The key characteristics of the Trent Valley Washlands are:

69. Trent Valley Washlands

The key characteristics of the Trent Valley Washlands are:

• Flat broad valleys, contained by gentle side slopes, with wide rivers slowly flowing between alluvial terraces.

• Constant presence of urban development, mostly on valley sides, in places sprawling across the valley and transport corridors following the valley route.

• Contrasts of secluded pastoral areas, with good hedgerow structure, and open arable with low hedges.

• Strong influence of riparian vegetation, where rivers are defined by lines of willow pollards and poplars.

• Open character punctuated by massive cooling towers of power stations and strongly influenced by pylons, sand and gravel extraction, and roads.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.