| 8.8 |
Special Landscape Areas (SLA) are areas of great landscape value
resulting from a combination of features such as vegetation cover
and landform. Their conservation is important to the district as well
as the county's natural heritage and there is a presumption against
development unless it accords with the character of the area concerned.
The three SLA's identified in the Rochford District are as follows:
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| i. |
Hockley Woods. This is a large unspoilt
area, containing a complex of ancient woodlands and farmland
on undulating ground between Hockley and Southendon- Sea; |
| ii. |
Upper Crouch. This area is based on the
River Crouch and contains numerous creeks, mudflats and saltings
on either shore. It is a slightly less remote version of other
coastal marshes and is relatively treeless and unspoiled; AND |
| iii. |
The Crouch/Roach marshes. This consists
of a large number of islands, creeks, and channels with salt
marsh, mudflats, and drainage ditches predominating. Apart from
the timber wharf and marina at Wallasea Island, the area is
remote and undeveloped and supports a large bird population. |
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| 8.9 |
In the early 1990s, the County Council identified a number of Areas
of Ancient Landscape, being landscapes containing significant assemblage
of visible features of pre-1600 origin. The ancient landscape of the
Upper Roach Valley (which also contains the ancient woodland, Hockley
Woods) is so identified.
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| 8.10 |
In addition, there are 14 ancient woodlands in Rochford District,
defined by the Nature Conservancy Council (now English Nature) as
being woodlands over 2 hectares in size, known to have existed in
1600. These areas have evolved unique characteristics and qualities
throughout the centuries and are vital for their scientific and amenity
importance. The Council recognises that appropriate management is
the key to their future success. The Council is committed to the Essex
Biodiversity Action Plan objectives and targets relating to ancient
woodlands, which seek to ensure that they are satisfactorily protected
and managed.
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