Landscape Character Types
LCT 5A: Inland Elevated Undulating Land
Rolling pastoral fields bound by hedgerows, with farmsteads nestled within the landscape, and the church tower at Bridgerule prominent on the skyline.
Summary description
The Inland Elevated Undulating Land Landscape Character Type (LCT) covers areas of high and gently undulating farmland, mainly in Torridge District with a small patch south-west of South Molton in North Devon. Many of the hill summits enable long views across the surrounding landscapes and beyond, including to Dartmoor National Park.
Link to Devon Character Areas
DCA 64: Upper Tamar Tributary Valleys
DCA 65: West Torridge Upland Farmland
Key characteristics
- Elevated land cut by a series of tributaries forming folds in the landform. Parts are high and remote with far-reaching views to Dartmoor, including summits of over 200 metres.
- Underlying geology of Culm Measures - comprising smooth bands of mudstones, siltstones and harder outcrops of sandstone. Rich red soils are often exposed through ploughing.
- Medium-scale regular fields of recent enclosure, with pockets of smaller fields of medieval origin on valley slopes and tracts of unenclosed rough grazing along valley bottoms.
- Fields enclosed by mixed species hedges (predominantly hawthorn and blackthorn) with flower-rich banks and frequent hedgerow trees in sheltered locations. Some locally distinctive hedges topped with gorse and beech. Occasional amalgamated fields bounded by fences.
- Strong farmed character with pasture fields grazed by cattle and sheep, occasional fields of arable cultivation and rough grazing of rushy meadows along valleys.
- Tributary valleys lined by broadleaved and wet woodland (occasionally ancient) providing contrasting shelter and texture. Small farm woods (including remnant orchards), occasional conifer blocks and avenues of mature beech provide further woodland cover.
- Important areas of Culm grassland designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest.
- Species-rich fen and rush pasture, valley mire, unimproved grasslands and scrub found in valley bottoms and areas of impeded drainage.
- Linhays (traditional livestock shelters) of local stone and cob, with corrugated iron or slate roofs, forming notable farmland features.
- Local vernacular of white-washed or local sandstone buildings with slate or thatch roofs, often with red brick detailing. Square church towers with ornate pinnacles form distinctive local landmarks.
- Scattered historic features including clusters of Bronze Age bowl barrows , an Iron Age hillfort and enclosure, a Roman marching camp and the remains of a 13th century Priory. Many are Scheduled Monuments.
- Farms dispersed throughout, often on exposed ridges protected by evergreen shelterbelts. Nucleated villages also occupy prominent ridgeline positions, often with linear development of white/cream houses and bungalows spreading outwards from the historic core.
- Straight roads traversing ridges and dipping down into valleys, crossing streams on sandstone bridges.
- Strongly rural character diluted by the presence of prominent pylon lines, industrial developments outside some settlements, and busy roads including the main A388 road.
- Wind turbines are becoming more prevalent in the landscape, with occasional small wind farms as well as scattered single turbines elsewhere.
- Overall high levels of tranquillity with dark night skies.
View across hedgerow-bound pasture fields and wooded valleys towards Bradworthy.
Valued landscape attributes
- Long views from elevated ridgelines including to Dartmoor National Park.
- Patchwork of fields and hedges provide texture the landscape
- A traditional working agricultural landscape with a strong rural character.
- Important Culm grassland and wetland habitats support a range of species.
- Quiet, relaxed and tranquil.
View south-west towards Moortown conifer plantation, with the profile of Bodmin Moor in distant views on the skyline.
Management guidelines
Protect
Protect the farming and land management traditions of the area, continuing to support local farmers to extensively graze remaining areas of Culm grassland, fen, meadow and mire as integral parts of their farming systems.
Protect traditional orchards which contribute to landscape structure and diversity.
Protect valuable Culm grassland habitats, resisting any further loss to agriculture or forestry.
Conserve tracts of wetland habitats located along the tributary valleys.
Maintain hedgebanks which provide a sense of enclosure along the narrow lanes.
Manage
Manage Culm grassland and wetland habitats (with locally appropriate levels of grazing) to maximise their biodiversity and strengthen their resilience to climate change.
Manage forestry plantations for sustainable timber production and to enhance their wildlife interest.
Manage areas of broadleaved woodland using traditional techniques such as coppicing. Promote age and species diversity of woodlands for the benefit of biodiversity and to increase resilience to climate change.
Manage the landscape's varied Devon hedgebanks and avenues of trees, reflecting local variations in styles and species composition. Reinstate coppicing and hedge laying to neglected sections, planting new trees where specimens are over-mature (consider using climate-hardy species to ensure longevity).
Plan
Link up fragmented areas of semi-natural habitat including Culm grassland, wetlands and woodlands to improve habitat connectivity, resilience to climate change and to contribute to nature recovery networks, utilising hedgerows and hedgebanks as habitat corridors where appropriate.
Restore lost or derelict hedgerows to reinforce medieval field patterns, contribute to ecological networks and to prevent agricultural run-off into the stream valleys.
Plan for the long-term restoration of conifer plantations to a mosaic of mixed productive woodlands and open habitats, including re-creating Culm grasslands and other semi-natural habitats within open rides and on areas of wet ground. Pursue opportunities to enhance access and recreation opportunities within the plantations.
Implement Devon Local Nature Partnership's 'Right Place, Right Tree' principles in new tree/woodland planting, aiming to create a balance of climate-resilient native species appropriate to the local landscape. Avoid planting in locations where there would be an adverse impact on the special qualities of the landscape, including attractive vistas and characteristically open areas.
Create, extend and link woodland and wetland habitats to enhance the water storage capacity of the landscape (reducing incidences of downstream flooding) and improve water quality through reducing soil erosion and agricultural run-off.
Encourage opportunities for floodplain restoration and enhancement in order to better manage flooding for downstream communities and provide biodiversity benefits.
LCT 5A Inland Elevated Undulating Land (PDF) [801KB]
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