Warrington
Background and analysis
Two landscape regions occur within Warrington Borough: the Mersey Valley and, along the southern edge, the rim of the Cheshire Plain. From the northern boundary of the borough the land slopes gently downwards to the Mersey producing a flat landscape, which to the east runs into the Mossland around Risley and forming Glazebrook. South of the Mersey, the land rises up to the edge of the Cheshire Plain, a low rounded ridge which dips into the plain, and extends southwards out of the borough.
The town centre is on the north bank of the river at what was historically the lowest bridging point on the Mersey; most of the development of the town, and especially industry, has taken place on the flat valley land to the north.
The River Mersey has become lost in the landscape, because of the dominant effect of the Manchester Ship Canal, and the extensive dredging and waste tipping that has occurred adjacent to the river. Agricultural land adjacent to the River Mersey has a mixture of uses from agriculture and tipped land around Rixton to urban-fringe uses such as horse paddocks, and nursery and caravan sites around Moore. This gives rise to a degraded landscape lacking in structure.
There are three areas of high landscape value, all occurring on the north-facing slope of the Cheshire Plain rim. Nationally important sites of wildlife interest are confined to the remnant mosslands at Risley Moss and Holcroft Moss, artificial wetland sites at the Rixton Clay Pits and Woolston Eyes dredging grounds. Scattered broadleaved woodlands, wetlands (freshwater and estuaries), grasslands and further mossland sites found throughout the borough are of regional importance.
Communication routes have a dominant effect on the landscape: the M6 motorway runs north-south, the M62 motorway east-west to the north, the M56 motorway east-west to the south; the west-coast main railway line and Manchester Ship Canal both run through the centre of Warrington.
The agricultural land surrounding Warrington is dominated by urban influence and the transport networks. Farming intensification has led to a generally impoverished landscape. The land around Cuerdley Cross and Burtonwood is intensively farmed for cereal and oilseed crops and there are few hedges, trees or woodlands left in the landscape. The Croft-Culcheth area is more intact as farming is mixed. South of Warrington, the belt of land between the M56 and the urban edge carries a mixture of dairying and cropping. Again, some of the landscape structure has been retained. The mossland landscape has a very different history: its open nature and rectangular farm layout is the main characteristic. The Woodland Trust is now the prime woodland owner in the area.
Guiding principles
- Create two green wedges of woodland running from the east and west along the Mersey into Bridgefoot. This will provide a new landscape for the Mersey, mitigating past damage and taking the Forest to the centre of the town.
- Create a chain of woodlands around the periphery of the urban area, forming a green edge to the town.
- Plant smaller sites within the town and create access routes, acting like the spokes of a wheel leading from the town centre to the green edge.
- Maintain and reconstruct the surrounding agricultural landscape.
Policies and opportunities
Numbers refer to the 'Warrington planting strategy' map.
CLICK ON IMAGE ABOVE TO SEE LARGE SCALE MAP
W1 In the agricultural landscape around Croft and Culcheth, north of the M62, support the creation of small woodlands and copses within a restored pattern of hedgerows and hedgerow trees and the creation of linear woodlands along highways and rights of way.
W2 In the area north of the M62 around Burtonwood and eastwards to Winwick, plant hedgerows and linear woodlands along roads, tracks, paths and farm boundaries to produce a broadscale hedgerow and woodland pattern. Plant small and medium-scale woodlands within the existing farm structure. Increase density of planting in the Urban Periphery around the area and along the M62 at the former airfield.
W3 Create a well-wooded landscape along all motorway corridors in the borough, in particular the proposed new Junction 8 of the M62.
W4 Develop community woodland at Radley Common and on adjacent open land.
W5 Extend the Forest within the urban area by peripheral planting on appropriate public open space, extending areas of existing trees and woodland and linking sites together.
W6 Support the continuing development of the Sankey Valley Park as a major recreational route and woodland area.
W7 Create significant areas of native woodland between Penketh and Fiddler's Ferry Power Station.
W8 Support the development of the Fiddler's Ferry Power Station for nature conservation as detailed in the Energy for Wildlife report (Mersey Valley Partnership & Operation Groundwork 1988).
W9 The open agricultural landscape at Norton Marsh and Moss Side Farm is a rare example of undisturbed open valley floor. This character should be conserved and woodland planting is not appropriate; hedgerow management, maintenance of a medium-scale field structure and management of the estuary edge will be supported.
W10 Support extensive forestry planting on tipped and industrial land north and south of the river between Fiddler's Ferry and Bank Quay to create a new landscape structure for the lower Mersey Valley. Retain and manage the existing mosaic of woodland, grassland and open water on Moore Nature Reserve.
W11 Create a significant area of woodland in the Moore-Walton area, planting small and medium-scale woodlands. Restore hedges and plant hedgerow trees.
W12 Develop Walton Hall as a major attraction within a mature wooded parkland setting. Manage existing woodlands and look for new planting opportunities on surrounding farmland to the south and east.
W13 Support the creation of small woodlands and copses between Appleton Thorn, Stretton and the M56. Restore hedges and plant hedgerow trees. Create linear woodlands along highways and rights of way.
W14 Create a woodland setting for the Barley Castle Trading Estate.
W15 Develop an 'in the Forest' landscape for the M56-M6 interchange, working with the Department of Transport and Macclesfield Borough.
W16 Within the agricultural landscape from Hatton to Lymm, plant copses and small woodlands to fit the existing hedgerow and pond pattern. Restore hedges, hedgerow trees and ponds. Increase density of woodland planting along urban edges and adjacent to the M6.
W17 In the area north of Lymm and south of the A57 east of the M56, restore hedges and hedgerow trees and plant small copses and linear woodlands along highways and rights of way. Introduce large scale planting on disturbed land and within the large-scale agricultural areas, but keeping a significant area of 'valley bottom' land open.
W18 At Rixton, carry out significant woodland planting around the brick works and on the edge of the mossland around the urban fringe.
W19 Woodland planting is not appropriate on the open mossland area adjacent to Risley. Existing birch woodlands make an important contribution to the character of the area and should be managed.
W20 Create a well-wooded landscape on open land adjacent to the River Mersey approaching the town centre from the east in the Howley, Latchford and Woolston areas. Identify and safeguard valuable open meadow areas.
W21 Significant areas of native woodland should be created as part of the development package, should the Bridgewater East Housing Area be approved in the Draft Local Plan.
