Contact:
  • Landscape Team
  • Address:
    Trimbridges House, Trim Street, Bath BA12 DP
  • E-mail:
    andrew_sharland@bathnes.gov.uk  
  • Telephone:
    01225 477589
  • Fax:
    01225 477663
  • Minicom:
    01225 477535
  • Page Updated:
    21/11/2008
  • Author:
    Matthew Hawkins
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Landscape Context

Cotswold Landscape

 2.1 Introduction

2.1.1 The area has a rich and diverse range of landscapes. Between the extremes of the high wold of the Cotswold plateau and the flat floodplains of the River Avon there are contrasting small enclosed landscapes of winding lanes, well ‘treed’ hedgerows and scattered small woodlands, and open rolling landscapes of neat square fields with clipped hedges, straight lanes and parcels of woodland. There are modern landscapes constantly changing with the needs of the local population and those where the fields, hedges and lanes have remained the same since before the Norman Conquest. Most landscapes are a combination of old and new.

2.1.2 All of the landscapes of the area are cherished. Some like the Cotswolds and Mendip Hills are recognised as being of national importance and are granted the status of Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). Others though they lack this status and protection are no less loved by those who live, work and play in them. Most of the rural parts of the area are within the Bristol/Bath Green Belt which is an important control in maintaining the open character of these areas. The Forest of Avon is also a significant designation with one of its objectives to increase woodland cover to 30% of its area. Each character area is closely related to the evolution of agriculture, communications, industry and settlement within the landscape. All are living working landscapes and as such they change and develop according to the demands placed upon them.

2.1.3 The city of Bath has international significance as a World Heritage Site in recognition of its architecture, town planning, landscape, archaeological remains and its role in social history. The encircling hills and green valleys provide a dramatic backdrop and are an integral part of the city which grew up around the river. The landscape both enhances the city and is responsible for shaping it. As a result it is of great significance in contributing to the unique character of the city.

2.2 Assessment Context

2.2.1 This assessment has been undertaken within the context of the Countryside Character Initiative of the Countryside Agency (formerly the Countryside Commission). Their standard methodology has been adopted in order to maintain compatibility with the agency’s work and other assessments. Their work has led to the classification of the whole of the English countryside into 159 separate character areas which together is known as the Character of England map. The Bath and North East Somerset area includes parts of three of the national landscape character areas: the Mendip Hills, the Cotswolds and Bristol, Avon Valleys and Ridges(6). This assessment at the intermediate / local authority scale reflects these distinctions and adds more detail and further subdivision. The only significant variation from the Character of England map occurs with the Paulton and Peasedown St John Ridge and the Cam and Wellow Brook Valleys character areas which both straddle the Cotswolds and Bristol, Avon Valleys and Ridges national map areas.

2.2.2 A total of 18 distinct landscape character areas are identified. These range in size from Bickley Wood Gorge at less than 1sq km to Chew Valley at 67sq km. The variations in size are dictated by the extent of the features and characteristics which make up the character areas. The correlation between the national assessment and this assessment is shown in Table 1.

Table 1 Character Areas in Relation to the  Character of England Map areas

Character of England Map Areas
Bath and North East Somerset Character Areas
Mendip Hills

Mendip Slopes

Upper Chew and Yeo Valleys

Cotswolds

Cotswolds Plateaux and Valleys

Bathford and Limpley Stoke Valley

Hinton Charterhouse and Baggridge Plateaux

Paulton and Peasedown St. John Ridge (part of)

Cam and Wellow Brook Valleys (part of)

Bristol, Avon Valleys and Ridges

Paulton and Peasedown St John Ridge (part of)

Chew Valley

Norton Radstock Southern Farmlands

Cam and Wellow Brook Valleys (part of)

Hicks Gate 

Bickley Wood Gorge

Hinton Blewett and Newton St.Loe Plateau Lands

Avon Valley

Farrington Gurney Farmlands

Hollow Marsh

Dundry Plateau

Stockwood Vale

Thrubwell Farm Plateau


By maintaining compatibility with the Character of England map we are able to provide a view of our landscape that is consistent with the national picture. Comparisons with other landscape assessments are easier and in turn our assessment can support regional and national work. The development of standard national landscape types is currently in progress and therefore landscape types for each character area have not been identified separately in this assessment. This is likely to form part of any future revisions.  

2.3 Previous Local Assessments

2.3.1 The area has been assessed, in part or in whole, by no less than five other local landscape assessments. These are listed below. 

  •  Avon Landscape Strategy – Avon County Council (1988)

  •  Cotswold AONB Landscape Assessment and Environmental Guidelines – Agricultural Development Advisory Service (ADAS) (1994) 

  •  Bristol and Avon Community Forest Plan – Bristol and Avon Community Forest (1995)

  •  Wansdyke Nature Conservation and Landscape Strategy 1995 – Wildlife Trust for Bristol, Bath and Avon (1995)

  • The Mendip Hills AONB – Countryside Commission (1997) 

Each of these assessments was undertaken for very specific reasons and none is directly comparable with this assessment.

2.3.2 The Avon County Council assessment specifically focuses upon the selection of high and low quality landscapes for the purpose of enhancement and conservation with an emphasis on areas suitable for tree planting.

2.3.3 The methodology for the Wansdyke Nature Conservation and Landscape Strategy was based upon the Avon landscape assessment and it also included nature conservation. It is the only other assessment that covers the same area as this one. The characterisation created useful distinctions between character areas which are often mirrored in the areas included in this assessment.

2.3.4 The Community Forest assessment is also significant as it was undertaken using the Countryside Commission’s methodology. The character areas are again similar to those identified by this assessment. However it only looks at a small part of the assessment area and again its objectives for landscape management are aimed largely at tree planting as well as enhancing agricultural landscapes.

2.3.5 The Cotswold assessment undertaken by ADAS for the Countryside Commission uses ADAS’s methodology and is very focused towards geophysical distinctions. It deliberately omits historical and archaeological data along with other cultural references. It creates a map of landscape types rather than character areas.

2.3.6 The Mendip AONB assessment(1) by Chris Blandford Associates for the Countryside Commission uses up-to-date methodologies and is a useful document but is limited to the south-western part of the area.

2.4 Landscape Character Assessments of the Surrounding Areas

2.4.1 There are eight local authorities that share a boundary with the area. These are Somerset and Wiltshire County Councils, Mendip, West Wiltshire and North Wiltshire District Councils, and Bristol, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset unitary authorities. Of these only Mendip District Council has completed a comprehensive landscape character assessment(2) though some others are at various stages of doing so. The Mendip assessment was undertaken by Chris Blandford Associates in 1997 and follows the Countryside Commission’s 1993 Guidelines.

Rural Landscapes Map 1: Statutory and Other Designations (PDF - 442kb)