LCA10D Leckford and Chilbolton Chalk Downs

Landscape Strategy and Guidelines

The Leckford and Chilbolton Chalk Downs are valued for their open views and big skies. The overall strategy is therefore to conserve the open rural character of Leckford and Chilbolton Chalk Downs.

Land Management

Landscape Distinctiveness

Maintain sense of remoteness and tranquillity

Protect significant open vistas from visual intrusion

Agriculture

Seek opportunities to retain remaining small areas of pasture

Discourage further amalgamation of fields and loss of hedgerows

Encourage sustainable farming practices with a view to minimising the impact of new farming infrastructure and methods including spraying and fertiliser applications

Encourage new farm buildings to be well sited and integrated into the landscape

Encourage careful siting of new energy crops in keeping with the local landscape pattern and to create a positive contribution to the landscape

Hedgerows

Restore lost and fragmented hedgerows on former hedgerow lines

Woodland and Trees

Seek opportunities for new shelterbelt planting to link existing wooded areas and integrate modern development into the landscape

Identify woodlands where felling would make a positive contribution to the landscape and provide more suitably sited replacement woodlands

Promote good management of woodlands

Biodiversity

Conserve, restore and manage remnant areas of unimproved chalk grassland

Avoid further erosion of farmland biodiversity due to intensive agricultural methods

Seek opportunities to extend and link unimproved grassland and woodland habitats

Historic Landscapes

Avoid further erosion of historic landscapes due to modern agricultural methods

Land Use and Development

Built Developments

Development to respond to the local characteristics of the landscape

Careful consideration to be given to the environmental impact of alternative uses for redundant MOD land

Infrastructure

Seek opportunities to enhance roadside planting and minimise visual and noise intrusion

Avoid intrusive development of tall and large structures except where they can be successfully integrated into the landscape

Recreation, Tourism and Access

Manage any growth in horse related recreational activities to prevent deterioration in landscape features

Volume 1: LCA10D Landscape Character Types and Areas