Dr Jacqui Malpas explains our Landscape Character Assessment for Ashton Hayes

A Landscape Character Assessment (LCA) tells us what is distinctive about a place. It is a key technique in achieving change that is not only in the right place, but that respects and enhances its surroundings. At a meeting of the Ashton Hayes Parish Council on 12th February it was agreed to carry an LCA in Ashton Hayes as part of the “Going Carbon Neutral” project.

What is an LCA?
It is an assessment of the landscape character and evaluates:

Local landscape distinctiveness
Local character of the parish
The diversity of landscape
The harmony between landscape, settlement pattern and buildings
The sense of place

Why do a LCA in Ashton Hayes?

To produce a baseline study of the landscape character as it is today
To describe the distinctive character of the parish
To demonstrate how this local distinctiveness can be conserved
To show the vision and desires of the people of Ashton Hayes
To understand and manage future changes that are occurring in the landscape especially in the light of Ashton Hayes ‘Going Carbon Neutral’ project, for example, ensuring any trees planted as carbon sinks are in the right place
To compliment the study of the biodiversity of the parish, such as trees, the plants and animals in the hedgerows and meadows

home