Landscape Character Assessment - Chelmsford Borough Council

141A6 UPPER CHELMER RIVER VALLEY (shared with Uttlesford District)Key Characteristics Narrow valley, with a restrictedvalley floor. Small meandering river channelon the left side of the valleyclose to the rising ground of thevalley side. Dense riverside trees. Arable valley sides with a fairlyopen character. Small linear settlements occupythe upper valley sides or straggledown to a few bridging points. Historic watermills and SecondWorld War pillboxes aredistinctive features. Mostly tranquil away from GreatDunmow, Chelmsford and theA120.Overall CharacterThe River Chelmer and its valleystretches from the southern edge ofthe historic town of Thaxted withits tall church spire and wind mill,southwards to the point at which theriver meets the urban edge ofChelmsford. It is a narrow valleywithin the surrounding gentlyundulating boulder clay plateau. There are several small tributary streams that form valley sides suchas the Stebbing Brook that joins the River Chelmer north of Felsted. The gently undulating valleyfloor has an enclosed character and restricted views often framed by the many riverside and hedgerow11100101R Final LCAs_09-06Section 5.0 – Landscape Character of Chelmsford Borough