Back to top

Summary information

Extent of area

This area extends from Shillingford in the east to Culham in the west, and is adjacent to the North Wessex Down National Landscape, north of Didcot and Little Wittenham. The LLD encompasses the transitional landscape between the vale edge slopes and the low-lying floodplain of the River Thames.

Landscape character context

The LLD includes parts of the following Landscape Character Areas:

• LCA 10A: Sinodun Lower Vale Hills
• LCA 13B: Abingdon-Didcot Lower Vale
• LCA 13C: East Thames Lower Vale

Location of Appleford to Long Wittenham LLD - View map full screen

Back to top

Statement of significance

A low-lying, floodplain landscape highly influenced by the rivers Thames and Thame which provide a strong sense of cohesion in the landscape. Land use is predominantly large-scale arable land where alluvial soils have been drained and smaller-scale pasture adjacent to watercourses. Semi-natural lowland habitats are widespread, with variety provided by small woodlands. Historic settlements are generally located along watercourses and defined by their vernacular of timber framing, thatched roofs and cob walling. The landscape has a strong rural character with high levels of tranquillity away from neighbouring urban and suburban areas, to which it provides a valuable contrast of high recreational and scenic value. The LLD is part of the northern setting to the North Wessex Downs National Landscape, with good intervisibility.

Back to top

Summary of special landscape qualities

• A relatively flat, low-lying floodplain landscape associated with the distinctive River Thames and its transition to the vale edge slopes in the south.
• Tree cover along watercourses, scattered woodland, and hedgerow trees create a partially wooded landscape, combining with other lowland semi-natural habitats to create enclosure and a strong sense of place.
• Good level of public access including the Thames Path National Trail.
• Historic settlement pattern highly influenced by watercourses; a locally distinctive vernacular architecture of timber framing and thatched roofs.
• Strong sense of time-depth from historic settlements and earthwork remains of former settlements on the floodplain.
• Strong visual relationship with the adjacent nationally designated landscape of the North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
• Long-distance views across arable farmland, with enclosed, tranquil character where stretches of the river corridor are flanked by mature riparian woodland.

Views over the River Thames from Clifton Hampden Bridge

Floodplain grazing marsh near Dorchester

Back to top

Full evaluation

Local distinctiveness and sense of place

• A flat, low-lying landscape associated with the River Thames, River Thame and several of their small tributaries. The watercourses have a strong influence on the riparian character of the area, creating coherence across the landscape.
• Forms part of the northern setting to the North Wessex Downs National Landscape and demonstrates some of its special qualities including river-valley grazed pastures, water meadows, wetlands, and arable production.
• Settlements generally located close to watercourses, many with Listed Buildings and covered by Conservation Areas; due to the alluvial soils and lack of local stone, the local vernacular includes the use of timber framing and thatched roofs with occasional examples of cob walling.

Landscape quality (condition and intactness)

• An area of relatively flat river floodplain, associated with the Thames and Thame rivers. Land use is predominantly arable where alluvial soils have been extensively drained, with a more pastoral character along watercourses.
• Restored areas of gravel extraction and quarrying near Dorchester include rough grassland, scrub, new hedges, and young woodland planting, as well as lakes formed from former gravel extraction, adding to the textural diversity and character of the landscape.
• Recent introduction of pig farming north of Appleford-on-Thames slightly reduces the landscape condition in this area, and introduces structures in an otherwise open floodplain.
• Woodland around settlement edges, and along watercourses creates a limited wooded character, integrates settlement edges and provides some visual screening.

Scenic qualities and perceptual aspects

• The flat landform enables long-distance views across arable farmland. There is a more enclosed character around Burcot, north of Wittenham Clumps, where stretches of the river corridor are flanked by mature riparian woodland.
• Longer-range views comprise the Corallian Limestone Ridge on the horizon in views to the north and the local distinctive Wittenham Clumps to the south.
• Some influence from the adjacent urban areas which locally impact on tranquillity; areas of tranquillity along the Thames, often associated with tree cover, are valued for the contrast they provide to nearby urban areas.
• Open landscape forms gaps between the riverside settlements, helping to retain their individual identities, particularly where there is expanding development on the edge of larger settlements such as Didcot.
• Other detractors include views of occasional electricity pylons which cross the skyline, local impact of noise from the A415 and A4074 and the railway line at Appleford, and views to modern development on the edge of settlements.

Natural and cultural qualities

• The low-lying landscape is underlain by clay and alluvium near the river channel with better-drained gravel terraces elsewhere – giving rise to larger-scale arable land use.
• Small, isolated areas of woodland are a frequent feature across the landscape, much of which is identified as priority habitat deciduous woodland. There are several areas of semi-natural habitat associated with the floodplains of the Thame and Thames rivers, including floodplain grazing marsh and reedbeds.
• Settlements have favoured a location close to watercourses on terrace gravels since prehistoric times due to the lighter, more workable soils, accessible water supply, and slight elevation above the most flood-prone areas. This is shown in the number of Scheduled Monuments, including earthwork remains of an Iron Age settlement at Dyke Hills, and an Early Bronze Age round barrow cemetery at Fullamoor Plantation. There are Roman remains at Dorchester, Northfield Farm and Appleford-on-Thames.
• Dorchester, at the confluence of the Thames and Thame, was an important Roman fort and settlement, and was the site of the first cathedral of the West Saxons. An Augustinian Abbey church, now a Grade I listed building, still stands, and the town is covered by a Conservation Area. Historic villages at Clifton Hampden, Long Wittenham and Shillingford are also covered by Conservation Area designations and contain clusters of Listed Buildings. Several small areas of traditional orchard, typically feature near settlements and offer time depth and links to historical land uses. Settlements have seen very little modern expansion.
• Historic river crossings at Clifton Hampden Bridge (Grade II*), Shillingford Bridge (Grade II*) and Dorchester (Grade II*) show the historic importance of the Rivers Thames and Thame.

Recreation value

• Public access across the landscape is focused along the Thames Path National Trail but further access can be had via a network of public rights of way.
• The River Thames and its tributaries are popular with locals and visitors for fishing, kayaking, paddling and paddle boarding. The lakes around Dorchester are also used for recreation including sailing and fishing.

Associations

• Dorchester-on-Thames and Long Wittenham are historic manors, both mentioned in the Doomsday Book. Dorchester Abbey was used by the band Radiohead to record orchestral sections of their albums Kid A and Amnesiac.

View south to Whittenham Clumps from low-lying floodplain

Riparian woodland flanking the River Thames

Back to top

Landscape guidelines

Guidance to protect/conserve current landscape character

• Conserve and enhance the distinctive pattern of elements (including river valleys with grazed pastures, water meadows and wetlands; mixed fields and arable production; different types of woodland; and arable habitats) which contributes positively to the character and special qualities of the adjacent North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
• Minimise the impact of any new development on local character and on views from other areas, particularly the adjacent North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
• Ensure that any proposals to enhance or create wetland habitat and improve water quality (such as the ‘River of Life II’ project) are sensitively designed.
• Protect heritage features in the landscape to ensure their ongoing legibility and historic integrity.

Guidance to manage landscape character

• Maintain the valued recreational use of the landscape and consider opportunities to introduce additional public rights of way connectivity to enhance appreciation of views and landscape character.
• Manage grazing marsh habitats to enhance their biodiversity value and appearance; ensure best practice management through suitable grazing regimes and avoiding agrochemical and fertiliser inputs; manage recreational routes to avoid/minimise disturbance; and manage scrub vegetation appropriately to maintain the open character.
• Maintain existing woodland cover and look to increase this to provide ecological value and help to limit the urbanising influence of development and busy roads, whilst maintaining characteristic open long views across the landscape.

Guidance to plan (enhance, restore, create) landscape character

• Conserve and enhance floodplain grazing marsh, lowland meadows, lowland fens, semi-improved grassland and riparian vegetation, to enhance their contribution to landscape character and their nature conservation and biodiversity value.
• Encourage landowners to develop a woodland management strategy to conserve existing woodlands and extend woodland where appropriate. Ensure any new woodland planting is respectful of local character and ecological conditions and maximises opportunities to link with other wetland habitats.
• Minimise the impact of new development, including additional pig units, on the widely visible floodplain. Respect the existing small-scale, scattered settlement pattern, and use materials which complement the local vernacular of timber framing, cob walling and thatched roofs.
• Ensure the existing settlement pattern of settlements along the river is continued, being careful to avoid the perception of coalescence between the distinct villages.
• Avoid continual development (including jetties and boat houses) along the Thames corridor, retaining its naturalistic character with open spaces.
• Consider the impact of any new development on the floodplain on views from the adjacent North Wessex Downs National Landscape.
• Consider the impact of new lighting on night-time views (refer to the guidance in the Dark Skies / Light Impact Assessment for South Oxfordshire and Vale of White Horse).