Design 15.1 The Mersey Forest sets out to achieve all its objectives within the context of a positive and fundamental change in the landscape of the area. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that the Forest is designed to the highest possible standards. 15.2 Woodland design is very different from other forms of design in that the final product will not emerge for many years, during which it will go through a long period of management and change. For this reason, design and management are bound together. The designer must therefore understand the process of growth and change, how it can be controlled and how it will be controlled - the design can be tailored to suit the anticipated level of management (concurrent with other design parameters). The cost of management will be a key factor. R47 Design proposals for The Mersey Forest should demonstrate an understanding of long-term management principles and costs. 15.3 Many other factors will influence the design and all should be carefully assessed. These factors or parameters will include the capability of the site to support tree growth and other activities; existing use, history, wildlife and archaeology; the landscape, land use and planning context of the site; objectives for the site, especially community views where appropriate; finance available for the scheme; and its later establishment and management. 15.4 A careful analysis of the design parameters using a structured approach such as the SWOT technique (analysing parameters as strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) will both benefit the process of design and enable a re-assessment of the objectives for the site. It may well be that some objectives cannot be achieved on a site or are simply inappropriate or that the analysis reveals some previously unknown factors, such as existing use, wildlife or archeological value. 15.5 Design is not confined to the actual woodland, but will include open spaces, recreational infrastructures, sports developments, car parks, formal areas, and wildlife areas - in fact, everything that community forests are about. R48 The design of all aspects of The Mersey Forest should be carried out to a high standard and in accordance with the Forestry Commission's Community Woodland Design Guidelines (1991), local landscape character assessments and other guidance issued by the partner authorities. The UK Forestry Standard (Forestry Commission, 1998) and the forthcoming Mersey Forest Biodiversity Action Plan should also be considered during the formulation of design proposals. 15.6 Developing a local identity is very important to the creation of the Forest and to the people living in it. Replicating a bland species mix across the whole Forest will blanket the historic landscape and produce a boring, uninteresting landscape. Design must take account of the landform, soil type, existing landscape features, etc, even when the landscape assessment has indicated that a new landscape structure is required. It must reflect and enhance the landscape base. The use of locally generated seed, and native species in woodland planting is a further aspect of design, which should be promoted. 15.7 The clearly recognisable existing landscapes are the Sefton Coast, Knowsley Park, Lancashire Fenland, Cheshire Plain, Mossland, Delamere Forest, and Weaver Valley, but new landscapes can be built on other bases: St. Helens Coalfield, Mersey Estuary, Mersey Riverside, Mersey Valley farmland, Cheshire Plain rim, etc. Designers should look for the inherent features in despoiled landscapes and enhance them. Species choice will be determined by such factors as topography, rivers, depth of water table, soil type, the nature of the urban area and local climate. It will also inform people about that landscape. For example, pine is associated with dry land, ridges, sandstone and sand dunes; so, if pine is the dominant species at Delamere, Sefton Coast, Cheshire rim (sandstone outcrops), people will make the connection and the areas will create their own identity. Similarly, willow, alder and poplar are associated with wet areas: edge of fenland, river banks, low-lying agricultural land. A birch-pine mix has a particular association with mossland. Oak is associated with clay soils and the Cheshire Plain. Such associations have developed historically and are closely linked to suitable species choice for the site. 15.8 A parallel can be drawn with position, shape and size of woodlands. The woodlands in the Weaver Valley occur principally on the steep slopes of the valley sides and are therefore long narrow woods. In the Bold Heath area, the designed landscape contains many long sinuous shelter-belt type woodlands. Historic parkland woods at Croxteth, Ince Blundell and Knowsley have a particular character relating to their size, shape and frequency in the landscape. 15.9 These factors can be used to place woodlands in the landscapes that enhance or create the landscape structure. The Mersey Valley between Runcorn Bridge and Warrington has already been changed by the development of industrial sites and landfill. The river now runs between low hills created by the landfill and these can be integrated into the landscape by extensive broadleaved woodland planting. This will ultimately produce a new, yet coherent and attractive, landscape for the river. 15.10 There is scope to create a large area of pine woodland on the open agricultural landscape to the north of the Mersey that has lost so much of its historic structure. Such a woodland would perform several different roles in the landscape by emphasising the higher ground, providing a positive edge to the Mersey Valley and complementing the Sefton Coast woodlands and Delamere Forest. Pine woodlands also support the red squirrel, a species of particular conservation concern, and may therefore provide valuable habitats in areas of known populations (Forestry Commission, 1998). 15.11 The local planting strategies in Chapter 15 contain policies that will develop local identity, but this should also be considered during the detailed design of each site with reference to the landscape strategy. Landscape strategy 15.12 The landscape assessment was described in Chapter 3 (paragraphs 3.60 to 3.69). The landscape strategy indicates the scale, form and direction of desirable landscape change in the Forest area. It sets out a framework for the creation of new landscapes (where this is appropriate) and for the protection of valued landscapes. 15.13 The strategy (see Appendix A for details) uses the 54 landscape units as its building blocks. For each landscape unit a decision is taken about the broad direction of desirable change, by referring to three basic options: Maintaining the landscape character. Restoring the landscape character. Creating new landscapes. 15.14 These decisions are based on the existing character, quality and condition of the landscape unit. Obviously, a severely degraded landscape unit with little landscape value and extensive dereliction will require the creation of new landscapes. On the other hand, an intact landscape of high quality should have its character maintained, with little change. Of course, some landscape units have a more complex character than others. 15.15 By combining the basic categories, three further options can be created: Create and restore. Maintain and restore. Maintain and create. 15.16 Often, adjacent units fall into the same option and by grouping them together the landscape strategy emerges. The strategy is explained in greater detail in Appendix A.