Dervlock Farmlands Landscape

Key Characteristics

• Open, rolling intensive farmland crossed by numerous shallow valleys. Mixed land uses dominated by improved pastures and some arable fields.
• Medium sized regularly shaped fields separated by neatly trimmed hedgerows, fences and some trees. Large area of plantation woodland.
• Scattered small settlements and individual houses, bungalows and farm buildings along edges of straight lanes and up short access tracks.
• White painted two storey traditional buildings, and large new farms with associated long horizontal barns.

Landscape Description

The Dervock Farmlands, situated north of Ballymoney, comprise open, rolling intensive farmland crossed by small valleys of the tributaries of the River Bush. The area is underlain by the rocks of the Upper Basalts and has fertile brown soils. Mixed land uses are characteristic, dominated by improved pasture, potato fields and some arable use. A regular patchwork of fields is separated by neatly clipped hedgerows, fences and mature hedgerow trees, which have a windswept appearance close to the coast. Further inland there are small flat areas of raised bog, sometimes cut for peat. Broadleaved woodland is associated with small estate landscapes such as Ballylough House and Benvardin House.

Large areas of straight edged conifer forestry, such as Clare and Broughgammon Wood are also found on the higher ground near the coast, and the low lying flat wet area around Inver Burn. The River Bush has riverside trees and pastures alongside. Small scattered settlements include Dervock, and are connected by a network of straight roads and lanes, along which there are individual houses and farm buildings. Farms are often located at the end of drives within clumps of trees, whilst newer houses are on roadsides. Grey and white pebbledash buildings, and large new farms with associated big long horizontal barns are characteristic. There are also traditional white painted stone farmsteads, with attractive red roofs and distinctive round stone gateposts. The open rolling countryside permits long rural views. More intimate landscapes are associated with river valleys, pockets of fen and woodland.

Landscape Condition and Sensitivity to Change

Farmland is generally in good condition, with a relatively high degree of mechanisation. Hedgerows are well clipped but in places are being replaced with wire fences or are becoming thin due to harsh strimming. Prominent new farm buildings are sometimes out of scale with the landscape and poorly assimilated with trees. Older buildings are usually in good condition and few are derelict but new roadside dwellings are very visible as they are rarely incorporated within trees. The area is quite sensitive to change due to the long views which are available across the landscape. However its already varied land use and the presence of vegetation means that change could be accommodated within the more enclosed areas.

Principles for Landscape Management

• Laying and replanting hedges and hedgerow trees will ensure that the landscape pattern remains intact with minimal use of wire fencing.
• The conservation of the remaining areas of raised bog will help to provide visual and ecological diversity.
• Estate landscapes and their settings should be conserved and enhanced ensuring that trees are planted to replace older trees as they die out, and that woodlands are managed by thinning and replanting as required.
• Planting trees next to large barns will help to assimilate them into the landscape.
• The promotion of riverside trees and shrubs, and semi-improved wet meadows along river corridors will improve their value as corridors for wildlife and features in the landscape and provide a buffer to the leaching of agricultural chemicals into water courses. Riverside access would have recreational benefits, provided it is carefully managed.
• The irregular planting of broad leaf species along the harsh straight edges of conifer woodlands would help to soften and integrate them with surrounding field patterns.

Principles for Accommodating New Development

• Detailed visual analysis would be beneficial before constructing new large farm buildings, which should be screened by planting.
• The retention of the older two storey traditional stone and white painted dwellings, red roofs and round stone gate posts will help conserve the character of the area.
• Tall and upstanding development would be intrusive in this very open horizontal landscape; wires and poles are already prominent, and more would be visually distracting.
• The use of a variety of different building materials in new developments should be avoided; planting of broadleaved native species would help to integrate them within the landscape.