2D: ROMSEY TO EASTLEIGH WOODED LOWLAND MOSAIC

Small to medium sized fields with ditches and mature oaks and wooded boundaries on sandy / gravely soils typify much of the character area. Near N Baddesley.

Regular enclosure over formerAmpfield Wood from Downland to Field trees can be of ancient origin common late 18th early 18th C with the North of Hursley here, surviving in more recent formal pre 1810 assart wood nr Botley Rd. enclosure fields–south of Hursley.

Emer Bog – Nationally important wet Linear development along Castle lane Valley Park west of Chandlers Ford acid heath habitat within shallow19th century small holding built between pockets of ancient valley, remnant common associateddevelopment over former common. woodland. with the Lowland Mosaic Heath Associated landscape.

Hampshire County 1 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

Hampshire County 2 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

1.0 Location and Boundaries 1.1 Bounded to the east and west by the Test and Itchen river valleys, this landscape is well wooded and situated on sandy and clayey soils. It represents the former extent of the Forest of Bere Astley – which had a different landscape evolution to the Forest of Bere West and East by the fact of its early disafforestation in the 14th century. This character area extends as far north as the chalk and south to the unitary boundary with Southampton.

1.2 Component County Landscape Types Lowland Mosaic Heath Associated, Lowland Mosaic Medium Scale Woodland Associated, Lowland Mosaic Open.

1.3 Composition of Borough/District LCAs: Test Valley BC Eastleigh BC Winchester CC North Baddesley to North Stoneham Park Cranbury Woodlands Chilworth Woodland Urban Mosaic Baddesley Mixed Farmland and Woodland

The character areas falls mostly in Test Valley Borough, There are some similarities with this assessment especially the extent of the heath associated landscape type. This Borough assessment does not define a Test valley character areas only ‘river valley floor’ character areas so the western boundary differs.

1.4 Associations with NCAs and Natural Areas: NCA 128: South Hampshire Lowlands NA 75 South Coast Plain and Hampshire Lowlands

1.5 Townscape assessment areas: Eastleigh, Chandler’s Ford and Hiltingbury (west part), Romsey (east part)

2.0 Key Characteristics • A sense of elevation above the adjoining coastal and valley landscapes of the Test and Itchen, and moderately undulating topography with a variety of clay and sandy gravel geology. • Watershed of the Test and Itchen with chalk fed tributaries and boggy heath and mire, in shallow valleys. • Predominantly improved grassland, but also significant amount of semi- natural ancient woodland and conifer replanted woodland with

Hampshire County 3 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

internationally-designated damp and boggy acid heath habitat in central area creating a rich biodiversity. • A predominantly wooded assart landscape of mid medieval origin fragmented and significantly altered by 18th and 19th century enclosures, conifer plantation and extensive expansion northwards of Southampton in the latter half of the 20th century. • Huge loss of heathy commons and irregular medieval fields to enclosure and development of Romsey, Baddesely and Chandler’s Ford in the last 150years. • Until the 19th century, a landscape with a dispersed settlement pattern relatively little changed since the 14th century.

3.0 Physical Characteristics and Land Use 3.1 Situated between the Itchen and Test river valleys, this landscape has a relatively elevated feel. The boundary with the Test Valley is about 25 -40m AOD whereas with the Itchen it is 25-30m. The area of Lowland Mosaic Medium Scale Woodland Associated is more undulating and has slightly higher hills of average 60-70m and occasionally over 100m AOD. The Lowland Mosiac Heath Associated landscapes to the south form a series of gently undulating small plateaux 45-60mAOD.

3.2 The geology of the area is varied with clays, sand and gravels. A central band of sandy Wittering Beds/ Earnley formation runs east-west. To the north and south is London Clay overlain by sands of the Nursling and Whitecliff members. This geology gives rise to sand with clay soils. The sandiness is a key determinant in identifying the area of Lowland Mosaic Heath Associated type. The sands and clays of the Lutetian stages (including the Earnley formation) is characterised by marine fossils of molluscs and teeth of cartilaginous fish. The soils are of poor agricultural quality but improve towards the boundary with the Test Valley character area.

3.3 There is a patchwork of different land uses. Competing with the traditional pattern of heathy commons with bogs and wet meadow, woodland, pasture and arable are more modern urban fringe pressures, including golf courses, nurseries, horse paddocks and liveries. Improved pasture for dairying and woodland dominate but these uses are increasingly fragmented by modernland uses. Fields are typically small and irregular in shape and pattern but more regular on the edge of former commons. Fields are generally larger in the north where the landscape type changes.

3.4 The character area is dissected north-south by the watershed for the Itchen and Test river catchments. There are 2 significant tributaries; Monk’s Brook which flows through Chandler’s Ford to the Itchen and the Tadburn stream which rises near Ampfield and flows to the Test through Romsey. The relationship of the clay with the adjacent chalk has resulted in a series of springs along this boundary. There are good examples of bogs and mires which form from impeded drainage where clays are present and the topography is conducive. Examples include Emer Bog and Flexford.

4.0 Experiential/Perceptual Characteristics 4.1 In general, this is a landscape of short views across fields to layered wooded horizons and woodland edges. There is sense of elevation over adjoining valley

Hampshire County 4 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

character areas and longer distant views when on locally prominent areas such as Baddesley Common, and above the Test Valley.

4.2 The definitive rights of way network typically consists of short lengths of paths linked to the often busy rural road network50. Connections from modern suburb development into the surrounding countryside is limited but better in some locations (e.g. Chilworth) than others. Doorstep greenspace is quite well provided in the form of remnant areas of open and wooded common, e.g. Baddesley common, Valley Park Woodlands at Zion Hill Copse and Flexford.

4.3 There is a pervading sense of rural urban fringe in the Lowland Mosaic Common and Heath Associated landscape, with non-traditional rural land uses such as golf courses and horse paddocks. Piecemeal development along roads is also frequent. The Belbins area has had a history of landfill-related activity. Heathland and isolated copses on remaining areas of common provide more natural landscapes in close proximity to development. The Lowland Mosaic Medium Scale landscape has had less recent change and retains a more rural character, buffered from development with the presence of woodland.

5.0 Biodiversity Character 5.1 This landscape character area has varied land cover outside the main settlements. Improved grassland dominates, with some patches of associated arable land. Woodland is frequent and is mainly broadleaved, but with some plantations of all types. In the north of the area Ampfield Woods is a large wooded area comprising broadleaved woodland, mixed, coniferous and mixed plantations as well as parkland, and has some notable small leaved limes. Some of the wood comprises replanted ancient woodland. There is a smaller, but still quite large, woodland in the east with a large parkland component, broadleaved woodland and small patches of calcareous grassland. In the south of the area there is further significant woodland, running from Lords Wood to Hut Wood. There are some infrequent patches of dry heath/ acid grassland mosaic through the landscape character area, sometimes associated with acid grasslands. There are also patches of bracken, usually found near woodlands.

5.2 The character area includes Emer Bog SAC which is a largely open site, dominated by bottle sedge and marsh cinquefoil, with frequent common cottongrass, and occasional pools with bogbean. White sedge and bog-mosses are common at the edge of the bog, with rushes and patches of common reed. The basin is surrounded by mature willow woodland and open heathland. This site is also designated a SSSI (Baddesley Common) valued for its extensive valley bog, heathland, associated damp acidic grassland and developing woodland over Bracklesham Beds in the Hampshire Basin.

5.3 Other SSSIs include Trodds Copse SSSI and Ratlake Meadows. The former comprises ancient semi-natural woodland, unimproved meadows and flushes drained by tributaries of the Monks Brook, a branch of the River Itchen. The diverse geology and varied drainage conditions give rise to a wide range of habitats. At least ten woodland types can be identified, of which four are considered nationally rare. The diversity of woodland types is matched by an extremely rich ground flora. The antiquity of the woodlands is reflected in the very high number of ancient woodland indictor species recorded within the site. Over fifty such species occur, including a

Hampshire County 5 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

number of rare or local plants such as tutsan, making it one of the botanically richest woods in Hampshire.

5.4 The central part of this landscape character area is covered by the Ampfield – Baddesley – Chilworth – Lordswood BOA. This BOA covers an important complex of ancient and semi-natural woodland, relict heathland and species-rich neutral grassland overlying tertiaries.

5.5 There are over 130 SINCs within this landscape character area. They are generally quite small, Nutburn Meadow being large at 9.5 hectares. SINCs are designated mainly for their ancient woodland or unimproved grassland. There are two LNRs namely Tadburn Meadows and Valley Park Woodlands.

6.0 Historic Character 6.1 Archaeology 6.1.1 It is likely that the Mesolithic activity focused in the river valleys. However, there is a good scatter of Mesolithic evidence through this lowland belt, which fits a general distribution of Mesolithic sites and finds through the lowland and coastal zones of south Hampshire. There is a record of a Mesolithic site on the high heath between the river valleys, suggesting that this area was exploited in this period.

6.1.2 The only Neolithic site recorded in the area was associated with the Test Valley. The only other evidence suggestive of more than casual exploitation is a find of Neolithic pottery on the edge of the lower lying ground, now occupied by Chandlers Ford. There are records of artefacts of Neolithic date suggesting the area was lightly exploited.

6.1.3 The Bronze Age burials in this area generally tend to cluster on the high ground between the river valleys, but more specifically there is a distribution of burial mounds on the high ground that overlooks the lower lying land now occupied by Chandlers Ford. There is also a Bronze Age settlement in this area. It seems likely that the high heath was exploited from settlements in the adjacent river valleys, but it is possible that there was settlement in the area, perhaps in the Chandlers Ford area.

6.1.4 In the Iron Age the area was not densely settled, in contrast to the dense field systems and settlement complexes of the chalk to the north. However there are two hill forts on the high ground on the southern edge (with a third in an equivalent position to the east beyond the Itchen valley). This suggests that whilst the area was not settled or farmed it was controlled and utilised. There was a substantial Iron Age enclosure on the edge of Chandlers Ford.

6.1.5 In the Roman period there were distinct patterns of activity. The Roman road crossed this area between the Itchen and Test valleys, and Roman settlement evidence tends to cluster on the top of the valley sides on this route. There is limited evidence of Roman activity on the heath. On the northern edge, in the Lowland Mosaic Small Scale Landscape, there are two Roman villas, as well as evidence of Roman kilns. The Roman occupation of this band of landscape may have utilised managed woodland for fuel and might also represent a hunting rather than a farmed environment.

Hampshire County 6 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

6.2 Historic Landscape 6.2.1 This landscape was once covered by the Forest of Bere Ashley. By 1330 the area was disafforested (unlike the Forest of Bere Portchester to the east of the Itchen which was disafforested and enclosed in the 19th century). The subsequent historic landscape evolution is discussed in terms of the Lowland Mosaic Open and Small Scale and the Lowland Mosaic Heath Associated landscapes. The Heath Associated landscapes have their origins in the commons of Ampfield, Cranbury and North Baddesley which once formed part of a vast tract of heathland that stretched to the coast at Southampton60. The proximity of Southampton to the character area encouraged dairying and particularly pig husbandry to supply the expanding port settlement.

6.2.2 Post disafforestation, assarts and open field systems were first enclosed5 in the Lowland Mosaic Small Scale landscape type. This is reflected in an irregular pattern of fields with wavy boundaries, often with ditch and bank field boundaries. These early enclosures were centred around small hamlets, and church and manors with farmsteads. Woodland was cleared in the subsequent years creating smaller copses and fields. This process was probably greatest in the areas which are now classified as Lowland Mosaic Open to the west and northwest. This area of most productive soils was probably subject to estate land management reorganisation (forming relatively large enclosures) and also and incorporates designed views over the Test. Almost all the woodland has been lost from these areas.

6.2.3 There are numerous copses to the north and west of Hiltingbury, which show little change in extent and shape from 1st edition and OSD mapping. This area has assart fields of irregular pattern and shape, which are likely to be the oldest extant assarts but are also closest to most recent settlement expansion. The centre of the character area has some more regular assarts which may indicate a later phase of enclosure57 likely to be of post medieval origin. Ampfield Wood or the Out Wood (the largest wood in the character area covering 300ha) is derived from ancient copses, a deer park and common land, was one of the last enclosures in 1809.

6.2.4 Post disafforestation, the Lowland Mosaic Heath associated landscape was a mixture of heathy open and wooded commons, interspersed with a network of assart fields and early enclosures. From the mid C. 18th to 19th, this landscape underwent a significant amount of small large scale formal enclosure, due to an increase in smallholdings on the edge of the open heathy commons, and enclosure of common land itself, particularly in the southern half of the character area e.g. Baddesley, Chilworth, and Cranberry in the east. The landscape around Ampfield did not undergo such extensive reorganisation. Woodland in this area was often subject to later 19th and early 20th century replanting with conifers. Later, golf courses were established on the sandier areas (e.g. Ampfield and south east of North Baddesley).

6.2.5 Part of the Hursley (Merdon) Deer Park is within this character area and Cranbury Park (EH Grade II*) is the largest parkland landscape. Other parks include Chilworth Manor, Chilworth Tower and Ingersley House close to Southampton. There are two other small parkland sites east of Romsey Ampfield House and Jermyns house the latter was the home and developed as an arboretum by the nurseryman and plant collector Sir Harold Hillier (known as the Sir Harold Hillier

Hampshire County 7 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

Gardens - EH Grade II). The influence of Hilliers nurseries can be recognised by some more unusual trees and shrubs in gardens in this area.

6.3 Built Environment 6.3.1 There is a mix of traditional road forms and alignments, from straight sections (often through areas of former common) to winding and dog leg lanes providing access to farms along routes typically associated with informal enclosure landscapes. The M27 has effectively severed north-south links in this area. A branch line railway crosses the landscape from Eastleigh to Romsey. The A3057 and A32 are busy routes.

6.3.2 The mid C. 19th settlement pattern was low density dispersed, concentrated around the edge of the character area. To the north this is associated with springline settlements, such as Braishfield, Otterbourne and Lower Slackstead at the junction of the clay and chalk. The landscape close to the boundary with the Test River Valley has the best agricultural soils and valley top settlements such as Abbotswood, Halterworth, Belbins and Cupenham are typical.

6.3.3 Post disafforestation of the Forest of Bere Ashley in the 14th century, small farmsteads and hamlets developed and expanded, such as N. Baddesley, Chilworth, Nutburn, North End and Rownhams. Establishment of Church and manor settlement such as at Old Chilworth occurred at this time but not particularly intensively. There are a few examples of deserted medieval villages in or close to the character area such as North Stoneham and Boyatt, but medieval expansion does not appear to have been as intensive as in the surrounding landscapes. OSD mapping for 1800 and 1st edition mapping of the mid C.19th show little development in this landscape and the presence of substantial areas of common land such as at Baddesley, Hiltingbury, N Stoneham and Chilworth. Evidence suggests piecemeal development of small farmholdings occurred in the 19th century, especially in the heath associated landscapes, but it was not until the second half of the C.20th that development transformed the rural landscape in the south and east through the rapid expansion of Southampton’s suburbs. Farmsteads and hamlets in the south of the character area were subsumed during this period. Expansion resulted in loss of woodland such as Lord’s Wood (Chilworth) and Hut Wood (Stoneham). Some patches of woodland have been incorporated into residential development. C. 20th expansion eastwards of Romsey extends into this character area and has subsumed hamlets such as Halterworth and Whitenap.

6.3.34 The proportion of medieval and C. 17th farmsteads is comparatively high compared with the Forest of Bere Portchester to the east, although it is low compared with some other areas subject to early disafforestation. There was little increase in farmsteads in the 19th and 20th century.

6.3.5 The stock of pre 1700 brick houses is of fairly low density as are houses pre 1850, reflecting the lack of development since medieval times. There is a small concentration of timber frame listed buildings which together form the Ampfield Conservation Area. Combed wheat reed thatch distribution is at its eastern Hampshire extent at Braishfield; a feature very much associated with Test Valley. A more recent trend has been the development of detached properties in rural and urban fringe locations, especially in the heath associated landscapes and areas of former common.

Hampshire County 8 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

EVALUATION

7.0 Forces for Change 1. New large scale settlement extensions in particular around Romsey and North Baddesley 2. Farm conversion to residential and loss of traditional land management practices. 3. Pressure for urban fringe use related activities. 4. Enabling greater access opportunities for local people. 5. Climate change on semi natural habitats. 6. Forestry and woodland management change. 7. Mineral extraction and waste landfill sites.

KEY QUALITIES AND EFFECTS OF FORCES 7.1 A variety of types and size of enclosures resulting in a varied pattern of fields and woodland. In places there is a discernible palimpsest including medieval assarts and wavy-boundary fields to later more regular enclosure episodes. Additional visible time depthfrom burial and defence related features from the Bronze and Iron Ages. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3 Threats: Further loss of farmland, and in particular hedges and hedgerow oaks. Potential urban extensions sites at Romsey and North Baddesley. Potential mineral extraction particularly on the valley tops of the Test valley, the northern edge of the character area and east of Romsey –some of the more discernible medieval origin enclosures and large formal enclosures of estate origin overlook the Test valley. Pressure around the major settlements for formal recreation sites.

Opportunities: Influence planning and restoration of minerals schemes to minimise long term effects on pattern of enclosures. Influence agri-environment schemes in relation to characteristic hedges and impacts e.g. run off onto adjoining woodland sites.

7.2 Some areas retain their historically characteristic low density settlement pattern of dispersed hamlets and farmsteads, which is indicative of low intensity exploitation. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 2.3 Threats: Change from rural to suburban character land uses extending further into the character area, new detached development, and the cumulative effects of individual redevelopment. Change of use and domestication of existing farmsteads and farmland to residential use and gardens and horse paddocks.

Opportunities: The retention of the isolated setting to the character of some of the historic buildings and farmsteads is a feature which could be addressed in local planning policy. This quality could be emphasised in local level assessments and village design statements.

Hampshire County 9 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic

7.3 A wide range of semi-natural habitats frequently adjoining or extending into suburban areas, including varied ancient woodland types (often partly replanted), mature treed hedges, and internationally important patches of valley bog and damp unimproved acid grassland providing a rich biodiversity. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: All Threats: Recreational pressures in ancient woodland sites -as many woodlands here have access - conflicting with biodiversity interests. Alteration of ground water levels and run off from adjoining agricultural land adversely affecting valley bog and mire habitats.

Opportunities: The potential for reversion of plantation on ancient woodland sites (PAWS) is quite significant in this landscape, including the extensive Ampfield wood. Opportunities for woodland grant scheme funding consideration could be given to the visual impact of changing woodland structure. Target agri-environment schemes and other grant funding sources towards conservation and enhancement of this key quality. Influence River Catchment Flood Plans of the Test and Itchen. Support BO.A .target habitats for conservation, habitat linking, creation and reversion opportunities for lowland woodland, wet woodland, unimproved acid grassland, heath and damp habitats.

7.4 A predominantly rural landscape with a sense of elevation over the adjoining Test and Itchen valleys, but generally short enclosed views with layered wooded backdrops against the undulating topography. Woodland (often away from settlements) provides the main form of accessible land. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3.4.6 Threats: Change from rural to suburban character extending further into the character area from town expansions, rural urban fringe related land use, and traffic related issues. Over formalisation of semi-natural areas to provide recreation facilities. Increasing access opportunities can introduce greater likelihood of conflict through misuse (e.g. fly tipping, trespassing) on local farmland.

Opportunities: There are very few rights of way but a good resource of accessible woodland – access to these areas is inevitably by car – an issue raised in the CAP for this area. The local gaps and countryside could provide more permissive access opportunities; a co-ordinated approach to land management stewardship could target this. Influence green infrastructure policy for this part of the PUSH area.

Hampshire County 10 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Romsey to Eastleigh Wooded Lowland Mosaic