LCA12B River Bourne Valley

Landscape Strategy and Guidelines

The River Bourne Valley landscape has been eroded by the development of Shipton Bellinger and the main roads running through the area. The overall strategy is to restore the pastoral character of the River Bourne Valley and seek opportunities to reinforce the pattern of valley floor vegetation.

Land Management

Landscape Distinctiveness

Seek opportunities to create separation between the built form and open valley bottom to restore a sense of seclusion

Ensure that new planting reflects the characteristics of a winterbourne

Agriculture

Seek opportunities to revert to unintensive grassland management

Hedgerows

Replace hedgerows to recreate a small field pattern

Woodland and Trees

Seek opportunities to remove conifer planting and replace with native woodland species, with preference given to the creation of wet woodland habitats

Biodiversity

Monitor water levels and seek opportunities to prevent the loss of wetland habitats

Historic Landscapes

Maintain and enhance existing parkland features

Land Use and Development

Built Developments

Care to be taken to avoid visually intrusive development within Shipton Bellinger

Infrastructure

Seek opportunities to provide new planting along the roadsides in character with the winterbourne landscape

Development to be small in scale and well sited, taking advantage of vegetation cover, to conserve the sense of remoteness and tranquillity

Volume 1: LCA12B Landscape Character Types and Areas