West of England Woodland Opportunity Study

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A dramatic, narrow gorge carved by the River Avon through the surrounding limestone. The LCT is characterised by exceptionally steep valley sides featuring exposed rock faces and extensive woodland. The LCT is located on the north-eastern edge of North Somerset.

Within North Somerset, LCT D comprises LCA D1: Avon Gorge, as described in the North Somerset LCA (2018), and shown on the mapping provided.

Existing tree and woodland coverage

The Avon Gorge is a heavily wooded landscape, with woodland accounting for 88.4% of the total land cover across the LCT. Just less than half (48%) is ancient woodland, both replanted and semi-natural, concentrated on the steep sides of the gorge. Woodland is predominantly broadleaved with species including lime, maple and whitebeam, with areas of mixed woodland. It comprises internationally and nationally designated nature conservation sites, including significant portions of Avon Gorge Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), Avon Gorge Woodlands Special Area of Conservation (SAC), and Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve (NNR).

Land cover composition of LCT D

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Landform (including scale and pattern)

• A dramatic, large-scale landform comprising the steep north facing slope of the of the Avon Gorge, which rises steeply from the River Avon below. Deep wooded cloughs incise the gorge side, emphasising its contours.
• The gorge is extensively covered with deciduous woodland, except where quarrying has exposed the rock face.

Field and landcover pattern

• Woodland makes up the majority of landcover within the LCT, including species-rich ancient coppice woodlands and wood pasture with small pockets of species-rich calcareous grassland. New small-scale woodland planting could enhance connectivity with habitats in adjacent LCTs.
• Existing woodland habitats are of national significance including part of the Avon Gorge SSSI, Avon Gorge Woodlands SAC, and Leigh Woods NNR. These woodlands are particularly sensitive to woodland expansion that could result in loss of these existing habitats.

Historic landscape character

• The presence of nationally designated historic assets including Stokeleigh Camp, an Iron Age hill fort in the south of the LCT indicate higher sensitivity as new woodland planting would need to take into account the potential for physical harm to heritage assets and impacts on their setting.
• Historic designed landscapes at Leigh Court and Bristol University Botanic Gardens and Rayne Thatch (both Registered Park and Gardens (RPG)) would be sensitive to new woodland planting woodland planting that could mask or detract from the historic integrity of the landscape.

Visual character (including skylines)

• Dramatic but intermittent views are channelled along the river and frequently limited by the sheer rock face on the opposite side of the gorge. New woodland plating could further limit views from the gorge and interfere with its visual character.
• Extensive woodland cover forms a distinctive, undeveloped and scenic skyline in views from the western edge of Bristol, including from Clifton Suspension Bridge and viewpoints in Clifton.

Perceptual and scenic qualities

• The extensive woodland cover and dramatic topography result in a high degree of enclosure and seclusion, particularly within the deep, wooded cloughs that shape the gorge side despite proximity to the urban edge of Bristol and traffic noise from the busy A4.
• The landscape comprises several attractive features, including dramatic landforms, visual contrasts and historic features including the Clifton Suspension Bridge, an important landmark. The LCT would be sensitive to new woodland planting that would mask these key features and views to and from them.

Summary

Small-sized woodland creation could be accommodated he LCT. New woodland planting of this scale could provide opportunities to enhance woodland connectivity with adjacent landscapes, including the Tickenham Ridges and Combes (LCT E) and the Abbots Leigh Sandstone Uplands (LCT F). As set out in the Forest of Avon Plan Tree and Woodland Strategy, any new woodland planting should align with aims of the integrated management of the Avon Gorge SSSI and Leigh Woods NNR.

Due to the existing extensive woodland coverage in this LCT, there are no opportunities for medium-scale and large-scale woodland planting.

There no commercial conifer plantations (defined in this study as areas of coniferous plantation larger than 15 ha), however there are smaller areas of commercial conifer plantation (under 15ha) within Leigh Woods. The LCT is sensitive to expansion of this type and size of woodland beyond it’s current extent, which could result in loss of existing woodland, including ancient woodland associated with the Avon Gorge SSSI and Leigh Woods NNR.

Any variations in landscape sensitivity

There is only one LCA in this LCT.