West of England Woodland Opportunity Study

This landscape sensitivity assessment focuses on landscape considerations associated with tree and woodland planting at a strategic (whole district) level.

Tree and woodland planting brings a range of benefits for climate, nature and society, but it needs to be carefully planned. If wholesale tree and woodland planting were to be allowed across a landscape, many of the elements (and combination of elements) that make local landscape distinctive could be blurred or lost completely. New tree and woodland planting should therefore take account of the receiving landscape – with a focus on ‘the right tree in the right place’.

Semi-natural habitats that may be characteristic of a local landscape and equally as important (or in some cases, more so) for ecosystem service delivery could be replaced by uncharacteristic woodland. Open views that people enjoy from viewpoints and Public Rights of Way, including valued and famous views to and from important topographical features, surrounding landscapes and historic monuments could be lost or obscured by woodland planting. Traditional agricultural livelihoods and areas valued for food production could be impacted through conversion of farmland to woodland.

The results of this assessment aim to provide an indication of the sensitivity of the landscapes found across South Gloucestershire to tree and woodland planting, so that potential opportunities and constraints for woodland creation can be considered.

These results should be interpreted alongside the detailed information provided in the separate assessment profiles. The assessment should not be interpreted as a definitive statement on the suitability of certain locations for tree and woodland planting.

The results of this study should also be used in conjunction with the 3. Constraints and Woodland Opportunity Mapping, which intersects the outputs of the sensitivity assessment with a number of agreed constraints to determine areas within South Gloucestershire where there are opportunities for woodland planting of different sizes.

The LCTs and component LCAs set out in the South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment SPD (draft for adoption 2024) form the spatial framework for this study.

The assessment judges the suitability of different scales of woodland planting, based on bandings that reflect the sizes of existing woodlands that are currently characteristic of the local landscape and sizes of woodlands most likely to be accommodated in the landscapes of South Gloucestershire. These are set out in Table 2.1.

The method used to evaluate landscape sensitivity to woodland planting was adapted from the approach used by LUC for Landscape Sensitivity Assessments for similar studies, including the 2021 woodland sensitivity assessment for Bath and North East Somerset Council (B&NES).

It draws on advice contained in Natural England’s ‘Approach to landscape sensitivity assessment’ (2019). This describes the term ‘landscape sensitivity’, within the context of spatial planning and land management, as follows:

“Landscape sensitivity may be regarded as a measure of the resilience, or robustness, of a landscape to withstand specified change arising from development types or land management practices, without undue negative effects on the landscape and visual baseline and their value.”

It is a term applied to landscape character and the associated visual resource (e.g. views across a given landscape area), combining judgements of their susceptibility to the specific change being considered together with the value(s) related to that landscape and visual resource.

The development of the assessment approach also took account of guidance in The UK Forestry Standard (2023) – Section 6 (Forests and Landscape) and Design Techniques for Forest Management Planning.

Reference was made to information on woodlands and tree planting within the South Gloucestershire Landscape Character Assessment SPD (draft for adoption 2024). For areas within the Cotswolds National Landscape, reference was made to the AONB Management Plan (2023) and the Cotswold Landscape Character Assessment Landscape Strategy and Guidelines (2016). The study also took account of The Forest of Avon Plan: A Tree and Woodland Strategy for the West of England (2021).

The selection of landscape sensitivity indicators (‘criteria’) for this study was informed by the attributes of landscape that could be affected by woodland planting. These consider the ‘landscape’, ‘visual’ and ‘perceptual’ aspects of sensitivity.

The following criteria headings were used for this study:

• Landform (including scale and pattern);
• Field and landcover pattern;
• Historic landscape character;
• Visual character (including skylines); and
• Perceptual and scenic qualities.

Guidance and examples of higher and lower sensitivity features/attributes for applying the criteria for woodland planting are set out below in paragraphs 2.3.26-2.3.37, and Tables 2.3-2.7. It is important to note that the relative importance of each criterion varies between landscapes (due to differences in landscape character).

The initial stage of the assessment involved a thorough desk-based study drawing on sources of spatial and descriptive information regarding the landscape. This was supplemented by field survey work undertaken by a team of landscape professionals to verify the findings.

Following the assessment of each landscape sensitivity criterion individually, the results were translated into overall scores of ‘landscape sensitivity’ (see Table 2.2) for the different bandings of tree and woodland planting. This was undertaken for each LCT and the results are shown in the individual assessment profiles. If any component LCAs within the LCT were judged to be of higher/lower landscape sensitivity (due to local variations in landscape character), this is accounted for in the assessments and results.

The five defined levels of ‘landscape sensitivity’ form stages on a continuum, rather than clearly separated categories. Any given landscape may or may not fit neatly into one category, and an element of professional judgement is required.

As with all assessments based upon data and information which is to a greater or lesser extent subjective, some caution is required in its interpretation. This is to avoid the suggestion that certain landscape features or qualities can automatically be associated with certain sensitivities – the reality is that an assessment of a landscape’s sensitivity is the result of a complex interplay of often unequally weighted variables (or ‘criteria’).

In these situations, a professional judgement is made on overall landscape sensitivity, taking all criteria into account in the context of their importance to the landscape character and quality of the individual LCT/LCA.

This assessment focuses on the impact on tree and woodland planting on landscape character. It does not take account of the role of woodland planting on other ecosystem services including climate regulation, regulation of soil erosion and flood prevention, their value to human health and wellbeing, biodiversity, and provisioning services through timber production.

The landscape sensitivity assessments for each of the LCTs are presented in separate assessment profiles. These are structured as follows:

• A summary description of the location and key defining feature(s) of the LCT;
• A description of existing tree and woodland coverage in the LCT;
• A description of the key sensitivities of the LCT, based on the assessment criteria headings;
• A summary of the overall landscape sensitivity of the LCT to new tree and woodland planting
  referencing particular features, attributes or locations which may be more or less sensitive;
• Discussion on any variations to the overall LCT scores at the LCA level; and
• An assessment of the sensitivity of the landscape within the LCT to tree and woodland planting
  against each of the assessment criteria, giving an overall rating for each of the different size bandings
  (using the five-point scale shown at Table 2.2 and following the approach set out in Paragraphs
  2.3.26-2.3.37, and Tables 2.3-2.7).
• The overall results of the assessments are set out on the 5. Combined Results page of this website.

The section below provides descriptions for each of the criteria for landscape sensitivity, and sets out examples for each sensitivity score ranging from low to high, with examples for each.

Landform (including scale and pattern)

A landscape with simple landforms, such as flat or gently undulating lowland landscapes, smooth lower slopes or extensive plateaux, is likely to be less sensitive to larger woodlands than a landscape with complex or prominent landforms and distinctive landform features (e.g. prominent open ridgelines, rounded hilltops, steep scarp slopes or deep gorge-like valleys). This is because in these upland landscapes, the landform is the dominant influence on the pattern and shape of the vegetation.

Extensive woodland can cover distinctive landform features, such as rocky outcrops or mask the natural vegetation pattern, whereas smaller woodlands can complement these existing landscape features. New woodland planting should reflect the shape and scale of the underlying landform, following landform contours and the organic shape of the natural vegetation pattern where it exists, to help integrate new woodland with its surroundings.

A larger scale landscape, particularly at a higher elevation, is likely to be able to accommodate large scale woodlands than a smaller scale intimate landscape, with small-scale features. Within South Gloucestershire, the main exception to this is the plateau areas of the Cotswold National Landscape (i.e. LCA 1: Badminton Plateau and LCA 2: Marshfield Plateau), where the open agricultural land and wide views across it is a key characteristic, with existing woodland being largely associated with historic parkland areas and shelter belts associated with agricultural holdings.

Field and Landcover Pattern

Landscapes with small-scale, more irregular field patterns (often ancient) are likely to be more sensitive to the introduction of new woodland than landscapes with large, regular scale field patterns, mainly of modern origin, because of the risk of diluting or masking the characteristic landscape pattern. This is because extensive woodlands can detract from enclosure patterns and this would be particularly apparent if planting takes place across a number of adjacent fields where the field pattern is small and intricate. However, small scale woodland planting can reinforce and extend the existing enclosure pattern where field pattern is the dominant influence on the landscape.

Highly naturalistic landscapes with extensive semi-natural land cover (e.g. species-rich grassland, marsh, water bodies or hedges and hedgerow trees) are likely to be more sensitive, since large scale woodland creation can result in the loss of landscape and habitat diversity. However, consideration should be given to the potential positive effects on habitat diversity of small-scale woodland creation, and the restoration of field boundaries to connect areas of new or existing woodland. Landscapes where semi-natural habitats, including woodlands are sparse, particularly if their openness is a product of recent forces such as agricultural intensification, or development, are likely to be of lower sensitivity.

Historic landscape character

Historic designed landscapes are likely to have a higher level of sensitivity to woodland planting, as new woodland can detract from historic character (including designed vistas) if sited inappropriately. Landscapes with historic land cover types and field systems or a high density of archaeological/historic features may also have higher sensitivity to new woodland planting, as new woodland may have the potential for physical harm to heritage assets or impacts on their setting.

Landscapes that are primarily of modern influence and origin will have a lower sensitivity to new woodland.

Visual character (including skylines)

Landscapes with locally important views (especially key views from settlements, footpaths or promoted routes) are likely to have a higher level of sensitivity to new woodland planting, as new woodland can obscure important or sensitive viewpoints (e.g. viewpoints to and from the Cotswolds National Landscape). New woodland planting, together with woodland management should also take into account the retention and enhancement of Strategic Viewpoints (SVP) and associated views across the landscape; identified in the South Gloucestershire LCA SPD Annex II: Strategic Viewpoints (draft for adoption 2024).

Undeveloped open skylines, or skylines with important landmark features, are likely to be more sensitive to woodland planting because new woodland may mask these skylines as features in the landscape or landmark features on skylines if not sited appropriately. Important landmark features on the skyline could include historic features or monuments as well as landforms. A series of Visually Important Hillsides (VIH) have been identified within South Gloucestershire that constitute such landmark features. Further detail is provided in the South Gloucestershire LCA SPD Annex I: Visually Important Hillsides (draft for adoption 2024).

SVP and VIH are two of the identified strategic Green Infrastructure (GI) assets identified within South Gloucestershire’s strategic Green Infrastructure network of nine interlinked corridors. These are further described in the South Gloucestershire Strategic Green Infrastructure Mapping Project report (draft for adoption 2024).

Perceptual and scenic qualities

Landscapes with intangible qualities, such as remoteness, tranquillity or cultural associations that make a location special or unique, tend to be more sensitive to new woodland planting. Scenic landscapes with a pleasing combination of features such as landform features, will also be more sensitive to woodland planting. This is because new woodlands can have a significant impact on the recognised qualities of a landscape and how people experience it. In areas where existing woodlands are a characteristic of the landscape, consideration will need to be given to the potential negative effects of increasing the woodland extent, where that could be perceived as decreasing the scenic qualities of the existing landscape. This is particularly relevant to landscapes nationally recognised for their scenic quality within the Cotswolds National Landscape.

New woodland will generally be less intrusive in landscapes that are influenced by overt human activity and disturbance, including modern settlement, industrial and commercial development and infrastructure. These landscapes would benefit from further woodland planting which will provide a new landscape framework to help integrate/screen areas of new development.