8D: ANDOVER OPEN DOWNS

View from Danebury ring eastwards across Open Downs– regular straight sided and large scale field pattern of extensive formal enclosures.

Expansive arable near Thruxton –Frequent visual reminders of an Near Penton Mewsey – over more typical of the Open Downs. ancient ritual landscape. wooded Downland Mosaic Large Scale – glimpses of Andover © Andrew Smith - Geogrpah

Occasionally more wooded characterPenton Mewsey © Colin Bates – Enham Alamein purpose built homes on some steeper slopes and whereGeograph, located at the head of the for war heroes after WW1 © Chris clays are thicker. R Anton, Test tributary. Talbot - Geograph

Hampshire County 1 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

Hampshire County 2 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

1.0 Location and Boundaries 1.1 This character area lies along the western edge of Hampshire County and forms a bowl of higher downland which surroundings the town of Andover. To the southwest this character abuts the edges of the Salisbury Plain while to the northwest it abuts the Chute Forest both of which extend into Wiltshire. The eastern edge of this character area is bordered by the Test Valley while the southern and northern boundaries are defined by marked scarps.

1.2 Component County Landscape Types: Open Downs, Downland Mosaic Small Scale, Downland Mosaic Large Scale.

1.3 Composition of Borough/District LCAs: Test District North Andover Plateau Andover Chalk Downland Thruxton and Danebury Chalk Downland Harewood Forest Wooded Quarley Hill Downs Downs Cholderton Downs Amport Wooded Downs

There is a good correlation between the boundary of this character area and those listed above. The southern boundary is almost identical to the Thruxton and Danebury Chalk Downland area and the northern boundary follows the northern edge of the Tangley and Doles Wood character area. This character area does not include the main river valleys. Beyond the boarder into Wiltshire this landscape character area correlates with Area 3B Salisbury Plain East. Although not pulled out as a separate character area it should be noted that in the far western corner the river valley of River Bourne correlates with that of the Bourne Chalk River Valley (5C) identified in the Wiltshire Assessment.

1.4 Associations with NCAs and Natural Areas: NCA 130: Hampshire Downs JCA 132: Salisbury Plain and West Wiltshire Downs NA 78: Hampshire Downs and NA 80: South Wessex Downs

1.5 Townscape Assessment Areas: Andover

2.0 Key Characteristics • Plateau downland with gentle undulating ridges and dry chalk valleys. • Occasional prominent hills within the downland create visual features.

Hampshire County 3 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

• Open, expansive landscape with long distant views across downland and the river valleys which dissect the plateau. • Biodiversity value from Harewood Forest, and dispersed areas of chalk grassland, including internationally-designated sites. • Predominately arable land use with limited pasture in the west and south on the fringes of Salisbury Plain and Boscombe Down East. • There is little woodland cover creating a simple composition of landscape elements except where there are notable deposits of clay with flints - here woodland cover becomes dominant e.g. Harewood Forest. • A landscape with significant time depth and important archaeology particularly from prehistoric and Roman periods, especially associated with the areas of open dowland and higher areas -, including burial mounds and hill forts such as Danebury. • Very regular formal enclosure pattern dates predominately from the 19th century. Defined in places by a weak hedgerow structure or no boundaries at all and particularly in the open downland tends to overwrite earlier field boundary patterns. • Occasional parkland landscapes provide visual diversity. • Urban edges of Andover extend into this character area. • Dispersed pattern of nucleated villages and farmsteads. • Tranquil and remote away from Andover and particularly in the south were there is little settlement.

3.0 Physical Characteristics and Land Use 3.1 The Upper Chalk geology surrounding the town of Andover forms a gently undulating plateau of downland with characteristic rounded simple landforms and a ‘fan’ of dry river valleys which slope towards the tributaries of the Test. Landform shows greater variety and complexity where there are deposits of clay with flints or where the chalk forms prominent hills which protrude above the plateau and form landmark features e.g. Quarley Hill, Thruxton Hill and Chattis Hill. The area generally slopes in a south-easterly direction, the highest areas occurring along the northern and western boundary i.e. around 172m AOD at Tower Hill. Soils are generally calcareous and free draining with heavy clays occurring where there are deposits of clay with flint. Within the ‘fan’ of dry river valleys that extend north and west of Andover there are valley gravel deposits. The agricultural land quality of this area is predominately medium with small patches of higher quality land north of Charlton, Redenham Park and near Quarley Hill.

3.2 Open arable farmland is the principal land use with some concentrated areas of woodland to the east at Harewood Forest and more fragmented areas of woodland south and west of Abbots Ann. Otherwise the open, large scale, arable fields form a simple landscape pattern defined by a weak structure of hedgerows or no hedgerows at all. Interspersed with the arable pattern of land use are two airfields at Thruxton and Middle Wallop. In the Harewood Forest area hedgerows comprise shelterbelts or spinneys contributing to the general sense of enclosure found there and contrasting with the openness of the wider area. Some patches of pasture can be found around the southern edges of the area on the fringes of Salisbury Plain i.e. Boscombe Down East.

Hampshire County 4 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

3.3 This landscape character falls into three separate Environment Agency river catchments: the Upper Test in the north, the Lower Test in the south and the River Bourne Hants in the far west. River valleys (with the exception of the River Bourne) are dry due to the free draining nature of the chalk plateau.

3.4 The prominent hills which rise above the open arable plain have attracted attention and use over the centuries. Their physical, visual dominance and high value culturally make them notable features of this landscape character area.

4.0 Experiential/Perceptual Characteristics 4.1 As a result of its elevation, topography and predominately open arable cultivation, this landscape offers wide views, big skies and a visually simple composition. The small hills which protrude from the downland plateau form notable landmarks and assist with orientation and sense of place. Its simplicity and openness can make this landscape feel bleak and uncompromising in certain weather conditions.

4.2 The Test Way long distance path passes through the north-eastern part of this character area. Areas of open access occur on patches of downland e.g. Danebury Down and Kimpton Down. There is also an area of restricted access as a result of MOD training on the edge of Boscombe Down East.

4.3 The emptiness of much of this landscape gives it a strong sense of remoteness and isolation. The CPRE tranquillity assessment indicates that the southern half of this character area is of medium to high tranquillity, and this reduces towards Andover. Elements which detract from tranquillity include pylons and major trunk roads which converge on Andover. Views towards urban development or the spread of urban development along radial roads has also caused an urbanising influence on downland. Night blight from Andover can be experienced over a wide area.

5.0 Biodiversity Character 5.1 This is an agricultural landscape, comprising mainly arable land with some patches of unimproved and semi-improved calcareous grasslands, which tend to be small and often isolated. Large patches of improved grassland are located on steeper slopes, such as Brougthon Down and Porton Down. It includes internationally designated habitats: Porton Down SPA (also designated as a SAC and a SSSI) is situated on the Hampshire-Wiltshire border in the Test Valley and Salisbury districts. It consists of an extensive area of chalk grassland with scrub and woodland, and is one of the largest uninterrupted tracts of semi-natural chalk grassland in the UK. It is important for downland breeding birds and supports important numbers of Stone Curlew.

5.2 Woodland is scattered in small copses and strips throughout this character area and represents a variety of types including broadleaved woodland, mixed, coniferous and broadleaved plantations, active coppice with standards and parkland. Ancient and semi-natural woodland exists throughout but is more prevalent in the east than the west. There is a large area of ancient and semi-natural woodland in the southeast, associated with Harewood Forest and consisting of broadleaved woodland, mixed woodland, active coppice with standards and some broadleaved plantation. On the northern boundary of the character area there is a significant area of mixed and broadleaved plantation which is ancient and semi-natural woodland, associated with Ridges Copse.

Hampshire County 5 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

5.3 This landscape character area has several BOAs within it. Broughton Down BOA crosses the boundary in the south west of the area and includes important examples of almost the complete range of chalk habitats, with the exception of Juniper scrub. Porton Down BOA in the west of the area extends into Wiltshire and comprises an extensive area of grassland, scrub and woodland and constitutes one of the largest, uninterrupted tracts of semi-natural chalk grassland in Britain. Tidworth BOA contains several small unimproved chalk grassland and scrub SINCs, woodland tends to be species rich with oak, ash and field maple canopy and hazel understorey. Salisbury Plain BOA supports the largest known expanse of unimproved chalk downland in northwest Europe, representing 41% of Britain’s remaining area of this rich wildlife habitat. Harewood Forest BOA contrasts with the other BOAs in this area and supports 670 hectares of mainly ancient and semi-natural woodland with extensive areas of oak coppice which are now derelict.

5.4 There are over 95 SINCs in this landscape character area. Ancient and semi-natural woodland is the most common purpose for designating SINCs.

6.0 Historic Character 6.1 Archaeology 6.1.1 Mesolithic evidence for this area is very limited, with a very slight bias towards the west of Andover. However, Neolithic evidence is strongly associated with open downland. There are two clusters of Neolithic long barrows on the high ground between the Test and the Wallop, and between the Wallop and the (Wiltshire) Bourne. There are also a number of Neolithic sites around the Andover area, with a long barrow to the northwest of Andover. This concentration of Neolithic sites, finds and burials is suggestive that the bowl of open downland (including 8D and 8E) is a core zone of early agricultural landscapes and has been emerging as a farmed landscape since earliest times.

6.1.2 Bronze Age evidence suggests a continuing close correlation between the open downland and Bronze Age sites. The Bronze Age burial mounds tend to flank the Test valley, cluster where the Neolithic long barrows cluster, and sit around the rim of the lower lying open downland bowl. The Bronze Age settlement evidence tends to sit within the lower lying open downland bowl. There are also a number of Bronze Age linear boundaries, which indicate a highly organised landscape by this period. It is also notable that these Bronze Age sites skirt the north of Andover joining the two areas of open downland that are currently separated by the built up town, suggesting continuity across this zone. This evidence suggests that the open downland continued to emerge as a settled and farmed landscape though the Bronze Age, although It is interesting to note that the large scale mosaic downland area along side the Test appears to have had a different and later evolution.. This pattern remains true of the Iron Age. Iron Age settlement and field systems remained dominant in the open downland (including the pattern extending across the back of Andover between the two areas of open downland separated by the town), although generally they avoided the large scale downland mosaic areas. There are Hillforts, central places of status, embedded in this landscape, demonstrating the continuation of a farmed and settled landscape. The study of Danebury and its environs have provided an important insight into the evolution of this landscape through the Iron Age and Roman period.

Hampshire County 6 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

6.1.3 There is a lower density of Roman sites in the open downland, and the evidence tends to be dense along the northern part of the character area, north and west of Andover. This may imply that whilst the existing settlement and farming continued to evolve in the lower lying bowl of open downland, there was more room for Roman expansion in the less densely settled northern areas. This is particularly notable when looking at the distribution of Villa sites. The Roman settlement evidence is also encroaching onto the margins of the large mosaic downland, again indicative of expansion of the core area into previously underused areas. Of more immediate note is the clear effect of the Roman roads across the landscape, with the lines manifestly fossilised and traceable in today’s landscape, showing the importance of this inheritance in the subsequent evolution of the landscape.

6.1.4 The continuation of this occupied landscape into the Saxon period is suggested by evidence of Saxon burials across this open downland zone. However, by the medieval period, evidence of settlement from churches and settlement recorded in Domesday seems to shift into the valley. The downland zone is partly occupied by evidence of arable fields in ladder systems, and of open downland, often emerging in the modern landscape as late enclosure of parliamentary type.

6.2 Historic Landscape 6.2.1 The majority of this landscape comprises a mixture of enclosures from different periods, but which collectively give rise to a large scale open and regular field pattern. Enclosures range from late large scale enclosures and formal parliamentary enclosures of the 18th and 19th centuries through to 20th century reorganisation and field enlargement which has produced a characteristic openness and regularity within the landscape. Of particular note are the ladder fields that occur in the west of the character area and extend south and west onto the Salisbury Plain. These would have connected the valley settlements with the surrounding downland. Remnant areas of downland are also a feature of this landscape reflecting an earlier landscape of common grazing which would have been more widespread in Medieval times. Today these remnant downland areas occur mostly at the fringes of the area where land rises onto the Salisbury Plain or on steeper slopes.

6.2.3 In contrast to much of this character area there are two areas which are more wooded, although still large scale - Harewood Forest and west of Abbotts Ann, The whole area was formerly part of the medieval forest of Chute (which extended into Wiltshire) the name of which infers woodland. It is likely the area was more wooded than today but it is difficult to estimate its medieval extent. Disafforestion took place in 1639, and it likely the patches of assart date from around this date. Harewood Forest is a remnant area of pre 1810 woodland which is likely to reflect an intact area of medieval forest which has subsequently undergone several replanting episodes. Today it forms the largest tract of woodland in Hampshire outside of the New Forest. Within the wooded area there is evidence of past assarting particularly along the north eastern edge while some areas of assated fields have been replaced with parliamentary field systems. The landscape around Abbotts Ann also contains sinuous assarted woodland and associated wavey field boundaries of varying sizes reflecting a similar evolution. Here however woodland clearance has been more widespread and the remaining woodland cover forms a more fragmented pattern.

Hampshire County 7 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

6.2.4 Parkland landscapes include Amport Park, where parkland trees contribute to landscape character although much of the parkland itself is under arable cultivation. Redrice (now Fareleigh School) has a fine arboretum while Cholderton Lodge was a model farm and is associated with Charles Stephens who founded Stephens Inks. Other parkland includes Penton Mewsey Lodge, Hatherden House Kimpton House, Soddington Manor and Enham Place.

6.3 Built Environment 6.3.1 Many roads cross this landscape radiating out from Andover (e.g. the A303 and A343). The A30 runs through the southern fringes of this area. In places such as east of Andover the criss-crossing of the road network physically and visually fragments the landscape. Beyond the major trunk roads a network of minor rural lanes connects nucleated settlements and the river valleys.

6.3.2 The town of Andover is at the centre of this character area. Although most of the town lies in character area 3B (The Test Valley), its growth in the 20th century has led to the expansion of built form out of the Anton Valley and onto the surrounding higher downland within this character area. In addition to this general growth, urban development has also occurred along the linear routes which radiate out from the town and relatively recent settlements have formed at Picket Piece and Andover Down. The development of the Walworth Industrial Estate on the eastern side of the town has almost merged with these modern settlement clusters.

6.3.3 This landscape contains a number of nucleated settlements, some of which are located at the heads of the tributary valleys and streams of the Test e.g. Kimpton and Penton Mewsey. Many of these settlements are covered by Conservation Area status and retain their historic character, containing good examples of timber framing, cob and straw thatch which is particularly distinctive in this area. Of particular note is the lack of settlement in the southern half of this character area where a sense of remoteness and isolation is most readily perceived. Vernacular buildings reflect the natural building materials available in this landscape including chalk and flint as well as the use of wheat straw.

6.3.4 Across this landscape there is a low density of large to medium farmsteads often associated with the main roads. Farmhouses are typically set back from the farmyard and associated buildings, with barns occurring on three sides. The barn buildings may include threshing barns and granaries on straddle stones. Post WW2 arable intensification and mechanisation has lead to modern large double sheet metal barns and round ground silos which have in some places replaced traditional buildings.

Hampshire County 8 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

EVALUATION

7.0 Forces for Change 1. Changes in agricultural practices and land management, particularly relating to agricultural intensification. 2. Urban/ suburban influences, , including MDAs for housing and employment around Andover. 3. Demand for recreation and access, particularly due to its proximity to centres of population. 4. Potential development of masts and other tall structures. 5. Climate change, particularly related to potential groundwater changes and changes to farming patterns. 6. Minerals and Waste schemes (2 safeguarded landfill sites in the vicinity of Andover).

KEY QUALITIES AND EFFECTS OF FORCES 7.1 A simple landscape composition is achieved by large rectangular fields of arable agriculture, although areas of woodland, grassland and parkland provide visual diversity, especially towards the fringes of the area and around settlements. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3.4.5.6 Threats: Poor maintenance of farmland reduces visual quality of the agricultural landscape. Lost or poorly-managed hedgerows resulting in a weak landscape structure. Replacement of traditional farm buildings with more modern, practical and larger structures which are prominent in the landscape. Loss of pastoral parkland to arable cultivation reducing the diversity of the landscape pattern. Changes of use of estate buildings (e.g. as schools) leading to a loss of character and quality of surrounding parkland. Increased use of land for horse-related activities, potentially resulting in rank grassland and poor/ unsympathetic boundary treatments. Potential negative landscape impacts resulting from planting of energy/ biomass crops.

Opportunities: Seek improved management and maintenance of farmsteads and farms in the urban fringe to retain the visual quality of the landscape. Retain historic field boundaries where they occur. Use AONB management guidelines (if applicable) and local-level assessments (e.g. Parish Plans) to inform construction of new agricultural buildings, to ensure that they are sensitively designed and sited, and well integrated into the landscape. Resist conversion of pastoral parkland to arable use. Replant parkland trees where necessary to retain their presence in the future landscape. Prepare conservation management plans for parkland to ensure that their character and quality is not unduly compromised by changes in use of the estate buildings, and that designed views are not degraded by the introduction of new, visually prominent features. Energy crops should be carefully sited in keeping with the local landscape pattern and create a positive contribution to the landscape.

Hampshire County 9 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

7.2 A landscape with important areas of biodiversity, particularly Harewood Forest and discrete areas of chalk grassland including parts of the internationally-designated Porton Down and Salisbury Plain. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3.4.5.6 Threats: Due to intensive farming practices, there may be a loss of biodiversity. Potential lack of woodland management. Loss and fragmentation of remnant unimproved grassland, reducing its biodiversity value. Loss of woodland and parkland trees as a result of over-maturity (possibly exacerbated by drought and disease resulting from climate change).

Opportunities: Target agri-environment and woodland grant schemes to maximise the biodiversity of arable farmland and woodland, strengthen the landscape pattern and continue/ restart traditional woodland management practises such as coppicing, thinning, replanting and edge management in accordance with BOA guidelines. Seek opportunities for new woodland planting to link existing wooded areas, and to integrate modern development into the landscape. Retain and manage Porton Down SPA and other remnant patches of unimproved grassland, linking them where possible in accordance with BOA guidelines and AONB management plan policies. Consider the possibility of increasing recreational access to woodland areas in line with CAP actions, without compromising landscape or biodiversity quality.

7.3 A rich archaeological landscape, containing extensive prehistoric and Roman features, including burial mounds, and Danebury Hillfort. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3.4.6 Threats: Loss of buried and upstanding archaeological features through ploughing, scrub encroachment, development and other means. Visitor pressure leading to soil erosion and damage to archaeology at popular sites such as Danebury hillfort. Loss of settings of archaeological features, particularly when they occur on skylines or in the context of locally prominent hills.

Opportunities: Protection of archaeology from ploughing, scrub encroachment or woodland management through agreements with landowners/ farmers. Management of visitors to popular sites to enable understanding of the sites but minimising damage to soil or archaeological features, in line with CAP actions. Identifying key settings to archaeological sites and using planning policy to minimise damage to them from development.

Hampshire County 10 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs

7.4 Rural settlement comprises a dispersed pattern of intact historic villages and farmsteads, containing attractive vernacular buildings. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3. Threats: Potential loss of the integrity, historic character and settings of nucleated villages due to incremental suburbanisation and insensitive development. Amalgamation of settlements in built-up areas (for example the Pentons and Andover). High visual impact of Andover, particularly where dense residential development abuts open fields. Urban fringe land uses around Andover (golf courses, sewage works etc) altering the landscape pattern. Ribbon development into downland along roads around Andover, leading to a degraded feel to the landscape, and a wide transition zone from urban to rural character. “Night blight” from Andover and MOD bases. Shortage of easy access routes for urban populations into the countryside. .

Opportunities: Village Design Statements provide an opportunity to identify the historic character of nucleated villages, and encourage new development proposals to be sympathetic to the existing village character in terms of sitting, design and materials. Use of planning conditions to help integrate new development into the landscape through (for example) sensitive planting of hedgerows and woodlands to minimise the visual impacts of development and roads on the landscape. Maintain the close relationship between settlement pattern, historic field boundaries and surrounding parkland in order to protect and enhance the settings of settlements. Maintain the alignment of historic road patterns, using the Rural Roads Initiative. Improve management of the landscape around settlements through targeting of agri- environment schemes. Seek opportunities to restore local landscape features and create a stronger landscape structure within the settlement of Andover. Improve recreation opportunities and public access into the countryside from Andover, in line with CAP actions.

7.5 A generally remote, tranquil, open, expansive and simple landscape with big skies, clear skylines, occasional prominent hills, and long views which make development particularly intrusive. The northern part of the area is designated AONB. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 2..5.5.6.7 Threats: Existing localised impacts on views and tranquillity from intrusive features within the landscape such as pylons, transport routes and airfields. Potential future impacts of visually-dominant wind turbines on skylines and long views.

Opportunities: Seek opportunities to enhance roadside planting, and minimise visual and noise intrusion. Careful consideration to be given to the environmental and landscape impacts of alternative uses for MOD land/ infrastructure. Protect significant open vistas from visual intrusion, and protect and enhance views to local landscape features, including prominent hill tops in accordance with AONB policies. Only site tall and/or large structures where they can be successfully integrated into the landscape.

Hampshire County 11 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Andover Open Downs