GLENIFFER BRAES GREEN NETWORK STRATEGIC ENHANCEMENT PLAN
2.2
Landscape Character
The Country Park is located in the rugged upland farmland landscape character type identified in the Glasgow and Clyde Valley Landscape Character Assessment (Land Use Consultants in association with Glasgow University Archaeological Research Division.1999). This landscape character type does not contain urban development but there are urban influences such as the electricity substation and transmission lines at Gleniffer Braes.
View from Glen Park play area
Gleniffer Braes is located on the edge of the landscape character type and within its boundary three main character areas have been identified during the desk study. Firstly, the upland farmland to the south, which is typical of the character type in which Gleniffer Braes is located. There are a number of conifer forestry blocks and Paisley Golf Course is also in this area surrounded on three sides by the Country Park. The second distinct character area is the north-facing scarp slope that runs east-west through the middle of the Country Park. This area is characterised by its landform and the woodland and scrub vegetation on the slopes. Watercourses dissect the slopes and Craigielinn Waterfall is an important feature in the area. Thirdly, the narrow band of grass fields adjacent to the urban edge and Brownside Farm to the east is distinctive from the upland fields to the south. In addition, there was a designed landscape at Glen Park linked to Glen House that no longer exists. The diverse character of the Braes is one of its many attractions to locals and visitors.
2.3 Highland cattle at Brownside Farm
Tenure
The Country Park is largely owned and managed by Renfrewshire Council. There are areas within the Country Park that are owned by Scottish Water and these areas are the dams and reservoirs in Glen Park. Scottish Water also owns Glenburn reservoir situated on the southern boundary just outside the Country Park. Exact boundaries of Scottish Water’s ownership within the park are not clear and it would appear that little or no regular maintenance work is carried out on its redundant facilities within the Country Park. Scottish Power own land in Gleniffer Braes Country Park around the electricity substation in the upland area to the southwest and transmission lines from the substation cross the south-west corner, the southernmost extent south of Paisley Golf Club and Brownside Braes. There is a small area of land in the Country Park owned by a local farmer to the south opposite the electricity substation. Clarity of the landownership boundaries within the Country Park is needed to avoid conflict in the future and gain consensus on the future management of Gleniffer Braes. A number of fields in the Country Park are leased to local farmers for grazing. Leases are currently annual and allow grazing for ten months of the year. Grazing is a key form of management for biodiversity in Gleniffer Braes and is also a source of income.
January 2010 Report No. 09514820023.500
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