Summary of Landscape Character

• Meandering tree lined River Avon

• Wide open valley with a generally flat valley floor

• Generally steeply sloping valley sides often with undulating lower slopes

• Generally clayey soils but also well-drained loamy soils on the river gravels

• Patchwork of arable and grassland

• Land use for sports pitches, ‘horsiculture’, light industry and utilities within and bordering the area

• Prominent railway line and A4 Bristol to Bath road

• Line of disused railway line now the well-used tree-lined Bristol to Bath cycle route

• Generally small to medium sized fields enclosed by fences and hedges

• Walls generally found nearer farms and dwellings

• Several small woods

• Prominent settlements within and adjoining the area

• Traditional building materials include Oolitic and Lias Limestone with clay tile roofs

• Landmarks include the Cadbury factory at Keynsham and Kelston Round Hill

• Much of area has noise from road traffic and passing trains

• Seasonal flooding

Description

Landform and Drainage Pattern

7.14.5 The landscape consists primarily of the meandering River Avon and its wide valley with a generally flat or gently sloping valley floor. Here the land is low-lying rarely exceeding 50m in height. The valley sides where they are included range from moderately steeply sloping around Corston, Newton St Loe and Kelston to gently sloping as for example between Keynsham and Saltford. The lower slopes are often undulating. The main line railway has had a significant effect on the topography. Where it runs across the flood plain it has been raised up in places on steeply sloping embankments with other sections at grade or in cutting. It has the effect of isolating parts of the flood plain landscape from the River Avon.

Land-uses

7.14.6 Land-use within the area is varied, often giving a patchwork of arable and grassland. Arable fields are found particularly north of Saltford and around Corston to the edge of Bath. There is also some horticultural use north east of Keynsham. The reasonably level land close to urban areas favours the use of the land for sports pitches such as near to the edge of Keynsham and Corston. There is also ‘horsiculture’ in places particularly to the north of Saltford and significant areas are in light industrial or business use, including a substantial sewage works at Saltford Mead.

Fields, Boundaries and Trees

7.14.7 The field boundaries are particularly varied. Fences are used extensively. Hedges are also characteristic and varied across the area with both clipped and unclipped hedges, some with and some without trees. Walls tend to be localised and mostly associated with farm buildings. In areas of intensive horse grazing visually discordant white tape is used to divide fields.

7.14.8 Fields are generally medium in size, with some small and occasionally large fields, and are typically angular in shape. Historically much of the area was enclosed during the later Middle Ages from the earlier open fields. Of particular note are the areas of rich, wet grassland beside the River Avon such as at Keynsham Hams and north of Newton St Loe, which were enclosed in the medieval period as areas of meadowland, providing early seasonal growth of grass.

7.14.9 Much of the area has few trees but the landscape is punctuated by a number of scattered small woods. Tennant’s Wood and Kelston Park Wood are of particular note. They are both registered as ancient semi-natural  woodland. There are trees lining the River Avon and also beside the Bristol and Bath Railway Path and beside the main line railway. During the 1990’s there was considerable woodland planting under the aegis of the Community Forest to the east of Keynsham. Development of this community resource is ongoing.

Settlements and Communications

 7.14.10 The Avon Valley is an important transport corridor. The river was at one time an important means of transport and is now primarily used for recreational purposes. The A4 Bristol to Bath road passes through the corridor with connections to each side of the valley. The Bristol to London mainline railway also runs through the valley.

7.14.11 The area is bounded by Keynsham and Bath. Keynsham is widely visible from within the area, whereas Bath tends to be less prominent because of the topography of the city. Saltford is the main settlement within the area. It is located on the south-western slopes of the Avon Valley and is visible across much of the character area. The historical centre of the village is around the church on the north-east side. There has been subsequent 19th century development towards the river and the bulk of the village is 20th century. Corston is the only other village and is also located on the south-western slopes of the valley. The southern part around the church is the historical centre. The village expanded to the north in the 19th century and has two small areas of 20th century development on the northern side. Other settlement includes a group of houses at Durley Park and ribbon development between Saltford and Keynsham. There are also isolated farms and properties above the floodplain. Traditional building materials include Oolitic and Lias Limestone often with red clay tiled roofs. More recently brick and rendered houses with brown concrete roofs have been built on the edges of Keynsham and at Saltford.

Landscape Characteristics

7.14.12 The landscape has a generally open character with views across the wide valley floor to the valley sides and the hills and plateaux beyond. Kelston Round Hill and Lansdown for example can appear very dramatic under certain conditions such as when under low cloud. Occasionally longer views are restricted by adjoining settlements, tall hedges, trees or the railway on embankment.

7.14.13 The flat open nature of the landscape gives prominence to features that otherwise might be lost in a more enclosed landscape. Goal posts and buildings associated with the sports fields are often major components of the view. Likewise large mature trees and groups of trees, often including willow and poplar, are also important elements of many views. The course of the river edged by trees is a particularly important feature throughout the area. Seasonal flooding can have a pronounced effect on the character across the flood plain.

7.14.14 Development at the edges of the settlements is often a major component of views especially around and between Keynsham and Saltford. The Cadbury factory at Keynsham with its prominent red brick construction is an important landmark from many views. Likewise the Kelston Round Hill on the Cotswold ridge to the north east with its group of trees is another important landmark. 

7.14.15 The noise from both road traffic and trains is apparent across much of the area reinforcing the importance of the valley as a transport corridor.