69 - Trent Valley Washlands : Summary and Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity

Summary

The Trent Valley Washlands National Character Area (NCA) comprises the river flood plain corridors of the middle reaches of the River Trent’s catchment in the heart of England. It is a distinctly narrow, linear and low-lying landscape, often clearly delineated at its edges by higher ground, and it is largely comprised of the flat flood plains and gravel terraces of the rivers.

A washland is described as an area of flood plain that is allowed to flood or is deliberately flooded for flood management purposes (Working with Natural Processes to Manage Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk, Environment Agency, 2010). Thus the Trent Valley Washlands are strongly defined by the riverine environment and periodic inundation. The key ecosystem services provided are related to water, its availability and regulation of flow. Thick superficial deposits of alluvium and river terrace gravels dominate the Washlands’ geology. Variations in these, the resultant soils and the differences in elevation above and below flood levels have determined both settlement pattern and agricultural land use. Arable crops are by and large located on the freely draining soils of the river terraces and on the higher ground where fields are big and hedgerows are small with few trees. Pastoral farming generally takes place on the river flood plains, where soils are subject to frequent flooding or are naturally wet. Here fields are usually smaller and the hedgerows fuller with more tree cover. Overall woodland cover in the Washlands is very limited, although riparian trees, especially willows, provide an important component of the landscape.

The broad rivers, their riparian vegetation and the semi-natural parts of the flood plain form the main habitats of the Washlands, with flooded former gravel extraction sites introducing new wetland habitat into the area. Characteristic species are those associated with these wetlands such as grey heron, lapwing and kingfisher.

The rivers have attracted humans from the earliest times, especially the gravel terraces and crossing points. Traditional buildings are typically made of red brick with clay plain tile roofs with the occasional survival of some earlier timber-framed structures, while grander dwellings and churches are often built from sandstone.

A unifying thread throughout the Washlands is provided by the rivers, their flood plain tracts of pasture and the bordering higher ground; however, it is also a landscape that is heavily fragmented and intruded upon by modern built development, communication and transport infrastructure. It is greatly influenced by past and present industry, from energy generation to aggregate extraction. The landscape is experiencing significant forces for change over short timescales from housing, infrastructure, the sand and gravel industry, agriculture and commercial ‘big shed’ development which detracts from the established character.

Despite these intrusions, in places, particularly beside the rivers, the Washlands provide a picturesque pastoral landscape with a beguiling, timeless quality. In addition, the potentially abundant opportunities for recreation offered by the many water resources are particularly important owing to their accessibility to the many people living within and near the area.

Headline Statements of Environmental Opportunity (SEO)

See the Statements of Environmental Opportunity section for more details on the headlines listed below.

SEO 1

Carefully plan and manage new development within the NCA to ensure that landscape character and ecosystem services are strengthened, that heritage features, wildlife habitats, woodland and the hedgerow network are enhanced, and that opportunities for creation of multifunctional green infrastructure are realised so that this landscape is resilient to the forces of change that it is experiencing.

SEO 2

Manage and enhance the Trent Valley Washlands’ river and flood plain landscape to combine its essential provision and regulation of water role with landscape enhancement, nature conservation, climate regulation, farming, recreation and a resource for understanding geodiversity.

SEO 3

Protect, manage and enhance the pastoral landscape of the Trent Valley Washlands, seeking to join up and expand areas of pasture and associated attributes and habitats, to preserve heritage features, enhance biodiversity and geodiversity, protect farmland and provide additional recreational opportunities.

SEO 4

Protect and enhance the historic environment of the Trent Valley Washlands and their characteristic historic landscape. Increase awareness of the richness of this resource, protect it from neglect and physical damage, and ensure that future development complements and enhances the sense of history of the NCA.