This landscape encompasses an undulating elevated area with notable hills which are prominent in views and distinctive in their form and in their patterns of woodland cover. These hills reflect the underling limestone geology which is also expressed in local vernacular buildings and in the woodland and semi-natural grassland flora, and visible in the form of quarries and rock outcrops. Coupled with more distant views to Dartmoor that provide the area with a strong sense of place. Between the hills there are small streams and springs; and to the north and east the River Lemon and Aller Brook create more substantial valleys. This is predominantly a historic rural landscape, both in terms of medieval field patterns, remnant commons, a dense network of winding lanes and nucleated settlements. However it also contains more modern elements which cut across the historic grain including railway lines, pylons, quarrying and landfill activity and housing development on the edge of settlements.
This area comprises elevated farmland with distinctive hills to the west and south of Newton Abbot and includes the river valleys of the Lemon River and Aller Brook to the north and east respectively. To the south the landscape is bounded by a gradual transition into the Dart Valley and to the west by the rising land of the East Dartmoor Moorland Fringes. East of Aller Brook the land rises sharply to form the Breccia Hills and Coast.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/teignbridge-and-east-devon-area/denbury-and-kerswell-farmlands
https://www.devon.gov.uk/planning/planning-policies/landscape/devon-character-areas
Planning Strategy
To protect the landscape’s distinctive landform and historic patterns of land use, vegetation and settlement, strengthening its special qualities and features and conserving views to distinctive hilltops. Opportunities are sought to manage commons to increase diversity of semi-improved grasslands. Field patterns are reinforced through the restoration and management of hedgebanks. Hilltop and valley-side woodlands are managed to retain distinctive patterns of vegetation cover. The landscape’s time depth continues to have a strong influence, whilst opportunities for sustainable recreation, limited low-carbon development and limestone quarrying are sensitively accommodated. The historic character of the nucleated settlements is enhanced and new development reflects local vernacular and settlement form.
