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