Devon Character Areas

Views from west of George Nympton across arable fields and pasture over South Molton to Exmoor on the horizon.

Contextual description

This Devon Character Areas (DCA) is a relatively small area, comprising land around the small market town of South Molton, plus the valley of the River Yeo extending eastwards. To the north is a gradual transition to the ridges and wooded valleys of the Exmoor Fringe DCA. To the south is a gradual transition to the lower land of the Taw Valley DCA, with Witheridge and Rackenford Moor DCA beyond to the east. To the west is the Codden Hill and Wooded Estates DCA, the transition being marked by the edge of the Castle Hill estate. All of the landscape falls within North Devon District.

Link to National Character Areas and Constituent Landscape Character Types

Constituent Landscape Character Types (LCTs) include 1F Farmed Lowland Moorland and Culm Grassland, 3A Upper Farmed and Wooded Valley Slopes, 3C Sparsely Settled Farmed Valley Floors and 3H Secluded Valleys.

This DCA falls within The Culm National Character Area (NCA 149) and Exmoor National Character Area (NCA 145).

Summary character description

Bright green fields divided by thick dark green hedgerows create a strong patchwork pattern across this peaceful and highly rural landscape. Steep, narrow, ancient lanes and tracks wind across the hills between flower-rich banks and lush hedgerows. South Molton is a thriving market town with a wealth of colourful medieval, Elizabethan and Georgian buildings laid out around its busy main square. The square towers of the churches of South Molton, George Nympton and Bishop's Nympton can be seen in glimpsed views glimpsed between the hills and form important local landmarks.

View over South Molton with its prominent church tower (from elevated land within the Taw Valley DCA to the south).

Distinctive characteristics

• Underlying Carboniferous Culm Measures geology (mudstones and siltstones with bands of sandstone).
• Strongly undulating landform of rolling hills cut by spring-fed tributary streams of the River Taw, including the Yeo and Mole.
• Small traditional orchards often associated with farmhouses.
• Pastoral landscape - mainly sheep - on medium-quality soils. Occasional fields of arable to the west on better quality land, some cultivated using traditional harvesting methods.
• Fields generally fairly regular in shape, with pockets of smaller, irregular enclosures of medieval origin. Fields and lanes bounded by thick species-rich hedgerows with flower-rich banks; occasional managed hedgerows near settlements allow more extensive views.
• Linear woodland in river valleys and along streams, scattered copses throughout, and conifer plantations to the east of South Molton.
• Semi-natural habitats including pockets of Culm grassland, woodland and damp grassland.
• Prehistoric hillforts occupying prominent locations in the landscape; other historic features (including bridges, tracks and former mills) in the Yeo Valley remaining in everyday use, lending a strong time-depth to the area.
• Landscape centred around the market town of South Molton, with the smaller historic villages of Bishop's Nympton and George Nympton marked by landmark church towers.
• Scattered farms typically displaying the local vernacular of whitewash or white/cream render with painted woodwork and slate roofs.
• Electricity pylons extending east to west are prominent in views across the landscape. The nine large turbines at Batsworthy Cross are significant in views to the east, and domestic wind turbines (often associated with farms) are common throughout.
• Narrow, winding rural lanes with numerous stone bridges and white fingerpost signs, enclosed by high, flower- and fern-rich Devon hedgebanks.
• A peaceful and highly rural landscape, with sudden and unexpected long views afforded through gaps in high hedgebanks. The A361 North Devon Link Road crosses the north of the area, eroding local levels of tranquillity.
• Overall strong sense of tranquillity and history with a general absence of modern development away from South Molton.

Traditional harvesting of wheat field near George Nympton using a reaper binder, with sheaves stood up into stooks to dry.

Narrow rural lane bounded by high hedges. George Nympton, with its characteristic square stone church tower, visible in channeled views down a typical sunken lane.

Special qualities and features

High scenic quality; a quintessentially rich Devon landscape of fields and hedgerows.

Visible in views to and from Exmoor National Park, contributing to the setting of the nationally designated landscape.

Locally high levels of tranquillity, although South Molton and the A361 reduce perceptions of tranquillity in the northern part of the area.

Pockets of ancient semi-natural woodland on valley sides, plus larger areas of replanted ancient woodland and a number of County Wildlife Sites (particularly along the Yeo Valley) designated for their wetland, Culm grassland and woodland habitats.

Conservation Areas at Bishop's Nympton and the historic core of South Molton, which contains well-preserved medieval, Elizabethan and Georgian buildings.

Many historic listed buildings, including farmhouses, outbuildings, mills, chapels and churches (the latter often Grade I listed), scattered across the area and with clusters around South Molton (including the town's Grade I listed Guildhall), Bishop's Nympton and George Nympton.

Prehistoric hillforts at Whitechapel Moors and north-west of Woodhouse are designated Scheduled Monuments.

A network of historic lanes and tracks (plus some public rights of way) enable access into the landscape.

Two Moors Way recreational route (linking Dartmoor and Exmoor) crosses north-south through the east of the area.

Disused part of the Devon and Somerset Railway line along the Yeo Valley, serving as a reminder of the area's industrial past.

Forces for change and their landscape implications

Past and current

• Agricultural intensification and farm amalgamation changing the character of the rural landscape (e.g. by conversion of pastoral land to arable use, and construction of large-scale agricultural buildings).
• Hedgerow removal on more elevated land in the drive for agricultural intensification, along with the widening of gateways to fit larger farm machinery.
• Past establishment of coniferous plantations (e.g. Whitehill Plantation, South Hayne Plantation, Blasridge Plantation) introducing strong geometric elements into the landscape.
• Construction of large-scale industrial buildings around South Molton, such as the Norbord factory and the industrial estate adjacent to the A361, which are visible from the surrounding landscape.
• Residential development on the outskirts of South Molton and smaller-scale development adjoining villages (e.g. Bishop's Nympton).
• The A361 North Devon Link Road cutting across the landscape, with its associated structures such as roundabouts and bridges.
• Light spill and associated reduction in tranquillity from South Molton and the A361.
• Introduction of man-made structures into the landscape, including electricity pylons, telecommunications masts and renewable energy schemes, including solar farms (e.g. Kingsland Barton, a 12ha solar farm west of South Molton), Batsworthy Cross wind farm (9 turbines over 100m in height) and a number of farm-based wind turbines.
• Diffuse pollution from agriculture affecting the water quality of the Taw catchment.
• Invasive water-borne weeds (e.g. Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed) affecting native riparian vegetation and habitats.
• 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 events such as storms with more intense rainfall causing flooding particularly on lower ground.

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 lead to alterations in livestock numbers and increased farm diversification, and impact management of characteristic landscape features such as hedgerows and linhays.
• Gradual erosion of landscape character as a result of incremental change (e.g. introduction of intrusive road signs); insensitive highways works on rural lanes; and abandonment of traditional farm buildings.
• Development pressure, including the continued expansion of South Molton and surrounding industrial estates, changing the character of the town and impacting visually on the surrounding landscape.
• Residential development on the outskirts of historic villages, diluting their historic character and nucleated form.
• The wider area's importance for tourism and recreation leading to continued/accelerated demand for facilities such as camping, glamping and caravan sites, holiday accommodation (including farm conversions) and visitor attractions.
• Continued demand for renewable energy schemes, particularly wind turbines on elevated land; and new bio-energy crops and solar arrays altering the pattern and appearance of the landscape, with potential cumulative impacts.
• Climate change, potentially affecting seasonal weather patterns and growing cycles and bringing new pests and diseases, affecting traditional agricultural practices and semi-natural habitats such as Culm grassland.
• Individual hedgerow trees may become increasingly susceptible to damage from the increasing frequency and magnitude of storm events as a result of climate change.
• Increased flood risk and summer drought impacting on watercourses and associated wetland habitats due to climate change causing changes in weather patterns and more frequent extreme weather events. This could also lead to demand for engineered flood defenses.

View east from the outskirts of Bishop's Nympton across pastoral farmlands to Batsworthy Cross wind farm, the turbines forming prominent moving features on the skyline.

Kingsland Barton solar farm and the Norbord factory (with smoke plume) forming large-scale developments in the landscape near South Molton (as viewed from elevated land in the Taw Valley DCA).

Abandoned linhay near Grilstone, east of South Molton.

Landscape guidelines

Protect

• Protect the setting of Exmoor National Park, avoiding the introduction of prominent features that could impact on the expansive and unspoilt views from the southern edge of the designated landscape.
• Protect the historic character of the landscape, aiming to integrate modern large-scale features such as roads and barns through well-designed screen planting.
• Retain areas with remnant historic field patterns including those of medieval origin.
• Protect and manage surviving traditional orchards, including through grazing.
• Protect rural lanes and tracks and their associated hedgebanks, resisting unnecessary signage, lighting and other insensitive highways measures.
• Protect historic features such as white fingerposts, bridges, farmhouses and agricultural buildings - including traditional linhays.
• Protect the historic character and varied vernacular styles of South Molton town centre - a Conservation Area.
• Protect the overall rural character of the landscape, supporting traditional farming methods and new uses of redundant agricultural buildings. Avoid further agricultural intensification.

Manage

• Manage farmland, keeping features such as hedgerows and hedgebanks in good, intact condition.
• Encourage continuous cover management of plantations to maximise their biodiversity value and encourage sustainable timber production.
• Manage remnant areas of semi-natural habitats such as Culm grassland and wetlands though appropriate levels of grazing, and encourage farmers to manage areas of 'marginal' land within their wider farming regime.
• Manage archaeological sites including prehistoric hillforts, through clearance and low-level grazing if necessary, enabling visitor access and interpretation where appropriate.
• Reduce agricultural run-off into river catchments, through measures such as enhanced hedgerow planting, buffer strips and tree planting, to minimise impacts on water quality.
• Manage, and where possible eradicate invasive water-borne plant species.

Plan

• 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 scheme. New crops may become viable as a result of climate change and the potential landscape impacts of these should be considered.
• Plan to extend and re-link remnant areas of semi-natural habitats (e.g. Culm grasslands, meadows and woodland) to enhance wildlife corridors, increase resilience to climate change and contribute to local nature recovery networks.
• Develop long-term restructuring of the more prominent conifer plantations to mixed productive woodland and open habitats, including re-creation of Culm grasslands and heathland as part of local nature recovery networks. Incorporate opportunities for access and recreation, wherever possible.
• Undertake new tree planting following Devon Local Nature Partnership's 'Right Place, Right Tree' principles. Avoid locations where trees would adversely affect valued characteristics of the landscape including long views from higher ground, including to and from Exmoor National Park.
• Explore the feasibility of extending woodland along the stream and river valleys to make an important contribution to reducing flood risk and improving downstream water quality.
• Understand likely hydrological changes in watercourses resulting from climate change and the impact of these changes on flood risk. Natural flood defenses and making space for flooding should be enhanced where appropriate (e.g. low lying tributary valleys).
• Plan for increased levels of domestic tourism and the potential impacts on the landscape, including from new buildings, facilitates and infrastructure and issues such as litter and footpath erosion.
• Investigate the possibility of reopening the disused railway line along the Yeo Valley as a recreational route.
• Plan for future residential development needs, particularly around South Molton. Ensure that new development is well sited and integrated into the surrounding landscape and habitat networks, including green infrastructure links to facilitate sustainable recreation and travel and to contribute to biodiversity net gain.
• Explore long-term uses for abandoned agricultural buildings, assuring a future for these important historic landscape features. Any conversions to residential/holiday use should be undertaken sensitively.
• Ensure any new developments in the landscape (particularly large structures) are sensitivity designed and sited. Explore opportunities to screen existing incongruous features into the landscape using characteristic and climate resilient hedge or tree/woodland planting.

DCA 53 South Molton Farmland (PDF, 1 MB)