Introducing Historic Landscape Character Themes

One of the first steps in the AONB Historic Environment Action Plans is the creation of Historic Landscape Character Themes. Each Historic Character Theme was identified through consultation with the project steering group and represents a characteristic of the historic environment which applies across the whole AONB landscape. Once a theme has been identified it needs to be accompanied by text which identifies and describes its main characteristics.

This description should include both the nationally important and unique but also the commonplace and locally distinctive. It should encapsulate the main features each theme in its widest form and include both the archaeological and historical, the very old and the more recent. It should aim to be comprehensive but also in the interests of usability concise. The descriptions for each theme should be consistent in order to allow easy communication. They should also capture the imagination of the reader, creating a mental picture of the area in question.

The Historic Landscape Character Themes are designed to be used alongside the Historic Landscape Character Areas descriptions.

An outline of the main characteristics of each Historic Landscape Theme in the AONB can be explored in the key themes section of the website.

Alternatively the summary descriptions of each Historic Landscape Character Theme can be downloaded by clicking here. The themes covered include Ancient Boundaries and Land Ownership, Fields, Hunting Landscapes, Historic Parks and gardens, Industry, Routeways, and Settlement.

Additional themes recently prepared include Farms and Farming, Open Land, Industry and Water in the landscape and can be downloaded by clicking here.