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