Countryside Appraisal - South Nottinghamshire Farmlands
Section 1: Physical and human influences
Section 2: Visual character of the landscape
Section 3: Landscape evolution and change
Section 4: Landscape strategies and key recommendations
Section 5: Landscape guidelines
Section 1: Physical and human influences
Introduction
| The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands extend over a relatively large tract of land between the southern edge of the Greater Nottingham conurbation and the urban edge of Newark. The valley of the River Trent forms their northern boundary. To the south, behind a line of well-wooded hill and escarpment features, lie the higher lands of the Nottinghamshire Wolds. The south-eastern boundary of the region is formed by a low escarpment which marks the division with the flat claylands of the Vale of Belvoir. The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands contain some of the finest quality agricultural land in the County. The drainage and cultivation of the alluvial levels in the south and north-east of the region have served to reinforce this arable tradition. The pre-eminence of arable cultivation is now one of the most important factors in determining the region’s overall character: over 80% of the farmland is under arable cultivation. |
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The shape of the land
The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands are closely associated with a belt of Triassic rocks which lie to the south of the River Trent between Gotham and Newark. These Triassic beds continue in a broad belt to the north of the river, and comprise the largest single geological formation in Nottinghamshire. The main rock type of this formation is the Mercia Mudstone group, comprising a considerable thickness of reddish mudstone containing occasional bands of hard sandstone or “skerries”. These are less well-developed than those occurring to the north of the Trent, resulting in a more restrained topography. Gypsum also occurs in quantity, especially in the upper part of the formation, which outcrops between Cotgrave and Newark. This outcrop of gypsum is marked by a number of mines and plaster works. The uppermost beds of the Mercia Mudstone pass into the shaley Rhaetic beds, which give rise to a low escarpment along the south-eastern boundary of the region.
In the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands, the Mercia Mudstone forms a subdued, south-eastward sloping escarpment, which dips gently towards the Vale of Belvoir and the Nottinghamshire Wolds. The highest part of the region is thus along the edge of the Trent Valley, where a line of hills rising to just over 75 metres falls steeply into the broad trench cut by the River Trent in the underlying mudstone. To the rear of these hills, which are particularly prominent between East Stoke and Radcliffe, the land falls away more gradually towards the Rhaetic escarpment. Within this dip slope, alluvium has been deposited in a series of depressions that are believed to have been formed by a lowering of the land surface as a result of gypsum solution in the upper layers of the mudstone. This has created a distinctive topography of low-lying alluvial flats separated by narrow mudstone ridges. These ridges typically rise 5 to 10 metres above the surrounding alluvium and have historically provided dry sites for settlement.
| In the West Bridgford area, the mudstone escarpment has been deeply dissected by streams running off the Nottinghamshire Wolds to the south, leaving only isolated hills at Wilford and Clifton. A small basin, almost completely enclosed by higher ground, has developed behind these hills. Much of this basin, known as Ruddington Moor, is floored by alluvium, overlain in places by peaty surface horizons. The Nottinghamshire Wolds rise steeply to the south and west of Ruddington Moor, providing a prominent backdrop to this area. |
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The southern area of the region drains directly to the Trent, with the Fairham and Polser Brooks constituting the main water courses. Further north the land forms part of the Smite/Devon catchment with drainage following the easterly dip slope of the mudstone outcrop. These rivers converge before flowing into the Trent at Newark. The Alluvial Levels are drained by a series of dykes and artificial drainage ditches, which have removed the risk of flooding.
Along its extreme eastern margin, the region extends over the Rhaetic escarpment on to the Lias, and includes part of an extensive alluvial flat at Bennington Fen. The small area of Lias is characterised by a level to gently rolling landform, whilst peaty surface horizons are still evident on the low-lying fen. This area may form part of a separate regional character area that is more fully represented within Lincolnshire. The area has been included within the South Nottinghamshire South Nottinghamshire Farmlands because it is too small to warrant separate treatment, and because the landscape management priorities are similar.
Soils
On the Triassic mudstones slightly stoney, sandy loam brown earth soils have developed, along with reddish, fine loamy or fine silty soils. These lie over slowly permeable clayey subsoils. Reddish clayey soils have developed in the area to the north of Plumtree.
Deep clayey alluvial soils are widespread on the valley floors of the Smite and Devon and adjoining alluvial flats. Subsoils are slowly permeable, with groundwater the primary source of waterlogging. Peaty and peaty loam soils were once a feature of the larger alluvial flats but these are now greatly diminished.
The alluvium of Fairham Brook occupies much of the open expanses of Ruddington, Gotham and Bradmore Moors. Mottled clayey soils have developed in the greyish and brownish alluvium. There are now only small remnants of the peat which once covered the surface. Topsoils are humose clay loams or sandy clay loams with sandy silt and sandy loam subsoils. Soils are often gypsiferous.
Landscape history
The landscape of the South Nottinghamshire South Nottinghamshire Farmlands is superficially a creation of the enclosure movement of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, modified to meet the needs of the post-1945 economy and modern farming techniques. Behind this, however, stands over 2,000 years of settlement and land use which have influenced over successive generations the development of today’s countryside. Together with the Trent Valley, this region was consistently the most densely settled and economically strong area of pre-industrial Nottinghamshire, from late prehistory to the end of the 18th century.
Early prehistoric activity throughout the region is demonstrated by the frequent finding of flint tools and fabrication debris on the surface of ploughed fields, and by the remains of funerary and ritual monuments, such as the now built-over Late Neolithic/Early Bronze Age henge monument at Bingham or ring-ditches in the Smite Valley, which appear amongst the cropmarks recorded from the air wherever the soils of the region are favourable to the production of differential crop growth over buried ditches, pits, foundations and floors. Studies are insufficiently advanced at present to permit meaningful estimates of the effect of this activity upon the forest landscape which developed after the end of the Ice Ages, although the grazing of domesticated livestock and cultivation will have affected the flora of the woodland and produced localised thinning and clearings. This appears to be a major factor in the national diminution of elm after 4000 BC and an increase in hazel. Locally, the composition of the woodland will have varied with the soil conditions, being largely oak, lime, and alder dominated. Around Bingham and west of Ruddington and Bradmore there were considerable areas of marshland, with more localised pockets in low-lying areas elsewhere.
The 1st millennium BC and the early centuries AD saw large-scale landscape change. During late prehistory the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands became extensively settled, with farms and associated field systems becoming ubiquitous throughout the region. Occasional larger settlements, probably serving some sort of market and religious functions adjacent to important crossroads and river crossings, developed near Bingham and probably East Stoke. When the Romans arrived in the middle of the 1st century AD, they found an already densely settled and well-developed landscape. In the initial conquest period the Fosse Way was built through the new Roman province as a principal route, which in this region almost certainly followed an existing line of communication above the Trent Valley. Military forts were established at Margidunum, outside Bingham, and Ad Pontem, at East Stoke. These commanded the existing larger settlements and their important communications. The forts had a relatively short life as the focus of military and political activity moved north, but the importance of the larger settlements remained. They became small towns, centres for markets, tax collection (especially of the corn tribute), and local administration. Settlement and agricultural exploitation in the region remained extensive; Roman sites are known in almost every parish, including high status villas in Shelford, Sibthorpe, Car Colston and Barton in Fabis.
The result of this history was the clearance of the natural woodland and the development of an agricultural landscape of arable and pasture fields. Grain and seeds from a Roman site at Bunny indicate the cultivation of wheat and other arable crops, together with the presence of grassland and possibly hedgerows, while bones demonstrate the keeping of sheep and some pigs. At Margidunum, animal bones found in excavations largely represent stock brought in from the surrounding area, covering both part of this region and the Trent Valley. From these it appears that sheep were important in the early Roman phases, but after the last quarter of the 1st century AD cattle predominated. Putting this evidence together with our knowledge of the late prehistoric and Roman economy, it would not be unreasonable to envisage much of the clays being given over to corn production with pasture and meadows along the Smite and Devon Valleys, beside streams and in other lower damp areas. The marshlands mentioned above will have served also for grazing and wild fowling.
What happened at the end of the Roman period is not clear. Doubtless the region shared in the general decline in population during the 4th and 5th centuries and saw its share of social and economic change as Roman institutions and organisation withered. From the end of the 5th century, Anglo-Saxon settlement is indicated by place names and cemeteries at Holme Pierrepont, Cotgrave, Bingham, and East Stoke, but no actual settlement remains have been found and it must be assumed that these lie beneath modern villages. The early date of some place names and the general distribution of Anglo-Saxon cemeteries, together with the social and economic arrangements suggested by later documents, particularly Domesday Book, suggest that the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands substantially retained their population and economic vitality and were in consequence attractive to Anglo-Saxon incomers seeking wealth and power. Current models of Early and Middle Saxon settlement patterns are of dispersed farms and some larger settlements, not dissimilar to the basic pattern of later prehistory and the Roman period. The landscape of this region during the period up to the later 8th or 9th centuries, then, is likely to have been little different from that of these earlier periods, although it is possible that woodland may have temporarily increased somewhat and that some arable had been converted to pasture as former pressures on land use diminished.
By the 9th century and more particularly from the 10th century, after the Scandinavian invasions and settlement of the East Midlands, substantial changes in the countryside appeared. Under the growing pressures of a rising population and the growing powers of local landlords, the dispersed settlement pattern began to be replaced by one of nucleated villages with people grouping together around the farm of the local lord, or at other geographically favoured locations. This was probably accompanied by reorganisation of landholdings to create early forms of open fields, farmed in common. Thus the typical village pattern of the English Midlands and Nottinghamshire began to be created. It was a gradual process, however, and took many generations to create: there is evidence that the nucleation of some Nottinghamshire villages was still in progress in the 12th century. In the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands, however, it is likely that village formation was well advanced when Domesday Book was drawn up in 1086. The foundation of the modern landscape of the region ,then, was substantially laid by the end of the 11th century.
By 1086, as Domesday Book shows, this region was part of the most densely settled and cultivated areas of Nottinghamshire. Indeed, the area around Bingham supported the highest population and the greatest number of plough teams of the whole County. Calculations of the areas of land use nominally represented in Domesday Book imply that in every community the land was totally taken up in farming. Arable cultivation predominated everywhere and in many, but not all, communities meadow was recorded, often in small amounts. Woodland was rare, being recorded in only 6 communities and usually of small extent. The impression is strongly of a long-established, extensively cultivated countryside.
This was the pattern for the early Middle Ages. Continuing population growth saw most villages expand in size and the continuing development in field organisation to create a landscape of open fields, cropped on a 3 or 4 course rotation, with meadow and grazing in valley bottoms, along the Smite/Devon Valley, in the marshlands and on other pockets of land unsuitable for tillage, and some, comparatively few, hedgerows around villages, along lanes and between the open fields. By the late 13th century, when the mediaeval population reached its height, the agricultural regime had become heavily weighted towards arable production and cultivation extended into pastures and marginal land.
The development of the modern South Nottinghamshire Farmlands landscape has its origins in the 14th century. The Black Death in 1349 and repeated subsequent visitations of plague reduced the national population by over one third. The documentary record is insufficient to permit an accurate estimate of the effect of these epidemics in this region, but there is no reason to believe that it suffered any less than elsewhere. However, in Nottinghamshire it appears that outbreaks of disease were not consistent from one place to another; while one community might be struck badly, another might escape almost completely. Contrary to common belief, there is no evidence that any community in this region disappeared as a direct consequence of the plague. The 14th century epidemics, however, did usher in a period of protracted change in society and economy, which had its effect on the countryside. With reduced population and social change, there was a swing away from arable production. Marginal ploughlands and pastures were restored to grassland and open field rotations reorganised to allow for longer fallows, temporary grass, and the creation of closes of permanent grass. Vacant tenancies were engrossed into occupied farms, creating more differential between large and small farms. With land exchanges the tendency grew for the larger farms to be made up of consolidated blocks of land within the open fields, and for boundaries of these to become fixed. Overall, the 15th and 16th centuries saw the establishment of convertible husbandry, with a more balanced, mixed farming regime.
Not all communities prospered in these changed social and economic circumstances. By the late 15th century, some were so weakened and the incomes so reduced that some landlords and tenants saw enclosure and conversion to grazing as their most profitable option. The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands and the Trent Valley led the way in this movement, with some of the earliest enclosures in the County at Wiverton in 1510, and Holme Pierrepont in 1501. In these instances and a few others, such as Hawton and Cotham, enclosure resulted in virtually complete depopulation, but this was usually less drastic than it appears because the communities were already in decline. In the case of Wiverton, where the village was totally emptied to be included in the grazing and pleasure park outside the Hall, only 5 houses were involved and it is likely that the landlord had little economic choice. In the case of Holme Pierrepont, some 36 people were put out in the process of converting 220 acres of arable and meadow to grazing for sheep. These were but extreme examples of a trend to convert land to grazing and to enclose on a piecemeal or community-wide basis. During the 16th and 17th centuries virtually two thirds of the parishes in the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands were enclosed in whole or part, for permanent or temporary grass. This does not take account of much of the small-scale piecemeal enclosures by which closes and small fields were, or had already been, created immediately adjacent to most villages and which are recognisable today by their irregularity and species-rich hedges with mature trees.
Enclosure of the remainder of the region came in the second half of the 18th and early decades of the 19th centuries. This was the age of agricultural improvement, when open fields were seen as anachronistic and an impediment to progress and enclosure was promoted through Acts of Parliament to overcome objectors. Laid out by surveyors, the field systems created through parliamentary enclosure tend to be larger and more regular than those of the preceding centuries. They were also intended for arable and crop rotation rather than long-term or permanent pasture. With enclosure came new developments, both in qualities of livestock and in the improvement of the land. The Smite Valley and Vale of Belvoir parishes had long been recognised for the breeding of cattle; in the late 18th century there were a number of farmers in the region breeding improved types of both sheep and cattle, particularly at Ruddington and Holme Pierrepont. By this date also, work had begun upon improving the drainage of land. The Smite was being straightened and brought under control in the 1790s, changing both the appearance and the land use capabilities of its valley, and only a little earlier the poor rents from extensive boggy land in Edwalton were transformed by improving watercourses and drainage. By the late 18th century a start had also been made on draining the moors between Gotham and Ruddington, although substantial areas of open common pasture remained until after 1836.
Enclosure, and the move towards more grassland, also brought the opportunity for the owners of country houses to embellish them with parks serving both pleasure and husbandry, laid out to be ornamental and provide grazing for sheep and cattle. One of the first of this type of park was at Wiverton, created after the enclosure of 1510; others followed throughout the succeeding centuries, and from the late 18th and 19th centuries any large house of high social standing might be expected to have at least large ornamental gardens. Over a dozen of such parks and gardens are known in this region and contributed, indeed still contribute, oases of trees and greenery to the agricultural landscape. More important to the general character of this countryside, however, was the rebuilding of villages in brick. Beginning with the houses of the nobility and gentry, Holme Pierrepont Hall being one of the first early in the 16th century, by the late 18th century it was usual for the humblest of new dwellings to be built in brick. Gradually, during the 18th and 19th centuries, the old style of buildings with timber frames or of mud-and-stud construction and thatched roofs were replaced, or encased, in brick with pantile and some plain tile roofs. Local clay pits and brick kilns were often the source of the bricks.
The pattern of convertible husbandry established in between the 15th and 17th centuries continued throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries, within the landscape created by the two main episodes of enclosure. Despite fluctuations in demand and the effects of the importation of foodstuffs, it was not until the effects of the post World War II farming policies were felt that there was substantial change in this countryside. This change has seen the modification of the enclosure landscape by the removal of hedges and ditches so that fields might be amalgamated and modern large machinery be deployed, and the ploughing up of much grassland, some untouched since the 16th century, as production swung back to a preponderance of arable.
Many of the modern features of the countryside of the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands are relatively recent in its long history. The red brick character of its villages is the product of the 18th and 19th centuries, while the enclosure pattern of its field systems was laid out between 1500 and 1820. The current manifestation of the tradition of arable farming, with much of the openness of the alluvial flats, is due to boundary clearance and virtual monoculture over the last 50 years. On the other hand, the fundamental characteristics of the region are a continuity of land use and settlement pattern going back to Late Saxon times, and earlier. The agricultural vitality of the region, high population, extensive cultivation and lack of woodland are dominant themes which were established early and have influenced its landscape in every generation of its history.
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Section 2: Visual character of the landscape
Introduction
This is a tract of rolling lowland landscape dominated by arable cultivation. The area contains some of the highest quality agricultural land in the County and has a very strong arable tradition. Areas of low-lying alluvial land to the south and north east have been drained and agriculturally improved which has reinforced the arable tradition. The settlement pattern has a strong impact on the character of the landscape with large nucleated commuter villages and towns introducing a suburban influence to an otherwise distinctly rural landscape. In the more remote parts of the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands the traditional red brick character of the small villages has survived intact. A low level of woodland and regular pattern of medium to large-scale hedged fields has led to much of the landscape diversity and interest being associated with village side pastoral landscapes and isolated pockets of mature parkland.
The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands can be sub-divided into two distinct landscape types. These have been classified generically which means that, theoretically, the landscape types could occur at any location within the country where there are similar physical resources and historical patterns of land use. In reality the landscape types possess a distinctively local character, because they share the broad characteristics of the regional character area, or represent a particular aspect of that character.
Village farmlands
A gently rolling agricultural landscape with a simple pattern of large arable fields and village settlements
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Characterstic features
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Landscape description
Corresponding with the Mercia Mudstone outcrop lying between Nottingham and Newark, this is a relatively large tract of land that dips eastwards from the Trent Trench to the lower-lying alluvial lands of the Smite/Devon catchment. The regular, medium to large-scale field pattern of low, trimmed and often gappy hedgerows is the dominant feature of the landscape. The gently rolling landform and general lack of tree cover allows medium distance views over predominantly arable landscapes of homogenous character. Longer distance views open up eastwards following the fall of the dip slope. The relationship between the solid and drift geology is the overriding factor in determining the structure and character of the landscape in the north-eastern areas of the Village Farmlands. Narrow bands of mudstone stand 5- 10 metres above sinuous channels and broad open flats of alluvium.
| Intensive management of the arable farmlands has produced large areas where the field pattern is formed from low, neatly trimmed hawthorn hedgerows. These have often become gappy, although the overall enclosure pattern of medium to large fields is still very much intact. The dominance of arable cultivation and general lack of tree cover creates the impression of a landscape with a comparatively uniform character and weak “sense of place”. The strength of this impression varies throughout the landscape with the more distinctive and intimate landscapes being found adjacent to settlement. |
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A varied settlement pattern is evident arising from the series of small nucleated villages, larger commuter villages and small towns. The enlarged commuter settlements have expanded as a result of residential housing development, gravitating toward the Greater Nottingham Conurbation, They include Ruddington, Keyworth, Cotgrave, Radcliffe on Trent and Bingham. The settlements have a strongly suburban character with a mix of housing styles. A core of traditional red brick and pantile roofed buildings marks the old village centres, with sharp and abrupt residential edges now abutting the adjacent arable farmlands. The sense of landscape integration and unity can be particularly poor in these areas. The urban edge of Greater Nottingham is also largely suburban in character, with golf course developments, garden centres, a supermarket development and a new country park attracting people to the urban fringe. Heavy traffic along the network of country roads that link the commuter settlements with Nottingham reinforces the impression of a rural landscape, with a growing suburban character.
In the more remote areas the smaller, red brick villages often link directly with intimate pastoral landscapes containing small irregular field patterns, species-rich hedgerows and mature hedgerow trees. A profusion of mature garden trees along the village edges also helps to create intimate, well treed landscapes that are well integrated with the surrounding farmlands. Occasionally the pastures contain ridge and furrow. These landscapes have a strong “sense of place” and a unified and harmonious character.
To the north east it is the drier conditions prevailing on the mudstone that have determined the historic settlement pattern. The red brick villages and isolated farmsteads sit on the mudstone, often at the margin of the lower-lying alluvial deposits. On many farms large modern buildings have been erected which are highly visible due to the close proximity of the open alluvial landscapes.
Woodland is not a significant component of the Village Farmlands landscape although locally it does help to break down the rather uniform character. The woodland pattern is formed from a scattered distribution of small-scale, straight-edged blocks of mainly broad-leaved woodland. The sparse distribution of hedgerow trees also compounds the general lack of tree cover. Ash, oak and willow are the main hedgerow tree species with sycamore and horse chestnut more prevalent on the approaches to settlement. Lines of willow along ditch lines and small streams are also a notable feature within the landscape.
Pockets of mature parkland occur at Whatton Manor, and Flintham, Tollerton, Bunny and Ruddington Halls. Although individually quite limited in extent, these areas do help to introduce local variety and diversity into the landscape. Integral elements of the parkland landscapes are the many small blocks of broad-leaved woodland, which have been established both internally and along the margins of the parks. These restrict views out to surrounding areas and produce interesting, well-wooded landscapes of great maturity and character. The integrity of certain parkland landscapes has been eroded by the ploughing up of permanent grassland, and the subsequent conversion to arable cultivation. This creates areas of “remnant” parkland, where mature and sometimes dying trees have been left in place.
The landscape, therefore, is largely rural in character with suburban influences being introduced by the larger settlements. To the south of Newark and Balderton, urban fringe and industrial influences associated with gypsum mining have had a large impact. These influences are heavily etched into the landscape to the south of Balderton where the activities of the gypsum mining industry are made more visible by the open nature of the surrounding farmlands. A number of voids, earth mounds and restored areas are found with associated plant and buildings. Straight residential edges, industrial units, scrap-yards and areas of rough grass lie beyond the gypsum works to form the urban edge of Newark. The landscape has also been affected by gypsum mining in the area to the west of Cropwell Bishop. Deep-mined coal activities at Cotgrave have now ceased, but their legacy, particularly the pit heaps, will continue to dominate the skyline of surrounding farmlands.
Alluvial levels
Flat, low-lying, uninhabited and often inaccessible landscapes with a strong sense of space, characterised by open areas of farmland and a remnant pattern of large hedged fields
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Characteristic features
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Landscape description
These are simple, but distinctive landscapes that have evolved from former areas of moor, fen and open pasture on low-lying alluvial land. The levels were largely enclosed by the beginning of the 19th century and remained under meadow and pasture until being agriculturally improved after the Second World War. The character of the Alluvial Levels is now controlled to a large degree by the predominance of arable farmland. The largest Alluvial Levels within the region include the Ruddington Moors area, the broad open levels of the Smite/Devon catchment and parts of Bennington Fen.
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One of the key features that distinguish the Alluvial Levels from the adjacent Village Farmland landscapes is their relatively uninhabited and inaccessible character. There is virtually no settlement within the levels themselves with the isolated farmsteads and villages preferring drier locations on the mudstone, to the edge of the alluvium. This historic settlement pattern reflects the properties of the alluvial and peaty soils, which are naturally prone to waterlogging. |
Access to the farmlands is generally along a sparse network of narrow lanes and hedged trackways. The farmsteads adjoining the levels in the north east of the region are served by a number of straight narrow lanes, which run directly across the levels, and also link the small red brick villages on the adjoining mudstone.
Another feature is occasional small geometric plantations and coverts. These sometimes form prominent landscape features, being highly visible across the broad levels. Elsewhere the only tree cover arises from the very occasional and sporadic hedgerow tree, and from trees and shrubs along the many small streams, ditches and dykes that drain the levels.
The levels of the Ruddington Moors area are confined to a low basin, in the form of a large expanse of flat level terrain. To the south it is framed by rising and often wooded ground. The lands were enclosed by the beginning of the 19th century, with the exception of Clifton Pasture and Barton Moor. Field hedges have now been almost entirely removed, producing open, intensively managed, and relatively featureless landscapes. The open character is very distinctive and further compounded by the absence of roadside hedgerows and the general lack of tree cover. The central parts of the landscape are devoid of features, making the traversing pylon lines more visible, adding to the exposed and unnatural character of the landscape. Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station is situated to the west and, although it is partially screened by low wooded hills, the open landscape ensures that it can be viewed from most positions. Urban influences are strongly imprinted along the northern margins of the basin, which runs to the residential edges of Clifton and Ruddington. On the southern and eastern fringes the landscape becomes progressively more enclosed. The fragmented remains of the old enclosure field pattern are present in the form of gappy low hedgerows and taller bushy hedgerows with the occasional hedgerow tree.
In the north east of the region the Alluvial Levels are also distinguished by their very broad, open and spacious character. Relatively large areas of the flats have been enclosed by a pattern of medium to large-scale hedged fields. Field patterns are more prominent along the margins of the levels where they are sometimes well defined by ditches and low hawthorn hedges. The flat landform and low level of tree cover allow extensive views and the many pylon lines originating from the power stations in the Trent Valley assume great prominence. In other areas the enclosure pattern has fragmented or become totally lost. In places, the landscape has a distinctive “prairie” style character characterised by open, featureless landscapes with remnant thorn hedges. The levels in this part of the region flank the rivers Smite and Devon which flow in a northerly direction to drain into the Trent close to Newark. Both rivers have low channels that are cut well below the level of the surrounding farmlands. The drainage of the levels has enabled arable cropping to encroach to the river channel edges over most of their course. Consequently the rivers do not have a strong landscape identity or riparian character. This is particularly true of the Smite which has been canalised to prevent flooding.
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Section 3: Landscape evolution and change
Introduction
This section examines the main forces that have brought about change and evolution within the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands over recent decades. It does this by discussing how the current structure and pattern of land use have developed, paying particular regard to agriculture, woodland, transport, industrial/residential development and mineral extraction. It also considers the trends and pressures that may produce landscape change in the future.
Agriculture
The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands contain some of the highest quality agricultural land in the County with slightly over 80% of the farmland under arable cropping. Large parts of the region have historically had a high proportion of land under cultivation; this is particularly the case on the unbroken tract of Triassic mudstone between Nottingham and Newark. This land is classified as high quality agricultural land by MAFF, along with substantial areas of land to the south of West Bridgford stretching as far as Bunny and Keyworth. The mudstone soils have permeable topsoils and slowly permeable subsoils producing a risk of temporary winter waterlogging. However, the soils respond well to drainage and the climate is generally favourable. Cereals are the principal crops grown, although a wide range of other crops is also found. Winter cereals are sown in rotation with oilseed rape and short-term grass. Kale, sugar beet and potatoes are sometimes included within the rotation. Spring cultivation is possible in all but the wettest years which enables root crops to be grown. Soil nutrient reserves are naturally good, with rich resources of potassium, calcium and magnesium derived from the underlying mudstone.
Prior to drainage the valley bottoms and alluvial flats of the Smite\Devon catchment were almost entirely set to pasture. The slowly permeable soils were often waterlogged, with ground water levels fluctuating in response to changes in the river levels. These areas are now drained, with autumn and spring cereals the dominant arable crop. Root crops are sometimes grown although harvesting difficulties can occur due to the soil wetness. Farms and settlements in the area are located on the drier mudstone sites at the edge of the alluvium, taking advantage of the full range of soil resources.
The Ruddington basin was formerly an area of grass moorland, encompassing the Ruddington, Barton, Gotham, Bradmore and Bunny Moors. The area has now been drained, leaving well-structured humose soils with good agricultural potential. The soils are now only occasionally seasonally waterlogged. A wide range of crops is grown on a mix of high and moderate quality agricultural land. Late frosts can sometimes present a problem.
In many areas arable intensification has altered the fabric of the landscape through the removal of hedges and the creation of large fields to facilitate the use of modern farm machinery. In places this has fragmented the overall unity of the landscape, leaving isolated features such as remnant gappy hedgerows and dead or dying trees set within open arable farmland. Such features not only appear out of scale with their surroundings, but often impart an impression of dereliction and decline. Although further agricultural expansion is now less likely, declining incomes and continued uncertainty in the short term may result in further intensification of production on existing farmland. In the longer term, new incentives may encourage more environmentally sensitive farming, with perhaps a return to more traditional mixed farming regimes.
In the last decade a number of factors have resulted in a reversal of some of the more damaging aspects of agricultural policy. Of particular significance has been the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP), which has led to a series of measures designed to reduce the level of agricultural surpluses. The most recent reforms have introduced a new regime which requires farmers compulsorily to set aside 15% of their arable land on a rotational basis. This is already beginning to have an effect on the appearance of the countryside, although at present the temporary nature of the scheme means that opportunities for landscape enhancement are limited. The introduction of a new non-rotational set-aside option, however, does allow some scope for the land to be managed in more environmentally beneficial ways.
Woodland/tree cover
The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands is a sparsely wooded region with a woodland cover figure of less than 2%. Most of this woodland is broad-leaved and concentrated in small pockets of mature parkland at Ruddington Hall, Tollerton, Bunny Park, Whatton Manor and Flintham Hall. Elsewhere there is a thin scattering of small woodlands. Dutch elm disease had a major impact upon the landscape during the period 1960-1980, leading to loss of virtually all hedge and roadside elms. Ash and oak are now the dominant hedgerow tree species.
Transportation
Four major roads run through the character area in a north-south direction; these are the A46, A60, A606 and A453. There are plans to upgrade the A46 and A453 to dual carriageway status. The A1 runs through a small section of the character area to the extreme north east. The A52 is the principal east-west route. These roads provide the main access points to the network of country lanes that serve the many villages and settlements. The road network is heavily used within the commuter belt, to the south and east of Nottingham. The Nottingham to Grantham line is the only active railway line within the character area. The disused Grantham Canal meanders through countryside between West Bridgford and Cropwell Bishop, before entering the Vale of Belvoir.
Urban and industrial development
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Over recent decades the Nottingham and Newark urban areas have expanded significantly. The period has seen the growth of a heavily populated commuter belt to the south and east of Nottingham. Modern buildings within the expanded settlements have not generally incorporated vernacular features, This has also been the case within many of the smaller villages. This has led to a gradual process of “suburbanisation” in many rural areas compounded by the use of quick-growing ornamental conifers in landscaping schemes and standardised highway design treatments. |
The southern half of the region falls within the green belt, as defined by the Nottinghamshire Green Belt Local Plan. This extends as far north as Kneeton but does not include Bingham. The allocated sites and proposals for new housing development include the area between Gamston Lings Barr and the existing urban edge of West Bridgford, the old hospital site to the east of Radcliffe on Trent and areas adjacent to the southern edge of Bingham. There are also proposals for the development of a prestige business park, although the exact location is yet to be decided. Long-term plans exist for the construction of a fourth Trent crossing in the Lady Bay area. There are currently no other major development proposals within the region.
Mineral extraction
Gypsum mining has had a significant impact upon the landscape and countryside of the north-eastern section of the region. The minerals industry takes advantage of the Newark gypsum resource, which includes some of the world’s finest deposits. Staple and Bantycock Quarries are located to the south of Balderton where they are serviced by the Jericho Works, a major manufacturing centre. A second manufacturing centre is located further south, at Staunton. Although the mineral is extracted by opencast methods, the level landform helps to reduce the visual impact of the extraction sites, with the voids hidden from view. The surrounding landscapes, however, have a very open character which affords greater prominence to the overburden storage heaps and manufacturing plant. The standards of reclamation have improved in recent years. Restoration is mainly to agriculture. The high overburden to mineral ratio allows areas to be backfilled to original ground levels. 120 hectares of land are to be added to existing permissions at Bantycock Quarry; no other allocations are made within the forthcoming Minerals Local Plan. Deep-mined coal activities at Cotgrave have now ceased.
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Section 4: Landscape strategies and key recommendations
Introduction
When applied to the landscape, the notion of “character” is not a concept that merely concerns itself with aspects of scenic quality. The character of the landscape derives from a complex interaction of a wide range of physiological and historical phenomena. These include geology, topography, soils, ecology, archaeology, architecture, and local customs and culture, as well as the pattern of land use, settlement and fields. It is the varied interaction between these factors which produces the local and regional variations in character for which the English landscape is famous. The diversity of that character is a central part of our landscape heritage and vital to people’s appreciation and enjoyment of the countryside.
The landscape that we see today is a product of its historical evolution, reflecting the underlying physical resource and the changing nature of human exploitation of the land. The landscape will, of course, continue to change and evolve, reflecting the changing priorities and demands that society places on it. Over recent decades, however, these priorities and demands have often degraded rather than improved the fabric of the landscape. There is now a general consensus that positive action is needed to reverse this trend, and that this should place a high value on conserving and enhancing the inherent character and diversity of our landscapes.
A series of Landscape Strategies and Key Recommendations is set out in this section for each of the landscape types within the region. These should be read in conjunction with the Landscape Guidelines that appear in section 5. Collectively, these will provide the framework for conserving and strengthening the distinctive character and features of the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands. They will help to ensure that landscape character is reflected in the many decisions and actions that affect its continuing evolution. The intention is not to fossilise change, but to provide a context that will enable policy making, planning and landscape management decisions to be made which respect and sustain the diversity and character of our countryside.
| Landscape Strategies |
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| These recognise the forces acting upon the landscape and set the broad vision for its future management. The Strategies provide the framework for conserving and enhancing the character and distinctiveness of the landscape. The Landscape Strategies are given in the form of a short summary title, followed by a reasoned justification of why it has been chosen. The strategy options defined for each landscape type generally relate to one, or more than one, of the following four courses of action: |
| A: Conservation, where the traditional landscape character and “sense of place”are strong, or where many landscape features are notable for their landscape, ecological or historical value. The Landscape Strategy will encourage the good management of the key features which characterise the landscape and recommend the avoidance of out-of-character development. |
| B: Enhancement, where landscape character is still reasonably strong, but the overall structure and individual features are in decline. The Landscape Strategy will relate to areas where landscape character is perceived to be under threat, and where positive action is required to strengthen the overall character and structure of the landscape. |
| C: Restoration, where landscape character or individual features have suffered significant decline or damage, but the underlying character and patterns within the landscape are still evident. The Landscape Strategy will seek to replace characteristic features and rebuild the character of the landscape. |
| D: Creation, where little of the original landscape character or landscape features remain. The Landscape Strategy will set a vision for a new landscape. This will either relate to the characteristics of a former landscape through a process of reconstruction, or aim to create a new and different landscape. |
Key recommendations |
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The Landscape Strategies are supported by a series of Key Recommendations. These develop and focus the overall strategy further by identifying the main actions and priorities for each landscape type. The Key Recommendations are presented as a series of aims, each followed by a justification describing the recommended course of action. The Landscape Strategies and Key Recommendations are summarised at the beginning of the description of each landscape type. |
Village farmlands
Landscape strategy
Conserve and enhance the overall structure and traditional agricultural character of the landscape
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Key Recommendations
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Landscape strategy
- Conserve and enhance the overall structure and traditional agricultural character of the landscape
These are the traditional agricultural landscapes of the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands. Located on the mudstone, the character of these settled landscapes has traditionally contrasted with the more open, and lower lying, Alluvial Levels. The most dominant and unifying elements within the Village Farmlands are the ordered pattern of hedged fields and the layout of farms and rural settlement. These create a landscape with a simple but distinctive agricultural character. Many of the features of the landscape are now in decline, mainly as a result of agricultural intensification. Hedgerows have become gappy or are dying out at the base in many areas. There has also been a marked reduction in hedgerow tree cover. Another powerful pressure for change has been the erosion of settlement character by inappropriate “suburban style” development. This is particularly pronounced in the south of the region, with the growth of a heavily populated commuter belt. Landscape character is most diverse in areas adjoining the smaller red brick settlements where small-scale pastoral landscapes are well integrated with the irregular and well treed village edges. These are in sharp contrast to the hard outlines of the enlarged commuter settlements and small towns. The overall landscape strategy should thus involve a combination of conservation and enhancement - to conserve the traditional pattern and setting of farms and rural settlement, whilst at the same time looking to enhance the overall structure and unity of the landscape, particularly by achieving a better integration of new and existing built development with the countryside, and by strengthening the pattern of hedged fields and woodland cover.
Key Recommendations
- Conserve and strengthen the simple pattern of large hedged fields
A key to achieving the overall strategy for the Village Farmlands is to conserve and, where necessary, restore those features that form the essential fabric of the landscape. The large-scale enclosure pattern is an important and distinctive feature and the priority should be to maintain and strengthen the traditional pattern of hedged fields. The pattern is more geometric toward the north, with more irregular field boundaries evident to the south and west. The retention of this field pattern is crucial if the character of the Village Farmlands is to be maintained. The field pattern has remained largely intact, although there are localised areas where it has become fragmented or lost. It is especially important in these areas to conserve primary hedgerows, particularly along roadsides, footpaths, bridleways and parish boundaries. Hedgerow reinstatement initiatives are necessary in some areas to restore the structure of the landscape. These should initially focus on replacing primary hedgerows in the more open areas. Many hedgerows are thin and gappy and would benefit from being allowed to grow thicker and taller.
- Identify opportunities for enhancing the structure and unity of the landscape through new tree and woodland planting
| Tree and woodland planting can often be used to good effect to enhance the structure and unity of farmed landscapes, especially in those areas where the traditional pattern of hedged fields is in decline. In places the landscape is locally well-wooded, especially in the areas associated with the pockets of mature parkland. In these areas woodland introduces diversity and complexity, helping to mitigate the sense of landscape uniformity. Overall, woodland does not form a significant component of the landscape, with thinly scattered small-scale woodlands accounting for 2.5% of the total area. |
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Three quarters of the existing woodland is broad-leaved. Measures to increase tree cover should therefore be a priority for enhancing the interest and diversity of the Village Farmlands, principally through the planting of broad-leaved woodland using native tree and shrub species. There is also the opportunity for some mixed woodland planting, as long as attention is paid to edges and skylines. Woodlands should be small to medium in size, to a maximum of the general enclosure scale. New woodlands should not impede medium distance views across the landscape and should be shaped and positioned to accord with the existing field pattern. Planting above field corner scale should be avoided in pastoral landscapes adjacent to the smaller village settlements. Woodland planting programmes should be combined with other initiatives to strengthen tree cover and should focus on rural settlement, the urban fringe and individual farmsteads and rural dwellings. Traditionally, hedgerow trees were the most important element of the landscape’s overall tree cover; however, their distribution is now comparatively sparse. Hedgerow tree establishment should therefore form an important aspect of the overall strategy to increase tree cover within the Village Farmlands. This will strengthen and emphasise the pattern of hedged fields and allow filtered views across the farmlands.
- Conserve the character and setting of village settlements
Settlement within the Village Farmlands is characterised by a nucleated pattern of small red brick villages and these form one of the distinguishing features of the landscape, along with brick-built farmsteads. The villages in the more remote areas of the region have largely retained their traditional rural character and comprise many older buildings with the distinctive vernacular style of red brick and pantile roofed construction. In some villages, however, recent infill developments have weakened the overall character and integrity of individual settlements. This has introduced buildings with a suburban character, as well as affecting the traditional relationship between buildings, areas of open space and the historic bond with small-scale pastoral landscapes that fringe the village edges. This is particularly evident in the southern commuter belt, where suburban style residential development has engulfed the old village centres. Local planning policies should seek to balance the scale and layout of new development with measures to conserve the integrity, setting and distinctive character of rural settlement. It is important that new development is located, as far as possible, within existing settlement in order to conserve the nucleated pattern.
- Promote measures for achieving better integration of new and existing features in the countryside
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Many of the settlements within the Village Farmlands have expanded considerably over recent decades into sizeable commuter villages and small towns. These settlements have imposed a suburban character on surrounding areas of countryside. Residential edges often appear harsh and abrupt with little effort expended on integrating built developments into the landscape. Large-scale, intensively managed arable farmlands often abut these settlements, increasing the harshness and visibility of the settlement edges. New tree and woodland planting around existing development provides the best method of softening the impact. |
The aim should be to produce filtered views of built edges, rather than attempt to mask the settlement altogether. It is important for local residents that views out from settlement are retained. Off-site woodland planting increases the opportunity to integrate modern developments with the surrounding countryside and tie them in with the wider landscape structure. Only locally native tree and shrub species should be used. New developments should avoid straight and densely built edges and allow open green breaks and areas of new tree planting to run into developments. Existing tree and woodland features should be retained and incorporated into the design.
Alluvial levels
Landscape strategy
Restore the overall unity and traditional pastoral character of the landscape
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Key Recommendation
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Landscape strategy
- Restore the overall unity and traditional pastoral character of the landscape
The pattern of land use and settlement within the Alluvial Levels has been determined by the physical characteristics of the land, particularly the relationship between landform, soils and drainage. The broad levels were naturally prone to seasonal waterlogging, and traditionally used for summer grazing and haymaking. The traditional land use of these former areas of moor, fen and pasture is reflected in the remote, undeveloped character of the landscape, with settlement historically preferring drier locations on the adjoining areas of mudstone. The drainage and agricultural improvement of the levels in more recent times have led to a radical change in the pattern of land use, with large fields of cereals replacing the traditional pastoral scenes of the past. Although the structure and character of the Alluvial Levels is different from that of the surrounding farmed landscapes, there is now little to distinguish them in terms of land use. The absence of settlement, people and farm animals, however, gives the impression of a landscape with a rather uniform and vacant character where the current land use is somehow “out of place”. The loss of pastoral character has had a detrimental effect on visual unity and ecological diversity. Visual unity has also been fragmented in places by the removal of field boundaries, particularly on those levels that were enclosed in the past. The overall strategy for the Alluvial Levels should thus be one of restoration - to restore the overall unity and traditional pastoral character of the landscape.
Key recommendations
- Consider options for converting arable farmland to permanent pasture
The key to restoring the traditional pastoral character of the Alluvial Levels now lies with finding a mechanism and financial incentive for taking land out of arable production and returning it to permanent pasture. It is unlikely that such a measure would affect whole farms, but there may be opportunities to encourage landowners to consider adopting mixed farming regimes. Such schemes may be linked to European and national initiatives to reduce agricultural production and promote environmentally sensitive farming. Payments could be made to farmers to convert arable land to permanent pasture within those parts of their holding that lie within the alluvial areas. Farmers could also be encouraged to manage the grasslands in a more traditional, environmentally sensitive way. In order successfully to restore the overall unity of this landscape, however, it will be necessary to achieve a co-ordinated approach to management within particular areas.
- Conserve the remote undeveloped character of the landscape
The Alluvial Levels have a remote, sparsely settled and undeveloped character. Village settlements and farmsteads are typically situated on surrounding higher ground, whilst more recent built development has tended to avoid these areas. This is also the case with major road developments which have tended to go around, rather than through, the more extensive low-lying areas. Large parts of the Alluvial Levels have a distinctively open and spacious character which will ensure that new developments are highly visible across the low-lying lands. This is already the case for traversing pylon lines. In order to conserve the remote, undeveloped character of the landscape it is important that built development is tightly controlled and, where possible, directed elsewhere.
- Enhance visual unity through small-scale woodland planting and, where appropriate, by strengthening the traditional pattern of hedged fields
By the beginning of the 19th century large areas of the levels were enclosed by a pattern of large hedged fields, whilst other parts remained open in character. A secondary effect of agricultural intensification has been the widespread removal of field boundaries from the enclosed areas. Hedgerows are now no longer a dominant visual element, although they can still contribute to the overall structure and pattern of the landscape. Small broad-leaved plantations and coverts are also a feature. Where the field pattern has become fragmented there is scope for enhancing the landscape with new woodland planting of this type, rather than re-planting hedgerows. In areas where the enclosure pattern is still largely intact, the priority should be to maintain and strengthen the existing pattern of hedged fields.
- Identify opportunities for enhancing the visual and ecological diverstiy of the landscape
The Alluvial Levels are now an intensively managed landscape that leaves little space for wild plants or animals. Prior to drainage the low-lying levels were seasonally waterlogged and supported areas of wet pasture, moorland and fen. This provides the key for enhancing ecological diversity. Schemes that attempt to reduce agricultural surpluses and promote environmentally friendly forms of farming should be investigated with a view to re-creating areas of wet pasture on the lowest-lying sites. On these, and in other areas, opportunities should also be sought for enhancing the diversity of aquatic and marginal vegetation along river courses, stream lines and drainage channels. The Smite and Devon river corridors have a very weak riparian character because of intensive management of the adjacent farmlands. Substantial stretches of the river channels have lost their tree and shrub cover, leading to a decrease in wildlife value and a reduced sense of visual continuity. In these areas the character of the river channel should be enhanced by the planting or natural regeneration of riparian trees and shrubs including small-scale woodlands along river channel edges. Such measures would not only enhance ecological diversity, but they would help to restore the traditional wetland character of the landscape.
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Section 5: Landscape guidelines
Introduction
The Landscape Guidelines that follow act as the mechanism for implementing the aims of the Landscape Strategies and Key Recommendations by indicating how specific aspects of landscape character can be conserved, enhanced or restored. The Guidelines are design-based and relate to the management of all the individual features and components of the landscape, highlighting possible courses of action and mechanisms for implementation. The Guidelines provide the framework to place wider landscape considerations at the heart of the conception and design process for individual projects. They also recommend appropriate courses of action for integrating nature conservation measures into the process of change.
The Landscape Guidelines are presented in the form of a summary statement, followed by a justification for that course of action. The Guidelines are grouped under a number of topic headings, rather than by landscape type, as this better reflects the specific management issues and range of potential users of this manual. To aid clarity each topic area has been assigned a stylised symbol as follows.
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Rural villages |
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Parkland and ornamental grounds |
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Farmsteads and rural dwellings |
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Historic features |
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Urban development |
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Farmland |
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Woodland |
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Recreational land |
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Hedgerow trees |
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Highways and rural lanes |
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Hedgerows |
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Utilities and industrial sites |
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Meadowland and pasture |
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Develpment mitigation |
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Rivers and stream lines |
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Mineral extraction |
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Conserve the nucleated settlement pattern of brick villages by avoiding new development in open areas of countryside |
Over the last few decades the region has been affected by the expansion of the Newark and Nottingham urban areas and the growth of a commuter belt. Although the size and character of many of the villages have altered radically, the traditional nucleated settlement pattern is still mostly intact. This is particularly so in the more remote areas of the region, away from the main centres of population. Any new development in open countryside that could adversely affect the historic settlement pattern or rural character of the region should therefore be avoided. New built development should be restricted, as far as possible, to existing settlements. Where new housing is necessary in the wider countryside it should reflect the dispersed pattern of isolated farmsteads and other buildings that lie outside the village envelopes. Single dwellings rather than groups of dwellings should be preferred. This will maintain the traditional pattern of settlement, as long as attention is given to the scale, siting and design of new buildings, which should incorporate features reflecting the local vernacular character.
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Conserve and enhance the local vernacular character of village settlements |
The traditional character of villages within the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands is set by the vernacular style of red brick and pantile roofed buildings. This character is also found within the heart of the enlarged commuter settlements, marking the historic extent of the former village sites. The bricks and tiles were made from local clay and sit naturally within the landscape. A range of other building styles is also found, including newer developments that do not harmonise with the vernacular style. These buildings can appear out of place, introducing a suburban influence that sometimes disrupts the overall sense of rural unity. The conservation of the vernacular style is a priority and all new developments should seek to complement and harmonise with it.
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Protect and enhance the internal open space and irregular outline of village settlements |
Many of the villages within the region contain areas of open green land. These are found internally within the village centres or as open green breaks running into the villages from the surrounding countryside. These open spaces typically comprise permanent pastures and horse paddocks, allotments, gardens, village greens, commons, small parks and play areas, and other areas of amenity land and open space. The many open breaks between buildings create village forms that are essentially irregular in outline. These village outlines harmonise well with adjacent farmed landscapes, which are usually intimate pastoral landscapes with small-scale irregular field pattern. The village side landscapes provide much of the diversity and “sense of place” within the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands. Infill developments that would significantly disrupt or destroy the irregular pattern of village outlines should be resisted. New development should be designed and sited sympathetically to complement and reinforce the irregular nature of settlement edges, with adequate provision for internal open space and direct green linkages to surrounding farmlands.
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Conserve the character of rural villages by retaining farmsteads within settlements |
Farmsteads are an integral feature of many village settlements within the region, contributing greatly to the rural character of the immediate village landscape. The working farms are an important part of the agricultural economy and serve to reinforce the impression of a working agricultural landscape. They also emphasise the historic and economic bonds between the villages and the land. There has been a recent trend toward converting old farmhouses and associated buildings to residential use when farms are sold. The buildings are often sold separately from the rest of the agricultural holding. This weakens the historic ties between the village and the agricultural economy and leads to changes in the character of the village settlements. Planning policies should therefore seek to resist proposals for the residential development of farms and their associated buildings.
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Conserve and enhance tree cover in and around rural settlements |
The attractiveness of rural settlements within the region is often enhanced by the presence of trees. These introduce colour, shape, texture and height variations into the angular built environment. These trees provide wildlife habitat and cultural and historical links for the village dwellers, and help tie the built landscape and wider farmed landscape together. Many of the villages are fringed by small-scale pastoral landscapes with mature hedgerow trees; in these areas the landscape of the village edge exhibits a particularly strong and unified character. The retention and replacement of trees is therefore essential to the maintenance of the distinctive rural character of these settlements. Garden trees play an important role in linking settlement edges into the wider landscape. Property owners should therefore be encouraged to plant appropriate longer-lived trees rather than quick-growing non-native species. New planting should also be undertaken to soften the hard edges of more recent development and consolidate the well-treed character of the villages.
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Conserve and enhance tree cover around farmsteads and rural dwellings |
Clumps of trees are an important feature around farmsteads and rural dwellings where they provide shelter and give a sense of proportion and balance to the built environment. Mature trees are particularly valuable as local landmarks where their presence often produces a strong sense of place. Trees can soften the hard edges of new buildings and help to link the new development into the wider farmed landscape. Tree planting, using locally occurring species, should be encouraged around farmsteads and rural dwellings. The intention is not to hide the buildings, but rather to integrate them into the landscape. Ornamental species planted as quick growing screens, particularly Leylandii, should be avoided.
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Enahnce landscape character through the planting of appropriately designed and located new woodlands |
Woodland planting can be used to good effect to enhance the visual, amenity and ecological diversity of river corridor landscapes as long as the location and scale of new woodland planting reflects the scale and character of the surrounding landscape. In the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands planting should generally be small to medium in scale, following the advice given in the key recommendations for each landscape type. New woodland planting should avoid closing down medium distance views across the Village Farmlands and go hand in hand with other measures to increase the overall level of tree cover. The objective is to complement and reinforce the enclosure pattern and retain views of the pastures and village edges. The open character of the lower-lying Alluvial Levels should be maintained, with small-scale broad-leaved planting directed towards areas where the pattern of hedged fields has become fragmented. There is also scope for establishing small riparian woodlands along river channels. New woodland planting should also be used to mitigate the impact of built development along urban fringes and the larger settlement edges.
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Conserve and enhance tree cover through the replanting and regeneration of hedgerow trees |
The regular pattern of medium to large-scale hedged fields forms a dominant feature across most of the region. A relatively sparse distribution of hedgerow trees is associated with this enclosure pattern with ash, oak and willow the principal species. Greater densities of hedgerow trees occur within the smallerscale pastoral landscapes adjacent to the village settlements. These tend to be more mature than the trees found within the larger-scale, arable dominated farmlands. The distribution of hedgerow trees within the enclosed alluvial areas is even more sparse, with an almost complete absence on the open flats. The enclosure pattern is, for the most part, strong and well-defined, and the establishment of more hedgerow trees would help to emphasise this further whilst allowing filtered views out to the more open alluvial areas. Hedgerow tree establishment should therefore form an important part of the overall strategy to increase the tree cover within the region, along with small to medium-scale woodland planting initiatives. The existing hedgerow tree cover should therefore be maintained and enhanced, either through selection and natural regeneration, or the planting of individual hedgerow trees in gaps.
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Removal of hedgerows should be avoided wherever possible |
The medium to large-scale enclosure pattern of hedged fields is an important and distinctive feature of this region. This pattern is more geometric toward the north, with more irregular field boundaries evident to the south and west. The retention of this field pattern is crucial if the character of the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands is to be maintained. The pattern has remained largely intact, although there are localised areas where it has become fragmented or lost. It is especially important in these areas to conserve primary hedgerows, particularly along roadsides, footpaths, bridleways and parish boundaries.
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Replace and replant hedgerows using common hawthorn and other locally characteristic species |
Hedgerows are overwhelmingly dominated by hawthorn, particularly within the broad areas of arable farmland. Hedgerows are more mixed and species-rich in the limited areas of pastoral landscape and the village side landscapes where the field pattern is smaller scale and more irregular. The gapping up or reinstatement of hedgerows should seek to mimic the original species composition wherever possible. This will generally involve hawthorn and a mix of other locally characteristic species; however in the smaller-scale landscapes the proportion of hawthorn can be reduced.
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Promote the positive management of hedgerows to maximise their visual and nature conservation value |
The condition of hedgerows is variable. On the mudstone areas where the field pattern is small, hedgerows tend to be more species-rich; they are sometimes well-managed and stock proof. There are, however, many instances of under management, leading to overgrown and gappy hedgerows with potential longterm health problems. In the larger-scale enclosures, on both the mudstone and alluvium, hedgerows are intensively managed to maximise the cropping potential of the land. These hedges are typically low, gappy and in a poor state of health. In order to enhance the overall field pattern, hedgerows should be managed positively as landscape features which should involve laying, coppicing and trimming as appropriate. The aim should be to achieve “fuller” and thicker hedgerows. Excessively gappy hedgerows should be gapped up to maintain and enhance the field pattern.
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Conserve the character of village side pastoral landscapes |
The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands have traditionally been known as a crop growing area, with a relatively small proportion of the farmland set to grass. This remains the case today with only 14% of the farmland supporting grassland. The permanent pastures are, for the most part, linked with village edges. They are often relatively unimproved and associated with small-scale field pattern, old mixed hedgerows, and occasional areas of ridge and furrow. These peaceful, undisturbed and aesthetically pleasing landscapes provide an important contrast to the more uniform arable areas. Although limited in extent, these intimate pastoral areas provide much of the diversity within the region, introducing varieties of scale, colour, and texture to the wider landscape pattern. It is vital that this diversity is maintained by conserving all areas of pastoral landscape
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Manage grasslands in a traditional manner |
The permanent pastures within this landscape are often floristically diverse with a high nature conservation interest, supporting a wide variety of insect and animal life. Managing permanent pastures sensitively, using traditional low input methods, will help to maintain and improve their conservation value. The agricultural improvement of grassland should be avoided. This may be achieved through the application of government grants and incentives that seek to promote environmentally friendly farming.
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Define the smite and devon river corridors by establishing riparian woodlands along river channel edges |
The Smite and Devon river corridors run through intensively farmed landscapes where arable cultivation is now dominant. The river channels are cut well below the level of the surrounding farmlands, which makes them poorly defined over most of their course. The absence of riverside pasture and the sparse cover of fringing trees and shrubs compound this problem, producing a very weak riverine character. The establishment of riparian woodlands along river channel edges will help define the river corridors and strengthen their overall character. Woodlands should be small-scale and sinuous in form, following the line of the river channel. Planting initiatives should not close down views across the alluvial flats, with planting along one bank preferred. Only native riparian tree and shrub species should be used.
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Enhance the visual and ecological continuity of the river corridor through a programme of waterside tree and shrub establishment along river banks and streams |
Waterside trees and shrubs help provide a sense of unity within the river corridors, particularly where associated with permanent pastures and flood meadows. In the more open arable areas, the sparse cover of riparian trees and scrub is often the only visible feature of the Smite and Devon river corridors. Willow and ash are the principal species. They provide a valuable habitat for wildlife and should be conserved and managed to retain this interest. Significant stretches of river have limited tree cover and would benefit from a programme of tree and shrub establishment along the river bank, including both natural regeneration and planting. The visual prominence and irregular form of the stream lines could also be greatly enhanced by such a programme. This should generally be restricted to the immediate waterside environment using locally native species such as willow and ash. Tree establishment initiatives can form an effective way of defining river channels in areas where arable cultivation has encroached to the river bank.
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Conserve all remaining areas of riverside pasture. Consider opportunities for converting arable land to pasture along the smite and devon river corridors and other water courses |
Prior to drainage and agricultural improvement, riverside pasture and flood meadows were once characteristic of the Smite and Devon River corridors. The continuous ribbons of pasture and flood meadow clearly marked the course of the narrow river channels. This unity of the river corridors is now severely fragmented and there is little strength of character with relatively small areas of riverside pasture remaining. Where pasture has survived locally there tends to be a strong sense of place and feeling of naturalness, particularly where associated with fringing willow and riparian scrub. It is important that the surviving areas of grassland are conserved. Grassland land uses help to define the river corridors within adjacent largerscale arable landscapes. The conversion of arable land to traditional, low input forms of grassland management should therefore be encouraged wherever possible. This would help to extend and restore the continuity of the river corridor landscapes. There are other smaller watercourses that flow through narrow bands of alluvium between the raised areas of mudstone. The traditional pastoral character of these areas has also been lost; the management priority should be to restore pastoral character wherever possible, reinforcing the contrast with the mudstone landscapes.
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Conserve and enhance the diversity of aquatic and marginal vegetation associated with river channels |
Marginal and aquatic vegetation along river channels contributes significantly to the visual interest of the riverside environment as well as providing habitats of high wildlife value, supporting a range of flora and fauna. Much of this diversity has been lost along the Smite and Devon rivers because of modern farming methods and river engineering techniques. These have created uniform steep-sided channel edges with little space for emergent vegetation and little opportunity for colonisation by riverside trees and shrubs. Opportunities should be sought to diversify the riverside environment, including reprofiling to create a more natural bank profile, or by cutting a notch into the base of the bank to allow for colonisation of emergent plants. Identification of riverside enhancement opportunities should be based on a detailed survey of individual river corridors.
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Conserve all remaining ridge and furrow landscapes |
Grasslands containing ridge and furrow landscapes are found in a small number of fields within the region. These are remnants of mediaeval landscapes that were enclosed and set to pasture. Many ridge and furrow grasslands have been lost over recent decades with the ploughing up and arable conversion of land. This has increased the historic importance and rarity of the remaining features. Where ridge and furrow survives, its very antiquity is an indicator that the grassland sward has never been ploughed and reseeded. The grasslands therefore tend to be floristically diverse. Ridge and furrow grasslands therefore have high historic, landscape and nature conservation interest. All surviving areas should be conserved.
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Conserve and enhance all ornamental parkland planting and individual parkland trees |
Five areas of mature parkland landscape are located within the Village Farmlands, at Flintham, Tollerton, Bunny, Whatton and Ruddington Hall. A smaller pocket also exists at the Grove, close to Cropwell Butler. The ornamental plantings and specimen trees create localised areas of well-wooded landscape. The parklands add diversity, are visually appealing, offer historic interest and often provide homes to a variety of wildlife. The conservation of the parkland plantings and specimen trees should form a priority for these landscapes. Measures should be taken, via appropriate management, to enhance their interest, taking full account of the original design intentions.
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Conserve the pastoral character of traditional parkland landscapes |
Parkland landscapes have great visual appeal, much of which arises from the permanent grasslands that have traditionally been grazed by a range of parkland animals. Parkland grasslands often contain a diversity of wild flora and fauna. This is due to the antiquity of parklands and because the grasslands have tended to be managed in a traditional manner. The grasslands, therefore, are of historic, landscape and nature conservation importance. They should be conserved and, where possible, managed in a traditional manner.
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Consider opportunities to restore pastoral character to parkland areas |
There are areas of parkland within the Village Farmlands that have been agriculturally improved through the ploughing up of permanent grassland. Grasslands are an important design component of the parkland landscapes and, where opportunities arise, consideration should be given to the restoration of former grassland areas. This is particularly important where scattered mature trees have been retained. Such measures will help restore the landscape and historic integrity of the parkland landscapes.
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Set-aside land should be managed positively to enhance its landscape and wildlife interest |
A variety of options is now available to farmers within the current set-aside scheme. These range from short-term rotations through to longer-term schemes where the same piece of land can be set aside over several years. Land managed under habitat and forestry schemes can now count as part of the set-aside obligation under the Arable Areas Payments Scheme. There is now considerable scope for land to be managed positively to enhance landscape and wildlife interest. Both wildlife and landscape features can be restored or created at the field scale, or as conservation headlands, wildlife margins and grass margins. Such areas are of greatest value where they provide linkages between existing features such as woodlands, hedgerows, streams and ponds. The longer-term options allow the restoration and creation of a range of features such as wildflower meadows and damp lowland grasslands. Woodland establishment schemes offer significant opportunities to enhance landscape character.
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Conserve rural character by retaining existing features in all development schemes |
The suburbanising influences associated with new development are an increasing pressure on the rural character of the countryside. These influences are having a subtle, but cumulative impact, especially on all matters of design. Examples include: the external modernisation of buildings; the erection of corporate roadside signs; the replacement of roadside hedges with quick growing ornamental screens; the increased use of security fencing; and even standardised landscaping schemes. Much more discretion is needed when applying design standards in rural landscapes. In particular, original features such as walls, traditional gates and pillars, roadside hedges and mature trees should be retained if at all possible. Where this is not possible, consideration should be given to moving or replacing such features.
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The design of recreational and sporting facilities, such as golf courses, should reflect the character of the local landscape |
The South Nottinghamshire Farmlands have a generally strong rural character, although suburban influences now affect the character of significant areas of landscape. The introduction of large numbers of ornamental or coniferous trees, the removal of hedgerow and stream line trees, or the erection of modern buildings using introduced materials would compound this growth of suburban character. In the more remote areas it would also lead to fracturing of the rural unity of the landscape. To minimise intrusion into the rural character of the landscape, the design of recreational facilities should be done sensitively to retain and enhance the traditional character, features of interest and local sense of place. Any developments should make a positive contribution to the quality of the landscape, with a comprehensive assessment of the potential impact of any recreational development on the landscape character of the area.
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Conserve and enhance the rural character and historic features associated with roads and lanes |
The small village settlements and isolated farmsteads of the region are linked by a network of country lanes. Many of these emanate from the old Roman road (A46) and other north-south routes. These lanes contain many special features including species-rich verges, thick roadside hedgerows, hedgebanks and mature roadside trees. These are important features in their own right and a central component of the region’s rural character. They should be conserved and managed to retain their historic, visual and ecological interest. Any improvements to the road network should respect local landscape diversity by avoiding uniformity and standardised treatments and by replacing any lost features.
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Diversify roadside character through the management and creation of flower-rich grasslands and heathland on highway verges |
A special feature of many of the rural lanes is the grass verges that flank the narrow carriageways. Roadside verges serve a number of practical purposes, including acting as a buffer between the road and the ditch/hedge, a safe place for walkers and riders, and a convenient place to locate services. As well as these practical functions, roadside verges also perform an aesthetic and ecological function. Many of the road verges are species-rich, similar in species composition to remnant hay meadows that have never been ploughed, reseeded or agriculturally improved. They still contain a variety of wildflowers and grasses which in turn support a wealth of invertebrate life, birds and mammals. The conservation interest of the verges should be maintained, and where possible enhanced through appropriate management. The creation of flower-rich verges containing native, slow-growing grass species would add to the visual appeal and diversity of the landscape, offer greater habitat potential for wildlife and require less management than many of the existing verges.
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All road improvement schemes should include a landscape impact assessment |
The construction of new roads and the widening or realignment of existing roads can have a major impact on the character of the landscape. The visual impact of new roads can often be reduced by careful route selection. It is important therefore that landscape considerations are carefully assessed at the start of all such schemes, as no amount of landscaping will compensate for the impact of a badly chosen route. Where improvements to existing roads are necessary, an early assessment should also be undertaken to identify locally important features that need to be retained or replaced.
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Conserve rural character by limiting standardised treatments during highway improvement schemes |
The improvement of rural roads and lanes to meet modern highway standards invariably results in the removal of existing features and the introduction of new suburban influences into the countryside. Traffic calming measures should therefore be considered as an alternative option in rural areas. Where improvements are necessary, standardised treatments such as concrete kerbing, galvanised crash barriers, new or replacement street lighting and the erection of modern road signs should be used only where absolutely necessary. Such features are not only visually intrusive but also look out of place in the countryside. As an alternative, consideration should be given to the use of more traditional materials and locally distinctive designs for such things as kerbing, street lighting and road signs.
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New agricultural buildings should be sited, designed and landscaped to blend with the surrounding farmed landscape |
Farmsteads have traditionally been constructed using materials that conform with the vernacular style. The red brick and pantile roofed buildings are an important feature of the landscape fabric, contributing greatly to local sense of place. The older farmsteads are often surrounded by small pasture fields, hedgerows and mature trees. These features ensure that the red brick buildings are well integrated into the wider farmed landscape. New farm buildings have been built at many locations. These are often large and constructed from materials that do not complement or fit in with the vernacular style. Many of the farmsteads are sited at the margins of the alluvium and are highly visible across open areas of farmland. When considering the siting and design of new agricultural buildings, careful consideration should be given to positioning and choice of building materials. Existing features such as hedgerows, woodlands and trees can be used in conjunction with landform to reduce the visual impact of large buildings. Darker colours will be less obtrusive and harmonise better with the vernacular style. New landscape features can be created using locally characteristic species to help blend agricultural buildings into the landscape rather than be used as a means of simply screening unsightly buildings.
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Landscaping around utilities and other rural development should be better integrated into the wider countryside |
Landscaping around utilities and other development in the countryside usually involves screen planting in geometric blocks, or on raised bunds. While these mitigation measures are better than nothing at all, the effect is often lost because the contrast between the landscaped area and surrounding farmland is just as obvious. In rural areas the success of landscaping around sites, such as sewage works, will depend to a large extent on how well they have been integrated into the wider landscape. Particular attention should be given to the treatment of the site perimeter to ensure that it is tied strongly into the adjoining field pattern. Similarly tree planting within the site should be linked to new or existing trees beyond the perimeter of the site. Better siting and design of new buildings should also be considered in addition to landscaping works. It is better to soften a well designed building with a few trees than try to hide an ugly building with screen planting.
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Restoration proposals for gypsum workings should be related to an understanding of landscape character |
Gypsum mining has had a large impact upon the area to the south of Newark and Balderton. Future restoration proposals should be based on a detailed assessment of landscape character. This should relate the site itself to the wider landscape so that it is set within a broad framework that fully recognises the character of the Alluvial Farmlands. The manufacturing and processing plant and worked areas are mostly confined to the low-lying alluvial areas. Their prominence is greatly accentuated by the open, featureless character of the landscape. On the alluvial areas restoration schemes should seek to create new, well-wooded landscapes using locally characteristic species in combination wetland and pastoral after-uses. Restoration should aim to create low-lying meadows, especially in areas that adjoin watercourses, rather than areas of open water. The latter are not a feature of this landscape and ecological restoration should focus on the creation of wet meadow and marsh rather than aquatic habitats. Proposals affecting the mudstone areas should focus on re-creating enclosed, hedged landscapes, with a tree cover of small-scale broad-leaved woodlands and hedgerow trees. In this way it will be possible to formulate a landscape management plan for the area that accords with the character of the wider landscape.
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Species list
South Nottinghamshire Farmlands
Dominant Species 
Other Species Present 
The following list includes native tree and shrub species that are commonly found within the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands and are suitable for inclusion in planting schemes. These are important for determining the area’s regional character. A range of other native species may also be appropriate to particular locations or sites. In these cases professional advice should be sought. A list of organisations able to provide such advice has been included in the section 'Further Information'.
TREES |
Woodlands |
Hedges |
Hedgerow Trees |
Wet Areas/Streamsides |
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Alder (Common) |
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Ash |
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Beech |
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Cherry (Wild) |
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Crab Apple |
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Elm (Wych) |
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Lime |
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Lime |
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Oak (Common) |
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Willow (Crack) |
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Willow (White) |
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SHRUBS |
Woodlands |
Hedges |
Hedgerow Trees |
Wet Areas/Streamsides |
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Blackthorn |
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Dogwood (Common) |
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Hawthorn |
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Hazel |
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Holly |
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Osier |
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Privet (Wild) |
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Rosa SPP. |
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Willow (Goat) |
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Willow (Grey) |
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