| Landscape Character Assessment | HertsDirect | Environment | ||||
| ||||||
Refer also to section 3.0 Methodology.
defining perimeter structure, such as hedge, tree row,
fence, ditch or bank.
| ^ |
High - >3m.
Medium - above eye level (1.8 -3m).
Low - below eye level ( >1.8m).
| ^ |
a description of the boundaries around fields and the areas they enclose, frequently indicative of date of enclosure.
irregular: piecemeal enclosure pattern associated with an irregular network of winding lanes.
subregular: interlocking pattern of fields and lanes with curving boundaries.
regular: rectilinear pattern of fields with mainly curving boundaries.
geometric: ordered pattern of rectilinear fields and lanes with straight boundaries.
discontinous: field pattern is so disturbed or destroyed that a pattern is no longer apparent
| ^ |
denotes relative/average size of fields within a given LDU, as follows.
| ^ |
the underlying structure and origin of the land, described as follows:
(Fr) river alluvium: unconsolidated silty/clayey material laid down by a river in its floodplain.
(Fs) river terrace: unconsolidated sand/gravel laid down by a river in its floodplain.
(Ts) sandy drift: unconsolidated sand/gravel laid down by streams derived from the meltwater of ice sheets. Also includes sandy plateau drift.
(Tc) clay-with-flints: a residual clayey deposit (formed from chalk solution) covering the higher levels of some chalkland areas in southern England and giving rise to damp, acid soils.
(Tb) till/boulder clay: unsorted clayey material laid down by ice sheets, comprising a mixture of clay, sand, gravel and boulders.
(Mc) clay: a soft, fine textured sedimentary rock laid down mainly in the Jurassic and Tertiary periods. Usually gives rise to heavy, often poorly draining clayey soils.
(Ml) chalk: moderately hard, white sedimentary rock derived from calcium-rich shelly material.
(Mm) mixed: interbedded sedimentary rocks of varied age, usually comprising alternate layers of clay, siltstone and/or sandstone, but may also include limestone.
| ^ |
landscape character area: one or more LDUs (see below), derived from both desktop study and field survey and defining a unique individual geographical area.
| ^ |
land description unit. a discrete unit of land with specific constituent physical, biological and historic elements which distinguish it from its neighbours at a desktop study level.
| ^ |
a description of the permanent or semi-permanent features upon the earth's surface, such as: open farmland, treed farmland, wooded farmland, parkland, woodland , open water or wetlands. Not to be confused with land use, which refers to current but impermanent features (see below). The relative extent of land cover is as expressed below:
dominant - >60%
frequent - <30%
occasional - <10%
absent - not visible
A further distinction is made as to the relative extent of the wood/tree component of land cover, as follows:
| ^ |
tree cover: an expression of the nature and spatial pattern of the tree and woodland component of the cultural landscape.
Ancient Woodland: wooded landscapes characterised by mixed broadleaved woodlands, mainly of ancient origin (as defined on the ancient woodland inventory), which pre-date the surrounding enclosure pattern. This pattern typically displays clear signs of piecemeal woodland clearance, such as irregular woodland outlines, densely scattered hedgerow oaks, woodland place names, etc. Two types are distinguished:
(w) wooded: well wooded landscapes (usually greater than 20% cover) characterised by large, irregularly shaped blocks (may be discrete or interlocking) of ancient woodland, often associated with areas of heavy clay soil or steeply sloping ground.
(a) trees and woods: landscapes characterised by a mixture of scattered, often dense, hedgerow trees (typically oak) and small irregularly shaped woods, mostly of ancient origin. Typically associated with areas of settled/dispersed settlement.
estate: wooded landscapes characterised by an ordered pattern of estate plantations, coverts and/or groups of trees which were planted at the same, or which post date the surrounding enclosure pattern.
(e) wooded: well wooded estate landscapes (usually greater than 20% cover) characterised by frequent, often large plantations and/or belts of trees with regular outlines and usually comprising a limited range of even aged, non-native tree species.
recent: wooded landscapes with a dynamic tree cover pattern, characterised by recent (in historical terms) secondary and/or plantation woodlands. Typically associated with sandy (lowland heath), or wetland (disturbed river valley) soils in the soft rock zone.
(s) secondary: marginal wooded landscapes characterised by transitory patches of secondary woodland/scub interspersed with tracts of 'open', often uncultivated land. Associated with former mineral extraction sites along river corridors in Hertfordshire.
trees: unwooded landscapes characterised by thinly scattered trees associated with hedgerows, watercourses and other linear features, typically associated with Parliamentary type enclosure from arable field, wetland, or waste.
linear trees: non wooded landscapes characterised by continuous, or intermittent lines of trees associated with streams and other linear features.
| ^ |
an expression of the basic shape and structure of the land surface, as determined by the underlying geology (see above):
(L) lowland vales & valleys: low-lying level, or gently rolling land, generally below 90 metres/300 feet, associated mainly with glacial and soft rock sediments in clay vales and broad valley bottoms.
(R) rolling lowland: intermediate areas, generally below 90 metres/300 feet, with a pronounced rolling/undulating topography. May include low hills, or areas of low-lying land at a greater level of detail. Associated mainly with glacial and soft rock sediments but can also occur in hard rock zone.
(V) 'upland' valleys: tracts of lower lying, in places steeply sloping land in an 'upland' setting (ie. surrounded by higher ground). Mainly found in hard rock zone, but elsewhere also associated with limestone and sandstone escarpments (eg. Chiltern valleys).
(S) low hills and ridges: distinct, often steep sided tracts of elevated relief, generally well defined by clear breaks in slope. May be in the form of discrete hills/ridges, or as rising ground (eg. scarp slopes) on the edge of higher land.
(U) low plateau: uniformly elevated tracts of gently rolling relief, usually bounded on one or more sides by steeper slopes which drop to lower land. Often dissected by narrow, steep sided valleys at a greater level of detail, especially where associated with limestone.
| ^ |
the broad pattern of primary land uses, as related to the inherent physical and economic constraints within a particular area.
commercial: built up, often urban edge
farmland: this can be arable, pastoral or mixed:
(A) arable: settled agricultural landscape, generally below 300metres/1000 feet, in which cultivation in order to produce crops is dominant.
(C) cropping: settled agricultural landscapes generally below 300 metres (1000 feet), which are dominated by arable cultivation, often in combination with livestock farming. Also known as mixed farming.
forestry: can be broadleaf, conifer or a mix of both.
industrial: built up, usually zoned away from residential areas.
mineral extraction: in Hertfordshire confined to sand and gravel extraction in river valleys and on slopes.
recreation or amenity: areas of public or private open space for formal or informal games, walking, bird-watching, sailing, horse-riding, etc.
(Ur) urban: cities, towns and other large built up areas greater than 5 km~ in extent.
| ^ |
an expression of the present day pattern of rural settlement in the context of its historic evolution.
(S) settled: rural landscapes characterised by multiple settlement nuclei (hamlets and/or wayside clusters) associated with a moderate to high scattering of farms and outlying dwellings. Typically distinguished by frequent place names ending in 'Green', 'End', 'Heath', 'Houses', etc.
(
D) dispersed: rural landscapes characterised by a moderate to high level of dispersal, comprising scattered farmsteads and frequent clusters of dwellings usually strung out along roads and lanes.(P) waste: sparsely settled rural landscapes characterised by isolated farmsteads and occasional rural dwellings. Frequently distinguished by place names indicating late enclosure from common and waste (eg. 'Moor', 'Heath', etc).
(U) unsettled: unenclosed land, or areas of former meadowland and grazing marsh characterised by an absence of human habitation.
(Ur) urban: extensive areas of predominantly built land where the rural settlement pattern has been completely subsumed by built development.
| ^ |
the nature of the loose material covering the land surface in which terrestrial plants (natural and cultivated) grow. Derived from interpretation of Soil Survey data.
wet mineral soils: mineral soils affected by groundwater and supporting wetland (swamp, marsh and wet pasture), or relic wetland vegetation - almost always associated with fluvial (marine/riverine) drift. May be seasonally, or perennially wet, but in many cases groundwater is controlled by ditches and pumps.
(WG) poorly draining: deep, stoneless clayey and fine loamy soils developed in river and marine alluvium. Includes soil associations 813b, 813d.
(WB) free draining: deep, free draining loamy, silty and sandy soils developed in river and marine alluvium. Includes soil association 812a.
heavy (clay) soils: slowly permeable mineral soils, typically developed on glacial tills and soft clays. Seasonal waterlogging is the main constraint on agricultural production, especially in areas of high rainfall. Used extensively for cereal growing in the East Midlands and East Anglia.
(CG) base-rich gleyed: poorly draining clayey soils, typically developed on soft (Jurassic/Tertiary) clays. Includes soil association 712c.
(CB) base-rich clayey: heavy clayey soils, typically developed on chalky till. Includes soil associations 411d, 582d.
(B) base-poor clayey: heavy/poorly draining clayey soils, typically developed on clay-with-flints, or glacial drift derived from hard (Palaeozoic) rocks and supporting damp heathland/woodland habitats. Includes soil associations 582a, 582c.
(PG) base-poor loamy: poorly draining loamy/sandy soils, often with clayey sub-soils, typically developed on plateau/glacial drift. Includes soil association 714d.
brown soils: reddish/brown, free-draining mineral soils developed on permeable rocks (limestone, sandstone, siltstone and mudstone), or drift at elevations below about 300 metres. There are few constraints to agricultural production, other than those imposed by slope, and in most areas these soils are intensively cultivated
(LB) base-rich loamy: deep, free-draining loamy soils developed on chalk and chalky drift. Includes soil associations 511e, 571x.
(SB) base-poor sandy: light, free-draining sandy and coarse loamy soils developed on soft sandstones and sandy drift. Includes soil associations 581d, 581e.
| ^ |