Countryside Appraisal

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

Introduction

The Vale of Belvoir lies to the south-east of the County, straddling the boundary with Leicestershire. The Vale is between 6 and 9km in width running in a south-west to north-east direction for a distance of approximately 16-18km. Prominent escarpments form a backdrop to the broad low-lying Vale along its western and southern edges. The area has a strong physical and historical identity. It has traditionally been famous for its livestock farming, high quality pasture, and milk and cheese production. The Vale is divided almost equally between Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire.

The shape of the land

The Vale of Belvoir is part of a broad, low-lying clay vale which extends from the Nottinghamshire Wolds in a great elongated arc along the foot of the Jurassic escarpment. This escarpment, known as the Belvoir Ridge, rises to over 150 metres between Old Dalby and Belvoir. It forms a prominent backdrop along the south-eastern edge of the Vale and marks the division with the rolling claylands of the Leicestershire Wolds. To the south-west, the higher ground of the Nottinghamshire Wolds is also marked by a lower, but in places no less pronounced, scarp slope. From here the Vale, which has an average width of some 8 kilometres, runs away in a north-easterly direction towards Lincoln.

The Vale is underlain by bluish grey mudstones and clays, alternating in places with layers of flaggy limestone, known as Hydraulic Limestone because of its use in cement making. These soft Lower Lias beds have given rise to a subdued, gently rolling topography, diversified in places by low hillocks formed by the presence of thin bands of limestone.

The Lias clays and limestones were probably laid down in shallow lagoons and inland seas around 190 million years ago. Although there is some controversy as to the exact origin of the Vale, it is thought to have formed from an ice-excavated hollow which became the site of a stagnant ice lobe during the latter stages of the penultimate glaciation. Prior to the glaciations the River Trent is thought to have flowed eastwards to the south of its present course, across the Vale of Belvoir towards the Ancaster Gap and the Wash. The ice lobe forced the river northward to the Humber. The Lower Lias escarpment was subject to backwearing under periglacial conditions to the local base level of the Smite-Devon drainage system. This process is still continuing, but at a greatly reduced rate.

Although the Lower Lias beds dip gently south-eastwards, the Vale is drained in the opposite direction by numerous small streams which feed into the River Trent via the Devon and Smite. Many of these streams rise from the Jurassic escarpment and a layer of porous sandstone, which is situated slightly to the north of the escarpment. Alluvial deposits occur in low-lying hollows alongside a number of these steams. The most extensive area, which lies to the west of Bottesford on the County boundary, marks the former location of a shallow lake.

The transition between the Lower Lias and Mercia Mudstone formations to the north is marked by a narrow outcrop of dark shales with thin and somewhat discontinuous layers of limestone. These sediments, laid down at the end of the Triassic period and known as the Rhaetic beds, form a low escarpment which runs from Cotgrave to the eastern outskirts of Newark. This is part of the Upper Triassic (Rhaetic) escarpment which can be traced southwards to Somerset and eastwards into Lincolnshire. Although rarely more than 5-10 metres in height, this escarpment nevertheless forms a recognisable feature along the north-western edge of the Vale. The escarpment is broken at four points where the streams feeding the Devon and Smite rivers issue from the Vale onto the adjoining alluvial flats.

Soils

Clayey soils with slowly or moderately permeable topsoils have developed in the Lias deposits of the Vale. The soils have strong permeable subsoils which are often subject to waterlogging for long periods in winter. Between Langar and Kilvington a band of limestone gives rise to calcareous clay soils with slowly permeable subsoils. The soils have well developed topsoil structures, reducing the susceptibility to waterlogging. Deep clayey alluvial soils are associated with the Smite and Devon river valleys. These are slowly permeable and subject to seasonal waterlogging from fluctuating ground water levels.

Landscape history

The landscape of the Vale of Belvoir is superficially a creation of the enclosure movement of the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries, modified by the requirements of the post 1945 economy and modern farming techniques. Behind this, however, stands over 3,000 years of settlement and land use which through the generations have influenced the development of the late 20th century countryside. From late prehistory to the end of the 18th century, this region was consistently part of the most densely settled and economically strong area of pre-industrial Nottinghamshire.

Early prehistoric activity throughout the region is demonstrated by the flint tools and fabrication debris found on the surface of ploughed fields, and by the remains of funerary monuments, which appear amongst the cropmarks recorded from the air, particularly along the Rhaetic limestone ridge and wherever the soils are favourable to the production of differential crop growth over buried ditches and pits. At present we can not make meaningful estimates of the effect of this activity upon the forest landscape which developed after the end of the Ice Ages, although it is reasonable to assume that 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, probably oak dominated on the clays, with lime and ash on the limestone, and alder in the valleys of the Smite and Devon.

The 1st millenium BC and the early centuries AD saw large scale landscape change. During late prehistory the Vale of Belvoir became extensively settled, with farms and associated field systems becoming ubiquitous throughout the region. When the Romans arrived in the middle of the 1st century AD, they found an already well settled and developed landscape. Although settlements and objects show that this prosperity was maintained throughout the Roman period, only one possible villa is known. It appears rather that the Vale of Belvoir was an agricultural hinterland to the Roman towns of Margidunum, near Bingham, and Vernemetum, near Willoughby on the Wolds, and to settlements in Leicestershire, traversed by an ancient routeway which is mirrored by the modern A52 and by a possible Roman road along Harby Lane.

The result of this history was the clearance of the natural woodland and the development of an agricultural landscape of arable and pasture fields. Although outside of this region, grain, seeds and bones from a Roman site at Bunny indicate what was likely: the cultivation of wheat and other arable crops, the presence of grassland and possibly hedgerows, and the keeping of sheep and some pigs. At Margidunum, which can be reasonably assumed to have been a market and tax collection centre for at least part of the Vale of Belvoir, cattle bones predominate after the last quarter of the 1st century AD. In view of the more recent history of the region it is perhaps reasonable to speculate that some specialisation in dairying and more particularly fattening may have been possible in the Roman period also.

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. Equally, its wholly agricultural character may have provided some protection. As elsewhere in South Nottinghamshire, there is no reason to believe other than that communities substantially maintained their economic vitality and survived to become the originators of those of the Saxon and mediaeval periods. The Vale of Belvoir was certainly part of the territory which was most attractive to Anglo-Saxon settlement from the end of the 5th century, as is demonstrated by cemeteries in the neighbouring areas. However, nothing coherent can be said about this region at this date. No settlement remains have been found and it must be assumed that these lie beneath modern villages. 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.

From 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 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 favourable sites. 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 Vale of Belvoir, Granby and Hickling appear to have been particularly important communities, possibly because of important Anglo-Scandinavian landowners. Overall, it is likely that village formation was well advanced by 1086, when Domesday Book was drawn up. 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, the Vale of Belvoir was part of the most densely settled and cultivated areas of Nottinghamshire. 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. Everywhere there was extensive arable cultivation but in constrast to other regions, every community possessed areas of meadow, which in some cases were considerable. No woodland at all was recorded. The impression is strongly that of a well developed agricultural countryside.

This was the pattern for the early Middle Ages. Continuing population growth saw most villages expand in size and in some there are indications of reorganisation, both planned and organic. For example, by the late 13th century settlement in Colston Bassett appears to have moved down into the bottom of the Smite Valley, leaving its church standing alone on the higher ground above. This expansion was accompanied by 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 and Devon valleys, in 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 weighted towards arable production and cultivation extended into pastures and marginal land.

The development of the modern Vale of Belvoir 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. In some neighbouring regions the result of this enclosure was to complete the depopulation of some declining communities, but in the Vale of Belvoir  it may be doubted if any communities were affected to this ultimate degree. The deserted settlement adjacent to the site of All Saints’ Church at Kinoulton might fit into this category, but the complicated and obscure documentary record for this community suggests that migration into a new centre, as already described for Colston Bassett, is an equally likely interpretation. In all events, the end of the Middle Ages saw the beginning of a trend to convert land to grazing and to enclose on a piecemeal or community wide basis. The Vale of Belvoir, with the South Nottinghamshire Farmlands and the Trent Valley, was early in this movement and during the 16th and 17th centuries over one third of its parishes were enclosed in whole or part, for permanent or temporary grass. This does not take account of many 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 as much for arable and crop rotation as for long-term or permanent pasture. With enclosure came new developments, both in qualities of livestock and in the improvement of the land. By the late 18th century the Vale of Belvoir was recognised for the breeding and fattening of cattle and there were a number of farmers in and around the region breeding improved types of both sheep and cattle, particularly at Cotham. 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 from the 1820s field drainage improved the versatility of clay lands.

Inexorably, the farming economy of the Vale of Belvoir continued to tilt towards animal husbandry, creating a landscape dominated by grassland. In the agricultural slump after the end of the Napoleonic Wars much heavy land went out of cultivation and even in the so called “Golden Age of Farming” from 1850 to 1870, there was more profit in livestock than in grain. After 1870, when Free Trade policies opened the doors to cheap imported grain, livestock became even more important with increased production of milk, cheese and meat to meet the food demands of Nottingham and the expanding colliery communities in the west of the County. Apart from the period of the 1st World War, when arable was again a priority, this economic emphasis was maintained until 1939. Consequently, by the 1930s some 70% of the Vale of Belvoir was grassland and it was famous for the fattening of cattle and for its milk and cheese, particularly Stilton.

From the 16th century on, enclosure introduced more trees and shrubs into the landscape, principally through planting in hedgerows and in the parks and large ornamental gardens which are to be expected with any large house of high social standing. In Staunton during the early 17th century, conditions in their leases obliged tenants to plant trees, especially ash, elm and willow, as well as to maintain the quickset of hedgerows. The park at Colston Bassett, serving both pleasure and husbandry by being ornamental whilst providing grazing for sheep and cattle, was probably laid out around 1710 when the Old Hall was pulled down and a new mansion built. More important to the general character of the Vale of Belvoir, however, was the rebuilding of villages in brick. Beginning with the houses of the nobility and gentry, 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. Stone building was also a lesser feature of this region, taking advantage of the limestone outcrops in and around it.

The economic emphasis on livestock and the resulting grassland countryside, which began with the convertible husbandry established in the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries and developed fully in the 19th and early 20th centuries, was overthrown by World War II and the effects of the farming policies which followed it. These have brought substantial changes to the landscape of the Vale of Belvoir, with 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. As production swung back to a preponderance of arable much grassland, some untouched since the 16th century, has been ploughed up.

Many of the features of today’s countryside in the Vale of Belvoir 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 the enclosure pattern of its field systems was laid out between 1500 and 1820. The current manifestation of the tradition of mixed farming, especially much of the openness of the arable areas, has been created by boundary clearance over the last 30 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 perhaps even earlier. The agricultural vitality of the region, extensive cultivation with much animal husbandry, 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

The Vale of Belvoir is a remote rural area with a strong and robust sense of identity. The Vale is famous for its history of dairying and its character as a grazing belt. Although much of the Vale has been brought under cultivation, this tradition still prevails with large tracts of farmland still set to pasture. The low-lying Vale is physically very distinct with escarpments framing its southern, western and northern sides. A nucleated settlement pattern of small red brick villages interlinked by narrow country lanes is an important component of the area’s unified rural character.

One distinct landscape type has been identified within the Vale of Belvoir. This has been classified generically, which means that, theoretically, it could occur at any location within the country where there are similar physical resources and historical patterns of land use. In reality the landscape type possesses a distinctively local character, because it shares the broad characteristics of the regional character area, or represents a particular aspect of that character.

Vale farmlands

A remote low-lying landscape characterised by large hedged fields and wide views to rising ground on one or more sides

Characteristic features Level to gently undulating landform Medium to large scale field patterns Vernacular style red brick farmsteads and small rural villages Rural lanes, often with wide grassed verges Relatively extensive areas of grassland/pasture with grazing livestock Permanent pastures, sometimes with well preserved ridge and furrow Scattered distribution of hedgerow trees Smaller scale, more intimate landscapes adjacent to villages

Landscape description

The principal features of the Vale Farmlands are the medium to large scale pattern of hedged fields, the mixed farming regimes and the level to very gently undulating landform. The western boundary of the Vale is formed by the Nottinghamshire Wolds, which lie on top of a steeply inclined and relatively well wooded escarpment. Visually, this is a spacious landscape that extends across the county boundary to a further escarpment, known as the Belvoir Ridge, in Leicestershire. The ridge sweeps round in a broad curve between Nether Broughton and Belvoir Castle, marking the northern edge of the Leicestershire Wolds.

The Vale Farmlands possess a strong and sometimes intimate rural character, despite being a generally large scale landscape. The pattern of hedged fields and rural lanes is one of the most important components of the landscape’s overall structure. Field patterns are more irregular in areas where mixed and pastoral farming predominate; this is particularly apparent in the southern sections of the Vale. Towards the north, most of the land is now cropped, and field patterns are more geometric, reflecting a later period of enclosure.

This variation in scale is also reflected in the network of long narrow country lanes that link the numerous small villages together. To the south the lanes and their associated hedgerows have a winding curvilinear nature, whilst in the north they exhibit a much straighter, more geometric pattern. Wide grassed verges flanking many of the lanes are a distinctive feature of the Vale Farmlands.

Summer views within the Vale are sometimes confined to the immediate landscape in areas where strong hedgerows and level terrain predominate. This often produces an illusion of being within a smaller scale landscape than is the case. Generally, however, there is a sense of space with wide views to distant escarpment slopes.

The tradition of dairying, and more latterly of mixed farming, has resulted in a relatively high proportion of land being under permanent grassland and longer term leys. The grasslands and associated grazing livestock are important components of the Vale Farmlands landscape. The irregular patterns of small and medium scale permanent pastures provide a reminder of the traditional character of the Vale. These features help to increase landscape diversity and consolidate the “sense of place” within this part of the County. The grasslands exist as a patchwork of more intimate landscapes within the more extensive arable areas. These smaller scale pastoral landscapes are often enclosed by species rich hedgerows and have more hedgerow trees than the arable areas. The most extensive and unbroken tracts of pastoral landscape occur to the south of the Vale, between Colston Basset and the foot of the Lower Lias escarpment in the Hickling and Kinoulton area. The Hickling area is particularly rich with unimproved permanent pasture, species rich hedgerows and ridge and furrow. The pastoral character of the Upper Triassic (Rhaetic) escarpment has also, in places, remained intact. Ridge and furrow is a common feature along this low escarpment.

Woodland is not a dominant feature, with hedgerow trees forming the most important component of the landscape’s tree cover. These help to reinforce the sense of enclosure with ash and oak the principal species. Lines of willow and riparian scrub are found along stream lines and ditches. Willow pollards are generally not characteristic but are locally common. In the larger scale arable areas tree cover is often sparse, contributing towards a more open character. Woodlands located in landscapes adjoining the Vale are visually more noticeable than those found internally. These cover parts of the escarpment slopes along the fringes of the Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire Wolds. Exceptions to this are the pockets of wooded parkland at Colston Bassett and Staunton. The broadleaved woodland and tall parkland trees of these mature parklands create localised areas of well wooded landscape.

Numerous small villages of traditional red brick construction are distributed throughout the Vale. A line of village settlements also lies along its northern boundary, taking advantage of the drier conditions on the Upper Triassic (Rhaetic) escarpment between Langar and Staunton. Buildings with more recent architectural styles are to be found in most of the settlements, although no villages have expanded to any significant degree. The more intimate, small scale pastoral landscapes are found adjacent to the villages. These sometimes contain ridge and furrow, and are often used as horse paddocks. Although grasslands are quite extensive within the Vale, they tend to be of larger scale in areas away from settlement. Landscape unity and “sense of place” are greater in the pastoral areas adjacent to villages.

The River Smite runs through parts of the Vale Farmlands. The narrow river channel is set below the level of the surrounding farmlands with arable cultivation running to the channel edge. The river has been extensively canalised and is completely absorbed within the wider landscape and riparian scrub and trees are the only features indicating its course.

Industrial influences within the Vale are very localised. Pylon lines cross parts of the Vale; these have a greater impact in the more open areas.

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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 Vale of Belvoir over recent decades. It does this by discussing how the current structure and pattern of land use has 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 Vale of Belvoir has historically been known as a rich and productive grazing region. In the 1930s the area had the highest proportion of grassland in the County with some parishes having over 90% of farmland set to permanent grassland. Only a very occasional arable field broke the pattern of grassland fields. The area was also regarded as the highest quality fattening pasture within the County, serving the milk and meat markets of Nottingham and Leicester along with those of Newark, Grantham and Melton. The Vale is also renowned for the manufacture of high quality Stilton cheese.

The Vale is classified almost entirely as Grade 3 agricultural land within the Agricultural Land Classification system of MAFF, as land having moderate limitations to agricultural use. Isolated pockets of land are classified as having moderately severe limitations to agricultural use, the limitations being imposed by slope angle and flooding risk.

Developments in agricultural technology in recent decades have led to significant changes in the agricultural use of land. The Vale has been transformed from a grazing to a mixed farming area. Winter cereals and grass are now the dominant crops, with grassland often confined to the wetter soils on low lying land. Recent agricultural census data reveal that, of the total farmed area, around 62% of land is set to crops and fallow. Autumn sown wheat and barley are the most widely grown crops, covering over 40% of the farmed area. The intensification of agriculture has also led to an increase in field size and the loss of field pattern and hedgerow trees in many areas. This has produced large tracts of open landscape where traditional character has been severely eroded or lost.

Direct drilling and minimum cultivation are the key developments that have allowed large areas to be brought into cultivation. Oilseed rape is now widely used as a break crop, replacing the more traditional grass leys. The timing of cultivation is critical on the strong clay soils of the Vale as they compact easily with little chance to work the land in spring. Autumn sown cereals are therefore preferred. The grass yields within the Vale are moderate to good, depending on soil type. Waterlogging and the risk of poaching can shorten the grazing period and limit stocking density in spring and autumn.

The overall effect of agricultural improvement has been to reduce the grassland cover in the Nottinghamshire portion of the Vale to 31%, representing a reduction in grazing land of nearly two thirds since the 1930s. The proportion of grazing to arable land now varies throughout the Vale, with the largest concentrations of grassland occurring to the south-west in the vicinity of Hickling, Kinoulton and Colston Bassett. A significant tract of pasture land also extends along the Upper Triassic (Rhaetic) escarpment between Langar and Orston. The most extensive, uninterrupted areas of arable lands are found in the eastern and north-eastern sections of the Vale. There has also been an important change in the way grasslands are managed, with the making of silage rather than hay. Many grass fields have obviously been agriculturally improved, though not necessarily by ploughing and reseeding. The use of fertilisers and herbicides is now widespread, which has led to a general decline in the floristic interest of the grassland. However, permanent grassland still forms a significant, although decreased, component of the region.

Woodland/tree cover

Woodland has not historically formed a significant component of the Vale of Belvoir landscape. This remains the case today with woodland accounting for only 1.36% of the total area of the Nottinghamshire section of the Vale, making the region one of the least wooded parts of the County. The woodland pattern is formed by a light scattering of isolated, small-scale broadleaved woodlands. The only exceptions to this locally are the pockets of well wooded parkland centred around Colston Bassett Hall, Staunton Hall and Whatton Manor. The well wooded Belvoir escarpment can be viewed from most areas of the Vale. The Lias escarpment is also relatively well wooded.

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. Despite this loss, hedgerow trees still form the principal component of the landscape overall, with ash, oak and willow the dominant hedgerow tree species.

Transportation

The A52 trunk road is the only major route to pass through the region. Elsewhere a network of narrow country lanes links the villages of the Vale to major routes in surrounding areas. There are no proposals within existing or forthcoming plans for major transport initiatives. The Grantham Canal meanders through the heart of the region, with works recently undertaken to restore sections of the canal close to Hickling. The eventual aim is to restore the canal to navigable standards, linking it again with the national waterways system.

Urban and industrial development

The Vale of Belvoir is remote from major urban areas and very rural in character, with built development accounting for around 3% of the total land area of the Vale. Settlement is concentrated in the numerous small red brick villages. Although there has been significant modern infill within these villages, the traditional red brick character has been retained. Cropwell Bishop is the only village to have expanded in any substantial way. There are no proposals for any major housing developments within the region within current or forthcoming plans.

There are no major industrial sites located within the region, with the exception of a small industrial park next to Langar Airport and the cement works at Barnstone. There are no proposals for industrial development within current or forthcoming local plans. The Cropwell Bishop and Owthorpe area is subject to the constraints of Green Belt policy.

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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 landscape Strategy and a series of Key Recommendations are set out for the landscape of the Vale Farmlands. 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 Vale 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.

Vale farmlands
Landscape strategy

Conserve and restore the traditional pattern of land use and remote rural character of the landscape

Key recommendations Conserve the historic settlement pattern of small rural villages Promote measures for maintaining the ecological diversity and historic character of the Vale pasture Identify opportunities for conversion of arable land back to pasture Conserve and strengthen the historic pattern and features of hedgerows and rural lanes

Landscape strategy

• Conserve and restore the traditional pattern of land use and remote rural character of the landscape

The historic pattern of land use within the region has traditionally been controlled by the physical environment, particularly the heavy clay soils that cover most of its surface. The close relationship between soils and land use created a landscape with a distinctive and peaceful pastoral character. This has traditionally contrasted with the settled agricultural lands that lie to the north, and the more wooded landscapes of the “Wolds”, on the higher ground to the south and west. In recent decades incentives to plant cereals have led to the ploughing up of much of the grassland, with a loss of traditional pastoral character and important grassland habitat. A priority for management must be to conserve and restore this pastoral character. Another distinctive aspect of the Vale Farmlands is their remote and undeveloped character. This arises from the geographical location of the Vale, which is some distance from the main population centres. The sense of remoteness is emphasised by the low-lying relief, which enables wide spacious views across the Vale to the adjoining areas of higher land. The region is largely unaffected by urban and industrial development so that the nucleated settlement pattern of small red brick villages is still intact. The overall landscape strategy for the Vale Farmlands should thus involve a combination of conservation and restoration - to conserve the remote rural character of the landscape and restore the traditional pattern of land use. The historic pattern and features of hedgerows and rural lanes are also an essential part of the rural character. The maintenance and strengthening of this traditional pattern is therefore a management priority.

Key recommendations

• Conserve the historic settlement pattern of small rural villages

Settlement within the Vale of Belvoir is characterised by a nucleated pattern of small red brick villages. These settlements form one of the distinguishing features of the Vale Farmlands, along with brick built farmsteads. Many of the villages within Nottinghamshire lie along the Upper Triassic (Rhaetic) escarpment, which marks the northern boundary of the Vale. Most of the villages retain their traditional rural character, which arises from the many older buildings with a 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.

Local planning policies should seek to balance the scale and layout of new development with measures to conserve the integrity and distinctive character of rural settlement. Planning policies should also seek to protect the remote, undeveloped character of the landscape by the restriction of major new built development within the Vale. The same applies to developments such as new roads and overhead power lines, which would be visually intrusive and impede spacious views across the low-lying Vale. It is important that new development is small in scale and located, as far as possible, within existing villages in order to conserve the nucleated settlement pattern.

• Promote measures for maintaining the ecologiacl diversity and historic character of the Vale pastures

The Vale of Belvoir was once a rich and productive grazing region with over 90% of its farmland set to permanent grassland. The traditional pastoral character of the Vale has now been transformed with mixed farming and arable cultivation in the ascendancy. This has led to a breakdown in the traditional pattern of land use, and loss of visual and ecological unity within the Vale. Having said this, there are still significant areas where the traditional pastoral character has remained intact. In these areas the Vale pastures are often relatively unimproved and ecologically diverse, supporting a wide variety of insect and animal life. Traditionally, the grasslands were used for haymaking and summer grazing using low input forms of management. This ensured that the aesthetic and ecological value of the grasslands was high. The introduction of more intensive forms of management has led to a decline in this interest.

The Vale pastures are an intrinsic part of the region’s historic character, being closely associated with features such as small-scale field pattern, old mixed hedgerows, ridge and furrow and village edges. In order to maintain the historic character of the pastures, it is important that these features are conserved. Landowners are now eligible to enter a range of schemes that promote environmentally friendly forms of farming. These should be used to promote sensitive, unintensive grassland management and a long-term increase in the aesthetic and wildlife value of the pastures.

• Identify opportunities for conversion of arable land back to pasture

The principal force for landscape change over recent decades has been associated with incentives to grow cereals and advances in cultivation techniques on heavy clay soils. These have enabled large areas of the Vale to be ploughed up and used for arable cropping. The key to restoring the traditional pastoral character of the Vale Farmlands now lies with finding a mechanism and financial incentive for taking land out of arable production and returning it to permanent pasture and meadowland. It is unlikely that such measures would affect whole farms; however, there may be opportunities to encourage landowners to consider adopting mixed farming regimes, particularly in the areas where arable cultivation now dominates the landscape. Such schemes may be linked to European and national initiatives to reduce agricultural production and promote environmentally sensitive farming.

• Conserve and strengthen the historic pattern and features of hedgerows and rural lanes

The historic pattern and features of hedgerows and rural lanes form the basic structure of the Vale Farmlands landscape. Towards the south-west where the traditional pastoral character is still largely intact the pattern of hedged fields is more irregular than the landscapes located further north, where the layout of fields and rural lanes is more well-ordered and geometric. Overall the medium- to large-scale pattern of hedged fields has survived intact, although there are some areas where it has become poorly defined, fragmented or lost.

A management priority for the Vale Farmlands is therefore to maintain and strengthen the traditional pattern of hedged fields. It is especially important to avoid the further removal of hedgerows, particularly primary hedgerows along roadsides, footpaths, bridleways and parish boundaries. Hedgerow reinstatement initiatives should initially focus on replacing primary hedgerows, and restoring the basic structure of the landscape in the more open areas. Many hedgerows are thin and gappy and would benefit from being allowed to grow thicker and taller. Measures to conserve and enhance the structure of hedged fields should also focus on strengthening the level of hedgerow tree cover, which has now become highly variable. This will help to emphasise the pattern of hedged fields, and allow filtered views along the Vale to the surrounding areas of rising ground.

Wide grassed verges flanking narrow country lanes are also an important and distinctive feature of the region’s rural character. These verges should be managed to conserve and improve their visual and ecological interest, along with associated features such as roadside hedgerows and trees.

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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 Strategy 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.

	Rural villages		Parkland and ornamental grounds
	Farmsteads and rural dwellings		Historic features
	Urban development		Farmland
	Woodland		Recreational land
	Hedgerow trees		Highways and rural lanes
	Hedgerows		Utilities and industrial sites
	Meadowland and pasture		Develpment mitigation
	Rivers and stream lines

Conserve the nucleated settlement pattern of red brick villages by avoiding new development in open areas of countryside

The  Vale of Belvoir has a strong and largely undeveloped rural character with an historic nucleated settlement pattern of red brick villages. Built development accounts for only 3% of the total land area of the Vale falling within Nottinghamshire. The villages are located toward the centre of their parishes. The only other form of settlement is the isolated farmsteads. The broad, open character of the Vale will ensure that any large developments are highly visible. Any new development in open countryside that could adversely affect the historic settlement pattern or rural character of the Vale should therefore be avoided. 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 of the village envelopes. Single dwellings rather than groups of dwellings should be preferred. This will maintain the traditional pattern of settlement, so long as attention is given to the scale, siting and design of new buildings, which should incorporate features which reflect the local vernacular character.

Conserve and enhance the local vernacular character of villages within the vale

The traditional character of villages within the Vale of Belvoir is set by the vernacular style of red brick and pantile roofed buildings. The bricks and tiles were made from local clay and sit naturally within the Vale 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 distinctive vernacular style is a priority. All new developments should seek to mimic, complement and harmonise with the local vernacular style.

Protect and enhance the internal open space and irregular outline of village settlements

Many of the villages in the Vale of Belvoir 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, 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 contribute greatly to the overall “sense of place” and distinctive character of the Vale 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.

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.

Conserve and enhance tree cover in and around rural settlements

The attractiveness of rural settlements within the Vale Farmlands is often enhanced by the presence of trees. These introduce colour, shape, height, 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 of existing trees and the replacement of lost trees is therefore essential to the maintenance of the distinctive rural character of these settlements. New planting should be undertaken to soften the hard edges of more recent development and consolidate the well-treed character of the villages.

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 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.

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 with the wider farmed landscape. At many locations new farm buildings have been built which are large and constructed from materials that do not complement or fit in with the vernacular style. 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 will harmonise better with the vernacular style. New landscape features can be created using locally characteristic species, to help blend agricultural buildings into the landscape. These should form an important part of the design process and not be used as a means of simply screening unsightly buildings.

Enhance landscape character through the planting of small scale broadleaved woodland using native tree and shrub species

Woodland has not historically been a significant feature of the Vale of Belvoir landscape. A few scattered broadleaved woodlands are found within the Vale, with hedgerow trees representing the dominant form of tree cover. The total woodland cover of the Nottinghamshire section of the Vale is very small at 1.36%, slightly over 1% being broadleaved woodland. There are opportunities to enhance the landscape character of the Vale Farmlands through the planting of broadleaved woodland using native tree and shrub species. Any schemes, however, should be limited in extent and small in scale. The field pattern is the dominant landscape element of the Vale; new planting should complement this and be no larger than field scale. Unimproved pastures with ridge and furrow should be avoided. A principal management priority is to maintain the open, spacious character of the Vale and long-distance views to rising escarpments.

Mixed and non-native species woodlands should be restocked with native trees and shrubs

The Vale of Belvoir has a low level of woodland cover. The majority of existing woodlands are of broadleaved species composition. A number of woodlands have been planted with conifers and non-native deciduous species. The use of appropriate species in well-designed mixes is important in determining how well new or replacement tree planting will fit into the landscape. Selection of species will need to reflect a wide range of considerations, including the balance to be struck between nature conservation, landscape enhancement and timber production. It is important, however, that broadleaved species predominate if the traditional appearance of the landscape is to be preserved. Restocking with appropriate native trees and shrubs should be the management priority.

Enhance tree cover through larger scale woodland planting along escarpment slopes

The Vale Farmlands is a spacious landscape, affording distant views to the well-wooded escarpments. The well-wooded escarpment landscapes are very visible and visually appealing. They help to emphasise the broad extent of the Vale and its division with the higher ground to the south and west. Large sections of the Lower Lias escarpment have been set to arable cultivation, although other parts are relatively well wooded. There exists further scope for woodland creation along this escarpment. Any new planting should be medium to large in scale and be designed to emphasise the relief. Woodland planting is not appropriate for the small-scale pastoral landscapes that lie on the escarpment to the south of Hickling.

Conserve and enhance tree cover through the replanting and regeneration of hedgerow trees

The enclosed pattern of hedgerows and associated hedgerow trees forms one of the most important components of the overall structure of the Vale Farmlands landscape. Variations in field pattern scale and the density of hedgerow trees have important implications for the character and diversity of landscape’s found in the Vale. Hedgerow trees are the most important element of the landscapes overall tree cover, with ash and oak the principal species. The enclosure pattern within the Vale Farmlands is not always immediately apparent due to the essentially flat landform. Hedgerow trees help to emphasise this enclosure pattern, allowing filtered views across the Vale to distant escarpments. 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. This is particularly important within the predominantly arable landscapes to the north of the Vale.

Conserve the traditional pattern of hedged fields

The pattern of hedged fields is an important and distinctive feature of Vale Farmlands landscape. This pattern is more geometric and medium to large in scale toward the north of the Vale, whilst it is more irregular to the south. The retention of this field pattern is crucial if the character of the Vale Farmlands is to be maintained. Although the field pattern has remained largely intact there are tracts of countryside in the more intensively farmed arable areas where field pattern has become fragmented or lost. It is especially important in these areas to conserve primary hedgerows, particularly along roadsides, footpaths, bridleways and parish boundaries.

Promote the positive management of hedgerows to maximise their visual and nature conservation value

The condition of hedgerows in the landscape is variable. In the pastoral and mixed farming areas they are often well managed and stock proof. There are, however, many hedgerows in the pastoral areas where under management is a problem, leading to overgrown and gappy hedgerow with potential long-term health problems. In the arable areas hedgerows have been 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. This 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.

New or replacement hedgerow planting should complement the existing structure and traditional pattern of hedged fields

New hedgerow planting should be encouraged in areas where the traditional pattern of hedged fields has become fragmented or lost. Priority should be given, where practicable, to the reinstatement of primary hedgerows such as those along parish boundaries, roads, and public footpaths. Variation in the species composition of hedgerows is experienced in certain sections of the Vale Farmlands. They are generally dominated by hawthorn but become more mixed and species rich in southern areas of the Vale, particularly where field pattern is smaller scale and more irregular. Mono-species hawthorn hedgerows are more common in the later enclosure landscapes to the north of the Vale. 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, but in the smaller scale pastoral landscapes the proportion of hawthorn can be reduced.

Conserve the character of remaining pastoral landscapes

The Vale of Belvoir was once a rich and productive grazing region with over 90% of its farmland set to permanent grassland. The traditional pastoral character has now been transformed, with mixed farming and arable cultivation now dominant. The total area of the Vale Farmlands under grassland now stands at 31%, representing a fall in grassland cover of almost two thirds over recent decades. Although there has been a large erosion in the traditional pastoral character of the landscape, there are still significant areas where it has been retained. It is crucial that these areas are conserved if the traditional character is not to be lost altogether. The permanent grasslands are often relatively unaffected by agricultural improvement and associated with small-scale field pattern, old mixed hedgerows, ridge and furrow and village edges. These peaceful, undisturbed and aesthetically pleasing landscapes provide a vital link with the traditional character of the Vale Farmlands.

Manage grasslands in a traditional manner and consider opportunities for converting arable land back to pasture

The permanent pastures within this landscape are often floristically diverse habitats of 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 the conservation value of these grasslands. The agricultural improvement of grassland should be avoided. Where grasslands have been ploughed up and converted to arable land, landscape features are often lost with a subsequent fragmentation of the character of the pastoral landscapes. Opportunities to restore pastoral character should therefore be sought, through the application of grants and incentives that seek to promote environmentally friendly farming.

Enhance the visual and ecological continuity of stream corridors

Waterside trees and shrubs are important features of the Vale Farmlands. These are found along the channel of the River Smite and the many tributary streams that feed into it. These irregularly shaped linear features add variety and interest to the landscape, often forming historic boundaries. This variety is especially important in landscapes where there is a more geometric field pattern. Riparian tree- and shrub-lined features should be conserved and managed to retain their interest. Significant stretches of the river and stream corridor have limited tree cover and would benefit from a programme of tree and shrub establishment along channel edges. This should include natural regeneration and planting. The visual prominence and irregular form of the stream lines could also be greatly enhanced by such a programme, which 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 such as the Vale Farmlands, where arable cultivation has encroached to the river bank.

The tradition of willow pollarding is not strong within the Vale; however occasional pollards are found and these should be maintained. Over-mature willows should also be rejuvenated by pollarding.

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 River Smite 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. In such areas opportunities should be sought to diversify the riverside environment. This might include reprofiling to create a more natural bank profile, or cutting a notch into the base of the bank to allow for colonisation by emergent plants. Identification of riverside enhancement opportunities should be based on detailed survey of the river corridor.

Conserve and renew all ornamental parkland planting and individual parkland trees

Two areas of parkland landscape are located within the Nottinghamshire section of the Vale, at Colston Bassett and Staunton. As ornamental settings to large country houses, the woodland 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 the interest of the parkland, taking full account of the original design intentions of individual parks.

Conserve the pastoral character of traditional parkland landscapes

Parkland landscapes have great visual appeal, much of this arising from the permanent grasslands which have traditionally been grazed by a range of parkland animals. Parkland grasslands often contain a diversity of wild flora and fauna due to their antiquity 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.

All areas of ridge and furrow should be managed to maintain their historic interest

Grasslands containing ridge and furrow landscapes are found throughout the Vale Farmlands. The largest concentrations are found along the low Upper Triassic (Rhaetic) escarpment and to the south in the vicinity of Colston Bassett and Hickling. The ridge and furrow grasslands 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 and have high historic, landscape and nature conservation interest. All surviving areas should be conserved.

Farmland 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 Area Payments Scheme. There is now considerable scope for land to be managed positively in order 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 are now eligible to be counted as set-aside, offering significant opportunities to enhance landscape character.

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.

The design of recreational and sporting facilities, such as golf courses, should reflect the character of the local landscape

The Vale Farmlands have a remote and undeveloped rural character dominated by mixed farming, intact field patterns, hedgerow trees and red brick villages. The introduction of large numbers of ornamental or coniferous trees, the removal of hedgerow or stream line trees, or the erection of modern buildings using introduced materials would compound the 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, 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 or sporting development on the landscape character of the area.

Conserve and enhance the rural character and historic features associated with roads and lanes

A key characteristic of the Vale of Belvoir is the irregular network of rural lanes and roads. These lanes contain many special features including species-rich verges; thick roadside hedgerows; narrow sunken lanes; 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.

Diversify roadside character through the management and creation of flower-rich grasslands on highway verges

The small village settlements of the Vale Farmlands are linked by a network of narrow country lanes. A special feature of many of the lanes is the wide grass verges that flank the narrow carriageways. These lanes are an important component of the overall character and structure of the Vale of Belvoir landscape. 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. The creation of new verges and the reseeding of disturbed verges offer obvious opportunities for this.

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 ameliorate 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.

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.

Landscaping around utilities and other rural devlopment shoud 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, to hide new development. 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 hide an ugly building with screen planting.

Species list

Vale of Belvoir

Dominant Species
Other Species

The following list includes native tree and shrub species that are commonly found within the Vale of Belvoir region 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	Wet Areas/Streamsides
Ash
Aspe
Cherry (Bird)
Cherry (Wild)
Crab Apple
Elm (Wych)
Maple (Field)
Oak (Common)
Willow (Crack)
Willow (White)

Shrubs	Woodlands	Hedges	Hedgerow Trees	Wet Areas/Streamsides
Blackthorn
Buckthorn (Purging
Dogwood (Common)
Hawthorn
Hazel
Osier
Privet (Wild)
Rosa Spp.
Willow (Goat)
Willow (Grey)