Contact:
  • Landscape Team
  • Address:
    Trimbridge House, Trim Street, Bath, BA1 2DP
  • E-mail:
    andrew_sharland@bathnes.gov.uk  
  • Telephone:
    01225 477589
  • Fax:
    01225 477663
  • Minicom:
    01225 477535
  • Page Updated:
    21/11/2008
  • Author:
    Matthew Hawkins
A to Z Index
Related Information
Last Page
Next Page
My Area...


Subscribe to Inform news icon

and get local news for free.

Area 9 Stockwood Vale

The Stockwood Vale

Summary of Landscape Character

  • Oolitic Limestone of adjoining higher ground gives way to clay and shales on the valley sides and mudstones on the valley floor

  • Generally clayey soils with shallow better drained soils on upper slopes

  • Two relatively narrow and steeply sloping valleys

  • Tributaries of the River Avon flow in a north-easterly direction

  • Land mainly grassland with some ‘horsiculture’ and horticulture

  • Generally unclipped hedges except beside roads

  • Trees within hedges and bordering the streams

  • Woods and some scrub on upper slopes

  • Generally tranquil valley floors

Context

7.9.1  Stockwood Vale is one of the smaller character areas at just under 2sq km. It consists of two tributary valleys of the River Avon bounded by development at Stockwood to the west and Keynsham to the east. The area borders the higher ground of the Dundry Plateau character area to the west, south and east and Hicks Gate and the Avon Valley character areas to the north. The boundary is generally defined by the top of the valley slopes where they merge into adjoining plateaux except to the north where it borders the Avon Valley.

Geology, Soils and Drainage

7.9.2 The main formation is the Mercia Mudstones, which occupy most of the valley floor and sides. These originated in the Triassic desert basins. Lias Limestone of the Jurassic period is found on the higher ground continuous with the Lias Limestone of the neighbouring Hicks Gate and Dundry Plateau character areas. The other main formation within the area is the Penarth Group which consists of a band of clays and shale between the Lias Limestone and the Mercia Mudstones. It is prone to landslips where it is overlain by limestone. Alluvium is found along the valley floor within a narrow band beside the tributaries that flow through the valleys.

7.9.3 The soils across the area are clayey. Within the valleys over the Mercia Mudstones they are reddish in colour and slowly permeable, favouring grassland. On the upper slopes over limestones they are shallow and better drained and are therefore suitable for cereals as well as grassland.

Major Planning Designations

7.9.4 The whole of the undeveloped area is within the Bristol/Bath Green Belt and the whole area is within the Forest of Avon Community Forest.

Description

Landform and Drainage Pattern

7.9.5 The valleys are relatively narrow and steeply sloping rounding off at the base and top of slopes. The valley floors are more gently sloping and become wider towards the northern end. The land ranges in height from 15m at the northern end to 88m at the far south-western end. Both valleys are occupied by tributaries of the River Avon, which flow in a north-easterly direction. They join the River Avon to the north of Keynsham.

Land-uses

7.9.6 The land is primarily used for pasture and for hay or silage production. Many of the fields are used as horse paddocks reflecting the proximity of the area to nearby settlements at Keynsham and Stockwood. Part towards the north of the area is used for horticulture.

Fields, Boundaries and Trees

7.9.7 Fields are predominantly small, or medium sized enclosed by unclipped hedges of hazel, hawthorn, blackthorn and field maple with many trees. Hedges beside the roads through the area however are generally trimmed. In some parts scrub is characteristic of the grassland. The fields are typically angular and irregular in shape. Enclosure appears to have taken place in a variety of ways and at different times. At the western part fields were enclosed from open heathland in the medieval period or later. The valley sides were enclosed for cultivation during the latter Middle Ages. The valley floors were enclosed in the Middle Ages or earlier for pasture to provide grass early in the year. 

7.9.8 The streams through the valleys are bordered by trees. Elsewhere there are a number of small woods, such as Wood Covert at Stockwood Vale, and scrubland on the upper slopes.

Settlement and Communications

7.9.9 The two valleys have an isolated character bounded by Stockwood, Queen Charlton and Keynsham. Minor routes are concentrated at the northern end with routes to Stockwood, Keynsham and links to the A4. Otherwise there is just one minor road, which runs along the valley floor at Charlton Bottom. There is one byway and a network of footpaths, which both cross and follow the valleys including ones linking Whitchurch and Charlton Bottom with Keynsham and Queen Charlton. Dwellings are located beside the roads particularly along Charlton Bottom/ Stockwood Vale. Many of these are suburban in character reflected for example in the diversity and individual styles of front garden enclosures and gateways. Farms are typically located on the upper slopes outside this area. 

Landscape Characteristics

7.9.10 The landscape generally has an open character with views across the valleys. Longer views, however, are contained by the ridges and adjoining plateaux. Views to the skyline are therefore important incorporating tall hedges often with dead or dying elm trees and in places the urban edge of Keynsham and Stockwood. Locally the character can be quite enclosed for example within the lanes, byways and smaller fields. The more intimate valley bottoms are relatively tranquil though noise from activities occurring around the urban fringes occasionally intrude into the area

Landscape Change and Condition

7.9.11 The area is subject to a number of diverse pressures for change. Some hedge and tree removal has taken place particularly on the slopes to enlarge fields to suit modern agricultural practices. This was largely halted towards the end of the 20th century. Over this period there has also been a small increase in woodland such as Wood Covert on land that was previously farmed in the latter 19th century. Over the same period the expansion of Stockwood to the west and the westward expansion of Keynsham to the east has resulted in intrusion into some views and increased urban fringe pressures. This has most recently been evident in the use of several fields as horse paddocks with associated features such as post and rail fencing and field shelters. The golf course in the adjacent Hick’s Gate character area influences the character of this area being prominent in some views. Since the late 1960’s Dutch elm disease has had a significant effect through loss of prominent trees and the ongoing infection resulting in dead and dying elm trees within many of the hedgerows. There is also a tendency towards suburbanisation evident in personalisation of property frontages without reference to local traditions or materials.