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The Landscape of Fareham

Landscape Character

The Countryside Agency publication 'Landscape Character Assessment: Guidance for England & Scotland' (2002) defines Landscape Character as:

'a distinct, recognisable and consistent pattern of elements in the landscape that makes one landscape different from another, rather than better or worse'.

 

Particular combinations of geology, landform, soils, vegetation, land use, field patterns and human settlement create character. Character makes each part of the landscape distinct, and gives an area its particular sense of place. Exploring and understanding the landscape character of any area requires systematic investigation of the factors listed above. The interactions between all these factors create the character of the landscape.

 

Landscape Character Assessment is the process of identifying and describing areas of similar character and mapping them and concentrates on making clear what makes one area different or distinctive from another. It normally results in the identification of the following:

 

Landscape Types: These are distinct types of landscape that are relatively homogeneous in character. They are generic in nature in that they may occur in different areas in different parts of the country, but wherever they occur they share broadly similar combinations of geology, topography, drainage patterns, vegetation and historical land use and settlement pattern.

 

Landscape Character Areas: These are single unique areas and are discrete geographical areas of a particular landscape type or types. Each has its own individual character and identity, even though it shares the same generic characteristics with other areas of similar types. This distinction is reflected in the naming of types and areas: landscape types have generic names such as 'river valley', but landscape character areas take on the names of specific places.

 

The end product of characterisation is a map of landscape types and a map of character areas, together with descriptions of their character, identification of the key characteristics which are most important in creating this character and guidelines for management to conserve or enhance character.

The above information is based on the 'Fareham Borough Landscape Assessment' by Scott Wilson Resource Consultants, adopted May 1996, commissioned by Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire County Council.