5.2 Key Issues To Be Addressed
Ten key priority issues should form the focus of landscape management action.
(i) Retain and strengthen diversity and typical variations in scale within the range of different landscape mosaics found in the AONB. In most areas this implies that smaller, irregular mosaics should be a priority for conservation as they are generally the most threatened, although the massive scale of the open chalklands is also a very special, distinctive characteristic and one which is particularly sensitive to visual intrusion. The character of the edges and marginal areas of the different landscape types within each mosaic are particularly important in visual terms. For instance, within the sandy arable farmland, the geometry of the hedgerow network provides an overall visual structure and the quality of its margins, the hedgebanks, road verges and sunken lanes, is particularly significant.
Schemes for the creation and conservation of valuable nature conservation habitats, such as lowland heath and chalk grassland, are also important in strengthening the diversity of the landscape mosaic. However, visual as well as ecological criteria are relevant. Grazed grasslands should be concentrated within viewsheds to create unified and large-scale chalkland scenery, with scrub cleared and managed so that it always has an irregular, natural pattern and strictly limited so that it does not distract from the unifying effect of grassland covering the steeper slopes and dramatic landforms for which the chalk landscapes are noted. Similarly, heathland habitats should be linked to form swathes of open heather, but in this case the margins of the heath are visually important; here woodland edges should have a random, organic character with irregular, deep indentations.
(ii) Hedgerows are particularly important in defining the visual structure of the landscape and their restoration is a priority in the more intensively farmed areas, such as the west chalk valleys or the sandy arable farmland, where the hedgerow network is often depleted.
Variations in the form and character of hedgerows and their associated trees should be conserved and strengthened. The relationships between hedgerows and hedgerow trees often contribute to local landscape character. For instance, long sinuous hedgerows often shelter and define ancient chalk tracks; a closed network of hedgerows with scattered, individually-spaced hedgerow oak trees emphasises the farmland patchwork character of the clay vales; while the broken, incomplete hedgerow network on the river floodplain gives visual emphasis to the dynamic qualities of the evolving landscape.
(iii) The study identifies the important local characteristics of woodlands, and in particular their visual relationship to landform. In many instances the character of woodland edges could be improved; bold distinctive shapes are appropriate in some areas, while a more irregular outline, with scattered marginal trees, may be desirable in a different context. Sensitively designed peripheral planting, supplementary planting on skylines, or in some cases, minor tree clearance, would help to enhance the visual impact of existing woodlands. There is a need to encourage good broadleaved woodland management generally throughout the AONB and the landscape guidelines give many suggestions as to the appropriate character of new woodland planting.
(iv)The rivers, streams, ditches and damp meadows of the AONB provide striking visual contrasts and should be regarded as special areas within the overall landscape. Their landscape setting is particularly important and there is scope to establish broader conservation corridors and buffer zones, combined with carefully sited accent planting, to enhance their visual impact within the wider landscape.
(v) There is a need to identify distinctive visual, archaeological and historic landscape features and design new planting or tree clearance schemes to enhance their landscape setting. Careful visual analysis is required to establish the most appropriate approach. There may be scope to find new views to existing well-known features, but there are also opportunities to enhance local views from footpaths or roads by revealing attractive ‘landscape details’ such as stands of trees, a traditional barn or a marshy glade.
(vi) Conversely, prominent features with a negative visual impact should be a priority for upgrading, removing or screening. In the more open landscapes, such as parts of the chalklands, careful visual analysis is required to establish the most appropriate approach.
(vii) There is a need for the detailed appraisal of recreational honeypots under pressure with a view to upgrading and protecting the landscape resource, e.g. Devil's Dyke, The Trundle, Ditchling Beacon.
(viii) Urban development along the coast to the south of the South Downs extends right up to the southern boundary of the AONB. The abrupt juxtaposition of a hard urban edge against the gently curving relief of the exposed east chalkland landscape is extremely visually intrusive, particularly where development has crept up onto relatively elevated land. There is considerable scope to improve this urban-rural interface and it is a critical influence on the quality of the chalkland landscape as the AONB narrows and the landscape becomes more open to the east of the Arun Valley.
Planting schemes along the urban fringe should be designed to reflect minor variations in the character of the chalkland landscape: planting is most appropriate with the east chalk valley landscape and could be on a fairly large scale in principal chalk valleys such as the Findon and Adur valleys. However, it is important that any new planting be carefully designed to be integrated with the existing landscape pattern.
Detailed visual analysis is an essential prerequisite for the upgrading of the urban-rural interface to retain and strengthen the distinctive open character of the South Downs in this visually sensitive area. It may be worth establishing a separate project for this analysis, working to a 'masterplan' resulting from a visual study of the issues.
(ix) Linear road developments which cross several different landscape character areas, should be sensitively designed to reflect local variations in landscape character. The shape of embankments and cuttings, the character and management of verges and the detailed design of planting schemes are important considerations. They should be designed to integrate the road with the pattern of the surrounding landscape rather than to emphasise its linearity. The larger the scale of the road and its accompanying engineering features, the more difficult, or indeed impossible, it will be to accommodate such change without the road becoming an imposition on the landscape and a detracting significantly from its character.
(x) The landscape assessment should form the basis for management strategies designed to enhance local distinctiveness and thus to counteract the gradual homogenisation of the landscape which tends to result from piecemeal changes such as kerbing along stretches of rural roads, ad hoc signage and standardised amenity planting.
In particular, it is important to retain and strengthen the sense of remoteness which can be found in many parts of the AONB, but which is most easily eroded by ongoing forces for change.
