminton House with lake foreground. Celebrated lake jump planted to facilitate pheasant shooting. Seven Mile plantation was 6 Thatched Cottage. Toad Hall, Road, Badminton. 7 Typical Estate cottages, Badminton. Built and maintained by at 3 day international horse trials event. planted by Capability Brown. One of only two on the Badminton estate. Estate yard workers.

11 Oakes Lane with characteristics of an “Enclosure” road: straight with large verges. The Warren buildings on left and Park Farm on right. Names derived from medieval rabbit 10 Air shaft turret for Sodbury rail warren and Deer Park. Power lines cross the horizon. 8 Badminton Park. Track leading from Luckington Road to sewage filter 9 Green lane near Lyegrove (Tyning Lane). Dry stone walls in poor tunnel. One of 6 in the LCA. beds. condition.

15  from south east. All dry stone wall field boundaries predate 1637. 14 View from Burton Road back towards . 12 View to north west from Sodbury Road. Flat arable land 13 View from Burton Road at junction with The Street. The Fox Horses in field reflect the fact that horse breeding is a Figure 5 – Area 1 with railway cutting in middle distance and woods in and Hounds Public House, the Old Tithe Barn and Turnpike major activity in the area. background. Cottage. Old Scots Pines along road. Badminton Plateau Landscape Character Areas

2 West Littleton from Furlongs Lane, with a complete piece of dry stone wall in the foreground. The A46 (on ridge) and Park on the horizon.

1 The Broadmead Brook Valley viewed from the road at Shire Hill. There are numerous springs in the valley sides. Broadmead Brook comes through Harcombe Wood to the left of Ebbdown Farm (skyline).

3 One tree, from Furlongs Lane. Arable land looking towards Marshfield Parish, pasture in the valley 4 Marshfield town, High Street scene. 5 Pennsylvania roundabout where two main routes meet A46/A420. behind.

6 From the A420 Road, looking approximately north east, down the valley of the Broadmead Brook, which is fed by about 10 springs. 7 Open dip-slope arable landscape, with stone boundaries adjacent to roads and hedgerows within fields. Rushmead Farm building (Oldfield Farm) on skyline. Farm forms the small building in the distance.

9 View towards the A46 and Beacon Lane Plantation. Pylon towers within this particular location are lower in height to limit the visual impact as they cross the skyline of the Cotswold Scarp.

Figure 8 – Area 2 8 Large arable fields and pylon towers. Dunsdown Beeches and Badminton Plantation over 3km away mark the the horizon and boundary of Dyrham Park. Marshfield Plateau Landscape Character Areas

3 Side valley of the St Catherine’s Brook Valley. Valley sides and bottom grazed and top 1 The ridgeline of Hanging Hill set above the Golden Valley. 2 Manor. cultivated. Westbury White Horse can be seen in the distance on a clear day.

4 Pipley Bottom valley with terraced fields. Ornamental trees were introduced by Canon Ellacombe of Church. 5 The Hamswell Valley, site of the Battle of Lansdown with beech trees on the skyline at Freezing Hill, in the foreground an amenity man-made fishing lake. The runs through the valley.

8 Extensive woodland from near the Three Shire Stones on the south east boundary of the area.

6 Monkswood Reservoir, within the St Catherine’s Brook Valley. 7 St Catherine’s valley looking towards Marshfield and beyond Cold Ashton Parish. Figure 11 – Area 3 Valley bottom and sides grazed, tops cultivated. Ashwicke Ridges Landscape Character Areas

1 Hawkesbury Knoll, with prehistoric burial mound and lynchets medieval field 2 The Somerset Monument is visible on the scarp (to the left) over considerable distances. Hawkesbury village 3 Ancient village of Hawkesbury. The church, Church Farm and system. is well integrated. The landform, woodland and tree clumps are characteristic of the scarp landscape. outbuildings with site of Old Manor.

7 The M4 looking west, descending to the Boyd Vale following 4 Panoramic view of the parish from Mapleridge. Village running down escarpment, divided between Horton and Widden Hills. 5 Traditional laid hedge near Chapel Lane, . Village edge softened by surrounding trees and woodland. Main woodland areas on escarpment. a natural fold within the scarps landform, enlarged by cutting.

10 Dyrham House and park with expansive views over the lower vale typical from the scarp. 6 Panorama from within the Dodington Estate. 8 Hinton Hill Fort and its strip lynchets constructed 9 The Cotswold Scarp rising above the Boyd Vale, with Dyrham before the black death, seen from the Cotswold Way. Woods nestled within a fold of the scarp.

14 Freezing Hill beech trees on the skyline of the Cotswold Scarp, form a distinctive feature and landmark with local and distant views. Figure 14 – Area 4 13 Extension to Tracy Park Golf Course within the agricultural 11 Recently planted avenue of trees in Dyrham Park. 12 Cotswold Scarp rising to Tog Hill on the skyline. landscape. Cotswold Scarp Landscape Character Areas

1 The southern edge of village showing the recently built housing in Woodlands Road. 2 View of the eastern edge of Wickwar village, set above the Little Avon Valley. Ridge can be seen on the skyline. Roof colouring in this development is more sympathetic to the area than some previous examples.

3 Wetmoor Wood in the middle distance looking towards Wales, from the scarp. 4 The vale looking towards Horton Bushes showing typical square cut hedges.

5 Barnhill Quarry looking south towards Stub Riding. Peripheral mounding and planting assist in screening the site. 6 Common gate and common land at End.

7 View along High Street towards the Cotswold Scarp.

Figure 17 – Area 5 Wickwar Ridge and Vale Landscape Character Areas

1 Kingrove Common with the Cotswold Escarpment at Old Sodbury in the background. Used by 2 Bushes and Wapley Common. 3 View from Lyde Green Common with Ridge defining the most of the local farmers for grazing. Horses have been banned to deter travellers. skyline. The oil terminal and M4 feature in the middle distance.

4 View eastwards to the Pucklechurch Ridge, with the chimney 5 Cotswold Scarp. Looking east from balcony of Community 6 Boyd Vale towards Cotswold Scarp from near Talbot Farm, 7 . Church of St. James and village. Also a key skyline of Brandy Bottom Colliery within the middle distance. Centre in Pucklechurch, recreation field in the foreground. Shows at the top of Burchall’s Hill. Dyrham Woods (LCA4) nestle in feature in views from . the dominance of escarpment in the landscape. the fold of the scarp.

8 Wall of Abson Church, black copper slag coping stones from 9 Looking West from the Cotswold Way across the broad Boyd Vale, towards 10  Court sits on the ridgeline, with the church and hamlet set 11 Village of Wick with the Cotswold Scarp and Ashwicke Brass Works. Pucklechurch and its trading estate. within the Siston Brook Valley below. Ridges forming the skyline.

16 View across Doynton to Toghill: subdivision of agricultural land has resulted in an increasing number of 14 View from Toghill picnic area, with 15 Residential development within Wick, buildings in the landscape. Doynton village in hollow, Pucklechurch with the line of the properties to the right on the low ridgeline behind with the following the A420. Wick Quarry within wooded framework. The works Doynton village. Stone walls and buildings Figure 20 – Area 6 12 13 trading estate evident. Bristol lies to the buildings however remain visible beyond the site. contain the lanes. left in the distance. Pucklechurch Ridge and Boyd Valley Landscape Character Areas

1 Lodge House at Old Court 2 Panoramic view of the Tortworth Estate (formerly deer park), Old Court and church. With one overgrown pond, ornamental Scots pine, pasture and some arable land. The Cotswold Scarp to north west, lies beyond the area.

3 Tortworth Chestnut. The largest middle trunk forms the centre of the tree, 4 Former deer park around Old Tortworth Court (medieval) from near old chestnut tree (one of few 5 A view of the village from the east showing surrounded by high with numerous surrounding trunks growing from the same tree. grasslands which have not been re-seeded - thus retaining wild flowers which appear later in the year). ground on three sides.

7 Taken from Wick’s Hill (known locally as Butcher’s Hill) looking east south east. Showing the undulating mainly pastoral landscape. The new development at the Burltons in Townwell is shown to the right. Wickwar Quarry along Wickwar Ridge is on the skyline. The photo shows settlement along the main road B4058. To the left on the skyline, Brand Wood, typical of many woods and copses within the area.

6 Looking towards the Boat House at Tortworth Lake, contained within a wooded valley.

10 The passing north east through the vale with wooded ridgelines typical of the area.

8 Arable land at Buckover Farm looking towards higher ground at . 9 Silage fields and arable land within a broad vale, from the south. The settlement of Whitfield on the A38, Figure 23 – Area 7 The M5 is hidden from view and passes through this area, within the middle is visible within the distance to the left. distance. Falfield Vale Landscape Character Areas

1 Heath End area is very flat. The hedges especially around fields to the west of the B4058 are formed of mature Oak 2 View north from Green Lane, with wooded ridgeline of Falfield Vale (LCA7) 3 Typical scattered linear development within . trees, with an occasional Ash tree. There are several coal spoil heaps, now covered with trees, the largest of which is along the skyline. shown to the right of the photo.

4 Gateway to Acton Court Estate. 5 , looking south down the avenue towards St. James the Less 6 Iron Acton looking west along High Street, with “The 7 Looking north east along Mission Road. An example of a Church. Pasture in the foreground. Cassy”in the foreground. A cassy is a raised footpath. high, long, dry stone wall.

10 Narrow winding lane. Hedgebank with Pennant 11 Old farmhouses are common features. Chestnut Farm at 8 Looking north along North Road, with linear 9 Looking east from Frampton End Road showing the largely rural agricultural stone walls hidden by hedge are common near , built from local pennant sandstone. residential development of . landscape within this area of broad vale, occupied by the River Frome. , which borders this area.

15 Stone wall boundaries are locally a common feature near Acton Court and adjacent to the B4058.

12  Common, . Used for pasture and 13 View north westwards of semi-enclosed pasture and arable 14 View south east to Wickwar Ridge and Yate Rocks. The ridge Figure 26 – Area 8 recreation. land with wooded hills of the Falfield Vale on the skyline. visually contains the Yate Vale along most of its eastern boundary. Yate Vale Landscape Character Areas

2 Stidcot Plat Common. Neutral unimproved pasture. Roadside site of wildlife importance. Three commoners have rights to graze. Now under management plan for sustained conservation.

1 Ladden Brook in flood, viewed from Tytherington Hill. Two farms to the right with old and new buildings.

3 View north west along Ladden Brook to Tytherington and wooded ridge on skyline. 4 View south to Court Farm - modern agricultural buildings replace the old cattle yard. These buildings are evident in views from the M5.

5 View north to Rangeworthy Court Farm and Church. The village of Rangeworthy is along the B4058 6 View south east from near Tytherington over the plain. Pasture land, with some intermittent hedgerows and few trees. The line of the railway is evident following the top of a stoney ridge, above the Yate Vale. to the right, lined by tall vegetation.

8 View westwards over Ladden Brook, towards the rising ground of the Marl Hills. The pylon towers converge on the Iron Acton Figure 29 – Area 9 7 View south west, with pasture land and pylon corridor connecting to the Iron Acton electricity sub- electricity sub-station, to the right in the far distance. Tytherington Plain station. Landscape Character Areas

1 View towards Itchington, with narrow country lanes enclosed by hedgerows. The M5 motorway follows the 2 Looking north west from Kites Hill towards the hamlet of Green. 3 Typical old Gloucestershire farmhouse architecture at Green Farm, skyline, with vehicles visible. The and Tytherington Ridge forms the skyline. Gaunts Earthcott. The window styles are a more recent addition.

4 Hortham Brook with open pasture and isolated trees. This area now forms part of 5 Southern edge of Corporation Wood. Surrounded by deep ditches filled with water. Isolated 6 Scots pine and groups of mature trees form parkland landscape Woodlands Golf Course. woodland surrounded by fields. within Grange Court Farm estate.

7 Winterbourne Parish Church lies outside the village amid a mosaic of fields and hedges in a gentle landform. 8 Pylon towers at Iron Acton electricity sub station.

10 View from the Marle Hills north westwards. The middle distance shallow 11 View eastwards towards the Cotswolds Figure 32 – Area 10 9 Farm pond at Latterridge. ridge continues to the right forming Pits Hill, Kites Hill and from the Marle Hills, near Perrinpit Farm. Hill, with the wooded Rudgeway Ridge visible on the skyline. Earthcott Vale 1 Residential development within Wick, with the line of Landscape Character Areas the properties to the right following the A420.

2 View west across the upper section of the River 3 Looking east, with the Golden Valley rising to the Hanging Boyd to the Ridge. The view features horse Hill ridgeline within the Ashwicke Ridge character area. The paddocks within the foreground, a large arable field hillside includes to the right and Beach to and patchwork of scrub, in the distance. the left.

4 Disused coal mine vent shaft near the Golden Valley Coal Works. The site is now overgrown with wire fencing and fly tipping evident. 5 View north along Oldbury Lane above the valley.

7 Joseph’s Well - Upton Cheyney, named after a workman buried alive in a sewer trench. It is never known to run dry. One of many springs found in Pipley Valley and Upton Cheyney.

6 Bitton village from Bitton Hill. Centred on St Marys Church. Many well established and old tree Figure 35 – Area 11 specimens. Golden Vale Landscape Character Areas

1 Westerleigh with its village green. The focus of three roads, lined by older residential properties... 2 Looking south, with the large commercial sheds of Emerald Park and red roofs of 3 View from Lyde Green with the Oil Terminal and M4 . Bristol extends along the skyline with the M5 Motorway hidden by visually prominent. the foreground landform.

4 View from cycle path bridge over the Avon Ring Road. Emersons Green residential development lies 5 Brick chimney remaining from South 6 Panoramic view of Kingswood from Rodway Common. to the left with pale grey ‘sheds’ of Emerald Park within the middle distance. The derelict buildings of Parkfield Colliery on the Shortwood spur of Newlands Farm lie next to the timber fence line. The field is now the site of the science park. the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. Photo 4 to be retaken.

7 Shortwood Lodge Golf Course and powerlines, with the 8 Siston Brook Valley looking west to the urban edge of Kingswood from Tut’s Wood Hill. 9 The Dramway crossing Siston Common. Rural characteristics are urban area of Kingswood forming the western skyline. overshadowed by the Kingswood urban edge. The Ring Road lies in cutting to the west (left).

12 View from the Oldland Ridge, north west to the varied urban fringe of with Kingswood and Bristol beyond.

10 View from Warmley Forest Park “Millennium Seat” looking 11 Fringe area on boundary with North Common. Farm and Figure 38 – Area 12 southeast to Warmley Church spire and distant skyline of horsiculture development meet new light industry. Paddocks and the Cotswold Scarp. stables are common. Kingswood and Bristol define the skyline. Westerleigh Vale and Oldland Ridge 2 One of four impressive Landscape Character Areas viaducts within this character area built in 1902, carrying the South Wales to London railway over the River Frome valley. Taken from the .

1 The open Frome Valley, contained with linear settlement along the hill tops on either side 3 The south side of Winterbourne is characterised by its raised ground and stone walls in place of and by the viaduct and tall railway embankment to the south. hedges. Native, Scots Pine and exotic trees crown the rise on Mill Road.

4 The existing settlement edge of encloses 5 The M32 and broad largely green corridor, continues southwards 6 The intersection of the Ring Road with the Winterbourne to Bristol 7 View from Moorend towards the urban edge of Downend. pasture land and forms a visible built skyline. to Bristol. Road. The volume of traffic is frequently high. Several footpaths M4 on embankment is concealed by dense vegetation. used to cross near here.

10  - The cows grazing the annual profusion of buttercups in the Hilly 8 The Dower House, within Stoke Park, set in a prominent position along a scarp edge, 9 View across the ‘Cricket Common’ to Frenchay Church. The tree to the right is one Field, given to the village by Francis F. Tuckett. The land beyond the hedge overlooking the . of several tulip trees found locally. The churchyard is surrounded by a ha ha. down to the River Frome is owned by the National Trust.

14 Winterbourne Down, looking over a dry stone wall with its cock and hen coping stones. Cottages and modern infill housing tumble down the wooded hill to the River Frome and are well integrated by the tree cover.

11 Enclosed valley character along the River Frome, with 12 The River Frome valley and railway viaduct, looking 13  Golf Course, with new lake and planting Figure 41 – Area 13 Rockwell Wood to the right. northwards. within existing mature vegetation framework. Frome Valley Landscape Character Areas

1 Avon Ring Road separating the business park at Emerald Park to the left and the new housing of Emerson’s Green 2 Emerson’s Green North, looking towards Blackhorse Pond and Westons 3 Emerson’s Green Common looking towards Green Lane. North. The Pucklechurch Ridge is on the skyline. Brake.

4 Christ Church, Downend, viewed across Downend Cricket 5 Page Park, formal park at Staple Hill used for many 6 Grimsbury Farm open space towards Cock Road Ridge. 7 Allotments at Hollyguest Road looking across retail Club Ground, with historic connections with W.G. Grace. community events. development towards the Cotswolds.

8 Avon Ring Road, showing the commercial development below the wooded scarp of Mount Hill. 9 Remains of Barr’s Court Estate set against modern retail and 10 Cadbury Heath Road, early 20th century residential development. residential development.

14 View south from Mount Hill, 11 Warmley Clock Tower, part of Champion’s Brassworks, 12 Siston Brook and linear parkland 13  Hills, Lynch Pit looking to Kingswood with Hanham Hills rising Figure 44 – Area 14 now used by the community. Slag quoins and copings within Cadbury Heath. on the horizon. Pockets of open space include above housing at Longwell have been frequently used within many local buildings. playing fields and green scarp at Mount Hill. Green in the middle distance. Kingswood Landscape Character Areas

3 The Tumps - towards Waterside Drive - the railway tunnel below this patch. Grass and trees have been successfully grown despite very poor soil quality. This open space was 1 Commercial and light industrial development close to Woodlands 2 View from footbridge over M5 - allotments in foreground and originally provided in compensation for the loss of Charlton 4 Heart of ; comprising unmanaged Lane. RAC building forms a local landmark. Aztec West beyond. Common, when Airfield was expanded in 1946. agricultural fields, awaiting development.

5 Open space fringed by residential development of Bradley Stoke 6 Bradley Stoke with Filton on the horizon (Sherbourne’s Brake to the right) Lake marks meeting of 7 Baileys Court Inn - old farmhouse finds new role in modern residential area. and the . Stoke, Hortham and Brooks - new bridge made from old farmhouse stone. Urban and rural meet.

8 A low earth bank forms this flood water retention tank. This 9 Originally part of Broadmead Common parish pasture, the 10 Filton roundabout with new sculpture ‘The Spirit of Flight’, 11 MOD Abbey Wood offices dominate many views within the site has become a habitat for wildlife. It has also prevented northern boundary is blocked off by Rolls Royce buildings Cleve residential development and industrial buildings of British Filton area. annual flooding of the adjacent houses. to the north and by the A38 to the west. Aerospace.

15 Recently laid hedge along the edge of Filton Recreation Ground and the A4174. An unusual example of countryside practices within the urban environment.

14 View from Filton Golf Course across 13 View from Wyckbeck Road bridge, of fields which extend Filton Airfield, with Concord in the middle 12 Stanley Farm with Abbey Wood development beyond. Figure 47 – Area 15 eastwards to the edge of Filton Airfield. The railway line distance and part of village is in the distance. forms the boundary with Bristol. retail centre visible behind the hanger. Patchway and Filton Landscape Character Areas

1 Panoramic view from Trig Point, Hanham Hills towards and beyond Hanham. The Avon Ring Road is hidden in cutting below the hill in the foreground.

2 View east to Hanham Hills from public open space at Hanham Hall. The Avon Ring Road passes through this area in the middle 3 18th century ‘Sally-on-the-Barn’ Court Farm, built predominantly of 4 Stephens Green through the kissing gate, Hanham distance, hidden in cutting. blue lias limestone. Court.

5 View of Hanham Lock and Hanham Mills from the Avon Ring Road. The 7 River Avon - Londonderry Wharf. Subject to annual flooding. Former 8 Londonderry Wharf. Railway rails now used for River Avon forms the southern boundary to South Gloucestershire here 6 The small side valley of the Siston Brook, joining terminus for coal barges and the Dramway linking coalpits, both local and field boundary fencing. Can be found all along the the river and woodlands are a SNCI. the Avon Valley at Londonderry Wharf. as far north as . disused track together with original sleeper blocks.

11 View from above (beyond the South Gloucestershire area), looking west over the Avon Valley floodplain. Swineford is in the middle distance, with Bitton, its churchand glass houses beyond in the further distance. The flood plain and the river is to the left.

9 Keynsham Lock Basin and part of Sydenham Mead 10 Port Avon Marina - Keynsham. Permanent access to the River Figure 50 – Area 16 water meadows. The Cadbury factory is a prominent Avon. Chandlery facility and Lock Keeper Public House provides for local feature and a site of a former Roman Villa. expanding leisure use of the river. Avon Valley Landscape Character Areas

1 View along Abbey Lane, east of the A38. A green lane and part of the Jubilee Way 2 Tytherington Quarry and railway tracks servicing the 3 Wooded Tytherington Hill, viewed across Tytherington Common (LCA9). Row of modernised ex-poorhouses feature footpath. quarry. Originally the main line between Thornbury and on the skyline. Bristol, opened in 1872, closed in 1972.

4 View from St. Helen’s Church Tower, . The village edge lines this section of 5 Itchington Common. Common grazing land with a steep drop to the stream, 6 View west from Rudgeway across the Sheepcombe Valley, with wooded Severn Ridge the A38. The fields and buildings of Grove Farm within the middle distance to the bounded by a variety of trees. at Hill and in the middle ground and the Levels and Severn Bridge within the right of the A38, falls within LCA17. distance.

7 Dense hedgerow and post and wire fencing field boundaries. Looking south east 8 Looking north along the M5, noting ground and ridge to the north east of 9 Large woodland blocks within the area of Tockington Park Farm, with Tockington Park from the A38 towards Gatten’s Brake woodland. Rudgeway. Scattered farms are a typical feature along this gentle landform. Wood to the left and Gatten’s Brake, on the skyline.

11 A cluster of stone farmhouses, associated buildings and stone walls form a distinct feature, along The Street/ Shellards Lane. The A38, along the edge of Alveston is just Photo out of date & needs visible to the left. replacing.

10 Hortham Hospital from Hortham Lane, crossing over the M5. Figure 53 – Area 17 Rudgeway and Tytherington Ridge Landscape Character Areas

1 View from Upper Hill, towards trees and woodland surrounding Hill Court. Hill Parish is still largely, if not entirely, estate owned by Hill Court. 2 Hill Church, Hill Court and Dovecot. Specimen trees planted by Herbert Jenner-Furst over 100 years ago, with extensive views over the Oldbury Levels.

3 Cowhill in the evening sunshine below St Arilda’s Church. Two fine oak trees show up now Dutch Elm Disease has done its worst. The Forest of Dean ridgelines 4 Thornbury Castle Street. 5 View looking north from hill below upper Marlwood Farm (clubhouse of Thornbury Golf Course) to Thornbury, feature in the distance. with St Mary’s Church a landmark visible from many directions.

6 Low-lying cultivation and wooded ridges. The ubiquitous Oldbury Power Station is in the 8 Looking south west at Elberton, showing the church, manor house and tithe barn. 9 View over Stroud Common towards the ribbon development between Alveston and background. The barn is now converted to a residential property. Rudgeway, which follows the A38 along the Severn Ridge.

11 Although the original medieval centre of Thornbury sits on a low ridge to the west of the town , the built- up area is in a saucer with higher land to the south, east and north. This view from close to the A38 shows industrial buildings in the foreground, but also shows how 10 View to the east of Alveston, showing 17th century farmhouse and outbuildings. wooded the town is. Figure 56 – Area 18 Stone walls are prominent and show the rural character 100 metres from the A38. The Severn and the Forest of Dean provide the background. Severn Ridges – Sheet 1 Landscape Character Areas

12 View north east from Catherine Hill over Court and village with the wooded ridge at Little Down in the distance.

13 View south west of the wooded Severn Ridge with Lower and church in the centre middle distance, large orchard to the left and scattered houses along the scarp and ridge top.

14 New large scale cider orchard, planted in 15 Lower Almondsbury village green, original village school, 16 Panoramic view from scarp over the Levels, to the Severn Estuary and beyond. Cattybrook Brickworks is evident to the left, with formal rows. church with lead spire and village pump. distributor warehouses and chemical works more distant, near the estuary (not evident here due to the hazy image).

17 View of Spaniorum Hill, in the middle distance, from across the Pilning Levels.

Figure 56 – Area 18 Severn Ridges – Sheet 2 Landscape Character Areas

1 Hedge with dead elms, the ditch contains tall rushes. 2 View west, overlooking scattered farms at Hill. Dead elm hedgerow within foreground with 3 View north west from Hill Court towards Brick House Farm. The flat Levels are mostly mature trees and small orchards. grazed by cattle and sheep.

4 Deep drainage rhines are a characteristic feature with unmade road. 5 Old cider apple orchards are a frequent feature. 6 Ridge and furrow is very common within the levels (a subtle feature, here the shadow picks out undulations in the Former marshland. field). Newbridge Mead (Neubrecht = newly broken up - 13th century).

7 View north east towards Rockhampton, with the Severn Ridge as a 8 View north west from Camp Hill, with dispersed settlement of Rockhampton along the edge of the levels. Dense mature 9 View south west from Camp Hill, with Lower Morton within the backdrop. tree cover is common to this particular area of the Levels. middle distance.

10 View north from church tower to Oldbury-on-Severn. The Sailing Club HQ is 11 View towards Oldbury Power Station, with the farm buildings of in front Figure 59 – Area 19 to the left, Oldbury Power Station adjacent to the Estuary. Note the numerous and the Forest of Dean ridge behind. Leylandii planted within the rural framework. Oldbury Levels Landscape Character Areas

1 View south west from St Arilda’s church tower to Severn Bridge. Typical grazing country. Some hedgerows are gone but many 2 View north east to Cowhill. Hills like this are typical along the edge of the levels where higher land of the Severn Ridges peters out. are left. Cider apple orchard in blossom to the right.

3 View looking north to the Severn Bridge and wooded slopes / cliff line behind Old Passage. The 4 Looking north from Red Hill over the Levels to wooded higher ground at Littleton-upon-Severn. 5 Pollarded willows in Mead Lane leading to Wildacre Wood, a road forms the edge of the Levels with the Estuary shoreline / warth. Pastureland with drainage rhine within middle distance. nature reserve owned by The Woodland Trust. Willows formerly an important source of wood.

6 Residential edge at behind the flood 7 M4 heading eastwards from , with associated earthmounds, over bridges, lighting, gantries 8 From Northwick Bridge over M4, looking towards the Severn Bridge. defence wall, with industrial structures of Avonmouth in the and new planting. Cover to the left and denser vegetation patterns associated with smaller fields closer distance, beyond this area. to the Estuary.

Figure 62 – Area 20 9 Sandy Bank Rhine. 10 Almondsbury Rhine Aqueduct. 11 Severn Beach. Plining Levels – Sheet 1 Landscape Character Areas

12 From Pilning Station looking towards Western Approach Distribution Park, 13 View from the Severn Ridge over the Pilning Levels, with regular field patterns influenced by rhines. Square and linear woodland belts to the right. with powerlines and chemical works at Severnside Works.

14 Severnside Chemical Works (opened 1958/59). Now demolished. 15 Woodland within the Levels: Square Covert on the left, Old Withy Bed within the gap and a linear belt further right.

16 The Western Approach Distributor Park seen from the B4064 with towers of the Avlon Works behind. 17 Distant view of the Severnside Chemical Works, across the Levels from Church Farm, near .

Add photographs 18 Western approaches spine road. Figure 62 – Area 20 19 Tesco warehouse from the B4064. Plining Levels – Sheet 2 Landscape Character Areas

1 Hill Pill is the main drain within the Parish of Hill, draining into the 2 Looking south, on top of the sea wall, towards White 3 Looking north over Littleton Pill at low tide, with extensive mud flats, bed rock and salt marsh - a typical feature. . Many rhines drain into this one. House and Oldbury Power Station. 5 Cliff.

4 Looking north west from Aust Service Station viewing point. Showing the Estuary, Aust Rock at low tide and the Grade 1 Listed Severn Suspension Bridge. The hills of South Wales form the horizon.

6 The Pill at New Passage before it joins the River Severn. The flood bank on the right and 7 Northwick Warth from New Passage. 8 The Binn Wall sea defence at New Passage looking towards the Second Severn the sluice gates are particular features within the area footpath. Crossing.

11 The Second Severn Crossing. One of the two bridges which form prominent landmarks and provide regional identity along the Severn Estuary.

9 Chittening Warth, the Estuary and industrial structures of Severnside 10 Foreshore and warth looking towards the prominent edge Figure 65 – Area 21 and Avonmouth. of Severn Beach and the Second Severn Crossing. Severn Shoreline and Estuary