LCA6E Amport Wooded Downs

Landscape Strategy and Guidelines

The area is distinguished by the higher woodland and hedgerow cover, in contrast with the adjoining open chalklands. However, these qualities are being eroded and therefore the overall strategy is to enhance and restore the woodland and hedgerow landscape structure of Amport Wooded Downs.

Land Management

Landscape Distinctiveness

Maintain the sense of transition from the Pilhill Brook river valley landscape up to the downs

Maintain the sense of quiet seclusion

Agriculture

Discourage further merging of fields and loss of hedgerows

Seek opportunities to use smaller plots for pasture

Hedgerows

Seek opportunities for replanting of former hedgerow boundaries

Maintain and restore existing hedgerows

Woodland and Trees

Maintain existing woodland cover and encourage planting of copses, shelterbelts and spinneys around farmland

Biodiversity

Conserve, manage and restore chalk grassland

Create linkages between existing woodlands and shelterbelts

Historic Landscapes

Maintain and enhance landscape setting to historic features and buildings

Land Use and Development

Built Developments

Contain existing villages at the foot of the downland slopes

Maintain existing patterns of development outside the villages

Infrastructure

Avoid suburbanisation arising from introduction of inappropriate highway measures

Maintain alignment of historic road pattern

Avoid introduction of intrusive elements, such a telecommunications masts, unless they can be adequately screened

Recreation, Tourism and Access

Explore opportunities for greater access to the public for quiet recreational activities

Volume 1: LCA6E Landscape Character Types and Areas