Landscape Character Types

View east across grazing marsh towards Chivenor Airfield with the church tower at Heanton Punchardon on the skyline.

Summary description

The Marine Levels and Coastal Plain Landscape Character Type (LCT) covers the reclaimed estuary fringes of Braunton Marsh and Chivenor Airfield on the northern banks of the Taw-Torridge Estuary. It also includes the historic landscape of Braunton Great Field backing Braunton Marsh. Both Braunton Great Field and Braunton Marsh form part of the North Devon Biosphere Reserve buffer zone, with the western edge falling within the core of the site. They also lie within the wider North Devon Heritage Coast. The western edge of Braunton Marsh is partially within the North Devon Coast Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).

Link to Devon Character Areas

DCA 58: Taw-Torridge Estuary

Key characteristics

• Flat, expansive landscapes bordering the Taw-Torridge Estuary, often with 'big skies' and long views across the wide estuary and seascape.
• Geology of Devonian and Carboniferous mudstones topped with tidal and alluvial deposits of clay, silt, and sand.
• Wet pastures and reclaimed marshes enclosed by reed-fringed drainage ditches or low-cut thorn hedges in large, regular fields.
• Areas of preserved medieval open strip fields. Landsherds (small earth mounds) and furlong boundaries (tracks) still exist as a legacy of their creation in the late-medieval period.
• Mixture of wet grazing marsh and pasture on reclaimed land backing the estuary, with some localised areas of fertile arable farmland.
• Open ground surrounding Chivenor Airfield and barracks comprising a mixture of recreational grounds, fenced-off airfields and pony paddocks.
• An exposed landscape with limited tree cover; occasional stands providing shelter to isolated farmsteads, with riparian and secondary woodland associated with marshy areas.
• Habitats of national importance including coastal grasslands, reedbeds, grazing marsh and a network of drainage ditches (supporting rare aquatic plants) within the North Devon Biosphere Reserve core and buffer zones.
• Strong sense of time depth telling the story of the marsh's 19th century land reclamation for agriculture, including preserved medieval open strip field systems, banks, stone bridges, linhays and sluices, many of which are listed.
• The area has a long association with the military.
• Absence of settlement with occasional isolated farms, bungalows, cottages and traditional stone livestock shelters, often with thatched roofs.
• Strong sense of exposure and of being close to the coast, with the horizontal landscape giving a feeling of openness and evoking perceptions of 'wildness'.
• Chivenor Airfield includes a dense mixture of 20th century housing, hangars and other military structures. Nearby settlements have a strong influence in views and erode local perceptions of tranquillity.

Circular linhay on Braunton Marsh.

Valued landscape attributes

• Braunton Great Field medieval field system: a jewel in North Devon's crown ('our World Heritage Site')
• An obviously historic landscape: landsherds, furlongs, ditches, stone walls, animal shelters and traditional farming methods.
• Rich biodiversity and wetland habitats for birds.
• Peaceful and tranquil.
• A landscape of transitions between land, estuary and sea.

Arable fields west of Braunton Great Field.

Management guidelines

Protect

Protect habitats of national importance including coastal grasslands, reedbeds, grazing marsh and a network of drainage ditches (supporting rare aquatic plants).

Protect the network of hedgerows which form important linkages between semi-natural habitats.

Manage

Manage the estuary's internationally important habitats including saltmarshes and mudflats, using traditional techniques including appropriate levels of grazing, in accordance with North Devon Biosphere Reserve guidelines.

Manage agricultural land fringing the estuary using traditional farming and land management practices, encouraging farmers and commoners to use the pastures and marshes for appropriate levels of grazing as part of their farming systems.

Manage Braunton Marsh through continued agricultural grazing. Explore opportunities to restore previously intensified agricultural land to grazing marsh, including through the new Environmental Land Management Schemes.

Manage and support continuation of arable and horticultural farming on Braunton Great Field within the original medieval strips.

Manage fertiliser run-off from adjacent areas to reduce contamination of the estuary and nature conservation sites.

Plan

Mitigate the impacts of climate change (particularly the effects of sea level rise and coastal erosion), by allowing natural process to take place where possible.

Expand estuarine and wetland habitats as part of a nature recovery network approach to build resilience to the impacts of future climate change.

Respond to the UK-wide policy drive for woodland planting in line with the Devon Local Nature Partnership Right Place, Right Tree guidance to ensure the distinctive characteristics of the landscape are retained and enhanced, including using new tree planting to help screen and soften visual impact of new built elements that detract from rural character.

LCT 4B Marine Levels & Coastal Plains (PDF, 1 MB)