68 - Needwood and South Derbyshire Claylands : Analysis: Landscape Attributes & Opportunities

Analysis supporting Statements of Environmental Opportunity

The following analysis section focuses on the landscape attributes and opportunities for this NCA.

Further analysis on ecosytem services for this NCA is contained in the Analysis: Ecosytem Services section.

Landscape attributes

The river valleys and associated floodplains of the Blithe, Dove, Trent and Derwent together with Blithfield Reservoir and other wetlands support a diverse range of habitats including floodplain grazing marsh, wet woodland, an unusual basin mire and inland salt marsh.

Justification for selection:

• The valley of the Dove divides the area into two parts, and the Trent defines its southern boundary.
• Characteristic floodplain landscapes, with well-preserved evidence of historic water meadows in the form of earthworks and structures. Individual trees prominent and black poplars present locally.
• Localised flooding and need for alleviation provides opportunities for habitat creation and landscape enhancement.
• Open water at Blithfield Reservoir and the major rivers, and river floodplains provide habitats for wildfowl and wading birds.
• As well as areas of wet woodland, damp lowland grassland and marshland that feature in the river valleys, elsewhere Chartley Moss Special Area for Conservation (SAC) and Pasturefields Salt Marsh SAC provide internationally important examples of ‘schwingmoor’ basin mire and inland coastal salt marsh habitat, respectively.
• Extensive ridge and furrow survives particularly around the Dove.

Diverse woodlands and plantations throughout the area that vary in size and type including large commercial plantations in Needwood Forest, ancient woodland, wet woodland and many small woods and young plantations.

Justification for selection:

• Overall woodland cover of 6 per cent with significant new plantations within The National Forest (covering 8 per cent per cent of the NCA).
• Semi-natural woods are found throughout. There are significant areas of woodland on larger estates and wet woodland is found in valley bottoms.
• The associated invertebrate fauna is of regional importance, and the Needwood area is notable for lepidoptera.
• The former Needwood Forest is one of seven medieval forests and chases in Staffordshire and retains some of its original woodland.

Wood pasture and parkland distributed throughout the area, often in historic parks, with associated habitats such as species-rich grassland, and important veteran and ancient trees.

Justification for selection:

• Wood pasture and parkland is a BAP priority habitat, whose importance is recognised in the Derbyshire and Staffordshire BAPs and The National Forest BAP. It is an important component of the wider woodland network.
• Historic landscape parks are a feature of the area – examples include Sudbury, Sandon, Kedleston and Osmaston.
• Veteran and ancient trees are prominent in the designed parklands and within older hedgerows and support deadwood invertebrates, fungi, and epiphytic lichens.

A dispersed settlement pattern and distinctive villages of red brick and clay tiles, with sandstone churches; and a distribution of farmsteads that reflect different periods of enclosure.

Justification for selection:

• Older villages are generally sited along valley bottoms or valley sides; whereas more recent settlements tend to be found on higher ground at crossroads.
• Historic market towns of Ashbourne, Stone, Tutbury and Uttoxeter.
• High rate of survival of historic farmsteads; and a high proportion remaining in agricultural use (40 per cent per cent) with a very small proportion converted to non-residential uses other than agriculture.
• Local sandstone used for churches, for some farm buildings in the north west of the area.
• Half-timbered buildings and straggling villages on former commons and wastes

A rich historic landscape, including a Roman settlement, medieval ridge and furrow, castles and moated manors, industrial archaeology, and historic parklands and wood pasture.

Justification for selection:

• Rocester is the site of a Roman fort and associated settlement, linked by road to Little Chester, mid-way between Derby and Newcastle under Lyme.
• Extensive ridge and furrow in the southern Derbyshire part of the area, and around Marchington and Draycott in the Clay.
• Tutbury Castle dates from the late 11th century, there are extensive remains, and historic links to the Royal Forest of Needwood.
• Landscape parks and the associated country houses are a feature; such as Kedleston and Sudbury.
• Darley Abbey, near Derby is an example of the early industrial revolution that occurred in the Derwent Valley; as recognised by the World Heritage Site designation and the associated Trent and Mersey and Staffordshire and Worcestershire canals were important early part of the canal.
• The gypsum and alabaster industry has a long history, dating back at least to the 15th century with locally derived alabaster being used in a carving industry based at Burton-on-Trent. Alabaster carvings can be seen in local churches.

Landscape opportunities

• Protect and manage the mixed farm landscape of fields, hedgerow with hedgerow trees and woodlands to reinforce the distinctive field boundary patterns, retain visible heritage assets, such as ridge and furrow and deserted village sites, and retain a sense of history and relative tranquillity. Manage and re-plant hedgerows in traditional style to enhance landscape character and improve biodiversity
• Protect and manage the wood pasture, parkland and historic parks and associated country houses to maintain important historic features,
• landscape character and biodiversity value. Restore existing wood pasture and extend where appropriate to contribute to the overall network of woodland habitats; and protect veteran trees in parklands and the wider landscape and plan for succession
• Protect the landscape setting of historic towns, villages and farmsteads, manage heritage assets which contribute to the landscape character of the area and plan new development, and the change of use of historic buildings, that respects local character and distinctiveness and seeks to engage communities.
• Manage and enhance the landscape around the Blithe, Dove and Trent rivers and their tributaries to maintain the distinctive riverine characteristic of the river corridor and associated floodplains. Protect heritage assets and particularly buried archaeology in floodplains, while accommodating flood management requirements and re-connecting rivers to their floodplains.
• Appropriately manage the diverse woodlands and plantations of the area and expand woodland cover to establish links between existing blocks so as to create an interlinking and resilient network of woodland habitats, within The National Forest in accordance with The National Forest Management Plans and across the area.
• Manage the existing access network of rights of way, cycle routes and towpaths and plan new links, particularly between Burton-on-Trent and The National Forest and between Derby and the wider countryside to the west.
• By seeking opportunities to engage communities, plan for significant new green infrastructure provision in and around the towns, in association with areas previously identified for growth to the west of Burton-upon- Trent, and other planned new development, to expand the network.
• Plan for the significant expansion of wetland habitats such as floodplain grazing marsh, wet woodland and ponds through management, restoration and creation, in floodplains and river valleys, to improve habitat connectivity and sustain populations of wildfowl and wading birds and other key species whilst ensuring sensitive historic assets are maintained.