5.2 Landscape and
access
The Parish is fortunate that
much of its attractive setting of farmland, hedgerows, woodland
and copses has survived despite increasing economic pressures
and Dutch elm disease. There are also registered historic
parks and gardens at Down House, Tockington Manor School,
Old Down House and Olveston Court.
Most skylines are dominated
by deciduous trees and occasional groups of pines that are
appreciated from within the villages and from the lanes and
public rights of way which interlace the surrounding countryside.
In recent times landowners17
have been encouraged to supplement traditional farming and
woodland management by diversification into provision for
leisure and management for conservation. This has been aided
by management agreements and grants from public authorities
and by voluntary work. Land is also increasingly being given
over to horse grazing, bringing with it stables and new fencing
which can, without care, have a damaging impact on the landscape.
The whole of the Parish lies
within the Forest of Avon Community Forest. A number of areas
are recognised as Sites of Nature Conservation Importance,
and Old Down Quarry is managed as a nature reserve. Management
agreements include Countryside Stewardship agreements for
grassland management at Stroud Common and at Old Down Park
on Tockington Hill and to conserve ancient woodland at Sheepcombe
Brake. Other countryside initiatives include planting associated
with Second Severn Crossing link roads, the work of the Olveston
Parish Countryside Group including management of Wildacre
Wood on the Pilning Levels, and the development of a management
plan for Old Down Woodland at The Slad.
The Old Down Circular Walk
forms part of an initiative to encourage informal recreation
in the Community Forest. Permissive access to Sheepcombe Brake
is of great local value and the toll rides organised by landowners
enable local riders to exercise their horses away from traffic.
5.2.1 Encourage landowners to conserve and enhance
the countryside
Promote:
• planting of native trees in appropriate verges, hedgerows
and more widely to enhance the landscape
• woodland planting, particularly to act as a foil for
newer development and motorway structures and to soften views
towards Avonmouth
• sympathetic management of the landscape to benefit
wildlife, particularly of notified sites
• dialogue between landowners and the Internal Drainage
Board to ensure effective land drainage and sensitive
management of rhines for wildlife
• careful siting of stables and fencing for equine uses
to minimise any adverse impact on the landscape
5.2.2 Enhance opportunities for enjoyment of
the countryside
Promote:
• the existing network of public rights of way that
link the villages and the surrounding countryside
Encourage:
• improvements to the network of public rights of way
for the benefit of the community and landowners18
• extension of the successful network
of toll rides to provide further safe routes for riders
• initiatives to conserve structures of local interest,
particularly those recorded as of special interest by South
Gloucestershire Council
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