LCA7C Linkenholt Downs

Landscape Strategy and Guidelines

The Linkenholt Downs is typical of the delicate balance between woodland and open arable land found within the North Wessex Downs AONB. The overall strategy is therefore to conserve this balance and to enhance the woodland and hedgerow structure of Linkenholt Downs.

Land Management

Landscape Distinctiveness

Maintain the present sense of remoteness and tranquillity

Agriculture

Discourage further amalgamation of fields and loss of hedgerows

Maintain the smaller field pattern near the settlements

Hedgerows

Seek opportunities to provide hedgerow links with adjacent woodland and replace former hedgerow boundaries

Woodland and Trees

Reinforce pattern of small copses, spinneys and shelter belts with wooded scarps

Biodiversity

Conserve, manage and restore chalk grassland

Introduce buffer strips at the edge of arable fields

Historic Landscapes

Conserve the present settlement pattern and form

Conserve and enhance the landscape setting to settlements and historic landscapes

Land Use and Development

Built Developments

Limit development in order to conserve the sense of remoteness and tranquillity, and settlement form

Infrastructure

Development to be very limited and well sited to conserve the sense of remoteness and tranquillity

Seek an opportunity to bury power lines underground

Volume 1: LCA7C Landscape Character Types and Areas