Page 15 - Ickford Neighbourhood Plan

ICKFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN : 2019 – 2033 : VISION FOR ICKFORD 15

6. Natural Environment

Comments:
Comments: Beautiful countryside, open fields, many footpaths, a huge abundance
Comments:
Comments:
Comments:
of nature.
Landscape
6.1
6.1
6.1 There is a need to ensure that the tranquil, remote quality of the countryside
6.1
6.1
surrounding Ickford is retained and enhanced while providing appropriately for the
needs of local communities and visitors for recreation activities such as walking. The
landscape around Ickford is predominantly flat pastoral landform. Due to the high
watertable and the propensity for flooding, many of the fields are not in cultivation
but instead turned over to pasture. This has ensured the survival of the medieval ridge
and furrow, an important historic remnant, to many of the fields immediately adjoining
the settlement. The small fields are enclosed by hedgerows which play a fundamental
role in the rural character of the area.

6.2
6.2
6.2 Tree cover is strongest close to the settlement and watercourses, although
6.2.
6.2
there are a number of hedgerow trees which are prominent in the landscape due to
the relative flatness of the landform. The village itself is well treed, particularly around
the twin cores of the church and Little Ickford. Many of the mature trees in the
historic cores are covered by Conservation Area provisions, but trees are a feature
that need to be maintained and enhanced in all parts of the village. Hedgerows are
also a key feature, particularly on the approaches to the village.

6.3. The church is a focal point at the edge of the village and there are good
6.3.
6.3.
6.3.
6.3.
footpath links, particularly to Little Ickford and neighbouring Worminghall, which
falls within the same character area. The village has retained a strong historic character;
vernacular buildings are a feature, as are the stone bridges over the River Thame.
6.4.
6.4.
6.4.
6.4. Water courses play a dominant role within the landscape, particularly
6.4.
the River Thame which forms the southern boundary to the area. This, together
with a number of tributaries, means that the village often sits on an island
surrounded by flood water during times of high rainfall. The geology is mostly
river terrace and alluvium fill, with some areas of limestone marl to the west and
Kimmeridge clays to the south east.

6.5.
6.5. The landscape guidelines for Ickford Pastoral Vale are set out in the
6.5.
6.5.
6.5.
Aylesbury Vale Landscape Character Assessment (2008) and are as follows:
• Maintain and improve the condition of existing hedgerows through best
practice cutting regimes.
• Encourage the establishment of new hedgerow trees to improve the age structure.
• Encourage the management and retention of the open ditches as a landscape
feature and wildlife resource.
• Close to watercourses promote the use of permanent pasture, with low
stocking density and flooding regimes to encourage biodiversity and landscape
enhancement.
• Maintain the condition and extent of neutral, unimproved and semi-improved
grassland.

VISION FOR ICKFORD – NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
www.visionforickford.co.uk