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