River Culm Significance Introduction: This summary of significance for the River Culm has principally been created from information on the natural and historic environments as contained in the Killerton Parkland Plan (Land Use Consultants 2012). The River Culm, character area 10, from this plan is included below (ibid.p 82-85). Additional key sources include the recent historic character assessment of the Culm floodplain and water catchment (Firth & Firth 2021), the Killerton Garden CMP (Rutherford, Lovie & Gallagher, 2014) and the Killerton House CMP (Bolter 2019). A list of sources can be found in the bibliography. The River Culm A key component of the Killerton estate, the valley of the River Culm is significant • for the hedgerows, ancient and veteran trees, wet woodland habitat and associated wildlife • for the unexplored archaeological potential of the buried land surfaces of the flood plain • as the site of Columbjohn manor and mill • as the focus for generations of agricultural and industrial activity including mills and leats • as an integral element of the designed landscape at the heart of the Killerton Estate • for the potential and future use for local communities for leisure, relaxation and learning • as a place for future partnerships to deliver community, environmental and cultural benefit • as a place where global issues of climate and environment can be addressed at local scale National Designations in the area covered by ‘Green Recovery’ funding • SSSI covering Dolbury hill and an associated spur of land to rivers edge • Registered GII* Park and Garden extends to the River Culm • Scheduled monument designation covers two park pales and deer park pond • Columbjohn Chapel Listed GII • Pigeon House Listed GII • Cubby Close Cottages Listed GII • The site of Columbjohn manor house is not designated but is of schedulable quality Summary of historical and archaeological significance The Buried land surfaces The paleo-environmental potential of the alluvial silts of the extensive Culm floodplain. The silts are likely to contain preserved evidence of past populations including the use of now buried land surfaces dating back over 10 000 years. This will include pollens, botanical evidence, preserved wood and vegetational remains. There is the potential to find trackways, fish traps, river jetties and similar remains rarely found and only preserved in such environments Prehistoric populations Connections between communities operating between the high ground, including Dolbury hillfort, and the lower ground of the floodplain remain unexplored but are likely to be rich and significant Compiled by Martin Papworth & Barbara Wood March 2021 1 Human exploitation of the river and flood plain For centuries, the river and the land adjacent were the focus for industrial and agricultural activity. There are potential remains of medieval mills and of the infrastructure for extensive management of the river and meadows including weirs, leats and pools. A component of the designed landscape The river is an integral part of the landscape associated with the Registered II*, Park and Garden. It is connected to Columbjohn, the deer park, the gardens and ultimately to the house through views and vistas and as a component of a landscape intended and managed for, both work and leisure. Killerton Park, Parkland Plan LUC November 2012 (Extract P 82-5 below) 10: River Culm Historic Development 3.186 The River Culm rises in the Blackdown Hills and joins the River Exe on the north-western outskirts of Exeter. The name of the river is thought to mean 'knot' or 'tie', in reference to the river's twists and loops. One of the main developments within the character area over the past 250 years has been the loss of the meandering course that once served the mill leat, still visible as undulations within the landscape. The Culm was important historically, originally providing the site for Columbjohn mansion and powering the mill (see Character Area 4), and later as a setting to Killerton Park. Bridge over the Culm at Columbjohn, 1834 (Gendall) Key features • The River Culm and associated wetland habits • Oxbow lakes and dry river channels • Veteran trees • Cubby Close Cottage • Views to/from Park Wood & Columbjohn Wood Archaeology & buildings Compiled by Martin Papworth & Barbara Wood March 2021 2 3.187 Cubby Close Cottage is a listed building in the centre of the character area (west of Park Wood) of late 17th or early 18th century origin, probably built as a keeper's cottage. Recorded as Covey Close Cottage on the 19th century maps, with a boathouse on the northern boundary of the garden – this may have been for the use of the Aclands or for protecting a boat used to keep the waterways clear. A rectangular house platform with pieces of brick and slate is all that remains of Dunsford or Dolbury Cottages, which was located on the north west edge of Park Wood and is shown on the 1889 map and in an 1834 sketch by Gendall (see below). 3.188 The northern sections of the deer park pales, as well as the deer park pond, fall within this character area, together forming a Scheduled Monument – see Character Area 1 for more detail. The northern deer park fence shown on the early 19th century map also falls within this area and may survive in part. A previous course of the Culm is evident to the south west of Cubby Close Cottage, whilst a number of oxbow lakes add to the geomorphological interest of the river valley. Two cropmark enclosures have been identified within the character area from aerial photography. 3.189 A previous course of the Culm is evident to the south west of Cubby Close Cottage, whilst a number of oxbow lakes add to the geomorphological interest of the river valley. Two cropmark enclosures have been identified within the character area from aerial photography. Historic river c Views 3.190 Views along the valley are generally limited due to the flat terrain and riparian planting. However, views both to and from Park Wood and Columbjohn Wood are striking and important elements of the designed landscape, although the latter views have become obscured due to vegetation growth (see Character Areas 1 & 11). Views to Cubby Close cottage from the two woods are also likely to have been an important element of these designed views (the ‘cottage ‘ornee’). 0iof Park Wood to the Culm…(V10i) …and back up to Park Wood (V10ii). Compiled by Martin Papworth & Barbara Wood March 2021 3 Circulation 3.191 Although there is permissive access across several parts of the character area, access along the River itself is limited, even though it is used informally. Planting 3.192 36 large and/or veteran trees are present within the character area, the vast majority of which are English oak. The other trees comprise three of the four veteran ash trees recorded within the site and a single common lime and a sycamore. Many of the trees recorded are clustered along the margins of Park Wood and Columbjohn Wood – a collection of extremely large English oak are lined along the track which heads west out of Park Wood. Many of these trees are estimated to be over 350 years old, reflecting the field boundary that is evidenced on the 1756 map. Many trees and some hedgerows have been lost in this area as shown by comparing the historic mapping with the current landscape (Figures 2.7 – 2.9). 3.193 There are signs of significant stock damage to some of the trees in this area, with extensive poaching within the canopy drip line. The placement of feeding stations and watering points in these areas exacerbates this problem. Ecology 3.194 There are nine habitats recorded within this character area: • Poor Semi-improved Grassland – accounts for approximately two fifths of the character area. In a number of fields close to the River Culm, a greater frequency of marshy grassland species has been recorded, along with a number of relict oxbow lakes with marsh grassland species. • Semi-improved Neutral Grassland – accounts for two fifths of the character area. Fields of Semi-improved Neutral Grassland are mainly distributed to the north east of the character area and to the south of the River Culm. • Arable – two or three fields located south of the River Culm in the centre of the character area have been classified as arable habitat dominated by rye-grass. • Improved Grassland – uncultivated margins of improved grassland lie around the edges of the arable fields. • Semi-natural Broad-leaved Woodland – wet willow/alder woodland is mainly distributed in the north east of the character area; however, there are also small pockets adjacent to the River Culm. • Running Water – the River Culm; several small tributaries entering the northern bank of the River Culm; and numerous drainage ditches in this area were classified as running water. • Dense Scrub, Tall ruderal Herbs and Inundation Vegetation – there are relatively small patches of these habitat types in the north east part character area in close proximity to the River Culm . Key Nature Conservation Features: 3.195 The majority of hedgerows in this character area consist of 80% or more of native woody species and, therefore, meet the criteria for the Hedgerows UK BAP priority habitat type. There are a number of ancient and/or veteran trees within this character area, mainly hedgerow trees, which are of high intrinsic nature conservation value. Areas of wet woodland associated with the River Culm potentially meet the criteria for consideration as a local BAP type and maybe also a national BAP priority type (more detailed survey data needed to confirm). 3.196 Rivers are a national BAP priority type. Pooled and ponded water associated with drainage channels feeding the Culm and oxbow lake features are all of potential nature conservation value and may meet local or national BAP criteria for such features (e.g.