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