The Birket Floodplain Farmland Chimneys occasional Pockets of scrub on features urban fringe Prominent urban edge Few hedgerow trees Key Characteristics Flat, low-lying, open, large scale farmland with exposed character Landuse predominantly rough grazing and horse paddocks with some arable Urban edges are frequent elements within the character area. Landfill and mineral operations are discordant features within the landscape Horse paddocks bordered by post and wire and tape fences are common Manmade earthworks contrast with the naturally flat surrounding landscape Drainage ditches, streams and brooks are frequent along roads and field boundaries Overhead lines are prominent vertical elements Small copses and linear woodlands along ditches and settlement fringes are frequent although area generally has very low woodland cover Willow and popular are common tree species Hedgerows are infrequent, often fragmented and of variable heights. Lanes and tracks are bordered by taller more intact hedgerows Large farmhouses with storage sheds and out buildings are visually prominent Wind turbines are frequently visible on the skyline Frequent waterbodies and standing water due to low lying position The Birket has an engineered appearance with little woodland vegetation Coastline mostly screened by embankment and built development Landscape Character The character area is to the north west of the Wirral and water treatment works along the urban fringes and peninsula including land between Hoylake, Caldy, along Birkenhead Road and Carr Lane are often untidy Greasby and Moreton and extends north towards the and obtrusive. The area also includes, Hoylake Golf coast to Lingham Lane. It is close to the coast but the Course, Gilroy Road Nature Reserve and large farm Wallasey Embankment obscures views of the sea and houses. natural shoreline. There is no continuity to field pattern although pockets The land is mostly flat, open farmland. The land rises within the eastern and northern areas tend to be small slightly towards the coast and becomes more and regular, with central areas becoming larger and undulating and rolling. Man-made embankments irregular in shape. Many field patterns are formed by (around areas of industry) provide contrast to the watercourses. generally flat landscape most prominent north of Birkenhead Road in the north adjacent to the railway. There are a high number of small streams and drainage ditches through the area which provide drainage to the Land use is predominantly rough grassland and pasture. farmland. Field boundaries are often formed by ditches Horse paddocks are common in the northern part of the and associated vegetation including both dense trees character area where fields have been sub-divided by and scrub and grassed banks. There are also areas of post and tape fencing. Field boundaries include timber lowland wetland and standing water on the lower fencing and post and tape fences defining horse ground. The Birket, a small engineered river flows paddocks between drainage ditches and hedgerows. through the area and is a locally prominent feature. The landscape has an often fragmented and untidy There are numerous small ponds dotted through the appearance because of hedgerow fragmentation, fields east of the character area and larger man-made material storage and variable condition of fences. lakes and pools associated with former quarrying and Areas of industry including landfill, mineral extraction industry. The Birket Floodplain Farmland Woodland and tree cover There is little woodland cover in the area although there are pockets of smaller linear regular and irregular shaped woodlands to the south of Meols and the West Industry is a frequent Kirkby Birkenhead railway line. The urban edges are element characterised by a higher proportion of woodland and there are views to larger areas of woodland on the slopes beyond the character area. The majority of the landscape has very few trees and hedgerows and where present they tend to form short linear belts often of willow or poplar along drainage Field boundaries ditches. There are also scattered trees and hedgerows formed by post and trees, although they are infrequent and where present wire fencing are sometimes windblown and close to the urban fringe. Dominant species include willow and white poplar and shelter belts of poplar and ash. There are groups of ornamental trees in the golf courses which often also include some willow and white poplar. Hedgerows are fragmented, although become denser Leasowe and more consistent along roads and tracks. Timber Housing visible Lighthouse and post and tape fencing has replaced many hedgerows which contributes further to the open exposed character of the landscape. Patches of scrub and isolated bushes are sometimes the only remaining signs of a hedgerow. The dominant hedgerow species is hawthorn although blackthorn occurs in places. Low hedgerows and few hedgerow trees Wildflower meadows and rough grassland occur at the informal open spaces of Meols Meadows and close to Moreton. They include damp improved grassland separated by tall vegetation in ditches. Built form The area is surrounded by settlements, many of which Large farmsteads are common in the landscape and have expanded and have modern housing estates on often have large out-buildings and agricultural sheds. their fringes. The settlements are often built on slightly They tend to have little vegetation around the rising ground on the fringes of the character area and boundaries so are prominent in the landscape. There the rising roofline is prominent in the landscape around are also areas of industry and storage yards sometimes Grange Hill and the northern fringes of Greasby. surrounded by fencing or engineered bunds. These Churches are often visible on the roofline. Woodland is areas often have an untidy appearance. Overhead lines more common along the urban fringes and the roofline pass across the character area and the perception of tends to be interspersed with mature trees which their scale is increased by the lack of other vertical softens the landscape. structure or woodland. An extension from the southern fringe of Meols provides the only group of residential Industry on the edge of Hoylake is also visible, although dwellings in the character area. These are large slightly filtered by scrub and planting on the edges of detached and semi-detached houses set out in a Hoylake Golf Course. Shelterbelts of poplar trees are modern housing estate layout and built in red brick. common on the fringes and along roads. The urban The edges are well planted with hedgerows and mostly edge is generally well contained, partly by the railway filtered in views from the undeveloped area by scrubby to the south of Meols. vegetation. There is a mix of built form types in the landscape. Red brick, white render and red clay tile roofs are Settlements on the fringes of the character area such common building materials. Industrial buildings and as Hoylake, Greasby and Newton will include rows of agricultural sheds tend to be of metal construction terraces and semi-detached properties. Properties are although older, smaller barns and stables use both red generally two storey and have large chimneys which brick and sandstone. are occasional features on the skyline The Birket Floodplain Farmland Views Nature and extent of views Landmark features The landscape is low and flat with few trees or There are no landmark features within the character woodland which gives an exposed character and few area. There are views out to: visual barriers. There are long views over the farmland Leasowe lighthouse to the north east to the rising slopes outside the character area to the Bidston Hill to the east south and to industry and the embankment to the Grange Hill to the west. north. Views over the area include urban fringe, There are views from the higher ground to the wind industry, farm buildings and infrastructure which turbines out to sea to the north. reduces the rural nature of the landscape and in places give an urban fringe character. There are some views to Key viewpoints coastal elements on the horizon, such as the wind Saughall Massie Road is on slightly elevated ground turbines and occasional ships although the coast is and offers long views over the character area and on to largely obscured by The Wallasey Embankment. the seascape on the horizon. The Wallasey Embankment on the northern edge of the Birket is elevated and gives views back over the character area Pockets of trees at Zones of visual influence urban fringes The landscape is relatively screened from outside the Hedgerows replaced by character area although there are views possible from post and wire fence Thurstaston Hill, Bidston Hill and Grange Hill. Views are possible across the area from the Wallasey Embankment. Engineered watercourse - The Birket Overhead lines are prominent Long views across area Few hedgerows Quality and condition of the landscape MODERATE - d MODERATE GOOD o GOOD o Enhance Conserve G Conserve and n Enhance o i t i d e t n POOR - MODERATE - a o r C e MODERATE Landscape Strength MODERATE GOOD d e o Enhance p Enhance and Conserve and Moderate - Landscape elements have little pattern and a M c Restore Enhance s include a wide range of components such as urban d n a POOR - fringe, industry, power lines, golf courses and L r o POOR MODERATE agricultural land. The exposed ditches and streams and o MODERATE P Restore/Create Enhance and Enhance the frequent urban fringe elements are distinctive Restore features. Weak Moderate Strong Landscape Condition The landscape strategy for the character area is Poor - the hedgerows are generally in a poor condition ENHANCE/RESTORE. Emphasis should be on and are often fragmented. In combination with the enhancing and restoring the field pattern whilst extensive use of post and tape fencing and areas of retaining and enhancing wetland features such underused land this gives a 'scrappy' and untidy as areas of water, linear clumps of wet appearance.