LOWER CHESS VALLEY summary assessment evaluation guidelines area 6

County map showing location of LANDSCAPE CHARACTER AREA Stevenage

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Watford

area 6

LOCATION KEY CHARACTERISTICS This area follows the Chess Valley between the M25 in the • strongly north-east and south-west facing valley north west and its confluence with the Rivers Gade and • urban development generally well concealed in tree Colne. The valley passes to the north of Rickmansworth and groups or set back on the higher ground to the west of Croxley Green. • narrow floodplain with meandering small river • M25 major feature crossing the valley to the north west LANDSCAPE CHARACTER • grounds of Rickmansworth Park, now Royal Masonic A marked valley feature with steep side slopes and a School distinctive yet narrow valley floor. To the north west there are areas of woodland, together with residential areas set in DISTINCTIVE FEATURES mature well-treed gardens. To the south, land use is a mix • former watercress beds to the south of grazing on the valley floor and some arable on the valley • aquatic garden centre and tropical fish business slopes • Chess Valley walk

Chess Valley • from Croxley Green (J. Billingsley)

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PHYSICAL INFLUENCES Vegetation and wildlife. Woods within the area are Geology and soils. There are contrasting geology and soil discrete and typically linear, emphasising either the river types within the area. The more steeply sloping ground to course or the upper slopes. River species include poplar, the north east comprises a mix of chalk and chalky drift alder and willow while on the slopes there is a mix of overlaid by well-drained calcareous and fine silty soils, beech, oak and ash. Beechengrove Wood to the west is the locally deep in valley bottoms and more shallow on valley largest wood in the area and comprises a mix of ancient sides (Coombe 1 association). The south-west slopes are and plantation woodland. There is a mini scarp on the plateau and river-terrace drift overlaid with well-drained valley side within the wood where chalk is locally exposed fine loamy and coarse loamy over clayey soils with slight and beech is dominant. In other areas there is chalk seasonal waterlogging (Marlow series). On the narrow grassland and scrub on the lower slopes. Within the valley bottom the geology is a chalky and gravelly river wooded areas, including parts of the Loudwater residential alluvium with shallow calcareous and non-calcareous loamy areas, the nationally scarce coralroot bittercress is frequent. soils over flint gravel, affected by groundwater with small Hedge species include hawthorn, hazel and field maple, pockets of peat (Frome series). generally in a declining condition. A number of the Topography. Strong valley landform. boundaries within the floodplain are marked by fences. Degree of slope. Side slopes generally 1 in 10 but locally Along the chalk stream there are alluvial pastures on gravel as steep as 1 in 4. and chalk and limited rich fen communities. Altitude range. Valley floor varies between 48-63m. Top of slopes between 60-105m. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INFLUENCES Hydrology. The River Chess is often referred to as the The history of the valley has strong links with water cleanest and best of the chalk streams that flow off the management. Features include a Roman water mill, Chilterns, with 'excellent' or 'good' biological quality results watercress beds, a 20th-century trout farm and currently a from Environment Agency tests. On the valley floor the tropical fish-breeding farm. To the south west lies the river meanders vigorously. There are a number of chases, former Rickmansworth Park, which dates back to 1766, secondary channels and quiet cut-off ponds. Some of the now occupied by the 1930 Royal Masonic School. Features frequent spring sources were modified in the 19th century of the park still exist, most notably the walled garden by to form the now-derelict watercress beds. These add the Chess, the avenue of limes and individual specimen character to the area and highlight the way that the trees on the higher ground. watercourse has been utilised by man. There is a risk of Field pattern. Areas of meadow pasture pre-dating 1880 localised flooding along the valley bottom. There are no remain within the area. Some 20th-century enclosure has significant watercourses on the valley sides. taken place on the side slopes. South of Loudwater, the Land cover and land use. There is a mixed though field pattern comprises small to medium irregular fields coherent pattern of land cover. Riverside meadow pasture enclosed in part by mixed tall hedges. predominates south of Loudwater. The side slopes outside Transport pattern. A pattern of minor, sinuous and narrow Croxley Green have arable land cover on the better local roads runs across the valley. Some lanes are sunken calcareous soils. From Loudwater to the M25 the area is where they rise up the steepest slopes. settled, with low-density housing set in mature and well- Settlements and built form. Historic settlement on the treed ground, both along the valley floor and on the side slopes included only a few isolated farms and cottages, slopes. Houses are concealed behind groups of mature often rendered in white. A number of waterside properties trees. To the north an aquatic garden centre has a pleasant line the river, including a mill (now a restaurant) to the setting alongside the river, spoilt by the thundering traffic south and isolated brick houses and weatherboarded barns. on the M25. To the south west the grounds of the Royal Chess Place is a gault brick Victorian house. Twentieth- Masonic School are a significant feature together with the century development has been much more extensive, associated public recreation ground along the valley floor. particularly at Loudwater. Here, large ‘Metroland’ houses are well integrated among tree groups to give a mature sylvan character.

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VISUAL AND SENSORY PERCEPTION This is a contained landscape with limited views from ACCESSIBILITY outside the area due to the strong valley landform and tree There are a number of rights of way through the area both cover on the upper slopes. Views within the area are limited along and across the valley. The Chess Valley Walk follows to individual sections due to woodland groups on the valley the valley but only locally follows the course of the river. floor or the curving nature of the valley. Apart from by the The route is not always well signed and part of its length is M25 the area is secluded and quiet. narrow and inhospitable, being enclosed by high close- Rarity and distinctiveness. boarded fencing. This an unusual landscape type. Its distinctive qualities are the combination of residential areas within mature COMMUNITY VIEWS woodland and the high quality of the chalk river This part of the generally well-regarded Chess Valley has environment. some significantly distinctive and valued aspects (C). Re. River Chess: 'the pleasant bottoms of this county, the VISUAL IMPACT hills being shaded with beech, oak and birch' (Thomas The M25 is a major impact to the north west, crossing by Baskerville's 1696 recollection). cutting and embankment. The traffic is partly visually contained by acoustic fencing. Pylons are locally disruptive LANDSCAPE RELATED DESIGNATIONS to the south. There has been considerable land-use change Chilterns AONB (to north including Beechengrove Wood). to residential but this has been well integrated in the wooded setting.

CONDITION STRENGTH OF CHARACTER Land cover change: localised Impact of landform: prominent Age structure of tree cover: mature Impact of land cover: apparent Extent of semi-natural habitat survival: fragmented Impact of historic pattern: interrupted Management of semi-natural habitat: poor Visibility from outside: locally visible Survival of cultural pattern: interrupted Sense of enclosure: contained Impact of built development: moderate Visual unity: coherent Impact of land-use change: moderate Distinctiveness/rarity: unusual

Strengthen Conserve Safeguard and and and reinforce strengthen manage

Improve Improve Conserve and and and reinforce conserve restore MODERATE

CONDITION Restore Improve condition Reconstruct and to maintain POORrestore GOOD character

WEAK MODERATE STRONG STRENGTH OF CHARACTER

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STRATEGY AND GUIDELINES FOR MANAGING CHANGE: IMPROVE AND CONSERVE • emphasise the valley form by planting new woodlands • further residential development, including extensions, to and shelterbelts on the top of the valley slopes and on be closely controlled to maintain the density of tree cover the plateau edge • resist the targeting of redundant or derelict pasture for • promote hedgerow restoration and creation throughout development the area to provide visual and ecological links between • traffic calming measures, where considered necessary, existing and proposed woodland areas. Pattern to follow must be of a scale and design that relates to the local historic field boundaries where possible landscape character of the settlement • encourage the establishment of wet native woodland • enhance the historic and ecological setting of the Royal along watercourses, including alder and pollarded willow Masonic School. Encourage new planting to maintain age • encourage the establishment of buffer strips of semi- diversity. Ensure landscape improvements respect the natural vegetation along all watercourses, avoiding form and character of parkland and gardens. Ornamental potential conflict with recreational use species should only be used to replace damaged or over- • support measures to maintain the good water quality of mature specimens the Chess • ensure that design proposals for minor roads fit the grain • protect river corridors and water meadows from of the local landscape both horizontally and vertically; development that would alter their character visually or avoid significant impact on the local field pattern and environmentally, such as culverting, impact on a hedgerows floodplain, loss of water meadows, ditches or storage • maintain and develop the traditional pattern of roadside ponds verges as a local feature and a wildlife resource • improve the management of old meadows and pastures by ceasing fertiliser and herbicide application and introducing sensitive grassland management such as late hay cutting or low-density livestock grazing • promote crop diversification and the restoration of mixed livestock/arable farming where possible • encourage reversion from arable uses to pasture and grassland • negotiate improvements to the routeing, signage and width of the Chess Valley Walk. Improve the style and height of perimeter fencing/boundaries, with a move to hedging and traditional fencing types and away from close-board fencing • manage hedgerows along rights of way and roads to give selective views along the valley • protect the open floodplain and valley sides from further built development • encourage working with residents and landowners to retain, manage and enhance the distinctive wooded character of the Loudwater area. Include tree planting to allow for trees that are becoming over-mature

• Chess Plain at Loudwater (HCC Landscape Unit)

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