LCA5I Upper River Anton Valley Floor
Landscape Strategy and Guidelines
The Upper River Anton Valley Floor is important, not only for its wetland habitats including a water meadow, but also for its function as a linear green space through Andover. The overall strategy is therefore to enhance the river character and seek opportunities to create new riverside landscapes within the Upper River Anton Valley Floor.
Land Management
Landscape Distinctiveness
Enhance and restore the landscape setting of valley floodplain
Retain and link existing open areas
Restore levels of tranquillity
Reinforce existing local features and enhance sense of place of river crossings
Agriculture
Encourage management of farmland as seasonally wet pastures where appropriate
Encourage restoration of watercress beds
Hedgerows
Restore hedgerows and encourage replanting of former hedgerow lines
Woodland and Trees
Restore areas of valley floor wet woodland and promote good woodland management
Encourage wet woodland planting to minimise the impact of intrusive development, whilst retaining the essential open wetland character
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 surviving water cress beds and associated features
Land Use and Development
Built Developments
Maintain open landscape spaces adjacent to the river
Enhance urban edge, adjacent to open areas
Encourage new planting of predominantly willow, alder and poplar to screen existing industry and built development
Infrastructure
Encourage measures to reduce the impact of the existing roads on adjacent open areas
Avoid use of valley floor for intrusive new infrastructure development
Recreation, Tourism and Access
Improve existing access to river and seek opportunities for additional facilities for the public