2. Marlborough Downs

1. Avebury Plain 2. Marlborough Downs

11. Spye Parklands 7. Kennet Valley 4. Horton Down 3. Savernake Plateau

10.Bristol Avon Clay Vale 9. Vale of

6. Chute Forest 5. (East) 5. Salisbury Plain (West)

8. Salisbury Avon Valley

Character Area 2: Marlborough Downs

2: Marlborough Downs Landscape Character

Overview

An area of high chalk uplands which sweeps across the north of the District, defined on its western and northern edges by the crest of a prominent, steep chalk scarp, to the south by the valley of the and to the east by the District boundary. The high chalk plateau forms an expansive landscape of open, smoothly rolling downland, mostly under intensive arable farming but with areas of remnant chalk grassland on steeper slopes and on conservation sites such as The Grey Wethers sarsen scatters on Down Fyfield Down. It is heavily dissected by a network of dry chalk valleys, or combes, and the valleys of the Rivers Og, and Aldbourne which Landcover cut through the area from north to south. Horse gallops and other features of the racing industry Landcover varies across the area with a general are distinctive features of the area. progression toward more vegetation cover in the east. In the western part, on the high Marlborough Downs and in the high area around Geology and Landform Upper Upham arable farming predominates.

The dominant geology is the rocks of the Middle and Upper Chalk which form the upland block of the downs and create the scarp around the north western boundary of the area. As noted for Area 1, these rocks dip gently toward the south east and as a result the Middle Chalk outcrops more in the north and west, together with the Lower Chalk north west of Ogbourne St George. Further south east these rocks give way to the Upper Chalk. The chalk gives rise to a strongly rolling landscape which includes long sinuous scarps and dry valleys in addition to Downland under arable cultivation near Rockley open downs and ridges. Within this arable area there are blocks of

unimproved grassland occurring on the steeper Alluvium forms the base of the main valleys, both scarps and valley sides, often as long strips dry and riverine, notably the narrow Og valley following a contour. Unenclosed grazed and the more prominent Aldbourne valley. Clay downland exists at Fyfield Down, but is absent with Flints overlies the Upper Chalk in a number elsewhere in the area. Further to the east and of locations, and outcrops at the highest points in south, and generally east of the Og, there is more the area such as Hackpen Hill, Monkton Down, enclosed downland, with a mixture of pasture Upper Upham and Snap. Sarsen stones occur and arable farmland, together with extensive across the area but are outstanding at Fyfield blocks of a woodland and farmland mosaic. This Down. is particularly characteristic of the areas north of

Mildenhall, Ramsbury and Chilton Foliat. Other distinctive landuses include golf courses at

Character Area 2: Marlborough Downs 31

Marlborough and Ogbourne St George, and fossilised prehistoric landscape. During the 19th parkland at Rockley and Upper Upham. century records indicate that almost the entire area was arable, falling by the 1930s to about a third of the available farmland. Thus 19th and Historic Landscape 20th century farming patterns have formed most of the characteristic downland landscape visible Character today. Areas which escaped this impact, include the prehistoric burial along the escarpment In general, Neolithic activity was concentrated on brows, and in particular along the Ridgeway the higher ground forming the eastern perimeter route overlooking Avebury Plain. In addition, of the Avebury Plain, and Neolithic long barrows the sarsen-strewn slopes of Fyfield Down also are located along the higher downs, notably bear witness to a landscape removed by modern along the brow of the escarpment above the agriculture. The Hackpen Hill white horse, as Avebury Plain. Archaeological evidence with many of the chalk hill figures throughout the indicates small scale but persistent woodland Wessex region, is post-medieval in origin. clearance of the downland throughout this period. The Bronze Age, and in particular the Later Bronze Age witnessed a widespread intensification of occupation across the entire Settlement and Buildings downland, with hundreds of round barrows recorded within the area. The downland to the Aldbourne is the largest settlement in this area, its north-west of the confluence of the Rivers remoteness leading it to develop the self- Kennet and Og, in particular, demonstrates sufficiency of a small town. It has a secretive extensive field systems and associated setting nestled in a valley in the Downs and in settlements, including the complex across the village there are attractive continuous built Rockley Down and Dean Bottom. It is likely that frontages to many of the streets, with a square in this settlement activity resulted in the widespread the centre and a large village green behind, deforestation of the downs. dominated by the church

There is little evidence for Iron Age activity on A line of villages follow the River Og and the the downs, with the exception of hill forts such as Roman road to Winchester - Ogbourne St Barbury located overlooking the adjacent vales. Andrew, Ogbourne St George and Ogbourne Similarly, other than a concentration of activity Maizey. Historically, these were all fairly small on the higher ground overlooking the Romano- settlements, and have expanded with linear British settlement at Mildenhall (Cunetio), there is development in the mid 20th century, partly comparatively little evidence of settlement during owing to their position on the main Swindon the Romano-British period, although three road. roman roads cross the downs and there is evidence of more Romano-British activity Building materials are very varied, with brick and associated with these. The road between flint and brick and sarsen common. In Mildenhall and Cirencester survives as a Aldbourne clunch is also used, a characteristic combination of tracks, lanes and the A346 to this soft creamy stone of the Lower Chalk . Roofs of day. There is little evidence to suggest that the straw thatch or plain clay tiles create variety, area was significantly occupied during the Saxon while outside the villages timber framed period. weatherboarded aisled barns are a feature of the Downs. Strip lynchets and woodland clearance have been identified on the south-facing escarpments overlooking Kennet valley as evidence of Landscape and Visual sustained dispersed medieval settlement. This Character pattern was maintained into the post-medieval period, probably until as late as the 18th century. The distinctive character of the area is dominated However, subsequent agrarian expansion back by the topography and vegetation of the chalk up onto the downland resulted in a very downland, while its elevation above the Kennet significant impact onto what was virtually a

32 Character Area 2: Marlborough Downs

Valley and above the Lower Chalk plain of Area • scattered, isolated woodland blocks within 1 clearly define its extent. Although open downland, often without any linking topographically complex at the local level, the hedgerow structure; variety of slope form, and elevation is consistent • woodland interspersed with blocks of pasture across the area and creates an attractive and at and arable land; times dramatic landscape. It is visually diverse as Steep Chalk scarps and valley sides; a result of the vegetation cover over landform so • steep sided bournes and smaller scarps; that the open rolling downs of the west and • extensive structures which may extend northern areas are contrasted with more complete for a number of kilometres, or enclosed and well wooded areas in the east. smaller features which fade out and reform; These eastern areas also reflect characteristics of • permanent pasture on the steepest slopes, large farm estates where intensively farmed sometimes associated with strip lynchets; arable land occurs in a mosaic with woodland • scattered scrub. managed for sporting purposes. Settlements • woodland, scrub, pasture mix. Strong feature nestling in intimate valleys within the chalk such which often identifies scarps and steepest as Rockley, the Ogbournes and Aldbourne are slopes in the landscape at some distance. important and attractive features of the landscape. Valley floor pasture. • occupying the river floodplain; underlain by individual components of this area may be alluvium and generally under permanent broken down, and key characteristics are pasture; illustrated in Figure 9.1, and summarised below. • characterised by willows and alders in hedges and along watercourses; Open chalk upland • attractive, pastoral character; • typically very large fields with few hedgerows or trees; • post and wire fence boundaries which in Key Landmarks and some cases have become defined by tall weed and scrub growth; Landscape Features • productive farmland predominantly under intensive arable cultivation; • scarp defining north western boundary; • characteristic chalky soils; • the Ridgeway following the top of the scarp, • permanent pasture often associated with and scarp-top barrows; steepest slopes, field systems and other • sarsen scatters at Fyfield Down; monuments; • prominent fenced or mown gallops on the • open and expansive with very high Marlborough Downs; intervisibility. • Aldbourne church tower.

Enclosed Chalk upland; • generally large to medium scale fields with rectilinear boundaries formed by varied hedgerow species and hedgerow trees • individual fields may be extensive, but have a clear perimeter hedgerow; • may be arable or pasture; • hedgerows often poorly maintained and fragmented, with few hedgerow trees.

Wooded Chalk upland • chalk upland topography where woodland cover is significant component; • mosaic of woodland and farmland;

Character Area 2: Marlborough Downs 33

2: Marlborough Downs Landscape Guidelines

Landscape Quality and Key The principal threats and issues important to landscape quality in this character area are: Issues • agricultural intensification, particularly the All of this character area lies within the North conversion of chalk grassland and permanent Wessex Downs Area of Outstanding Natural pasture to arable, and the loss or poor Beauty, confirming its outstanding quality and maintenance of field boundaries within national significance. formerly enclosed chalk landscapes;

• protection of remnant areas of chalk grassland The character area also includes a number of from damage by scrub encroachment, over- other features of conservation value which grazing, trampling and vehicles; contribute to its overall significance, including: • protection and enhancement of other

distinctive features in the landscape, such as • Conservation Areas at Aldbourne, Baydon, Sarsen fields and archaeological sites; Ogbourne St Andrew and Ogbourne St • intrusion of gallops and other features of the George; horse-racing industry; • Sites of Special Scientific Interest at • management and extension of existing and Fyfield Down, which is also a woodland cover within the eastern part of the National Nature Reserve, on account of Marlborough Downs; their geomorphological interest for sarsen • drainage and cultivation of floodplain pasture stones, and the biological interest of lichens within the River Og corridor. found on the stones. Elsewhere there are a

large number of non-statutory sites of nature

conservation interest, most of which are unimproved chalk grassland, but which Guidelines for Marlborough also include scattered remnants of ancient Downs Landscapes semi-natural woodland, wetland, and habitat mosaics; Enhancement priorities • a large number of Scheduled Ancient Monuments which include many tumuli, • retain areas of unimproved chalk grassland deserted medieval villages and field systems. and pasture and manage to prevent scrub encroachment and to encourage species The Marlborough Downs area has a distinctive diversity, through appropriate grazing or mixture of landscapes which derive from the mowing regimes; strong topographical variety and variation in • encourage removal of any inappropriate vegetation cover, particularly when moving west planted belts of trees and woodlands (e.g. to east. The area has been heavily influenced by non-native species, isolated features not intensive land management regimes, notably related to farmsteads etc.) but retain isolated arable farming in the west and north, and large groups of trees where these form distinctive farm estates managed intensively for a mix of landscape features (e.g. Beech clumps); arable and sporting purposes in the west. As a • discourage intrusion of further signage, result, most variations in quality and condition structures, tracks or fencing in areas of open are related to the effects of agricultural land chalk upland landscape, and site essential management practice. Different strategies for features as discreetly as possible to minimise management and enhancement are shown in visual intrusion Figure 9.2. • manage gallops to favour chalk grassland

species and minimise use of intrusive fencing or signs;

34 Character Area 2: Marlborough Downs

• protect above-ground archaeological features Membury telecommunications mast is visible from damage by vehicles or trampling, from many parts of this area); preferably by discreet pallisading rather than • areas of valley floor pasture associated with planting or fencing the River Og represent a scarce landscape • encourage management of existing resource and are also particularly sensitive to woodlands to maximise landscape and change; wildlife value, including the reintroduction of • areas of enclosed farmland with an intact traditional coppice management and hedgerow structure are more visually diversification of uniform plantations to contained. These areas are potentially more favour native broadleaved species; able to accommodate that essential • plant large blocks and belts of native development which must be located in the broadleaved woodland on arable or countryside, but only where it would not cultivated land within the eastern part of the compromise their rural, unspoilt character; Marlborough Downs, to link with existing • dense blocks of woodland are more robust woodlands and to restore or reinforce the and in landscape and visual terms are typical mosaic of woodland and farmland; potentially more able to accommodate • follow traditional pattern of shelterbelt development but only where their wooded planting to soften the impact of prominent character is maintained and where they are of buildings or structures in more exposed parts planted origin and of low nature conservation of the chalk uplands; value; • retain and manage areas of valley floor • areas of parkland or estate landscape have permanent pasture, wet grassland and particularly distinctive and attractive qualities meadows, including riparian vegetation, and and are sensitive to built development. discourage further ploughing and field enlargement; • manage open downland to control scrub invasion; • encourage traditional practices of willow pollarding and ditch management • encourage use of locally appropriate planting character and native species within golf course landscapes, e.g. avoiding the use of conifers on chalk etc., and encourage less intensive management of fairways and roughs to encourage a more diverse grassland sward

Development sensitivities

• the whole area has an essentially rural, agricultural character and large parts are devoid of settlement with a remote and inaccessible character, within which built development would be out of place; • the remnant areas of unimproved grassland at Fyfield Down and on the steep scarps are of particular landscape, ecological and historical value and are highly sensitive to change; • the open arable landscapes which dominate this area are very visually exposed and development of any kind, but particularly large-scale or tall structures such as communications masts, would be highly visible over long distances (as an example,

Character Area 2: Marlborough Downs 35