LCA5E King’s Somborne River Valley Floor

Landscape Strategy and Guidelines

The King’s Somborne River Valley Floor is noted as the river setting to King’s Somborne within an open arable landscape. The overall strategy is therefore to enhance and restore the small scale riverine character of King’s Somborne River Valley Floor.

Land Management

Landscape Distinctiveness

Reinforce existing local features and restore small scale field pattern in upper reaches

Retain levels of tranquillity in lower and upper reaches

Maintain the contrast of a pastoral valley with the open arable valley sides

Agriculture

Encourage management of traditional water meadows and reintroduce management of farmland as seasonally wet pastures where appropriate

Resist change from pasture to arable

Encourage reversion of arable fields in upper reaches to pasture

Discourage merging of remaining smaller fields

Hedgerows

Restore hedgerows and encourage replanting of former hedgerow lines

Maintain hedgerow field boundaries

Woodland and Trees

Management of the pollards and lines of poplar, which characterise some sections of the valley floor

Conserve valley floor wet woodland and promote good woodland management

Biodiversity

Encourage agricultural management that will protect and enhance remnant unimproved grasslands

Protect the water from further damage from pollution, soil erosion and construction projects

Seek opportunities for wetland creation and ditch reinstatement

Historic Landscapes

Protect the historic setting of King’s Somborne and the medieval deer park close by

Protect the landscape setting and remnants of historic features

Land Use and Development

Built Developments

Retain compact character of King’s Somborne

Resist further linear expansion and infill along valley floor

Infrastructure

Avoid suburbanisation arising from introduction of inappropriate highway measures

Encourage measures to reduce the impact of existing roads

Avoid loss of landscape features due to highway improvements

Recreation, Tourism and Access

Seek opportunities for additional access to the river for the public

Volume 1: LCA5E Landscape Character Types and Areas