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1.4 Landscape Site Analysis
Landscape Designations
The eastern part of the Ladyfield site lies in the The Crichton Conservation Area, designated by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
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Trees within conservation areas are protected from felling and lopping unless express permission is sought and granted by the local authority; generally this is similar to the protection afforded to trees under a Tree Preservation Order.
There are a number of pockets of landscape designation associated with salt marshes beside the River Nith, which will need to be considered in relation to any proposals beyond the site boundary.
The scheduled monuments at Castledykes Park include a motte and bailey, medieval castle and associated earthworks. These are sufficiently remote from the Ladyfield site due to the separation provided by the housing on Castledykes Road and Glencaple Avenue that these will not be impacted by the proposed development.
Landscape Character
Ladyfield is covered by two landscape character descriptions: Coastal Flats (Dumfries and Galloway) and Lower Dale (Dumfries and Galloway). Given the consistent character of the site, it is reasonable to attribute the character entirely to Lower Dale, with the Coastal Flats character commencing westwards of Kingholm Road.
An extracts from SNH National Landscape Character Assessment LCT 162 Lower Dale, Dumfries and Galloway reads; “Much of this landscape is covered with improved pasture and arable fields of medium to large scale. These create a large scale geometric tapestry of green, brown and yellow hues dependant on the season. Field boundaries are predominantly hedgerows, many of which have lines of mature hedgerow trees. These are generally beech or sycamore, although there are local uses of ash, elm and oak. This is a settled landscape which contains some of the region’s most developed areas. It has an extensive network of roads, both minor and as part of strategic links. Small villages, farmsteads and various types of suburban expansion are also features of this landscape.”
