summary
assessment
evaluation
guidelines
151
S T O RT M E A D S
area
Buntingford
County Map showing location of
LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREA
area 151
Stevenage
Puckeridge
/Standon
©Crown copyright .All rights reserved.
Hertfordshire County Council
Watton
-atStone
100019606 2004
Ware
Bishops
Stortford
Sawbridgeworth
Hertford
LOCATION
Narrow finger of floodplain around the River Stort
extending from the centre of Bishops Stortford in the south
to the boundary with the county of Essex in the north.
LANDSCAPE CHARACTER
A narrow area of floodplain formed by the River Stort and
extending between the urban centre of Bishops Stortford in
the south to open countryside in the north. The area is
predominantly flat but the section to the north of the A120
also includes the adjacent valley slopes. The floodplain
becomes increasingly intensively used as public recreation
space as it approaches the town centre. The associated land
use changes from pasture to informal open space and
rough grassland to playing fields to a formal riverside park.
The area also includes the town meads and intermittent
blocks of vegetation including groups of willows, alders and
over-mature hedgerows. The character of the area is
strongly influenced by the adjacent urban areas which
overlook the floodplain on either side.
KEY CHARACTERISTICS
• flat floodplain on either side of the River Stort
• predominantly amenity land uses including playing fields,
public open space and play areas
• mix of rough grassland, pasture and mown amenity
grassland
• over mature hedgerows within floodplain
• enclosed on either side by dense housing areas on
adjacent valley sides
DISTINCTIVE FEATURES
• Bishops Stortford castle mound
• A120 road bridge across the floodplain
• scattered relic parkland trees
• line of mature lime trees adjacent to B1004
• views of Bishops Stortford
•
River Stort in Bishops Stortford
(J.Billingsley)
East Herts District
Landscape Character Assessment
pg 248
S T O RT M E A D S
summary
assessment
evaluation
guidelines
area 151
PHYSICAL INFLUENCES
Geology and soils. Fluvo-glacial gravels and sands etc.
occur on the valley sides, while the river flood-plain is
formed on recent alluvium. Here there are stoneless mainly
calcareous soils over river alluvium (Thames series) with a
risk of flooding.
Topography. A flat floodplain with the River Stort flowing
through the centre. The northern section includes an area
of sloping valley side which falls to the west side of the
Stort.
Degree of slope. The floodplain slopes very slightly from
north to south at about 1 in 400. The ground also rises on
either side of the floodplain with typical gradients of
approximately 1 in 15.
Altitude range. The floodplain is at between approximately
58m and 60m. The valley sides in the northern section rise
to nearly 80m.
Hydrology. The river valley contains the River Stort which
flows south through the centre of Bishops Stortford and
then onwards until its confluence with the Lea at Rye
Meads. The River Stort is essentially a chalk stream, with
spring-fed mires adjoining its course north of Bishops
Stortford. Several minor streams and ditches flow in to the
Stort including Bourne Brook, (see Area 149).
Land cover and land use. The land cover is predominantly
a mix of rough grassland with occasional mature trees,
amenity grassland and mown sports pitches. There are also
several small stands of trees including alders, willows and
poplars. Much of the land is used for recreational purposes
including sports fields, informal public open space, formal
public open space and children's play areas. To the north of
the A120 the floodplain is grazing pasture and the adjacent
valley side is under arable production.
Vegetation and wildlife. There are secondary stands of
alder by the River Stort. Meadow Saxifrage and Meadow
Rue are notable species in the Stort Valley meadows, along
with Tussock Sedge in the riverside fen. Otters occasionally
frequent the River Stort again, following their reintroduction downstream.
HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES
There is little historic environment data available, but flint
axes of Palaeolithic date are known from the area, and it is
likely the gravels and peats of the Stort valley contain
valuable evidence for early prehistoric settlement and
exploitation of this landscape. In the Domesday Book
Bishops Stortford is called Estereferd. This name may have
originated from the name of a family or small clan who
lived in the vicinity of the ford in Saxon times. Waytemore
Castle motte is a good example of a Norman motte and
bailey castle. It was the fortress of Bishop Maurice of
London and was constructed to protect and oversee the
causeway of Stane Street (Roman road) over the Stort
marshes. The Stort originally fed several mills including
Cannons Mill in the centre of the area.
Field Patterns. The flood plain contains a mix of meadow
pasture and recreational uses. The slopes of the valley are
predominantly pre 18th century irregular enclosure,
however there has been 20th century enclosure and change
pg 249 East Herts District Landscape Character Assessment
to leisure uses.
Transport pattern. The Stort valley is crossed in four places
within the area. At the southern end, the Roman road,
Stane Street (now the A1250) provides an important route
through the town centre. In the centre of the area Cannons
Mill Lane includes a small bridging point but no longer
provides a vehicular through route across the valley. To the
north of this, the B1004 and A120 both cross the valley.
The A120 is a substantial modern concrete overbridge
which detracts from the character of the river valley. The
B1004 is an older crossing over a brick bridge which is more
in keeping with the character and scale of the river valley.
The B1004 also passes along the western side of the area
and is marked by a substantial line of mature lime trees. A
main railway line runs along the eastern edge of the
floodplain and creates a strong boundary to the area.
Settlements and built form. The floodplain contains little
built development other than the remains of Waytemore
Castle, the town swimming pool and leisure centre and a
row of pleasantly converted buildings on Cannons Mill Lane
(now offices). A small number of twentieth century houses
on the east side of the B1004 also back on to the
floodplain. There is dense residential development on the
higher valley slopes to the east and west of the area.
OTHER SOURCES OF AREA-SPECIFIC INFORMATION
Pevsner, N., rev. Cherry, B., Hertfordshire, Penguin (2000)
Whitelaw, J. W., Hidden Hertfordshire, Countryside Books
(1988)
summary
assessment
evaluation
guidelines
S T O RT M E A D S
area 151
VISUAL AND SENSORY PERCEPTION
The area is widely visible from the railway line, properties
on the valley slopes to the east and west and from the
A120 and B1004 bridging points across the Stort. Within
the floodplain views are generally short distance and are
blocked by groups or belts of mature vegetation including
over-mature hedgerows. There are attractive glimpsed
views of St Michael’s church and spire in the town centre.
The River Stort is a unifying feature within the area
although the character of the area alters from north to
south as it changes from rural pastures to suburban/urban
amenity areas.
Rarity and distinctiveness. This is part of the more intact
river valleys within the county.
VISUAL IMPACT
The impact of built development on the adjacent valley
slopes in Bishops Stortford is significant. A water tower in
Birchanger Wood is a significant feature on the horizon.
Within the floodplain the leisure centre, swimming pool and
associated car park detract from the otherwise unbuilt
character of the floodplain.
and recreation...Walking by the river one may observe the
jewelled flight
of the kingfisher. On New Years Day of 1934, I saw 6 of
these beautiful
birds from the Town Mill Bridge. Voles and water rats and if
you are very
fortunate an otter may disturb the waters as you pass by."
Bishop's
Stortford Official Guides 1925 & 1935.
"Beautiful calm area with the river flowing through"
(Respondent 3425) "an area of
unmanicured scrubland...a haven for wildlife and colourful
weeds and
trees...very popular with dogwalkers" (Respondent 0843)
This is a valued landscape.
LANDSCAPE RELATED DESIGNATIONS
Other Sites of Ecological, Geological and Geomorphological
Importance or Interest- Stort meadows (north of A120)
SAM – Waytemore Castle, Bishop’s Stortford
Area of Archaeological Significance - north of and including
Waytemore Castle
ACCESSIBILITY
Most of the floodplain is accessible to the public as public
open space or by public footpath. There are no bridleways
within the area.
COMMUNITY VIEWS
This is a valued landscape [C]
"A river is always a great attraction to a town if only from
the scenery
GOOD
Strengthen
and
reinforce
Conserve
and
strengthen
Safeguard
and
manage
MODERATE
STRENGTH OF CHARACTER
dominant
Impact of landform:
prominent
Impact of land cover:
Impact of historic pattern: apparent
widely visible
Visibility from outside:
contained
Sense of enclosure:
coherent
Visual unity:
frequent
Distinctiveness/rarity:
Improve
and
reinforce
Improve
and
conserve
Conserve
and
restore
POOR
widespread
mixed
scattered
not obvious
interrupted
moderate
moderate
CONDITION
CONDITION
Land cover change:
Age structure of tree cover:
Extent of semi-natural habitat survival:
Management of semi-natural habitat:
Survival of cultural pattern:
Impact of built development:
Impact of land-use change:
Reconstruct
Improve
and
restore
Restore
condition
to maintain
character
WEAK
MODERATE
STRONG
STRENGTH OF
CHARACTER
East Herts District
Landscape Character Assessment
pg
250
S T O RT M E A D S
summary
assessment
evaluation
guidelines
area 151
STRATEGY AND GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING
CHANGE: CONSERVE AND RESTORE
• develop strategy of planting species that marks the
transition from town to country along the valley
• survey and manage parkland and veteran trees on the
valley slopes for biodiversity value
• protect remaining river valley habitats of significant
nature conservation interest, especially where they
contribute to a suite of habitats, such as neutral
grassland, running water, wet grassland, valley or
floodplain woodland, grazing marsh, fens and swamp
• keep River Stort clear of rubbish
• resist development that could lower the water table
within river valleys and affect wetland habitats
• improve the management of old meadows and pastures
by ceasing fertiliser and herbicide application and
introducing sensitive grassland management such as late
hay cutting or low density livestock grazing
• promote the creation of buffer strips along watercourses
to prevent pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer run-off and
provide habitat for wildlife; encourage their linkage to
eco-corridors within the wider landscape
• protect river corridors and water meadows from
development that would alter its character visually or
environmentally, such as culverting, impact on a
floodplain, loss of water meadows or storage ponds
• enhance and create wetland landscape features such as
reedbeds, ponds, scrapes and pollarded willows
• restoration of hedgerows and ditches as characteristic
field boundary patterns
• promote the creation of buffer zones between intensive
arable production and important semi-natural habitats
and the creation of links between semi-natural habitats
• restore open ditches and discourage enclosing existing
open drainage systems
• conserve unimproved and semi-improved grassland
wherever possible, avoiding agricultural improvements to
reduce their acid or calcareous nature, in order to
maintain their nature conservation value
•
pg
251 East Herts District Landscape Character Assessment
Stort Valley from Hazelend Road
(J.Billingsley)