Chalk Valley Systems
Landscape Character Type and Key habitats
- Chalk rivers, streams and winterbournes. floodplain meadows, lowland fens wet woodland
- Small areas of calcareous grassland and woodland on upper slopes.
Actions for nature
- Improve the natural morphology of rivers and maintain good water quality
- Create wetland habitats along ditches, rivers and streams to improve connectivity and flood storage (working with natural processes)
- Create a 10 metre habitat buffer zone on either side of rivers and streams
- Manage wet woodlands and plant additional areas with suitable species
- Manage broadleaved woodlands to achieve good condition, age and species diversity. Improve woodland connectivity
- Manage and expand areas of chalk grassland.
Nature-friendly actions
- Increase species diversity of semi improved grasslands
- Create wildflower meadows
- Create buffer strips along water courses, hedgerows and woodland edges
- Restore and create ponds
- Monitor and control invasive non-native species
Key sensitivities
- Calcareous grassland on the valley sides
- Chalk rivers and associated springs, meanders riffle and pools
- Floodplain meadows and areas of wet woodland