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SEAVINGTON ST MICHAEL AND SEAVINGTON ST MARY, SOMERSET A BRIEF LANDSCAPE VALUE ASSESSMENT AND PROPOSALS

Introduction

The importance of landscape value in the context of a village cannot be over emphasised.  A rich visual aspect contributes to land and house values.  Maintaining a rich landscape benefiting from trees, shrubs, wildflowers and wildlife will also increase the conservation value of the environment making it a sought after, healthier place for humans.  In these uncertain times of climate change, species loss and extinction, it is every member of the communities responsibility to try to maintain and support their local environment as a rich source of life for ourselves, and the animals, birds, trees, plants and insects with which this place is shared.  Current Seavington inhabitants should endeavour to provide a more diverse secure natural environment for all future inhabitants than the one they inherited.

Recent changes taking place in farming practices, including the Single Payment Scheme and Countryside Stewardship Scheme (now Environmental Stewardship scheme) will hopefully make it more worthwhile to land managers to consider and cherish the landscape value of their responsibilities for not only economic but also visual and wildlife benefit.

It is important when planting to use local indigenous species whenever possible, grown locally, to enhance those already in the landscape.  In 2000 South Somerset’s Landscape Architect produced ‘A species guide to tree and shrub planting in South Somerset’ which provides map analysis of the geological nature of South Somerset along with lists of suitable plant species by area.  (Copy attached).  Fortunately there are several excellent local nurseries selling a wide range of locally grown and valuable species.  Details available from the Tree Wardens.

The Surrounding Landscape Context

The two villages are set in an area of low hills surrounded to the south by the hills of Windwhistle, Ham Hill to the East and to the northwest Hurcott, then the land drops away towards the Somerset Levels. There is very little woodland in the vicinity of the Seavington villages currently.  Old maps show that once orchards dominated the Seavington landscape but intensive farming practices since the war have changed seeing these and some hedges removed and now there are no commercial orchards left in Seavington.  Although many of the farmland hedges have been removed, many of the field boundary hedges of the 1928 map are still in existence although often in poor condition.  

In contrast, the valley in which the neighbouring village of Dinnington is situated to the southwest, is considerably more wooded and is considered ‘an area of special landscape value’.  Seavington also benefits from the woodland backdrop provided to the southwest by Windwhistle Hill and the ridge between Dinnington and Hinton St George with Larch and Beech plantations.  North of Seavington the consequences of the two road building schemes have changed the landscape and although a shelterbelt of planting was established when the new A303 road was built twenty years ago it will take many more years before it reaches maturity.  The hillside planting at Hurcott also benefits the village as a wooded backdrop to the northwest.

The immediate surrounding village landscape is dominated by the mixed farming practices (dairy and arable) on Manor Farm in Seavington St Mary and Mead Farm in Seavington St Michael. Both have some small copses but now no areas of woodland. There are also no significant bodies of water or waterways within either farms or villages. Fields to the north and east are also farmed by Hurcott Farm, land crossed by the new A303.

Very few hedgerows on local farms contain hedgerow trees resulting in a bleak, open exposed landscape surrounding the Seavingtons.  The hedgerows in the Seavington area are full of reminders that they were once dominated by the Elm, whose remnants continue to create suckers which grow to about 12 feet before been affected by Dutch Elm disease.  No planting has taken place to replace the loss of the elms in the area.  Sawpit Lane (ancient hollow way) joining Prospect Place and Easterdown Hill provides a rich legacy of mature trees, plant ecology and natural habitat, which are a unique area of ancient landscape in Seavington.  On Manor Farm the trees surrounding the pond at Combe Quarry are of significant landscape value.  David’s Lane has some significant hedgerow oaks.

The Villages of Seavington St Mary and Seavington St Michael

Seavington St Mary and Seavington St Michael are two small settlements in a shallow valley in low lias hills, which runs south east of Ilminster.  A road a quarter of a mile long separates the two settlements.  Since the war, the villages have been bypassed twice on the northern side: first Seavington St Mary by New Road and in the late 1980’s: both villages by the new A303.

Both villages currently benefit from the planting in the past of specimen trees in some of the larger properties in the villages adding significant visual landscape value  – particularly the Copper Beech trees and Scots Pines at ‘The Beeches’ and other properties in Water Street, and the Old Vicarage and other properties in Upton Lane in Seavington St Michael and the planting by a previous residents at houses in Seavington St Mary.  The villages also benefited by the planting of 40 flowering cherries at prominent points about 30 years ago some of which remain.  A fine Cedar in the grounds of Manor Farm recently dominated Seavington St Mary but this succumbed to disease and has now been lost.  Both village churchyards have fine healthy very ancient Yew trees and some recently planted ornamental trees.  There are other yew trees in prominent positions in the villages adding landscape value.  The owners of the larger properties in Seavington provide a service to their neighbours in the form of significant trees which are extremely important to the visual appearance of the village from which we all benefit.  


Recent planting

In recent years the following has taken place:

•    On the playing field, to complete the trees surrounding the perimeter (including 3 ‘golden’ trees to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee)
•    Planting of 2 Millennium Oaks in January 2000 at the top RH corner of the playing field (one dedicated to each village)
•    Replacing the earlier planting of ornamental cherries that have died with Rowan trees
•    Planting of a field corner on Manor Farm with mixed indigenous species
•    Trees planted to replace those lost in Sawpit Lane
•    Hedgerow trees have been identified and tagged

Recommendations

It is recommended that the residents and land managers of Seavington use every opportunity presented by the Village Plan to recognise their responsibility to maintain and improve the landscape in and around the villages by complimenting and extending the existing planting within their private gardens, farms and holdings where possible with significant trees for the future, for visual and wildlife potential.

Proposals

Opportunities in the Seavingtons for tree planting on public land are very limited.  The village playing fields, situated between the two villages, provide almost the only opportunity.  

1.    On the playing field; it is suggested that planting continues on the site of the old village hall where the two Millennium Oaks are planted to enhance this corner with more indigenous colourful small trees and shrubs as a backdrop to improve the landscape value and habitat.
2.    Village Gateways; it has been suggested that Seavington should have village ‘gateways’ at the entrances to the villages from the Main Road.  Other villages have used large rough-hewn blocks of engraved Hamstone to do this and we would endorse this as a suitable way to celebrate the entrances to the Seavingtons on the Main Road. Suitable planting or ornamental trees and shrubs could accompany them where appropriate.  The Hamstone markers would have the advantage of the being almost vandal proof and very low maintenance.
3.    Hedgerow Trees: Land managers identify and allow hedgerow trees to grow within their hedgerows to improve landscape value and maintain better habitats for farmland birds etc.
4.    Hedgerow management: Land managers are requested to maintain their hedgerows and replant gaps where necessary.
5.    Field corners and copses: Land managers make available small pockets of land available for planting up as field corners of mixed indigenous planting to break up the bleak areas of landscape
6.    Community Orchard: To commemorate the lost orchards of Seavington - the possible establishment of a community orchard for the Seavingtons as a place for productive trees and an opportunity for wildlife.
7.    Community Woodland: Land could be made available for community woodland on land that is not currently economic to farm.
8.    Future new build and conversions:  New developments in Seavington whether new build or conversions should include adequate screening landscaping proposals that are sympathetic to a country village. Where possible architects should include the planting of suitable hedges and trees within the garden design before the property goes on the market.
9.    Grassy banks: Many residents in Seavington mow grassy banks.  It is suggested that it would be more environmentally friendly to perhaps plant the banks with low growing low maintenance shrubs which provide more visual enrichment and habitat for flora and fauna and only require maintenance once a year.
10.    Future amenity planting: It is essential that the Village Plan contains proposals to plan ahead for the future provision of specimen trees within the village – many of those trees that currently provide character and shape to the village visually are mature and provisions need to be made for their eventual replacement.


Written for the Village Plan
by Voluntary Tree Wardens Ry Coffman and Jo Mills