Settled Marsh

Summary

Overall description:

A distinctively flat and intensively farmed open arable landscape, with a densely settled character of towns and villages expressing periods of past wealth in stone buildings and churches. Tree cover is restricted to small shelterbelts and orchards.

Location:

Occurs in the central seaward part of the Fens, in northern Cambridgeshire, west Norfolk and south Lincolnshire.

Physical environment

Landform:

Open, low lying landscape with a distinctly flat landform providing wide horizons.

Natural / water features:

Land is drained by a regular pattern of ditches which are not visually dominant unless one is close by. River courses are canalised to form significant, straight water channels flanked by banks.

Vegetation and land use

Ecological character:

Although characterised by grazing marsh on marine levels, the low-lying nature and relative fertility of this landscape is reflected in a minimal survival of semi-natural habitat.

Primary land use :

Intensively farmed arable landscape.

Tree cover:

Fruit orchards and shelterbelts (conifers, poplar and willow) are repeating themes.

Cultural pattern

Historic features:

Church towers are strong vertical features.

Enclosure pattern:

Strongly rectilinear field pattern defined by drainage channels and dykes. Field pattern is often slightly sinuous, reflecting early drainage and use as common fields prior to enclosure.

Settlement pattern:

Settled character with a clustered pattern of towns and villages focussed on roads through the area. Farms form a minor element and tend to cluster at road junctions. Larger towns such as Kings Lynn exert some urbanising influence.

To be completed at a later date.

Historic development :

This landscape created through fenland drainage from the medieval period onwards. The majority of fields are early (16th-18th C), while more recent enclosures (18/19th C) are only present along the northern and western fringes of the area.

Perceptions

Tranquility:

A busy settled landscape with limited tranquillity.

Views:

Long distance panoramic views.