Devon Character Areas

South-easterly view from near Holsworthy over pasture and woodland (including East Statfold Wood prominent on elevated land) with a distant view of Dartmoor.

Contextual description

This Devon Character Area (DCA) comprises a relatively flat plateau of land, dominated by Culm grassland, coniferous forests and some pastoral agriculture. It is located between the higher land of the Broadbury Ridges DCA to the south and the West Torridge Upland Farmland DCA to the north (beyond the upper reaches of the River Torridge). To the west is a gradual transition into the Upper Tamar Tributary Valleys and the Western Culm Plateau DCAs. To the east (beyond the River Okement) is the High Taw Farmland DCA. The area straddles Torridge District (to the west) and West Devon (to the east).

Link to National Character Areas and Constituent Landscape Character Types

Constituent Landscape Character Types (LCTs) include 1F Farmed lowland moorland and Culm grassland and 3C Sparsely settled farmed valley floors.

This DCA falls within The Culm National Character Area (NCA 149).

Summary character description

This open landscape of pastoral farmland, rough ground and forests has an elemental, empty character, dominated by wet, unenclosed moorland and expansive views, including to Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor in the distance. The colours of the moorland - yellow gorse, purple heather and golden grasses - contrast with the dark green of coniferous plantations and the patchwork of brighter green pastoral fields. The Lew valley has a softer, more enclosed and intimate character, and is generally inaccessible upstream from the bustling market town of Hatherleigh. Occasional clustered villages are linked by straight lanes flanked by rush-filled ditches.

Popular viewpoint at Hatherleigh Moor looking southwards over the DCA towards Dartmoor.

Distinctive characteristics

• Underlying Culm Measures geology of siltstones, sandstones and mudstones, but with localised outcrops of volcanic lava.
• Gently undulating plateau topography, with numerous small streams - often rising at springs or bogs - flowing through shallow valleys. The Lew meanders through a wider floodplain.
• Poorly drained, low-quality soils limiting agricultural use to improved grazing, usually on valley sides and around the edges of the DCA. Extensive tracts in the centre are either forestry or unimproved (e.g. Whiteleigh Meadow, Common Moor).
• Field patterns are generally regular, indicating relatively late enclosure from moorland and common. They are generally edged by low, square-cut beech hedgebanks.
• Extensive coniferous forests planted on areas of former grassland and heath/moor; much smaller, linear deciduous woodlands alongside streams and occasionally along lanes. The Lew Valley is more wooded.
• Extensive areas of rush pasture, fen meadow, grassland, heathland and mire communities which together comprise Culm grassland, supporting flowers, grasses, butterflies and ground-nesting birds.
• Several individual and clustered prehistoric bowl barrows in the south-west of the area add time depth to the landscape.
• Scattered farms (often down long access tracks) and occasional clustered historic villages.
• Roads generally straight, often flanked by rush-dominated roadside ditches and several mature hedgerow trees.
• The A3072 runs east-west across the area and the A3079 runs north-south, locally diluting levels of tranquillity. White wooden fingerposts mark junctions.
• Long views dominated by Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor, with a strong sense of openness.

Characteristically long, narrow lane flanked by flower-rich hedges with the canopy of several mature trees overhead.

White fingerpost at Terris Cross between Upcott and Woodhall in the east, signposting the Tarka Trail and National Cycle Network route 27.

Special qualities and features

Views looking southwards across to Dartmoor from elevated areas in the east of the DCA, including the popular viewpoint on Hatherleigh Moor.

Sense of remoteness and wildness, especially in areas of open grassland.

Pockets of high tranquillity away from main roads, Hatherleigh and villages; dark night skies throughout most of the area.

Extensive areas of nationally or internationally designated Culm grassland habitats, including Hollow Moor and Odham Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest and Special Area of Conservation - one of the largest continuous areas of unimproved Culm grassland in Devon.

Numerous County Wildlife Sites recognising further areas of nature conservation importance.

Hannaborough Quarry geological Site of Special Scientific Interest - a rare example of an exposed outcrop of volcanic lava.

Occasional ancient semi-natural woodlands, including Rutleigh Woods in the Lew valley.

Prehistoric barrows are designated Scheduled Monuments, including a barrow cemetery at Sandymoor Cross.

Medieval strip field system and associated hedgebanks around Black Torrington.

Conservation Area covering the historic core of Hatherleigh with numerous listed buildings (including the Grade I listed Church of St John the Baptist); other historic buildings scattered throughout the area.

Access / recreation facilities including plantations with open access and visitor facilities (e.g. parking and picnic areas at Cookworthy Forest and Circuit Moor Plantation) and numerous fishing lakes (e.g. Winsford and Clawford).

Cycle route following disused railway line through Whiteleigh Plantation; popular Tarka Trail recreational route crossing the east of the area; and National Cycle Network Route 3 to the west and Route 27 to the east.

Forces for change and their landscape implications

Past and current

• Coniferous plantations on heathland and grassland areas leading to a loss of Culm grassland habitat and changing the character and appearance of the landscape.
• Past enclosure and drainage of Culm grasslands for agricultural use, fragmenting Culm grasslands.
• Inconsistent and/or inappropriate grazing patterns on remaining areas of Culm grassland, resulting in under-grazed areas scrubbing up, whilst over-grazed areas become reduced to a uniform grass sward.
• Localised appearance of neglect as a result of ongoing decline in the agricultural economy (e.g. loss and degredation of hedgerows, derelict farm buildings and general farm 'clutter').
• Equine land uses and related infrastructure, with a subdivision of traditional field patterns using uncharacteristic fencing and pony tape.
• The impacts of woodlotting - large woodlands divided and sold as smaller parcels (sometimes with the addition of access tracks and fencing), leading to fragmentation of woodland habitat with varying levels of management.
• Increase in large scale agricultural buildings that are not obviously associated with existing farmsteads appear incongruous with the surrounding landscape.
• Tourism related farm diversification schemes (e.g. fishing lakes and camp sites) introducing new elements into the landscape.
• Introduction of some large agricultural buildings (often timber-clad) into the landscape as part of farm expansion.
• Small-scale residential development on the edges of existing settlement (e.g. Halwill Junction and Highhampton).
• Renewable energy schemes impacting landscape character and rural/tranquil characteristics (e.g. single farm wind turbines and a large solar farm south east of Hollacombe).
• Traffic on main roads (A3072 and A3079) impacting on levels of tranquillity.
• Effects of climate change resulting in wetter and warmer winters, and more frequent hot and dry periods increasing the risk of drought in summer, plus more frequent extreme weather such as storms with more intense rainfall causing flooding in the shallow valleys.

Future

• Forthcoming changes to agricultural subsidies, including the new Environmental Land Management scheme (ELMs) which will pay landowners for the delivery of public goods and services, including for the restoration of nature. This may affect the viability of farming on 'marginal' land such as Culm grasslands and moors, and management of features such as hedges and traditional farm buildings.
• Potential changes in the management and use of forestry plantations as their productive lifetimes are reached.
• Longer growing seasons and increased periods of drought (as a result of climate change) potentially affecting Culm grasslands and wetland habitats.
• Potential for increased woodland planting in catchment areas to improve water filtration/ quality/ storage and carbon sequestration, in line with the UK policy drive for more tree/woodland coverage.
• Change in woodland/tree species composition as new pests, diseases and pathogens spread (e.g. Phytopthora spp.) and species intolerant of water level extremes die back; both exacerbated by climate change.
• Potential loss of mature trees along roads and lanes as a result of over-maturity and storm throw (as a result of increased storminess through climate change).
• New woodland planting to meet carbon offsetting and biodiversity targets may be inappropriately designed and sited, resulting in changes to landscape character including loss of views.
• Increased levels of domestic tourism leading to demand for new tourism and leisure facilities including further camping (and glamping) sites and car parks.
• Continued settlement expansion, leading to increased visual impacts of small-scale development, particularly around visually prominent villages (e.g. Holsworthy, Hatherleigh and Highampton) and farmsteads.
• Continued demand for both domestic and commercial renewable energy schemes, including wind turbines on high ground and solar farms on south-facing slopes, bringing cumulative impacts on landscape character.

Far reaching view southwards from Staddon Moor over pasture fields, and the caravan park and large storage building at Headons Farm (beyond which there are wind turbines), towards Bodmin Moor in the distance.

Dairy cows grazing pasture with a new timber agricultural building visible, and a mixture of wooded copses, tree-lined hedgerows and scattered settlement in the background (e.g. Highhampton).

View from the south east over pasture towards Morecombe Planatation with two single farm wind turbine blades visible above the treetops.

Landscape guidelines

Protect

• Protect farming and land management traditions, continuing to support local farmers to graze the Culm grasslands and lowland moors as an integral part of their faming systems.
• Protect the existing sparse settlement pattern and ensure that development on settlement edges (e.g. Hatherleigh) does not affect the character of the area.
• Protect the setting and historic character of Holsworthy Conservation Area.
• Protect areas of open countryside and elevated land from intrusive development, conserving important views from high vantage points (including to Dartmoor National Park).
• Protect the rich cultural heritage of the area including the numerous tumuli on elevated sites. Introduce sensitive interpretation where appropriate.
• Protect traditional farm/agricultural buildings in the landscape. Encourage appropriate uses of rural buildings or their sympathetic conversion, including all associated works such as gardens, drives, Devon hedges, visibility splays and entrance detailing.

Neglected corrugated iron agricultural building north of Highhampton.

Manage

• Manage areas of Culm grassland (including wet pasture, heath, grassland and scrub habitats) through locally appropriate grazing and burning regimes whilst protecting their high wildlife importance.
• Manage hedgerows, especially where they have been gapped up with fencing; promote planting of locally distinctive beech in hedgerows and along roads. Retain and strengthen historic field patterns including the medieval strip fields at Black Torrington.
• Manage roadside rush-dominated drainage ditches and verges. Facilitate discussion with highways authorities and landowners to ensure that ditches and rush dominated verges are protected and managed to maximise their biodiversity potential (e.g. through reduced cutting cycles).
• Manage existing plantations for sustainable timber production and wildlife interest, creating new green links to surrounding semi-natural habitats as part of local nature recovery networks.
• Manage areas of ancient woodland using traditional techniques such as coppicing to promote a diverse age structure and rich ground flora.
• Manage archaeological sites, introducing interpretation where appropriate.

Plan

• Expand fragmented Culm grassland sites to create an intact nature recovery network where underlying geology and soil conditions allow. Link Culm grassland areas to other habitats to improve habitat connectivity and climate change resilience.
• Re-create new areas of moorland and Culm grassland as part of future plans to re-structure the area's conifer plantations. Where plantations continue to be productive, promote further edge planting of locally distinctive beech to assimilate the plantations into the landscape.
• Respond to the UK-wide policy drive for increased woodland planting. Encourage the establishment of new broadleaved woods and copses using native species, as well as mixed plantations to help screen recent development/incongruous features, without masking distinctive views or affecting areas of archaeological interest. Resist large-scale carbon offsetting schemes of monoculture woodland planting
• Link discrete areas of woodland to improve habitat connectivity and landscape structure. Follow the principles set out in 'Right Place, Right Tree' guidance published by the Devon Local Nature Partnership.
• Encourage opportunities for floodplain restoration/re-connection/enhancement in order to better manage flooding for downstream communities.
• Identify opportunities for enhancing agriculture as a result of market changes (including Brexit and increased demand for domestic food production) and the new Environmental Land Management Schemes.
• Explore further opportunities for access and recreation, including within the plantations and along disused railway lines, linking to existing recreational routes (including the Tarka Line).
• Ensure that residential development proposals on the edge of settlements (e.g. Hatherleigh) mitigate any negative impact on the local landscape character, semi-natural habitats or archaeological interest, and avoid encroachment onto open elevated ground.
• Ensure that new development in rural areas is sensitively sited (and screened with characteristic tree/hedge planting if appropriate) and reflects the local vernacular in terms of form and style, whilst incorporating sustainable design.
• Provide guidance for sensitive siting and design of new agricultural buildings, encourage 'clustering' of new development adjacent to existing farmsteads and avoiding open and exposed sites. Ensure that new development is well-integrated into its landscape setting to avoid adverse impacts on the landscape and visual amenities.
• Consider landscape and visual effects (including cumulative effects) of future renewable energy schemes and telecommunications infrastructure to mitigate negative impacts on local landscape character, carefully siting any new development away from where it will impact upon open views (including to Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor).

DCA 36 High Torridge Culm Plateau (PDF) [1MB]