Landscape Character Types

View north-east from Codden Hill towards the settlement of Landkey.

Summary description

This Landscape Character Type (LCT) occupies a small part of North Devon District, encompassing a prominent series of chert hills running parallel to the A361 from the eastern fringes of Barnstaple to the edges of the Castle Hill Estate.

Link to Devon Character Areas

DCA 14: Codden Hill and Wooded Estates

Key characteristics

• Distinctive topography of dramatic whale-backed ridges stretching east-west across the landscape, surrounded by strongly undulating land.
• Ridges of chert rising above the surrounding rolling landscape underlain by mudstones with bands of sandstone. Exposures of limestone, chert and sandstone visible in local quarries, some of which are designated geological features.
• Hill summits of up to 190 metres (e.g. Codden Hill) affording spectacular panoramic views, including to the uplands of Exmoor (to the north) and Dartmoor (to the south).
• Landscape cut by a series of streams draining from the ridges, forming tributaries of the Taw and Bray (to the west and east respectively).
• Predominantly pastoral character with sheep and cattle grazing. Hill slopes and summits provide rough grazing land, with historic wood pasture and parkland associated with estates.
• Mixture of curving medieval fields and more regular larger enclosures of recent origin, bounded by species-rich hedges with fern-rich banks. Some hedges are high with no topping vegetation (e.g. on hill summits), whilst those on woodland edges are characterised by grown-out lines of beech.
• Large bands of broadleaved beech and oak woodland snaking across the ridges and along stream valleys, with blocks of conifer plantation and secondary woodland on hill slopes. Estate woodland with veteran trees around Castle Hill.
• Traditional orchards found near some settlements.
• Many important habitats (often County Wildlife Sites) including clusters of heathland, bracken and semi-improved grassland, rush pasture and neutral grasslands, historic wood pasture and ancient trees, with rich broadleaved woodlands and damp meadows throughout.
• Rich time-depth with heritage features including a Bronze Age barrow, nationally important parkland surrounding Grade I and II* listed estates, and historic quarries, traditionally worked for roadstone.
• Strong traditional vernacular of whitewash with black painted details, with some buildings of cream cob/render as well as exposed local stone. Listed buildings are associated with historic settlements, particularly those which are Conservation Areas.
• Nucleated hamlets and farmsteads are nestled at the base of slopes. Swimbridge, Landkey and Bishop's Tawton are the main settlements.
• An overall strong sense of tranquillity and history with little modern development. The northern fringes of the LCT are influenced by the eastern edge of Barnstaple and noise and movement on the A361 trunk road.
• Quarries form prominent features in the open countryside in the west, as do golf courses.
• The Tarka Trail links settlements in the west, via Venn Quarry.

Historic parkland and wood pasture at the Castle Hill estate.

Valued landscape attributes

• Long, panoramic views including to Lundy Island and the uplands of Exmoor and Dartmoor.
• Areas of ancient parkland and wood pasture with veteran trees.
• Important wildlife habitats including lowland heath on Codden Hill.
• Network of winding rural roads and ancient trackways.
• High levels of peace and tranquillity.

Venn Quarry (view north from Codden Hill).

Management guidelines

Protect

Conserve and manage surviving traditional orchards.

Protect rural lanes and tracks and their associated hedges and flower-rich hedge-banks which are important contributors to habitat networks.

Conserve existing habitat mosaics including heathland, bracken and semi-improved grassland, rush pasture and neutral grasslands, historic wood pasture and ancient trees.

Manage

Manage parkland landscapes, including valued tracts of wood pasture, resisting the conversion of pasture to arable, and encouraging extensive grazing management.

Manage remaining ancient and veteran parkland trees, including through traditional pollarding where appropriate.

Sustainably manage woodland (using of traditional techniques such as coppicing) and investigate opportunities for the use of timber as woodfuel. Promote natural regeneration and use extensive grazing to enhance the species diversity of woodland ground flora.

Manage and expand semi-natural heathland habitats (e.g. Codden Hill), including through the use of appropriate grazing and burning as necessary.

Manage agricultural land to increase its wildlife interest, including through the use of buffer strips, uncultivated margins and field corners.

Manage the network of Devon banks, reflecting local variations in styles and species composition. Reduce flailing cycles, allowing lengths to grow out, particularly in lengths away from the road network.

Plan

Ensure long-term renewal of parkland, including the planting of the next generation of veteran trees (choosing a diversity of species to improve resilience).

Respond to the UK-wide policy drive for tree/woodland planting in line with the Devon Local Nature Partnership's 'Right Place, Right Tree' principles. Ensure there is a balance of climate-resilient native species appropriate to the local landscape and which retain and enhance the distinctive characteristics of the landscape, including using new tree planting to help screen and soften visual impact of new built elements that detract from rural character.

Develop long-term restructuring proposals for the more prominent conifer plantations to mixed woodland and open habitats, including re-creation of heathland and Culm grasslands as part of local nature recovery networks.

Reinstate coppicing and hedge laying to neglected sections, planting new trees where specimens are over-mature (using climate-hardy species to ensure longevity). Restore lost and gappy sections, particularly at right angles to slopes, to strengthen field patterns and reduce soil erosion / run off into adjacent watercourses.

Expand lowland heathland around Codden Hill, with remnant sites re-linked to form an intact habitat network and contribute to nature recovery networks.

Explore options for habitat re-creation in disused quarry sites, whilst protecting the legibility of important geological outcrops. Provide opportunities for educational access where possible.

LCT 1D Estate Wooded Ridges & Hilltops (PDF) [774KB]