Thornton Hough Rural Farmland

Wooded horizon

Rural character

Key Characteristics Very broad flat valley with wooded ridgelines to the east and west creating the impression of a 'wide bowl' Substantial geometric blocks of woodland prominent within large arable fields Frequent linear woodlands Frequent formal linear routes bordered by avenues of ornamental trees such as sweet chestnut and sycamore Farmland bordered mostly by low hedgerows with hedgerow trees although farmland close to causeways is more enclosed in character Relatively low woodland cover in the area although the combination of blocks of woodland, causeways and hedgerow trees creates a strong wooded impression Wooded horizon lines Large prominent manor lodge at Thornton Hough Distinctive buildings with sandstone, red clay roof tile and render within small villages Church spire with blue clock face is a localised feature of the roofline within Thornton Hough Urban features are not prominent in this character area Large farms are frequently present on village fringes with occasional farms elsewhere in the character area Sandstone walls and gate lodges frequent within the landscape Landscape Character This character area is within the central part of Wirral Small pockets of parkland are present around halls or extending from the M53 to the railway. The landscape former estates such as Wirral Manor House. These are has few urban influences which gives the impression of characterised by mature and young specimen trees, the a remote rural landscape despite its close proximity to houses are often obscured by walls or mature trees and larger urban areas. boundary hedgerows.

The land is generally flat although minor undulations Character is less distinctive to the west of Manor Wood occur around Thornton Hough and along watercourses. adjacent to Parkgate Road where hedgerows have in The land rises on the fringes to ridgelines outside the places been replaced with Cheshire Rail fencing and character area and creates the impression of the overhead lines. Large modern farm properties and landscape being set within a wide 'bowl'. modern housing increase the urban influences reducing the sense of remoteness. The area is almost entirely farmed with small pockets of more formal landscape and gardens, particularly at There are a number of small watercourses which Thornton Manor adding an element of formality. Field mostly flow west to east or east to west through the pattern is mostly regular and geometric with fields landscape. Field ponds are present although often set often being large and a mix of both arable and pasture. within woodland vegetation and are therefore not Arable farming becomes more prominent within the obvious. northern part of the character area. There are few other land uses within the character area and farmland extends up to village boundaries. Thornton Hough Rural Farmland

Woodland and tree cover/ vegetation pattern Woodland blocks tend to be geometric in shape often The character area contains a series of prominent linear being the equivalent shape and size of adjacent fields. routes which are lined by ornamental trees such as Narrow belts of woodland following tracks are also sweet chestnut, sycamore and Norway maple and they features particularly within the southern part of the appear to link Thornton Manor and surrounding large character area. Woodlands tend to be predominantly farmsteads with Storeton to the east. When viewed oak with a varied mix of deciduous species. Beech is from the wider landscape the tracks appear as linear often present in more formal woodland such as at native woodlands. Native tree and shrub planting on Thornton Manor. adjacent field margins often softens and naturalises their appearance. Adjacent to villages such as Brimstage and Thornton Hough fields are bounded by mature hedgerows which The combination of woodlands on high ground, are well maintained although vary in height. Some geometric woodland blocks, wooded linear features resemble small wooded belts preventing views beyond and wooded field boundaries gives the impression of each field. Further north hedgerows are slightly lower high woodland cover. enabling longer distance views across a number of fields. In the northern part of the character area, field size has expanded to accommodate larger scale arable farming with hedgerows less frequent. The woodland Distinctive buildings at blocks within this area are particularly prominent and Thornton Hough contrast with the lower more infrequent hedgerows.

Built form Built form is relatively infrequent and indistinct when seen due to the high levels of tree cover. Large farm buildings are present throughout the area and are often concentrated around the fringes of villages such as Brimstage and Thornton Hough. Thornton Hough has a slightly rising roofline, however much of the village is screened by woodland vegetation with only some of the larger properties and the churches visible above. Views of the village are particularly distinctive from footpaths to the south around Raby and from across the Village Green. side of a small wooded brook. Field pattern is smaller closer to Brimstage with mature hedgerow boundaries. Thornton Hall Hotel and a small housing estate adjacent A number of large farms on its fringes integrate the are some of the more prominent buildings within the village with the surrounding landscape. character area. Although reasonably wooded boundaries soften their presence within the landscape, Farm buildings across the character area tend to be the hotel in particular is visible above this vegetation. large and farmsteads often contain a number of large agricultural buildings in addition to a residential Thornton Hough is a Victorian era village expanded by property. Within Thornton Hough farmhouses are Lord Leverhume in the 1880s. It retains a strongly typically of a similar style to other residential buildings distinctive character with the majority of properties in the village incorporating black and white panelling, having distinctive red roofs and black and white white render and red roofs. Thatch is present on older panelling above a red brick or sandstone base. Other barns and stables. Sandstone former barns and stables buildings are constructed completely from red are present in other areas and have been converted to sandstone. Chimneys on many of the buildings in the private residences or facilities such as Brimstage Craft village centre have distinctive patterns in the Centre. Larger modern agricultural buildings are present brickwork. The village is centred around a village green within farms and tend to contrast with the surrounding and has two churches. distinctive built form, these buildings tend to be fairly well screened although are visible and prominent in Boundary treatments within the village are mostly low places. brick or sandstone walls with many properties set within small neatly maintained front gardens. There are a small collection of buildings on the outskirts of Wirral Manor including: small bungalows; short Brimstage is a small hamlet with properties set around a terraces with distinctive large chimneys; and a large small central green. The majority of properties are semi- sandstone property with converted buildings. A detached or detached with white render and distinctive distinctive zigzag pattern sandstone wall is a feature red roofs. The village is on lower ground and set either around the boundary of the manor. Thornton Hough Rural Farmland

Views Nature and extent of views Landmark buildings The views close to wooded tracks are often localised All Saints Church and only across one or two fields. However, along many St George's Church of the roads and footpaths within the character area The gate lodge to Thornton Manor along Manor Road. views are more open and channelled or framed by woodland blocks. Distant views are contained by Key viewpoints woodland ridgelines particularly Storeton Woods to the Manor Road adjacent to Thornton Manor east and the railway which obscures Heswall to the west. Zones of visual influence Views into and out of this character area are relatively Most views are rural and across fields with few urban contained by woodland on high ground which limits features present; continuous wooded boundaries distant views beyond. The landscape is nestled at the around fields are characteristic features of the horizon base of a series of wooded ridgelines which helps to in the central part of the character area, altering to maintain its rural and remote character. woodland on high ground further north. Groups of trees within farmland Linear belts of woodland

Sandstone walls Ornamental avenues along causeways Area set within a wide ‘bowl’

Quality and condition of the landscape

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d MODERATE GOOD o GOOD o Enhance Conserve

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o Geometric blocks of woodland

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MODERATE GOOD

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o Enhance p Enhance and Conserve and Landscape Strength

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M c Restore Enhance s Good - although weakening slightly within the northern

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a POOR - and western fringes due to increasing urban influences

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o POOR MODERATE reducing the rural character of the landscape and

o MODERATE P Restore/Create Enhance and Enhance intensification of farm practices altering field pattern. Restore Features generally form easily recognisable patterns Weak Moderate Strong within the landscape which are distinctly different from the surrounding character areas and make this The strategy for this character area is landscape distinctive. CONSERVE. Emphasis should be on conserving the rural landscape and promotion of continued Landscape Condition good landscape and agricultural practice to Good - landscape features are well maintained with maintain the condition and strength of character little evidence of fragmentation, loss of field pattern or loss of boundary features although this is evident in the northern part of the character area. Thornton Hough Rural Farmland

Main trends or threats to the landscape M a t u r e h e d g e r o w Shelterbelts of poplar which emphasise the presence boundaries of development and contrast with the softer more natural appearance of other linear belts of mixed native woodland Loss of hedgerows through intensification of farming resulting in the loss of more intimate landscapes and regular field pattern Subdivision of fields for horse paddocks using timber and electric fences which often have an inconsistent and untidy appearance. Native planting along edges of causeways Risk of maturing mixed woodland being replaced by single species plantations Landscape Guidelines Landscape features Built form Conserve the geometric pattern of woodlands Conserve the distinctive rural and compact character of Enhance rural routes through hedgerow and avenue Thornton Hough and Brimstage; any new development tree planting to reflect the linear causeways should seek to take reference from the distinctive style Conserve views of woodland on high ground to and materials used within these villages maintain the impression of being within a wide 'bowl' Conserve the rural character of the landscape ensuring New planting should be of a geometric or linear form that any new development does not make village or and where close to properties or urban fringes should urban fringes more prominent within the landscape be enclosed by stone boundaries or hedgerows Conserve rural views towards Thornton Hough where Conserve the wooded horizon the village is viewed as a small rising village with few properties set within mature woodland with All Saints Landscape management/agriculture Church visible on the skyline Conserve and maintain intact hedgerow boundaries Encourage the use of red brick and sandstone in any Enhance fragmenting field boundaries to the north new agricultural buildings through replacement planting Ensure careful siting of any new agricultural buildings Enhance hedgerow tree cover in the northern part of to ensure they appear small within the surrounding the character area landscape Maintain wooded hedgerow boundaries and ensure replacement planting of hedgerow trees Other development/structures in the landscape Conserve the regular geometric field pattern, any sub- Ensure that where former agricultural buildings are division should reflect this pattern and use native converted, for example to tourism such as Brimstage hedgerows and hedgerow trees to form the boundaries Craft Centre, changes do not significantly alter their rural or distinctive character Conserve the rural character of roads through the area Encourage the planting of native avenues of trees along rural routes, particularly on approach roads to manors or parkland Capacity to accommodate change This is a rural landscape which is set within a wide 'bowl'. Woodland is visible on high ground outside the character area and provides screening to urban development beyond. Built development is relatively indistinct in the landscape although where present villages are distinctive either on slightly rising ground with church spire visible or within low lying ground surrounded by mature woodland/trees. The buildings within villages, particularly Thornton Hough, are of a distinctive style and are important in providing a sense of place within this character area. Other important features include intact post-medieval field patterns; avenues of ornamental trees bordered by more naturalistic woodland and trees; and areas of parkland such as Thornton Manor.

This character area is sensitive to any changes which reduce the local distinctiveness of villages or increases the prominence of roads or urban edges. Future changes must enhance or protect landscape features such as avenues of trees or parkland at Thornton Manor. In addition it should be ensured that the field pattern is conserved or enhanced through replacement hedgerow planting.

Any future development should ensure that it demonstrates its positive contribution to the local landscape through reflecting and enhancing local distinctiveness. Positive characteristics to conserve, protect and reinforce include parkland features, linear avenues, geometric blocks of woodland, views to a wooded horizon and intact wooded hedgerows.