LOCALLANDSCAPECHARACTERASSESSMENT – NEIGHBOURHOOD PLANNING
CHARACTER TYPE : Tidal Estuary Gannel 2 The SaltingsPARISH: Newquay / DATE OF ASSESSMENT: 21st May 2017
ASSESSOR: Joanna Kenny, Margaret North Gerry Davey, June Fullwood
Character
Attribute / Landscapereferenceguide / Yourlandscape description
Record your descriptive information foreachheading
Topography and drainage / What is the shapeofthe land?-flat, shallow, steep, uniform,undulating, upland,ridge,plateau
Is there any water present?-estuary,river, fast
flowing stream,babbling brook,spring, reservoir, pond, marsh / Tidal River Estuary – Mid tide level forms the Southern boundary of the parish- part of one of 45 areas of distinctvisual character in Cornwall (Cornwall Landscape Assessment). At low tide the river meanders through the site – at high tide, can be completely covered.
Part II TregunnelSaltings – Mud flats and Salt Marches, bounded by a Reed Bed to the East, and Sand beginning at the bottom of Trevemper Hill to the West (photos G2.01 to G2.11)
Tidal River – at Spring covers the majority of the Saltings – but not the reeds
Flat
SupportinginfoOS Map; CornwallCouncilmapping; aerial photographs
Biodiversity / Does the areacontain areas of‘seminaturalhabitat?
(landwhichisnothighly modified– guidance from
CornwallWildlife Trust)
What elements ofthecharacter couldsupport protectedspecies (guidance fromCornwallWildlife Trust
CWT)
Are there anyhedges,what are theymade ofanddo they support vegetation, if so describe the typeof vegetation? Are there anywetareas?
Are there anyfeatures whichcouldsupportprotected species?
Are there anyinvasive species? (refertosupporting notes) / Information Board at Carpark (photo G2.18) –details the entire Estuary as: a County Wildlife Site, Areas of Great Landscape Value and Conservation Corridor. Also point in Discovery Trail (photo G2.19)
Reeds at East– skeleton plants, new growth coming. Not harvested or disturbed. Some flotsam around the base (Photo G2.02)
DenseHedge at edge alongside the Road(photos G2.04, G2.16, G2.08)) except for short area after Trevemper roundabout when there is bare stone embankment (photo G2.06) Saltings – turf, mudflats, limited undergrowth – frequently covered at high tide – more vegetationin areas where less frequently covered. Flotsom and some jetson left a the high tide mark (photos G2.14 & G2.15)
Kingfishers, Waders, Egrets, oyster catchers,Invertibrates, crabs, shrimps, sea trout at high tide and more.
Small patch of bamboo
SupportinginfoCWT notes andmapping,localknowledge,oldphotos, localguide books / Habitat Management for Conservation’ by Melanie Broom head March 2008
Landcoverand
LandUse / What is thevegetation cover?
Woodland,scrub,heather,dunes, mudflats,grassland, moorland, farmland crops
What is the landusedfor ?
Arable, pasture,industry, isolated farmbuildings, isolated residentialproperties, playing field, golfcourse,sports
pitch,caravan park,campsite etc / Designated AGLV
Reeds bed at the East end – difficult but not impossible to access, no known use. Salt marshes and mudflats, some plants at edge: Leisure, Dog walking, water sports, Bird Watchers
Dense Hedge from Reedbed to Trenance Roundabout; bare stone embankment from Trenance– leading to more dense hedges along the road as far as the Car Park (photos G2.04, G2.16, G2.08))
SupportinginfoOS Map; aerial photographs,local knowledge
Field and woodland
pattern / Where is thewoodlandlocated?
In sheltered areas, inhollows,openlandscape, lowerlying landinundulatinglandscape. Are the treesnative?
Is there ancientwoodland? (existedcontinuouslysince
1600or before)
Whatsize are thefields -Small, medium, large,have hedges been removed andfiledsizesincreased?
What are thehedges madeof?-Cornishhedge (stone)
whatis the stone type? Hedgerow(no stone,all vegetation).Are theyheavily managedor overgrown.
What is thecharacter ofthehedge? -Sculpted by
exposure, possiblynotrees,or are there mature orlarger trees
Is there a buffer of vegetation toeither sideofthe hedge,
ifso whattype? Is the hedge fenced? / None – other than hedges (includes oak saplings)and hedgerows acting as barrier between the Road and the Saltings.
Cornish hedges overgrown on barrier on edge of river embankment from Trevemper down to the concrete embankment west of Trenance. (G2.06)
More Hedgerow along the old Gannel Road down to the Car Park. (G2.08)
Just a verge from the slipway to the bottom of Tregunnel Hill (G2.10&11)
SupportinginfoOS Map; aerial photographs,CWT,agriculturalland classification
Character
Attribute / Landscapereferenceguide / Yourlandscape description
Record your descriptive information foreachheading
Building distribution
(thislooksat
buildingswithinthe charactertype,not thesettlements themselves.The actualsettlements
aredescribedintheir ownassessment
sheet) / Howare the buildings distributed?
Intermittentclusters, scattered,isolated
Age andtypeof buildings and their relationshipwith the landscape are they
Individual farm houses / buildings, clustered farm buildings,holidayaccommodation,ruraldwellings
Have buildings beenadded,and isitpossibletoestimate when?
What are the distinctive elements ofthe buildings?
Construction stone,buildingstyle,windowproportions, gate posts,front/reargardens,nature of property boundaries / None
SupportinginfoOS Map; aerial photographs,HistoricEnvironmentmap, oldphotographs
Transport pattern:-
highways and public rights of
way(PROW) / What is thecharacter oftheroads?
Whatis the road’s class,A,B orminor?Are theystraight, winding,with steep gradients?
Are there extensive verges, pavements,characteristic tree tunnels?
Describethe publicrights ofway -ingoodcondition, wellmanaged,overgrown,regularlyused, eroded, waterlogged.Are there old/modern stiles andsignage,and
whatis the character andcondition ofthese / No Roads but bounded by:
- from Reed beds to Trenance Roundabout: A392 Trevemper Road.
- From Trenance roundabout, the A392 heads inland and the old Gannel road continues alongside the Estuary until the bottom of Tregunnel Hill
- Bridge – (West of Trenance) (photos G2.12 and G2.13) – leading to public right of way on Crantock side
- the Car park and Slipway (photos G2.10 and G2.11)
Adjacent to Bridge is a bridal way where horses share the footpath on the Crantock side
SupportinginfoOS Map; aerial photographs,localknowledge
Historic
Features / Are there designatedfeatures in the landscape? monuments,burialsites. Features willhavetheirown setting(the space aroundittoallow you toappreciate the
feature) record anideaofthe scale ofthe settingwhich would beimportanttoretain. / None known on the Newquay side. The area stops just short of the ancient Tregunnell mansion that gives the area its name, now replaced by modern development
SupportinginfoHistoricEnvironmentmaps, aerial photograph,localguide books,localknowledge / Archeological and Historic Assessment” by Cornwall Archeological Unit 2001.
Condition / In what state/appearance are thecharacteristics of the area? Have areas /features become degraded
Are there areas where improvements couldbe made
toenhancethecharacter of the area? Howis the areamanaged?
The managementofthe landwilldirectlyinfluence the
value ofthe availablehabitat forwildlife. / No management though some discussion over the years of making the area into a Nature Reserve but not implemented.
Progression of the Reserve plus a ‘disturbance free zone area away from the footpaths and the bridal way on the Crantock side.
Galleon Court – drainage channels, can be blocked and flood Gannel Road (Photo G2.08)
SupportinginfoLocalknowledge / Habitat Management for Conservation’ by Melanie Broom head March 2008
Character
Attribute / Landscapereferenceguide / Yourlandscape description
Record your descriptive information foreachheading
Aestheticand sensory / Describethe leveloftranquillity,calmandundisturbed, consider birdsong, levelofartificialnoise,
Howis the landscapeexperienced?exposed,intimate,
noisy(ifso whatisthe source what direction?)remote, rugged,windswept,sheltered,enclosed,uncluttered,
sculptural
Howwilltheexperienceofthe areachangethrough theseasons?
Whatis the predominantwinddirection?
What is the leveloflight pollution at night? / Calm and undisturbed – hedges block noise from the busy main road
Sheltered and enclosed
SupportinginfoLocalknowledge
Distinctive features / Features which are not designated but arelocally important, couldinclude churchtower,tree tunnels,distinctive tree(s)
on askyline,wind turbines,powerlines,telecommunication masts,thelocalstoneforconstruction,building types
styles,stiles on footpaths, gate posts
Features willhave theirownsetting (the space arounditto allowyou to appreciate the feature) recordanideaofthe scale ofthe settingwhichwould beimportantto retain. / Reed Bed, Saltings
Left to nature
SupportinginfoHistoricEnvironmentmaps,localguide books,local knowledge
Views / Are there any important vantage points?
Describe the nature ofthe vantage point, cliff path,hilltop, andwhat makes theviewimportant / Whole length is a vantage point – Complement by undulating farmland fields to the South in the Crantock Parish
SupportinginfoOS Map; localguide books,localknowledge
Key characteristics / What features standout fromcompletingthe assessmentsheet
Create aset of bulletpoints tohighlightwhat makes this
charactertype distinctive,what areit’skeycharacteristics / Open Nature
Other than dog walkers, barely used and unspoilt
Vegetation varies as a direct effect of the regular height of the tide.
Photographs / Take representative photos of
the overallcharacterofthislandscape type
specific characteristics featuresofthe landscape type
notableviews and vistas.
Markthe photo locationon a planandwhichwayyou were lookingwhen you tookthe photograph.
Make anote ofwhatelementofcharacteristhe photograph
illustrating. / G2.01 / Reed Bed, looking West from Trevemper area / G2.09 / Slipway at Car Park
G2.02 / Reedbed West side / G2.10/11 / From Slipway West to Tregunnel Hill
G2.03 / Saltings looking West from Reed Bed / G2.12/13 / Trenance Bridge at low and high tide
G2.04 / Meandering River heading West / G2.14/15 / Mudflats at low and high tide
G2.05 / From Trenance, looking East towards Reedbed / G2.16 / Hedgerow includes Oak saplings
G2.06 / Midsection stone embankment / G2.17 / Isolated bamboo plant
G2.07 / Wish path on North Side / G2.18 / Information Board at Car Park
G2.08 / Dense Vegetation & Drainage Channels at Galleon Crt / G2.19 / Discovery Trail point in Car park
Relationshipto the adjacent landscape
character type(s) / There is likelyto be an areaof transition betweenthis landscape charactertype andthe adjacentone.Character cannot be tiedtoaline on a map.Make note here ofhow
thelandscape changes betweenthis charactertype andthe adjacent,andany importantrelationships/ links.# / At Tregunnel Hill, area changes to sand.
Not adjacent to any other character types within the parish – urban development on other side of the boundary road.