What do you understand by Landscape Character Assessment? How can you help to safeguard Landscape Character? Why Landscape Character is important.

What do you understand by Landscape Character Assessment? How can you help to safeguard Landscape Character? Why Landscape Character is important.Landscape character is defined as the natural and historical characteristics of a landscape, that give it a sense of place and distinctive locality. For instance, the South Downs have a rolling topography. Sheep graze and bleat in fields, scattered trees, sloe thickets and hawthorn hedges rustle in the wind; its a very distinctive landscape character. The National Parks Authority thought so too; recently the South Downs have been granted National Park status.

Another different landscape character area? The Ashdown Forest; open, bracken strewn, heather lowland heathland, nonetheless windswept and wild looking with a certain distinctive “look” within the High Weald landscape character area. One more?
The Norfolk Broads are wetlands, a very different landscape character type to the Downs, but just as important in terms of landscape character, just as distinctive...

So, what elements make these very different,landscape character types distinctive?
When someone mentions the South Downs to me, conjured up in my mind is an image of its intrinsic landscape character. South Downs equals = sheep grazing the slopes of the Downs on a sunny day with blue skies stretching away.
Norfolk Broads? = man rowing a boat, bulrushes, wetland birds settling on dark blue water.. sunsets...

You get the picture.

Why not do a few of these yourself?

You will probably come up with your "favourite" landscapes and its what makes them distinctive that gives them...yes, you've guessed it... their “landscape character”!

So, why should we preserve and protect these landscape character areas? How can you make a start?

Look at the area in which you live. If you are lucky enough to live in an SLA (Special Landscape Area) or an AONB (Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) then there will be plenty of natural landscape features such as woods, hedges and farmland, old listed buildings.

What makes your area distinctive? What are the historic settlement patterns? There may be listed buildings, old barns, oast houses even, surrounded by fields with empty hop poles..(very distinctive.)

Are there any natural features that derive from the soils and the topography?
What are these? Are you sure? What about escarpments and scarp slopes, dip slopes, valleys and ponds. (Yes, I knew your O level geography would come in useful.)What about the landscape, is it managed? Are there animals or is it largely urban? Are there any areas which could be improved?
How could we do this? Can you think of things that you could do to help?

You may ask why anyone would want to start doing these things, why start asking these questions?
Its quite simple. When your local authority asks for feedback on its local plan, you will be able to put forward your ideas! Equally, you could start a new group to safeguard features that you like. Or join a society to find out more about your local landscape, its history, how it evolved, the communities it has served.

Landscape character assessment is a very useful tool in planning too. It helps planners to earmark areas for protection and this means that any new developments must be carefully located so as to preserve and enhance the landscape for future generations to enjoy. In many cases the long term protection of our landscape requires active improvements to a particular locality. Not just a preservation of a place in moth balls. It requires active involvement.

If you have questions about how to improve your local landscape please email;charmaine@landvision.co.uk
if you have a landscape design inquiry or question on landscape character assessment, call Landvision 01892 782200 or visit; www.landvision.co.uk and take a look at our website today.

Fruit tree planting tips - how to plan, select and plant fruit trees for all the family to enjoy.

Fruit tree planting tips, how to plant fruit trees for a fresh supply of fruit every year for all the family. So, how exactly to start planting fruit trees for your own supply of organic, delicious fruit? Landvision regularly advise clients on planning and planting of fruit trees and orchards; what could be healthier, more money saving or more timely than your favourite fruit, your favourite plums and cherries for instance, already on your garden/doorstep?

The beauty of growing your own fruit is that you can choose what to plant and which of your favourite fruit you would really like to eat. Even in the smallest plot, there are dwarf varieties of trees which are readily available. There are also a wide variety of apples and pears, plums and cherries. Think about taste, growth habit of the trees and appearance. If you have more space, then what about planting some of the more unusual fruit trees mulberries, elderberries, quinces, medlars, nuts, filberts, walnuts, sweet chestnuts amongst your apple, pear, plum and cherry trees?

If you are unsure where to start and have a general fruit tree planting query or if you would like to have specialist, professional fruit tree planting advice with horticulturist advice on specific varieties of fruit trees, please ring Landvision; our help and advice will save you time and money ring Landvision 01892 782200; charmaine@landvision.co.uk.

The Chinese proverb asks,”when is the best time to plant a tree?..20 years ago.”
Don't delay! Starting sooner is wise as fruit trees will take several years to establish and then to produce fruit.

Here are some fruit tree planting tips.

The planting season of bare root tree stock runs from late November to early March- so this is the best time to select and plant bare root fruit trees for your home/school/ community orchard.
So, where to start planting?
Planting location is vital. Your local growing conditions are important – in England, we are situated in the cool temperate region where fruit can be damaged by late frosts. So, you need to make sure that you choose a sunny, sheltered spot where the trees will thrive and where blossom and fruit will be protected from cold winds. Avoid planting in a frost pocket. This is because all fruit is sensitive to frost. If you do have to plant in one, plant larger trees at the bottom of the slope and smaller trees at the top.

Planting preparation is very important.
Prepare the soil well, dig in well-rotted compost to provide organic matter and make sure that this is well mixed into the excavated soil and the back fill. Make sure that it is well drained (as standing water will kill off fruit tree roots.) Equally do not pave around fruit tree roots. Make sure that there is adequate space for the mature tree to grow, a full system of roots and tree canopy without competition from weeds will ensure maximum oxygen and food for the roots and thence higher fruit production.

Keep the tree roots covered until the last moment, to avoid drying out. Plant the tree at the same height as it was grown in the nursery. This is vital. (If you plant too deep, tree trunks will rot, too high and the roots will be exposed and will cause the tree to die.)
Ask us if you need help and advice, ring Landvision 01892 782200 or email us at charmaine@landvision.co.uk

The age of the plants you use.
This is important, as many fruit trees are not available in large sizes, with mostly 3 year old trees available in specialist tree nurseries. The older trees are useful as there will be a shorter time to wait before they bear fruit for you. Be patient though, trees like apple and pear take a few years to grow and bear fruit (5-6 years.) If you look after them they will bear more fruit, so undertake regular maintenance and pruning. If you don't know how, ask ian@landvision.co.uk or call Landvision 01892 782200 for help and advice; to save you time and money.

What if your trees produce a surplus? Why not make your own jam, pickles, chutneys, fruit flans, cakes and pies, for use through the whole year until the next harvest? Or you can swop with neighbours and donate surplus fruit to your local friends and family and the wider community. You can set up a Transition group and local food producers' directory.
Finally, don't forget your fruit tree maintenance.
Maintenance. This needs to be regularly undertaken to ensure good establishment of the trees and to ensure a good supply of fruit, correct pruning needs to be undertaken. Weeding also needs to be carried out and mulches used.


Finally for South east England...Brogdale Horticultural Trust in Faversham, Kent have an apple festival weekend this weekend 23rd- 24th October 2010 - why not visit? They are open all year round and have lots of fruit trees on display.

For more professional fruit tree planting tips and advice on all aspects including varieties, ring Landvision; our help will save you time and money on 01892 782200; email; charmaine@landvision.co.uk

What do Planners need? - BREEAM Land Use & Ecology Assessments and Code for Sustainable Homes Ecology reports

What are the first 12 most important things for Planners to bear in mind when reading BREEAM Land Use and Ecology Assessments and Code for Sustainable Homes Ecology reports from planning applicants?

1)Firstly, what is the landscape ecology of the site setting, that is, the surrounding area; what is the landscape character? Has the BREEAM ecology report addressed this?
2)Has the BREEAM taken all the characteristics, including geology, soils, hydrology, aspect and past management, plus the impact of the development proposals into account when recommending enhancement measures?
3)Hedges and structural habitats; don't forget these. They are not included in BREEAM and are vital for ecology. Habitat structure is very important.
4)Are there any protected species on site? Are there any protected habitats, such as SSSI's?
5)Is the site in a protected landscape, such as a Conservation Area or an AONB? If so, what implications does this have for the recommended habitat planting?
6)Protection of habitats and species; what protection measures are required and have these been proposed? Will these be practical and will they do what they are supposed to do?
7)Are the enhancement measures creative and imaginative and not just satisfactory or simply ticking boxes?
8)Has the BREEAM assessment taken into account long term habitat development and the linking of green habitats up to and beyond the site?
9)Is the long term management of habitats practical and sufficient for the scale of the development proposed?
10)Has a biodiversity action plan been drawn up when this is required?
11)Will the environment around the new development be improved as a result of the BREEAM or Code for Sustainable Homes Land Use & Ecology recommendations being carried out?
12)What are the long term biodiversity aims for the site and are these compatible with the proposed site use and needs of the end users of the site?
For more information on BREEAM Land Use & Ecology and The Code for Sustainable Homes Ecology reports; contact us on 01892 782200;
or email;
ian@landvision.co.uk or
charmaine@landvision.co.uk
See some past testimonials on our landscape, planning and ecology work.
on our web site; www.landvision.co.uk