Area 56 Plompton and South Knaresborough Arable Land
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A View south east from Spofforth Lane. AREA 56 PlomptonPlompton andand Approved Feb 2004 SouthSouth KnaresboroughKnaresborough ArableArable LandLand HARROGATE DISTRICT Landscape Character Assessment Area boundary* Not to Camera location Scale & location * NB Due to the nature of landform, surface treat ment and soil/geology composition Character area boundaries cannot be delineated precisely and should be considered "transitional". Location in Harrogate District ©Crown Copyright. All Rights Reserved. Harrogate Borough Council. 1000 19628 2004. Description Key Characteristics This large-scale area is situated between the valley Geology, soils and drainage landscapes of the River Nidd and the River Crimple Magnesian limestone and glacial till south of Knaresborough. It covers approximately drift geology. 23km² and extends as far south as Harrogate District's boundary north of Wetherby. Combination of deep and shallow soils, fine to coarse loamy, some over clayey, slowly The undulating landform is scattered with various permeable and well-drained, seasonally- blocks of woodland that disperse views across an waterlogged brown soils. otherwise open landscape. Fields are large to acc ommodate modern and intensive farming practices for Landform and drainage pattern cereal production plus some improved grassland for Undulating landform between 35m and grazing. The amalgamation of smaller fields to create 75m AOD. these large fields has led to the dissolution of hedge row field boundaries and trees (those that do survive The watercourse linking Crimple Beck with along the roadsides often appear neglected). the River Nidd contributes to the undulating landform as it crosses the area in a south to The other main settlements of the area are built along north direction from Newsome Bridge near the Knaresborough Road (B6164) and generally linear Spofforth to Ribston. in form. Elsewhere individual farmsteads are scatt ered and accessible by long, private access tracks. Land use, fields, boundaries, trees and wildlife The area is within The Royal Forest of Knaresborough, Large arable fields of grade 2 and 3 a former medieval hunting park. agricultural land. Fields predominantly open with some fragmented hedging in places. LCarea056.cdr Key Characteristics (Cont'd) Guidelines Small woodland blocks on higher ground and Aim: To integrate existing intrusive development. infrequent hedgerow trees elsewhere. Encourage restoration and management of Deighton Spring, Birkham Wood, Bramham hedgerows along roadsides, however open Wood and woodland at Scalibar Farm are nature of landscape does accommodate designated Ancient Semi-Natural woodland. fragmentation of hedges elsewhere. Birkham Wood and Newsome Bridge Quarry Restriction on extension or new development of are SSSIs. caravan/camping site that encroaches onto the skyline beyond the Nidd Valley side. Braham Fields area is a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation. Development should be of appropriate scale and material so as not to detract from character of Settlement, built environment and communications landscape. Main settlements are North Deighton, Kirk Encourage overhead communications to be Deighton, and Little Ribston plus scattered placed underground. individual farmsteads. Planting associated with the sewage works in North Deighton was part of the Ribston Estate the centre of the Character Area makes an imp and is set around a large green. The village is ortant contribution to mitigating the impact of a mix of dwellings and farm buildings. More the site but could be built upon and improved. recent housing does not respect the vernacular. Modern development in villages has detracted Kirk Deighton is recorded in the Domesday from the vernacular. Planting around the village Book, and its church is of Norman origin. edges could help to define development limits Traditional building materials are mixed, and better integrate modern houses with including Magnesian limestone and gritstone traditional buildings. with slate and some pantile roofs. Aim: To enhance and promote archaeological sites The A1 marks the eastern extent of the area and research the landscape's historic origins. along the boundary where the rolling landform Protect archaeological features from further becomes flat. The A661 Harrogate to Wether degradation and improve public access to them. by Road runs along much of the western boundary. There are also several minor roads Several parish boundaries are linked to field crossing this intensively-farmed landscape. boundaries and associated hedges could be considered important under the hedgerow Several public footpaths and bridleways provide regulations. Restoration and management of links but this network is not extensive. hedges along parish boundaries is important to The Motte and Bailey east of North Deighton is the historic character of the area. a medieval fortification and there is a Bronze The setting of historic parks and gardens adj Age bowl barrow south of North Deighton with acent to the Character Area must be protected evidence of Neolithic settlement beneath. from intrusive development and enhanced where possible to improve links with the surrounding Sensitivities & Pressures countryside (this is particularly important for The gently rolling landform and open nature of Plumpton Rocks). the landscape combined with uniform land use Aim: Conserve the landscape pattern and landform in random, large fields have resulted in a land characteristic of the area. scape which is sensitive to change from inappropriate development. Field pattern is important and, in some places, may be older than the roads, which cross them. The historic elements of this long settled are being lost to modern farming practices. Tree planting and woodland planting can be used to complement the rolling landform by Loss of field pattern and associated hedgerows. avoiding skyline locations and following Lido caravan and camping site is intrusive on contours. the landscape where it has spilled over the Settlement between villages is sparse and Nidd Valley side at Knaresborough. scattered. Here additional built form should be Urban edge of Harrogate and new commercial avoided. Where new buildings are required they development is intrusive. should be associated with existing farmsteads and located so as not to require new access Overhead transmission lines are highly visible. arrangements. The area is important to the setting of Ribston Park and Plumpton Rocks (both Registered Historic Parks and Gardens). LCarea056.cdr .