LLD: North Ploughley

Assessment area map: North Ploughley

North Ploughley - View the map full screen in a new tab

Parkland character and wooded horizon near Aynho RPG

Longer views from hill crest across rolling farmland

Context

The assessment area lies in the east of Cherwell District and is defined to the north-east by the administrative border with Aylesbury Vale District and to the north with West Northamptonshire District. It comprises a series of shallow limestone valleys with a rural, well wooded character with some long views across areas of larger scale arable farmland. The adjacent land within West Northamptonshire District is designated locally as the ‘Anyho, Cherwell Valley & Eydon’ Special Landscape Area (SLA).

The assessment area lies across three LCAs described within the Cherwell Landscape Character Assessment: LCA 2: Cherwell Valley, LCA 6: Upper Heyford Plateau and LCA 7: Oxfordshire Estate Farmlands.

Evaluation

Local distinctiveness and sense of place

Considerations

Is landscape rare/unique or special in the local context, and/or does it have a strong sense of place derived from its combinations of elements?
Does it contain character/features or elements which are considered to be important, typical or rare examples?
A landscape may have additional distinctiveness if it has a strong association with the character of a particular settlement, whether through strong views from the settlement or through providing a clear sense of arrival at the settlement.

Analysis

Forms part of a wider distinctive and coherent rural undulating landscape featuring several shallow valleys created by the numerous watercourses including Padbury Brook and Ockley Brook.
Well-wooded character in the east and with remnant areas of eighteenth-century parkland in the west. Estate farmland in the vicinity of parklands have a distinctive character with estate railings and tree avenues creating a strong sense of place and evoking the landscape’s history.
Long views are available across the more open rolling fields where there are substantial breaks in tree cover, particularly from the crest of hills. Views often punctuated by numerous small copses and coverts, redolent of hunting and shooting which are still regular features of rural life.
Settlement in the area comprises small rural villages, often established close to permanent water sources within or adjacent to small valleys. The landscape provides a rural setting to the villages which are often well-screened by landform and woodland cover.

Landscape quality (intactness/condition)

Considerations

What is the physical state of the landscape in terms of its intactness and the condition of individual natural and cultural elements?

Analysis

Several scattered blocks of woodland, many of which are recorded as ancient, such as Tusmore Wood and Spilsmere Wood, provide ecological integrity; the well-wooded character of the east of the area also confers some sense of visual coherence. This is added to by the presence of numerous linear plantations along roads and riparian woodland along watercourses.
In places the structure of the landscape is disappearing as intensive arable use has resulted in the removal of field boundaries, such as north of Cottisford, increasing the scale of the landscape.

Scenic qualities and perceptual aspects

Considerations

Does the landscape appeal to the senses, primarily visual but also considering perceptual and aesthetic qualities such as sense of tranquillity and remoteness.

Analysis

This is generally a well-enclosed landscape owing to the substantial areas of woodland.
There are longer-range views available from high points in the undulating landscape and across open arable areas, often framed by woodland.
The area has a strong rural quality with a lack of intrusion from large development or major roads. This results in relatively high levels of tranquillity in the west of the area, as demonstrated by CPRE tranquillity mapping.
The majority of the area has relatively dark skies at night, as demonstrated by CPRE night blight mapping. However, the north-eastern periphery of the area is influenced by light pollution associated with RAF Croughton, north of Hardwick.

Natural qualities

Considerations

Are there natural attributes that contribute to the value of the landscape?
Consider distinctiveness of landforms and the presence and extent of semi-natural habitats and wildlife that contribute to sense of place.
Consider any particular functional value associated with the natural landscape, particularly in the healthy functioning of the landscape.
Consider landscapes and landscape elements that have strong physical or functional links with an adjacent national landscape designation, or are important to the appreciation of the designated landscape and its special qualities.

Analysis

The assessment area is situated on White Limestone and Combrash, which trends south-west to north-east, and gives rise to a series of gentle undulations expressing the underlying geology.
The area is notably more wooded in character than the wider Oxfordshire Estate Farmlands and Upper Heyford Plateau LCAs, which adds to its landscape value. It contains several blocks of deciduous woodland, many of which are recorded as ancient.
There are large areas of priority habitat deciduous woodland, as well as small areas of coastal and floodplain grazing marsh and traditional orchard close to settlements or associated with farmsteads. A dismantled railway is lined by calcareous grassland, scrub and woodland, with sections designated as Cherwell District Wildlife Sites. Oldfields Copse is a Proposed Cherwell District Wildlife Site. These features provide ecological value and contribute positively to the landscape.

Cultural qualities

Considerations

Are there cultural attributes that contribute to the value of the landscape?
Consider the extent to which the landscape displays time depth: either in terms of the presence of natural features, historic field patterns or heritage assets that contribute to landscape character.

Analysis

The Oxfordshire HLC identifies the area as a mosaic comprising post-medieval ‘reorganised enclosures’, with some areas of post-medieval ‘planned enclosures’ and ‘prairie/amalgamated enclosures’. This, along with the areas of ancient woodland and parkland, provides a sense of time-depth.
The dispersed farmsteads and settlement set close to watercourses reflect the historic settlement pattern, providing a sense of historic character and time-depth. The majority of settlements contain clusters of Listed Buildings and some are covered by Conservation Area designations, such as at Mixbury, Cottisford and Hethe. Notable historic features include the Grade l listed Old Manor Farmhouse at Cottisford and Tusmore Medieval Settlement which is a Scheduled Monument.
The south-east of the area also forms the rural setting to RAF Bicester airfield, which is a Conservation Area. The Conservation Area Appraisal notes that the airfield has a visual relationship with the countryside beyond due to partial enclosure by hedgerows and scrub vegetation.
There are strong rural qualities and historic character associated with the eighteenth-century parklands; part of Aynho Registered Park and Garden falls within the west of the area. Large woodland blocks, riparian woodland, roadside trees and the individual trees combine to evoke the parkland character across the wider landscape.

Recreation value

Considerations

Is there evidence that the landscape is valued for recreational activity where the experience of the landscape is important?

Analysis

The landscape is well traversed by footpaths and bridleways which provide valuable recreational access to the area. The Bernwood Jubilee Way and the Cross Bucks Way pass through the east of the area, and the Westbury Circular Ride briefly passes through the north.

Associations

Considerations

Is the landscape associated with particular people such as artists or writers or events in history that contribute to its character?

Analysis

No associations noted.

Summary of landscape value and qualities

Aspects of landscape value (qualities and/or elements/features/areas of value) are:

A distinctive and coherent rural undulating landscape featuring shallow valleys created by the numerous watercourses ultimately draining to the River Great Ouse and River Cherwell.
Strong rural qualities and historic character are associated with widespread woodland cover, eighteenth-century parkland and, estate farmlands.
Well-wooded character in the east and remnant areas of eighteenth-century parkland in the west results in a well-enclosed character and confers some sense of visual coherence.
Widespread semi-natural habitat including large areas of deciduous woodland, coastal and floodplain grazing marsh, and traditional orchard provide ecological integrity.
Small, historic rural settlements provide time depth and have distinctive valley settings.
An extensive network of public rights of way, including footpaths and bridleways, which provide valuable access to the landscape.
Long views available from local highpoints across the more open fields, and often framed by woodland.

Based on the above, it is considered that the assessment area has ‘above ordinary’ landscape value. It shares many of the special qualities identified in the Anyho, Cherwell and Eydon SLA including hilltop woodlands, broad undulations and long-distance views.

The boundaries of the former AHLV would largely be appropriate for a reinstated LLD, however it is suggested that a small area between Stratton Audley and Bicester Airfield, within LCA 8 Otmoor Lowlands, be removed. Although this land has a role as part of the wider countryside setting to the historic RAF Bicester Conservation Area, it has a flatter landform, lack of woodland cover, and lack of association with historic parklands. This is shown on the Map at the top of the page.

Landscape guidelines

Landscape management

Retain and enhance woodland cover and explore opportunities to expand and connect existing areas of woodland through natural regeneration and/or small-scale planting to strengthen landscape character and bring benefits for biodiversity.
Conserve and manage the Ancient Woodland sites and promote information and understanding about their historical and ecological importance.
Retain the legibility of watercourses by strengthening the riparian tree cover that contributes to views.
Manage and conserve riparian and floodplain habitats to enhance their biodiversity value and contribution to landscape character; ensure best practice management through suitable grazing regimes and avoiding agrochemical and fertiliser inputs; manage recreational routes to avoid/minimise disturbance; and manage scrub vegetation appropriately to maintain the open character.
Encourage the management and strengthening of hedgerows particularly in areas where there are gaps.
Preserve the tranquillity and strong rural character of locations remote from transport infrastructure and urban edges.
Maintain the valued recreational use of the landscape and consider opportunities to introduce additional public rights of way connectivity to the north to enhance appreciation of views and landscape character.
Encourage and enhance opportunities for public access to woodland with education and new access agreements where appropriate.

Development management

Maintain the characteristic sparse pattern of development by avoiding large-scale development.
If development is proposed look to minimise its impact through careful design, in terms of siting, form, scale, massing, materials and the use of locally characteristic planting.
Where trees play a significant role in defining a village edge avoid development that extends the form of the village beyond that boundary.
Seek to reduce lighting impacts and avoid any reduction in tranquillity; minimise the use of lighting, in particular blue light emissions, and use shielding and sensors effectively to direct lighting downwards in relation to development visible on higher ground.