Steep Landscape Character Assessment Contents Introduction 1 Landscape History 2 The Landscape Today 5 Our Landscape Appraisal Process 9 Field Surveys 9 Some Statistics 10 Capturing the landscape character 10 Field Survey Results 11 Principal views and features 18 Public Opinion 20 Expert Opinion 21 National Park Ranger 21 Countryside Service Manager 22 Parish Tree Warden 22 Biodiversity 24 Aspects of Landscape Management 28 Trees and woodland 28 Forestry and timber management 28 Incremental change 28 Agriculture and farming 29 Turf Production 30 Equestrian activities 30 Gold Course 30 Relationships with the South Downs National Park Authority 31 Landscape Management Priorities and Design Guidance 32 Conclusions 35

The following reports also form part of the work of the Steep Parish Plan Steering Group and are available in separate documents, either accessible through the Steep Parish Plan website www.steepparishplan.org.uk or from the Steep Parish Clerk.

Steep Parish Plan Steep Buildings and Monuments Record Steep Settlement Character Assessment

October 2012 Introduction Our landscape is one of the most important (CPRE). Their goal is to assist factors that makes our area special, and is the production of these assessments to an essential element in all our lives. This help “local people influence the decisions Local Landscape Character Assessment that local authorities and landowners report describes the key elements of make about local landscapes and help to that landscape; explains how they have ensure that future change protects local developed; and looks at how they can be distinctiveness.” We were also encouraged protected and managed in the future. by Hampshire County Council to test this approach to Local Landscape Character Landscape character refers to the Assessment (LLCA) as part of our work on contribution that the different elements the Parish Plan. of our countryside, the roads & tracks, the settlements and the built environment The report concludes that Steep has a make to the local sense of place and much-loved landscape of outstanding distinctiveness. The report covers the quality which is in a healthy condition. landform in the various landscape areas, However, it is also a fragile asset which will the and soils, and the landscape need to be carefully nurtured and managed issues that matter to those who live and if future generations are to be able to work in Steep. appreciate it as we do. The pressures to which the landscape is subject - and how We were helped in undertaking our they might be addressed - are examined in assessment by material produced by some detail in the report. the Campaign for the Protection of Rural

“The landscape retains the most permanent marks of the past, and a wise ex- amination of it should evoke the beginnings of the majestic sentiment and our oneness with the future and the past, just as natural history should help to give the child a sense of oneness with all forms of life. To put it at its lowest, some such cycle of knowledge is needed if a generation that insists more and more on living in the country is not to be bored or to be compelled to entrench itself behind the imported amusements of the town.” Edward Thomas - The South Country

1 Landscape History

The northern boundary of the parish is the Hangers (from the Old English word formed by the upper escarpment of the “hangra”) illustrated in the Parish steep-sided wooded slopes known as map below.

Steep Parish

Steep Parish

The Hangers dominate the Steep landscape Lythe Farm comes from the Middle English and have inspired generations by the word lythe meaning sloping hillside. This magnificent views from their steeply cloaked sense of history is an important feature of slopes across the undulating terraces to Steep’s landscape. the Rother Valley and the South Downs. The gently sloping terraces at the foot of the Hampshire County Council’s Archaeology Hangers are characterised by a rich mosaic and Historic Buildings Records show of small fields and wooded copses evidence of a significant concentration (see the aerial photograph) lending an air of of Mesolithic and Bronze Age settlement largely unspoilt spaces and views. On the activity on the heaths around Petersfield ground, there are glimpses of spires and and to the east of Steep. There is also landmark buildings. The network of fields, some evidence to suggest that there was hedges, woods and streams that make up Neolithic settlement and farming further this area at the edge of the Hangers has north in the Wey Valley and on the chalk to been worked from medieval times. Evidence the south. However, it is not clear that any for this can be found in the field patterns, in of this settlement activity extended into the twelfth century All Saints’ Church and in present-day Steep. It seems more likely that the names of the farmsteads. For example, our land was used for grazing and hunting

2 Steep Parish showing the Hangers and Ancient Semi Natural Woodlands (shaded green areas) rather than being settled or farmed in those of Edward Thomas (1878 - 1917), who times. There is little evidence of Iron Age lived in Steep and Froxfield and walked settlement either, but the important Roman the area regularly. The sites of his poetic villa sites at Stroud and Liss – together with descriptions are annually re-visited by some small pottery finds in Steep – suggest members of the Edward Thomas Society that there was a Roman thoroughfare from a wide area, and a memorial to him running diagonally across the area. in the form of a bronze plaque set into a sarsen stone rests on the Shoulder of The Hangers are the defining characteristic Mutton hillside. Long, narrow remnants of of the Steep area. This is the landscape ancient woodland cling to the steep slopes, lyrically celebrated in the prose and poetry because the nature of the terrain has made

Ridge Hanger

3 Cleared assart fields at Steep Marsh

them difficult to cultivate. However, the there are more fields between the copses woods themselves have been exploited in of trees. These fields and enclosures, or the past for woodland products such as assarts as they are known, were created as coppice poles, and there have been small- trees were cleared. The early settlements scale chalk and malmstone extractions. of late and post-medieval times begin as farmsteads at the foot of the Hangers. The fertile soils of the Upper Greensand The pressure on the land has fluctuated terrace, immediately below the scarp, through the years. Evidence suggests that have been subject to intensive arable it was most intense just prior to the Great use, particularly for hop growing in Steep Plague of the seventeenth century. At that Marsh. This is typified by large fields with time, much of the land was being used for wavy boundaries in an irregular pattern, food production. Following the collapse in including a variety of formal and ragged population after the Plague, the pressure on informal hedges. We can still see the poplar the land lessened and forest re-established windbreaks showing where hops were itself on abandoned fields. It is thought that once grown. many of our ancient semi-natural woodlands date back to this period. As you move further from the Hangers

Looking across Aldersnapp Farm to the South Downs across an almost invisible Petersfield

4 The Landscape Today The Hampshire County Integrated Character Assessment and the Landscape Character Assessment both define 23 broad landscape types, based mainly on the underlying geomorphology, ie the rock type, soil etc. Five of these occur in Steep, as shown in the map. The landscape types are numbered in black and our study areas (see page 9) are shown in red.

Steep Parish Landscape Character Assessment black numbers = landscape types red numbers = study areas

The landscape types are briefly described below with an indication of where they are found in Steep. 5c Chalk Scarp

Chalk has been more resistant to the erosive forces than the softer Greensand resulting in the proud steep scarp we recognise as the Hangers; an east facing ridge that forms a dramatic barrier. With high and steep slopes, and significant areas of ancient, semi-natural woodland of beech, yew and lime, the Hangers are recognised as one of Hampshire’s most beautiful and important woodlands. They provide a dramatic and distinctive backdrop to Steep with extensive views to the South Downs and beyond.

The Hangers are rich with birdsong and wild flowers, and carry a pervading sense of history. They present a prominent landscape feature from near and far. When walking on the extensive network of lanes, tracks and paths within the Hangers there are many fine viewpoints out across the parish and beyond to the South Downs chalk escarpment.

The importance of the Hangers is recognised far beyond the parish. They have been given international recognition as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). The Ashford Hangers have been designated a National Nature Reserve (NNR) by English Nature and are part of the Wealden Edge Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

5 View from the Hangers across Steep’s wooded landscape with the South Downs beyond 6a Greensand Terrace

The Greensand terrace landscape comprises the layer of Upper Greensand rock which outcrops at the foot of the steep chalk scarps. Springs emerge from the foot of the chalk scarp and the resulting streams often carve deep valleys through the softer Greensand. Sunken lanes criss-cross the terrace revealing the underlying geology in the deeply eroded banks.

Ashford Lane cutting deep through the Greensand terrace

6 In Steep we find this terrace running from the foot of the Hangers down to Ridge Common Lane in the west of the parish, across Ashford Lane to Church Road in the centre and out to Coldhayes and just short of Steep Marsh in the east. Most of the settlements are found along the terrace because historically this was where reliable sources of water were found.

It is characterised by a sloping undulating profile with an irregular small field pattern, believed to be of medieval origin. Much of the land is today good pasture used for grazing but its fertile nature also lends itself to arable crops. There are many patches of dense woodland.

View from the Hangers across the Wealden farmland mosaic to the distant South Downs 7a Mixed Farmland and Woodland

The Mixed Farmland and Woodland landscape type is found on the mudstones of the Gault Formation www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=GLT and the Lower Greensand beds which are exposed to the east of the Greensand terrace. It comprises a gently undulating lowland vale supporting fields of arable, pasture and woodland.

This landscape type stretches across Stroud and Petersfield to the south and as far as the railway to the east. In the parish it includes Steep Marsh, Burntash, Kettlebrook, parts of Bedales, Dunhill and Aldersnapp.

It is characterised by a more lowland feel to the landscape. The soils, which are often heavy with clay, become muddy in winter and are less productive than those on the terrace. In parts the small irregular field system still exists. Hedgerows are usually thick and studded with oak, ash and hazel. Many are fine mature specimens giving the landscape a mature character.

7 8a Wealden Farmland and Heath Mosaic

The Wealden Farmland and Heath Mosaic lies in the east of the district on a bed of sandstone. The geology gives rise to a well-drained, sandy lowland landscape supporting a patchwork of oak-birch woodland, conifer plantations, open sandy heaths and rough grazed pasture.

In Steep this landscape type is found to the east of the old A3 alongside the A272 at Westmark and along the River Rother. It is characterised by large well drained sandy fields, usually planted with arable crops. Hedgerows are more intermittent than in other parts of the parish and there is much less tree cover. Despite their relative scarcity, mature trees still make an impact on the landscape.

The sandy lowlands at Westmark 9a Greensand Hills

The Greensand hills are steep, prominent hills formed by the more resistant sandstones of the Hythe Formation www.bgs.ac.uk/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?pub=HY.

In Steep a small tip of this landscape type exists at St Mary and to the north of Westmark farm. From there the Greensand hills climb as they extend north-east over Hillbrow to Durford Heath and beyond. Our small section, however, has a distinctly lowland feel and is barely distinguishable from the Wealden Farmland and Heath Mosaic which it borders at Westmark. We have therefore grouped these two landscape types together as the “sandy lowlands”.

8 Our Landscape Appraisal Process and Results Starting with the landscape classification described on page 5, the Local Landscape Char- acter Assessment set about examining it in more detail through field surveys (captured in both words and pictures); desk research; interviews with local experts involved in managing the landscape; and public consultation through exhibitions and the Parish Survey. Informa- tion was also collected from a wide variety of sources such as the Hampshire Biodiversity Information Centre and archaeological records held by Hampshire County Council. Field Surveys

For the purposes of the field survey, the parish was divided into six areas. These areas are marked out and labelled in red on the map on page 5. Each of the areas 1 - 4 was similar in that they covered an area that stretched down from the Hangers across the Greensand terrace to the Mixed Farmland and Woodland system that meets the A3. Area 5 was similar but did not include any section of the Hangers, and continued into the Greensand hills comprising the Adhurst Estate and the golf course. Area 6 was different comprising the sandy lowlands south east of the railway around Westmark and the Rother Valley.

In each area a team of volunteers, headed by a team leader, carried out an initial survey in February/March 2011 and followed this up in the summer. Information was collected using standardised forms with both “tick-boxes” and open-ended questions, capturing the landscape elements as well as changes over time and noting potential or actual threats. In addition, photographs were collected throughout the year to try and capture the landscape in all its moods.

The forms enabled the surveyor to record and describe the following elements:

• Feelings and associations • Historic features (eg banks, ancient trees, archaeological sites) • Other man-made features (eg industry, tourism, infrastructure) • Characteristic features of houses and settlements • Characteristic features and patterns of agriculture and forestry, hedges • Land cover (vegetation, trees, wildlife, habitats) • Soil type and use • Landform • Climate & hydrology, rivers, ponds • Rocks (surface geology).

A separate field survey form was used to describe linear features such as lanes, tracks and footpaths.

Inaugural landscape meeting at the Cricketers Landscape Field Training

9 The table below shows how the study areas relate to the landscape types used by EHDC and the associated landscape features.

Local feature EHDC Landscape Types Surface features On-the-ground Study Areas boundaries The Hangers 5c Steep wooded slopes Along the northern Areas 1,2,3,4 with many long edge of the parish distant views Greensand 6a Undulating terrain, The gently sloping terrace Areas 1,2,3,4,5 mixed farms and land stretching from woodland, the Hangers to the settlements and farm lower farmland buildings Mixed farmland 7a Flatter farmland The flat land and woodland Areas 1,2,3,4,5 interspersed with stretching from the copses of woodland, slopes of the terrace often muddy in the to the railway winter Sandy lowlands 8a,9a Mainly flat terrain, South-east of the Area 6 hills to east, railway mixed farms and woodland

Some Statistics

The field survey effort was launched as part of the Steep Parish Plan process at an open exhibition held in the Village Hall in November 2010. The exhibition included a brief description of Steep’s landscapes and copies of the Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) assessment forms. An introductory workshop for volunteers from the community was held in January 2011, followed by an ‘on-site’ field event to provide training in completing the forms. The purpose here was to ensure that the data was collected by all volunteers in a uniform manner.

The information from the field survey forms was collated into a database, including all of the textual input. A total of 59 forms for landscapes and 25 forms for lanes, tracks and footpaths were returned. A total of 78 views - covering all of the significant views in Steep - were described and photographed.

Numbers of data forms returned Area No: EHDC Landscape Landscape forms Lane, track & Types included footpath forms 1 5c,6a,7a 9 4 2 5c,6a,7a 12 5 3 5c,6a,7a 14 5 4 5c,6a,7a 16 7 5 6a,7a 5 2 6 7a,8a,9a 4 2

Capturing the Landscape Character Landscapes are widely variable. As described earlier, the EHDC classification uses the land- form (such as hills, valleys and plains), the underlying geology and soils, and the land cover (such as grassland, forest and arable) to define the broad landscape types.

To take these to a more detailed level, we looked at the arrangement of surface features

10 that create a memorable view or special place and used these to provide descriptions of the main landscape features.

Steep is exceptionally rich in the beauty and diversity of its views, which change with the seasons. New vistas are opened, for example, as leaves fall from the trees. Field Survey Results

We have summarised below a few of the descriptions provided by each area team to give a flavour of how people described their landscapes, and how they felt about them.

Area 1: – Lythe Lane runs up through the centre of the area. Your eye is always drawn to the looming Lythe Hanger as you climb steadily up the sloping terrace. Small irregular fields give way to the rough (and often muddy!) BOAT 31 (byway open to all traffic) as it twists and climbs up steeply through the wooded Lythe Hanger. There are great views out from Lythe Hanger across Petersfield to the retreating South Downs and enticing rolling terraces grab your attention, hugging the bottom of the scarp. The lower part of the area below Ridge Common Lane contains the rolling flatter land of Aldersnapp Farm down to the A3. Here the views are dominated by the South Downs and especially by Butser Hill that seems to rise from just the other side of the A272. Unfortunately the splendid long views have to compete with the constant drone of traffic from the A3 and the A272! The area also has its secret little places like the sunken lane junction with Ridge Common Lane at Sandsbury Lane (this must surely once have connected to its namesake at Dunhill) and lost worlds such as Fox Hollow.

Footpath Undulating Greensand terrace

Area 2: Ridge Hanger to the north-east is part of the National Nature Reserve and has SSSI designation. Beech and yew are the main tree species with some oak on the boundaries of the scarp and a lot of young ash in the under-storey. Below the Hanger, the undulating terrain of the Greensand terrace slopes gradually down to the A3. On the terrace, the dominant land users are farmers: Ridge Farm, Stonerwood, Collyers, Soal Farm and Aldersnapp Farm. All contain collections of mature trees that enhance the landscape. There are clusters of attractive traditional farm labourers’ cottages along Ridge Common Lane which are visible only from vantage points on the Hangers.

11 Ridge Common Lane settlement

This area is characterised by grassland grazing interspersed with copses of mature oak woodland linked with well-established hedgerows containing many fine trees. Fields are generally small to medium in size and irregular in shape, often dictated by geographic features. Outside the wooded areas, land use is principally beef and sheep grazing. The principal views enjoyed are up to the wooded scarp slope, along Ridge Common Lane and across the undulating Greensand terrace, and south across the plain to Butser Hill and the retreating South Downs. There are good footpaths throughout the area, most radiating out from Petersfield up to the Hangers. BOAT 33 is of special significance as it was the main coach road to Winchester before the building of Stoner Road in the 19th century. It retains a sense of grandeur today with the towering trees lining the sculpted coach road. The Old Coach Road

Area 3: Dominated by the Hangers scarp to the north, and Greensand terrace below. The southern section includes the Bedales estate and the built-up area of Church Road - the most “urbanised’ area of Steep and the one that is most affected by local traffic noise.

This area more than others has many water features to enhance local views. Tree and hedge cover is good and the open campus of Bedales provides an important buffer between Petersfield and Steep. On the western boundary, the C18 road runs from the small hamlet at Dunhill to the crossroads dominated by the Cricketers pub. A small copse at the crossroad is unused and untidy, but provides a locally important wildlife refuge. Stoner Hill leading up the Hanger is fringed with beech trees and, as it winds up to Froxfield, the tree cover becomes extensive.

Views out to Steep and beyond are framed by the trees of Ashford Hanger and the National Nature Reserve. Below, the tree cover is edged by fields and small copses and within the slopes of the Hangers are a series of paths and tracks, linking the various ways for walkers

12 Ashford Chace

and riders. The Ashford Stream rises and cuts its way through the landscape, feeding Lutcombe Pool, the Mill Ponds and waterfall before meandering through the countryside to join the River Rother. At its heart, Mill Lane provides an impressive view of the range of the Hangers, from Ridge Hanger in the west to Wheatham Hill in the east. Clothed in trees, including the dark of the yews, the open prospect of the Shoulder Ashford Lane of Mutton stands out. The area of assarts around Steep Marsh also contributes to the intimate scale of the landscape.

Area 4: As in areas 1, 2 and 3, the steep scarp of the Hangers continues to be the prominent feature of the landscape. This area more than others contains a network of ancient and picturesque tracks and sunken lanes, criss-crossing the prized landscape. The principal ones are Ashford Lane, Mill Lane, Kettlebrook, Old Litten Lane, Middle Path and footpaths 22a, 24, View from Poet’s Stone 26, 27 and 32. These offer outstanding examples of sunken lanes in good condition, remarkable for the depth of their root- bound banks and the cathedral-like sense of the enclosing trees overhead. The byways occasionally intersect with attractive streams and in one case, in Mill Lane, a waterfall. Old Litten Lane is one of our most venerable bridleways, ascending from Cottage Lane along a tree-cloaked spine to the highest point of the Hangers and the Froxfield plateau. Middle Path provides a broadly level traverse of the Hangers just below the level of the Poet’s

13 Cobbett’s View, looking north beyond Steep Parish from Wheatam Hill

Stone, from its junction with Old Litten Lane in the east to its connection with the bridleway descending to Lutcombe Bottom in the west. It offers some of the finest views from the Hangers over Petersfield and stretching to the distant vistas of the South Downs. The numbered footpaths lead from the Hangers down to the Harrow and the level below the Greensand terrace, through Steep Marsh Farmland grass farmland and small woods.

Area 5: From Rockpits Lane east to the eastern boundary of the Parish, including an area south of the A3. This is an area of contrasts with the River Rother; the railway; Petersfield Golf Course; the A3 and its busy traffic; the hamlet of Steep Marsh in its open setting; and some attractive footpaths. Along the Rother the parish Ashford Farm boundary hugs the river banks, clothed in woods. Tankerdale Farm is hidden from the lane but visible from the railway. The Golf Course provides a manicured landscape of bunkers, lawns and small water features with the Club House looking out at the views. The impact of the A3 is strong, making a barrier of noise and traffic that cuts off this part of Steep from the rest of the parish, so that it is only accessible by vehicle. Steep Marsh with fields, small copses, hedges and farm buildings is a more typical rural landscape overlooked by the Victorian mansion of Coldhayes. Its backcloth of trees and Hangers give the area a structured aspect with views up to the scarp and out in the distance to the Downs.

14 The Ashford Stream glides gently through Steep Marsh

Area 6: This area forms part of the gently undulating sandstone valley enclosed to the north by the Greensand hills of the Weald. It contains part of the course of the River Rother which flows east-west along a narrow floodplain, within a gently meandering course. Whilst the area lacks the more dramatic features found in the rest of Steep, it is an attractive area to explore with footpaths and sunken lanes, attractive wooded and heath areas, and sweeping vistas across to the South Downs. Part of the landscape is heavily wooded around Adhurst St Mary. The remainder comprises areas which are divided into fields of varying size, bounded by intermittent hedgerows. It has well-drained, but easily eroded, sandy soils, cultivated as arable farmland and for turf production. This combination of large arable fields and relatively sparse woodland contributes to an open landscape in which isolated oaks are an important visual feature. The only settlements consist of scattered farmsteads (some, like Westmark Farm, of medieval origin) and Adhurst St Mary with its park.

The sandy lowland farmland at Westmark

15 Lutcombe Pond

Here are some other more poetic examples reported on the field survey forms:

a. Long Views “…peaceful view where you can enjoy watching the spring lambs, or free range turkeys in the latter half of the year. Buzzards fly overhead. Primroses flower in the meadow behind you”; “…while walking on the contoured Middle Path of the Hangers, the occasional glimpse through gaps in the trees where one sees the distant South Downs in the heat haze of summer and can imagine the sea beyond”.

b. Linear views: Lanes, tracks and footpaths “…a corridor view from the Ellen McCutcheon memorial bench down the Butterfly Path to the gently undulating plain, leading to the distant South Downs - yews to the right and mainly beech to the left. Slope is cleared of intrusive dogwood from time to time”. “…ancient sunken lanes, shaded by majestic veteran oaks and luxuriant ferns on both sides mixed with the succession of wildflower blossom as the seasons advance.”

c. Special and enclosed places “…primroses flourish in Jack’s Meadow, also cowslips”; “…Lutcombe Pond, watching the damsel flies darting among reeds and marsh marigolds - my favourite peaceful respite from life’s daily pressures.” “…where the bridge crosses the swell of the Ashford stream at its confluence with the stream from Taylor’s Copse, in the cool glade surrounded by birdsong…”

16 Four Seasons of Strawberry Hanger d. Colours “…the seasonal colour change from spring pale to summer deep green through autumn’s yellow/orange/red and russet to winter’s brown. In the hedgerows the abundance of bright red holly and other white and purple berries.” e. Bounty “…path margins rich with wild garlic, the hedgerows were overgrown and full of late blackberries, sloes and elderberries; acorns and beech mast on the ground and leaves were starting to fall from the trees.”

And frustrations “…footpaths are the best way to enjoy our landscapes; variety at every turn: nearby natural marvels, to glorious, reflective, long views at openings. But footpaths need maintenance. Each round of landscape assessment poses new issues, whether we sink up to our ankles in mud, or dried up but deeply rutted and hard to walk on; and later, often overgrown with brambles and nettles.”

17 Principal views and features - summary table

Landscape Group Major elements What we like

The Hangers • long view of distant South • sense of historic past Downs • long views unchanged for Type 5c • undulating lower slopes, a very long time; generally Major scarps: forests & woods, patterns of tranquil (except for distant steeply sloping; fields, pastures, and hedges traffic noise) mainly wooded • framed distant steeples, • absence of towns; major roads villages & towns are screened from view • the Parish Common • footpaths with distant views • benches & the Poet’s Stone • birdsong, cries of buzzards wheeling above • Edward Thomas associations

The Greensand • upward views of the scarp and • Ashford Stream and its terrace the skyline of the Hangers tributaries covered in extensive mixed • waterfall, Lutcombe Pond; and Type 6a woodlands sound of running water undulating sloping • shorter views to Hangers from • wildflowers, garlic smells terrace immediately Ashford Lane • iconic solitary trees beneath the Hangers • mixed woodland, gentle slopes • the Hangers Way through the • streams or ponds woods from the Common • fields with curving boundaries • sunken lanes with high banks enclosed by trees and hedges and tree cover • footpaths moving in and out of woodland

Mixed farmland and • upward views of the scarp and • Emma’s Walk through Bedales woodland the skyline of the Hangers grounds on Footpath 14 covered in extensive mixed • Arts and Crafts buildings and Type 7a woodlands older heritage Gault clay; woods • mixed woodland • occasional old farm buildings and pastures • streams or ponds • wildflowers, garlic smells between the slopes • sunken lanes, with deep • the gathering stream and of the Greensand root-bound banks, diverse wooded seclusion of Taylor’s terrace and the vegetation, emerging onto Copse railway fields • occasional benches • shifting long & short views

Sandy lowlands • grassy lanes • peaceful birdsong • open fields with alternating • rural smells Type 8a & 9a; hedges and open borders • occasional old farm buildings Greensand hills and • the banks and wildlife along • numerous wildflowers & berries Wealden farmland the River Rother • prominent stands of mature south of railway; • sweeping views across the trees in the open landscape Adhurst St Mary, Rother valley to the South and the fields along Downs Westmark and the Rother Valley

18 What we dislike Present & future threats

• the ubiquitous noise of A3 traffic • development pressures in the • prominent electricity pylons & middle distance cables • increasing visitor numbers as • lasting signs of man’s intrusion in National Park publicity takes hold, the landscape possible impact on peace and • paddocks that break up fields tranquillity • un-maintained paths and stiles • increasing signage • litter • random parking

• lack of indicators and distances • increasing visitor numbers; greater on footpaths traffic density on A3, increasing • motorcycles churning the mud noise • footpaths overgrown by nettles or • visually intrusive development brambles • traffic on C18, Church Road and Ridge Common Lane • more and faster delivery traffic on smaller rural lanes • increasing numbers of walkers and equestrian users on poorly maintained paths and tracks

• increasing motor traffic on rural • visually intrusive development lanes; careless, speeding, or over- • both heavy and light traffic through sized Steep Marsh • dangerous footpath-crossings over • more and faster delivery traffic on the railway at ground level smaller rural lanes

• on some paths, the dominating • run-off of agricultural chemicals, traffic noise of A3 and/or A272 polluting the River Rother • the invasion of alien species such as Himalayan balsam taking over the river bank

19 Public Opinion The Parish Plan Survey in June 2011 included four questions about landscapes. In their responses people emphasised how much they valued the landscape, mentioning sunken lanes, open skies, the variety of trees and so on. They expressed concern about the potential of small details (such as overhead cables and excessive signage) to threaten the “natural” quality of the countryside.

On the subject of noise, traffic on the A3 and A272 and the sound of Chinook helicopters were the main sources of irritation (although it was often noted that the helicopters were active for important and tolerable reasons).

Respondents generally supported the need for the Parish Council and the South Downs National Park Authority to work together on how the landscape was to be managed. When asked about the impact that possibly increasing numbers of visitors might have on the landscape as a result of the National Park, more than 80% of respondents were either happy with the prospect or unconcerned. However, many commented on the need to manage the effects of potentially increased numbers, especially on traffic movement, parking and litter.

As always, a wide range of opinion was expressed and almost any subject provoked reactions ranging from those who wish to see a passive approach to the future to those who wanted emerging threats to be actively managed. The challenge for the Parish Council, the SDNPA and community groups is to respond sensitively to the more actively-inclined majority, while being clear that any actions are intended to conserve the character of the landscape that everyone values so strongly.

During the development of the appraisal, four public exhibitions were held about the Parish Plan. All included sections on the countryside and landscape, and invited comments.

• 13 March 2010 – an introduction to the Plan • 13 November 2010 – a report on progress; an introduction to the landscape assessment; and a request for volunteers for landscape fieldwork • 2 April 2011 – an exhibition specifically devoted to landscape, reporting on the results so far • 19 November 2011 – an update on the work of Parish Plan and the landscape assessment, including the results of the survey.

Through the feedback from these exhibitions (which were attended by about 250 people in all) the landscape descriptions, and the actions required to conserve them, were progressively refined. Throughout the process, the warmth of feeling for our surroundings was strikingly evident, and the issues raised were consistent (and echoed those which had been highlighted in the survey).

20 Expert Opinion Our landscape appears the way it does as a result of management. As part of our assessment, we met with three people who have direct involvement in the management of our landscape: Nick Heasman, the South Downs National Park Western Area Ranger Team Manager; Jim Hobson, the Hampshire County Council Countryside Service Manager for the Ashford Hangers; and Drake Hocking, our Parish Tree Warden. They were asked about our landscape, its management and the possible threats to its future.

Nick Heasman - SDNP Western Area Ranger Team Manager

The statutory obligations of the SDNPA are described later on page 31, but the day-to- day operation of their duties is much more subtle. Nick sees his role as largely advisory, working with other bodies to help and advise communities and groups as they strive to become more sustainable and to enhance their environment. Sometimes it can be as straightforward as providing specialist knowledge. It may also involve connecting individuals to the right person, or to sources of funds such as the Sustainable Communities Fund (SCF). He is clear that his role is not to march into communities to tell them what they can and cannot do. The work is mostly about engaging in small projects with groups, as and when the opportunity presents itself. Recent projects in Steep include:

• working with Jim Hobson from the Hampshire Countryside Service on restoring some hedgerows • arranging volunteer rangers to assist with rhododendron eradication on the Adhurst estate • advising a local landowner on ways of managing a piece of neglected mixed woodland in a way that could both derive income for the owner and improve the sustainability of the woodland as a broadleaf ecosystem • advising a landowner on land management strategies other than converting large tracts of land to turf production (a valuable crop, but one that brings with it some ecological challenges, described on page 30)..

Protecting juniper seedlings

21 It is all about constantly nudging communities in the right direction to a more sustainable and biodiverse future through better stewardship of the land.

Jim Hobson – Hampshire County Council Countryside Service Manager

Jim Hobson works for Hampshire County Council Countryside Service and has responsibility for managing the Ashford Hangers Nature Reserve (AHNR). This is his daily workplace, so he has built up an intimate knowledge of the reserve over the five years he has worked here and cares for it with a passion.

His work is focussed on the maintenance and improvement of the habitat, in addition to the management of access to the AHNR. Many of these projects are long-term, with a goal of improvement over a number of seasons. For example, the work on reduction and possible eradication of dogwood on the Shoulder of Mutton has been going on for two years. He hopes progress will finally be evident after his latest round of spraying and mowing at the end of the 2012 growing season.

Jim is optimistic about the future of the AHNR. Its distance from major population centres coupled with relatively poor road access means that the numbers of visitors to the reserve are manageable. The National Park is large and diffuse and he does not expect a massive increase in footfall as a result of our inclusion within its boundary. There is, of course, an issue with the Shoulder of Mutton. It is rightly a very popular spot but the thin and sensitive soil can be very quickly damaged by trampling in adverse conditions. Some protective work is currently in place to manage this problem. He is keen to make more use of the Middle Path for access to and from the Shoulder of Mutton and would be supportive if a walk leaflet was produced that promoted its use.

Current topics on Jim’s mind are:

• deer and squirrels constantly attack the young beeches and he is conscious that the senior landmark beech trees are being lost, one by one, to storms and old age. Establishing the next generation is not easy, but efforts are being made and a licence has been granted to reduce deer numbers • the gradual increase in the amount of land devoted to equestrian use is perhaps one of the more obvious changes in the appearance of the landscape, with its tendency to subdivide ancient irregular fields into smaller regular units. • four-by-four vehicles and motorcycles do pose a threat to the byways through the carving of deep ruts and other damage to the ground surface, but he feels that this problem should not be overstated. He believes that the reserve should be enjoyed by everyone, not just a few ‘hairy botanists’.

He doesn’t think there is another patch of woodland in Hampshire as rich as the AHNR and believes he has the best job in the county!

Drake Hocking – Steep Parish Tree Warden

The Tree Warden is the advocate for trees in the parish and is the eyes and ears of the arboricultural staff of the Heritage section of the SDNPA Planning Department. It is a non-remunerated appointment of the Parish Council and advises the Parish Council and residents on all matters relating to trees.

Tree health in Steep is good, but we have to stay alert for potential problems and step in promptly when they occur. It can take a long time before tree problems become visible and by then they are often irreversible. Tree Protection Orders (TPOs) are a very useful tool to protect heritage trees, those which are important to the view as well as to the ecology of the area. Negligent, as well as wilful, acts of damage to trees under TPOs are punishable by unlimited fines. There are three TPOs on individual trees in Steep (two on Steep Common) and two TPOs on groups of trees in Steep Marsh. Drake believes there is a strong case for more TPOs in Steep to preserve the beauty of the landscape.

22 The felling of the Hangers Way Oak

In 2011, the felling of the ancient oak on the Hangers Way near Ashford Chace aroused strong feelings and poetic associations. There was a complex set of factors at work which finally resulted in its loss.

Drake feels that the experience with the Hangers Way oak highlighted the need for greater education about the value of trees within the community. One useful outcome has been the planting of one hundred and twenty oak seedlings and one hundred and twenty hazel seedlings on the Common by children from Steep Primary School.

The Hangers have been managed for centuries by coppice-with-standards system. This means that there is an under-storey of mainly hazel with much taller, mature trees such as oak, ash and beech above. The ground flora which results is characteristic of land that has not been disturbed for hundreds of years. The landowners either side of Steep Common are keen to maintain this traditional woodland and are seen as setting a good example for other landowners.

Planting Oak Tree Looking at the bigger picture, climate change is likely to put further stress on our trees, particularly our mature ones. Many are growing in shallow chalky soils and are unable to tap into deep water sources. As a result they are vulnerable in periods of prolonged drought. Since most of the water loss is from the vast leaf canopy, reducing the canopy size can help. This is, however, a costly exercise and would therefore only be viable for a few specimen trees.

Drake is alert to disease threats such as the root pathogen Phytophthora ramorum which can contribute to the death of many trees, including oaks. If a tree is under stress due to drought or insect defoliation, the disease can quickly kill them off, hence the name ‘sudden oak death’. The visible sign of the disease is a weeping canker that may be several feet up the stem. It is a notifiable disease so if you suspect a tree is suffering from it, the Forestry Commission should be informed.

Drake’s role can be greatly supported if everyone pays closer attention to our woodland. By developing a greater understanding of our trees, we can all take part in the monitoring and management of this critical part of our environment.

23 Biodiversity

The natural vegetation of the parish of Steep would be continuous broadleaf woodland if man had not stamped his authority over the area during the last thousand years. However, the difficulty of cultivating the chalk scarp slope has left the hangers relatively undisturbed and they have thus escaped exposure to fertilizers and herbicides. The result is an intricately varied ecosystem that has been built up over centuries. Although the scarp is a broadly north-south feature facing east, it makes many turns along its length so that there are also south and north facing sections. In some places, the leafy canopy opens up and grasses dominate on the thin alkaline soil, giving rise to light- loving communities of plants. Following both obvious and subtle changes in light intensity, soil acidity and humidity, there Lycoperdon perlatum, are dozens of micro-habitats favouring a relative of the puffball fungus

Yellow Jelly Fungus Common Spotted Orchid

one plant community or another. A walk though the land area is really quite small. It along the Middle Path affords the perfect explains also why the area is designated as opportunity to appreciate these changes, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), even if you are not a budding botanist. As a National Nature Reserve (NNR) and, now, an example, in some places a thin veneer a European Special Area of Conservation of clay has spilled over the ridge giving a (SAC). We should therefore be justly proud slightly less alkaline, damper soil more of our Hangers, but also mindful of our favourable to the bluebell. Here the blue responsibility to pass them on to the next flowers flourish, but then are completely generation in at least as good a condition absent in immediately adjacent, clay-free as we inherited them. areas. The large number of micro-habitats explains why the list of species for the Beneath the Hangers, the Greensand Hangers as a whole is so extensive, even terrace gives rise to a more fertile soil

24 Middle Path - Ashford Hangers Nature Reserve and the easier angle has resulted in this Sunken lanes such as Ashford Lane provide area being farmed more extensively. As their own dark, moist habitat and provide an one looks out from Juniper Hanger or the additional corridor for flora and fauna. Shoulder of Mutton the extent of woodland in the parish is very evident. There are significant patches at Soal Farm, Ashford Chace, Coldhayes, Steep Marsh, Northfield Wood and Adhurst which are classified as Ancient Semi Natural Woodland (ASNW) displaying important biodiversity. Other areas are of lesser antiquity, but nevertheless provide important shelter for woodland communities.

Streams, hedgerows and ditches form vital corridors for wildlife to spread from one community to another, a factor to watch out for when the landscape is being managed. Although springs abound along the length of the Hangers, the Ashford Stream is the only watercourse of note. It runs as a clear chalk stream from Lutcombe Bottom deep within the Hangers and has important plant communities associated with it. At Adhurst it merges with the River Rother, which has drained through the sands of Durford and quickly loses its status as a chalk stream. Ashford Stream

25 Looking east from Juniper Hanger to the South Downs

Bluebells growing on the over-spilled clay at the top of Ridge Hanger

26 This rich variety and diversity, however, is vulnerable to many potential threats:

• Man is the biggest threat, both as land manager and as recreational user • Drifting herbicide or fertiliser on a windy day can devastate sensitive plants • Trampling feet or wheels can quickly destroy an area, particularly if large groups are following the same route • Alien species can quickly distort the ecosystem • Deer and grey squirrels are already making their presence known and, if the numbers continue to grow, there is a real possibility that some plant species will be at risk • Plants such as rhododendron and Himalayan balsam are pernicious invaders, quickly establishing themselves at the expense of the natural vegetation. They do not have many associated invertebrates and thus also reduce the fauna diversity • “Over tidiness” of field margins and hedgerows can break the corridors between habitats, thus isolating communities and putting them at risk, particularly for invertebrate species • Pollution of watercourses causes local damage and pollution can also be carried further downstream • Run-off from agricultural nitrates can have a drastic affect on the balance of plant- life in a stream and can kill fish in higher concentrations • Septic tanks and household bio-digesters can quickly upset the balance in a stream if they are not regularly emptied and maintained. Around half of Steep’s households are dependent on private sewage systems • Developments making significant changes to surrounding land, such as removal of woodland or individual trees, or use of inappropriate materials to surface a footpath • Climate change – it is evident that weather patterns are changing and this means that more of the trees growing on the Hangers may be at risk during extreme weather.

Plans for responding to these threats are covered on in page 32.

Mill Ponds Footpath

27 Aspects of Landscape Management Trees and woodland

We tend to take trees for granted in Steep because they are around us everywhere. The lifespan of many trees is longer than our own, so they seem to be always there. Yet they are vulnerable to threats from various sources. The development of roads, pavements, or footpaths can cause damage to tree roots that might take years to become apparent but can then be lethal. The sudden loss of trees can happen through felling to make way for new developments. Medium term threats include invasion by pests or diseases such as Dutch elm disease, sudden oak death, or Chalera fraxinea, the fungus that is cur- rently devastating the population of ash trees in mainland Europe.

Forestry and Timber Management

Historically, woodlands within the parish were actively managed. Coppices were “har- vested” at short intervals (7-10 years) to produce small-size woodland products such as hazel for hurdles, charcoal, thatching spars and bean poles; ash for tool handles; sweet chestnut for fencing. Coppices were grown underneath long-rotation, long-lived oak and ash standards (large, tall trees) which were used in building as well as meeting some of the demand for firewood. We can still see evidence of such activity today but systematic woodland and coppice management, which was a source of local employ- ment particularly during the winter months, declined after 1945. As a result, there is now scope to bring our patchwork of woods and coppices back into more active and sustain- able management. If this is done appropriately, this could have significant and long term environmental benefits for minor ground flora and fauna, improve the appearance of the landscape, and possibly provide employment. There would also be scope for residents to use locally sourced firewood and other woodland products and for exploration of the pos- sibilities of wood-fired heating for public buildings.

Incremental change

If we are to preserve the quality of our landscape and maintain and improve access to it, there is a need for constant monitoring and a readiness to respond swiftly to changing cir- cumstances. Sometimes damage to the landscape happens as a series of small changes and it is easy to overlook the damage until it has reached an advanced stage.

These gradual changes can happen as trees or hedges grow, age or die; as footpaths get worn or filled in; as rainwater creates channels which accentuate wear; as stiles rot and kissing gates wear; when rivers flood and erode the banks; as the occasional tree limb over-reaches itself and the ability of the trunk to support it; as large traffic damages the edges of narrow lanes or gets bogged down in the verges; and as the cumulative effect of motorcycles and other vehicles using footpaths or BOATs in wet weather makes them dif- ficult for pedestrians to use.

All of these changes require constant day-to-day attention – to spot them and act on them just to stay in the same place. If you are concerned about some environmental damage, report it to a parish councillor, the parish clerk, or the tree warden and they will ensure it is dealt with appropriately. Equally, it is important that planning regulations are understood and applied, so that unregulated changes to buildings do not alter the landscape to the extent that it is difficult to recover.

28 Agriculture and farming

Within Steep today, there are eight significant farming enterprises looking after nearly one thousand acres of our landscape. Each of the businesses is unique but together they cover a number of types of farming.

The nature of the landscape – folded, undulating land, bordered by steep slopes – tends to favour traditional smaller-scale farming rather than the industrial-scale farming opera- tions which demand wider spaces to flourish. This presents a challenge for viable farm businesses, but is also an encouragement to work within the landscape rather than trying to mould it to the needs of the farm. From the point of view of the non-farming spectator, this helps to preserve and protect the valued appearance of our surroundings. Indeed, the maintenance work carried out by the farmers on the margins of the fields – cutting hedges, clearing ditches and maintaining landmark trees creates the attractive mosaic of land which is a feature of the views from the Hangers. It is clear from our discussions that all of the farmers understand the importance of landscape and will continue to care for the sur- roundings in which they work.

One activity which is common to most of the farms in Steep is grass production for grazing by the animals or as hay for winter. Our low-lying land, with its heavier moisture-retaining soil and the shelter of the Hangers to the north, provides the slightly warmer and wetter conditions in which grass thrives.

Steep also supports a number of smallholdings, whose output – whether crops or animals is predominantly consumed by the owners. Whilst these ventures do not, in general, oper- ate on a scale to support a family as they would have done historically, they are significant in their contribution to the mosaic of land use and can offer ‘value added’ diversification such as nurturing rare breeds.

Dunhill

29 Turf production

The production of living grass for lawns is a major component of land use in Area 5 of the parish, mainly to the south-east of the railway and north of the A272, and occasionally in a smaller area on Ridge Common Lane. Turf is a crop with significant economic value but one which entails a number of environmental challenges, such as the use of agricultural chemi- cals to ensure product quality. Thanks to the producers’ efforts, turf production here seems to have been well managed and there have been no adverse comments concerning its impact on the visual or noise landscapes. We are, nevertheless, dependent on continued care and monitoring by the producers, especially in relation to the risk of chemical run-off into the River Rother.

Equestrian activities

Another important element of land use in Steep relates to horses. Significant areas are given over exclusively to grazing for horses and there are several equestrian properties with stable complexes. Whilst some may lament the steady change of land use from farming to equestrian, the changes that have occurred in recent years are an undeniable fact and can be seen as a natural progression where parcels of idle farmland are sold off. Aspects of this change can be controversial, but we should acknowledge that these activities create demand for locally produced grass and so contribute to the viability of our farms. The use of sympathetic materials and careful attention to the appearance of these areas makes a useful contribution to the overall management of the landscape.

Petersfield Golf Course

Petersfield Golf Club acquired about 120 acres of former agricultural land south of the A3 from the Adhurst estate in the 1990s. In developing the golf course they were given clear guidelines by the planning authority in order that the land, which forms part of the Green- sand hills, could revert as far as possible to heathland such as that found at Durford. Al- though it has taken longer than expected to encourage the heathland species into the wild rough of the golf course, there are now signs that this is happening. The club is restricted to planting only local indigenous species of trees and it sees itself as a golf course in harmony with the local landscape. It does not see its goal as trying to produce a manicured ‘Augusta’ but rather a course that celebrates the area of outstanding natural beauty in which it lies.

30 Relationships with the South Downs National Park Authority Steep lies wholly within the South Downs National Park and decisions made by the SDNPA have a direct bearing on our surroundings. Strong links are needed between the Parish Council and the SDNPA to ensure that the protection offered by the Park is effective in practice. As a national park, the SDNPA has two over-riding statutory objectives:

1. To conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area. 2. To promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park by the public.

Working with others, it is also the duty of the SDNPA to foster the economic and social well- being of the local communities within the National Park. The two main responsibilities are ones that would be expected of a National Park but our park the SNDPA is also home to 108,000 people, by far the biggest population of any in the country. Thus, the duty to foster well- being becomes a very important one for the SDNPA.

The SDNPA supports the communities of the South Downs by helping to fund projects which are in line with the National Park objectives; helping to gather data and evidence; and advising on sources of expertise and on grant schemes generally. It has been holding a number of open workshop sessions and has an online forum for individuals to contribute their ideas and have their say: www.southdowns.gov.uk/get-involved. The Park’s website is a rich source of information about how individuals can become more engaged in the work of the Park.

The South Downs National Park is in a state of rapid evolution and it is down to us as individuals and organisations to interact with it so that it becomes the organisation we would like it to be.

31 Landscape Management Priorities and Design Guidance The Landscape Character Assessment of Steep has provided ample evidence of the area’s outstanding landscape quality. Based on the information gained in this process we set out here the priorities for the future management of the landscape, together with design guidance to be taken into account when reviewing the landscape impact of development proposals. This design guidance is also incorporated into the Village Design Statement that forms part of the Parish Plan Report.

The key objectives for the landscape character in Steep using the types defined earlier are as follows:

The Hangers to conserve their dramatic landform, their skyline and their extensive areas of biodiversity-rich woodland and chalk grassland The Greensand terrace to conserve its intimate scale and tranquil character. Mixed farmland and woodland to conserve the simple character of the field system, wood- land copses and tree-lined hedgerows The sandy lowlands to conserve the simple character of the landscape by strengthening its network of hedgerows, woodland and trees.

Landscape Management Priorities

The following have been identified as priorities, of equal standing, in order to meet these objectives:

1. actively manage the ancient beech, yew and lime woodlands through light thinning, clearance of some of the scrub and replanting where appropriate 2. encourage traditional woodland management, such as coppicing, in ancient semi- natural English woodlands with oak and ash standards 3. improve biodiversity through linking wooded areas together and planning for long term woodland regeneration; through managing and restoring hedgerows along road- sides and beside footpaths and tracks; and leaving a one metre uncultivated strip at the edge of fields

Ridge Top

32 Sunken Lane, Hart’s Tongue Fern

4. preserve and care for the fragments of chalk grassland and the meadows which provide such species-rich habitats 5. control species which cause damage to the Ashford Hangers Nature Reserve through, for example, a controlled cull of deer and squirrels 6. control exotic species in the woodlands and beyond (such as Rhododendron ponticum; sycamore; Japanese knotweed and Himalayan balsam) 7. manage intensive recreational use, to preserve the tranquillity and intimacy of the area 8. protect and enhance the sunken lanes and verges along roads and tracks Alkaline Grassland 9. manage the Ashford Stream, its tributaries and mill ponds; and protect all Flowers watercourses from external contamination 10. in areas associated with equestrian activities, encourage the use of appropriate traditional materials for fencing, tracks, hard-standing, and jumps to harmonise with the landscape 11. consider opportunities for traffic calming, such as ‘Quiet Lanes’; promote the use of quiet road surfaces on the A3; and examine further landscaping to reduce road noise

Footpath 12 , Stoner Hill Landmark Beech

33 12. consider the case for Tree Protection Orders on prominent groups of trees on the Hangers; and ensure that any felling of trees close to the Hangers skyline is only done under licence to maintain the natural scarp profile 13. ensure that all the main footpaths are subject to an annual check, with maintenance work carried out as necessary 14. develop and publish interpretative footpath walks for the area,

Traditional buildings with modern extensions sitting in harmony with the landscape

Design Guidance

1. protect the views into and out of Steep 2. avoid the siting of buildings, telecommunication masts or power lines in positions that would intrude on the sensitive silhouette of the Hangers 3. conserve traditional farm buildings and maintain their external fabric, appearance and setting if their use is changed; ensure new farm buildings are sensitively integrated into the landscape 4. minimise signage; use traditional designs and materials where signs are necessary 5. enhance the landscape setting of new developments (including extensions) by incor- porating new planting of native species and further improve bio-diversity through the planting of hedges, trees, wild flowers and creating ponds.

The intention of the Landscape Management Priorities and the Design Guidance is to help to ensure that our landscape is conserved and enhanced for future generations to enjoy.

Endangered species Many species of plants and animals are afforded statutory protection. Under a European Directive it is an offence to knowingly or unknowingly injure or kill any protected species, or to damage or destroy their habitat or nesting/reproductive site. Therefore anyone undertak- ing any land-management activity must first find out whether any of the protected species does or might live within that area. The list of species given this protection is listed on the Natural England website. A surprising number are found in our parish.

It is our wish that local landowners and organisations, our Parish, County and District Councils and, of course, the National Park Authority take account of these recommendations in managing our landscape. We recommend that the Parish Council should monitor progress on each of the priorities from time to time and publish a “state of the landscape” assessment every few years.

34 Conclusion

The Steep Local Landscape Character Appraisal has involved many members of the Steep community in assessing its landscape setting. The process has reminded us that the Hangers, with their ancient and wooded slopes, have an international significance as well as being a distinctive backdrop to our lives. The dramatic Hangers, the Greensand terrace with its intimate character and undulating terrain, the mixed woodland and farmland with its hedges and sunken lanes, and the sandy lowlands with their wide open spaces provide a rich and varied context for the parish and for its residents and visitors.

We conclude that our landscape is in good order today, and is receiving a reasonably high level of management attention from the SDNPA and the Hampshire Countryside Service. Effective channels of communication exist between the relevant agencies and the local community (as represented by the Parish Council) and have the potential to become even better.

There is, of course, as this report describes, a broad menu of potential threats and challenges, but we believe that appropriate attention to the proposed actions should help us to manage these pressures sensibly. We believe we have an excellent basis for optimism about the future of our countryside. We suggest that the Parish Council should review progress on the landscape management priorities from time to time. However, a successful future will ultimately depend on everyone who has a stake in the Steep landscape playing their part in helping to protect and improve it. All private landowners and other residents, the statutory agencies, our major institutions (especially the schools and the Church) and our visitors will all need to be part of a co-operative effort to cherish and manage the area for future generations. The success of that coalition will be the key to converting our optimism into a firm reality.

35 Acknowledgements

Edward Thomas quote from “The South Country”, Little Toller Books 2009

EHDC Landscape Character Study

CPRE guidance

Other LLCA’s: Liss, Froxfield and

Design and layout by PosAbilities Ltd

Images supplied by the Steep Parish Plan Steering Group and local residents

Ordnance Survey Map Licence Number LC 100024238

Much more information is available at the Parish Plan web site www.steepparishplan.org.uk This includes links to a number of key resources such as the Hampshire County Council Archaeological and Historic Buildings record and the Steep species list. It also identifies ways in which you can help care for our landscape.

36 Thanks

The Parish Plan team is immensely grateful for the leadership and expertise of Drake Hocking and others of the Core Group in bringing this Local Landscape Character Assessment to fruition; for the willing labour of all those who have spent their time in surveying and capturing our landscape in words and pictures; and to the South Downs National Park Authority, Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council for their generous financial support and advice during the project.

The following were members of the Steep Parish Plan Steering Group:

Tony Struthers (Chair) Peter Cruttenden (Secretary) Trevor Hines (Treasurer) Graham Banks Fran Box Terry Cook Linda Henderson Drake Hocking Jim MacDonald Philip Mileham Linda Munday (EHDC) Alex Patchett-Joyce James Rush Geoffrey Russell Lucy Soal (EHDC) Celia Storey Ray Street Jeremy Young