2H: WOODED FARMLAND

Undulating predominantly permanent pasture and assart woodland landscape a common characteristic throughout the character area

Tytherley Common Small to medium size irregular assart Lockerley Hall Park – larger field field pattern, with medium to large pattern – but still of assart character blocks of woodland.

Lockerley Hall lodge Scattered development along Straight road character through the Lane. former common land at Tytherley.

. County 1 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland

. Hampshire County 2 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland

1.0 Location and Boundaries 1.1 This character area is located in the west of the County north of the River Dun valley and west of the main Itchen Valley. It is boarded to the east by the County boundary although the character area extends beyond this administrative line to join with character area 14a Farley Forest – Heathland Mosaic. To the north the area is flanked by a rising chalk dip slope comprising LCA 7E.

1.2 Component County Landscape Types Lowland Mosaic Medium Scale

1.3 Composition of Borough/District LCAs: District Tytherley and Montisfont Wooded Farmland Broughton Downs (in part)

The boundaries of this character are is broadly similar to those defined in the Test Valley District character assessment. The main variations relate to the definition of the Test Valley character area (this County assessment includes the upper valley slopes as well as the valley floor), and the northern boundary which is drawn further south the exclude the Tytherley villages.

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

2.0 Key Characteristics • An inlier of Clay and Reading Beds surrounded by Upper Chalk giving rise to a gently undulating landform. • International designation Woods SAC supports a rare breeding population of Barbastelle bats within a mixed woodland habitat. • Meadow habitats support rare species of butterflies. • A well wooded enclosed landscape with extensive areas of coniferous and broadleaved native woodlands throughout the area. • Landuse comprises a mixture of pasture and woodland with some areas of arable. • Field pattern is generally small to medium scale defined by thick hedgerows. • Infield trees and veteran parkland trees are a notable feature along with the parkland landscape and mansion associated with Lockerley Hall. • Pattern of well dispersed farmsteads and linear settlement fringing former common areas.

. Hampshire County 3 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland

• North-south road pattern comprising rural shady lanes, sometimes sunken.

3.0 Physical Characteristics and Land Use 3.1 Geologically this landscape comprises Reading Beds overlain with an inlier of London Clay resulting in an irregular and gently undulating landfom of small valleys, local knolls, ridges and depressions. Soils are generally heavy clay although becoming lighter and sandy towards the margins of this area. Broadly this landscape dips southwards with the highest land around 100m AOD at Poplar Farm in the north and dropping to 40m AOD in the south. Agricultural land quality is predominately medium with patches of better quality land on elevated areas in the west and east where drainage is better.

3.2 This is a well wooded landscape which contrasts with the more open chalk landscapes that surround it. Much is characterised by extensive ancient semi-natural woodland and semi-natural woodland with active coppice. Significant areas of woodland have also been replanted and now comprise mixed species including conifer. Beyond the woodland is a pastoral landscape comprising mainly improved pasture and interspersed with small patches of arable and rotational grassland. These land uses occur in a well defined hedgerow pattern with hedgerow trees and in places there are free standing veteran or in field trees reflecting parkland influences. As a result of the heavy clay soils, oak is the most common tree species. Some of the stream valleys have areas of wet pasture where the ground is locally waterlogged.

3.3 The area falls within the Environment Agency Lower Test catchment area. A number of small streams run though this landscape in a north south direction emerging as springs at the interface with the chalk landscape to the north and draining into the River Dun Valley to the south. Small ponds and lakes are a feature of the area.

4.0 Experiential/Perceptual Characteristics 4.1 The extensive area of woodland and strong network of hedgerows and hedgerow trees creates an intimate and enclosed landscape which is inward looking. Views are often short and intermittent, framed by areas of woodland. The parkland character found over extensive parts of this landscape also creates a well managed and tamed quality.

4.2 There are no long distance footpaths through this area although there are numerous public rights of way and bridleways which provide access to farmland and woodland. Upper Frenchmoor Copse and Spearywell Wood are also areas of openly accessible woodland.

4.3 The enclosure and heavily wooded character creates a strong sense of seclusion with notable areas of tranquillity and peacefulness.

5.0 Biodiversity Character 5.1 This landscape character area encompasses internationally important habitat, including Mottisfont Woods SAC, important for its population of the rare barbastelle bats. It is one of only six known maternity sites in the UK (2002 data) and the only one in Hampshire. Mottisfont contains a mix of woodland types

. Hampshire County 4 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland

including hazel coppice with standards, broadleaved plantation and coniferous plantation which the bats use for breeding, roosting, commuting and feeding. The Montisfont Woodlands are also a SSSI.

5.2 Other SSSIs include Bentley Woods (comprising of a large complex of ancient woodland which has been replanted during the post-war period with a mixture of conifers and native hardwoods including oak, beech, Norway spruce, Scots pine and Corsican pine and which is one of the top sites in the UK for supporting a wide range of butterfly species particularly woodland butterflies).

5.3 Beyond the designations this landscape character area consists of a range of habitats notably mosaics of woodland and unproductive grasslands, amongst agriculturally productive land. . Woodland character varies, with some broadleaved woodland, which is predominantly ancient and semi-natural woodland, plantations (mixed, coniferous and broadleaved) and areas of new trees. Grassland tends to be neutral/ acidic and unimproved, there are also patches of unimproved and semi-improved neutral grasslands. There are occasional patches of marshy grassland, particularly in the south west of the area. These provide important habitat variation.

5.4 The majority of this landscape character area is covered by the Tytherley Woods BOA which comprises a dense concentration of ancient semi-natural woodlands extending from the Wiltshire border to the grasslands of the Test Valley.

5.5 There are over 30 SINCs in this landscape character area, the majority have been designated because of their ancient and semi natural woodland, suggesting a high concentration of ancient woodland within the area. Pullins Copse/ Blackpit Wood is the largest (65ha) and was designated for its value as an ancient and semi-natural woodland and because associated grasslands retain a significant element of unimproved grassland.

6.0 Historic Character 6.1 Archaeology 6.1.1 Located to the north of the River Dun, this landscape’s Mesolithic finds are associated with the Dun valley with a particular concentration towards the confluence with the Test Valley. It seems likely that exploitation of this area at this time was associated with the valleys.

6.1.2 This is also reflected in the Neolithic and Bronze Ages where there are similarly no Neolithic sites or long barrows, or Bronze Age burial mounds or Bronze Age settlements. This would suggest that this area was not settled or farmed during these periods although some artefacts mainly associated with the River Dun suggest exploitation.

6.1.3 In the Iron age there are three hillforts in the lowland belt to the west of the Test valley, one of which falls within this area. This is part of a pattern of isolated Hillforts that are dispersed through this lowland zone, but without a settled landscape surrounding them. There are no other Iron Age settlements or any Celtic field systems in this area, although there is an Iron Age enclosure to the east on the flank of the Test valley. It would seem that in the Iron Age the area was not settled and

. Hampshire County 5 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland

farmed, but the Hillforts appear to have played a role in controlling the use of the landscape implying that it was being extensively rather than intensively used.

6.1.4 In the Roman period too there is very little archaeological evidence, although there are Roman villas in the Dun valley.

6.1.5 It would appear that this area did not evolve as a settled and farmed landscape until into the medieval period. It emerges in the medieval period as forest, suggested by the deer park, moats and fish pond recorded, and probably was extensively exploited through this time, such as through grazing and woodland management. The high presence of woodland in the landscape even today suggests this character. It seems likely that the modern landscape has developed since the 12th or 13th centuries when the forest controls were relaxed and land made available for farming.

6.2 Historic Landscape 6.2.1 There are two specific influences reflected in the historic landscape, notably the parkland associated with Lockerley Hall and and the presence of woodland and small scale assart enclosures.

6.2.2 East Tytherley is thought to have originated as a medieval deer park whereas Lockerley Hall is later in date (post 1870) and was first called Oaklands. The remains of the East Tytherley park pale can be traced within woodland to the west of the present day parkland and extends onto the chalk downland at East Tytherley. In the 19th century the parkland was redeveloped and redesigned to form the present day parkland which incorporated Lockerley Hall (completed in 1871). This process of redesign is thought to have included extensive replanting of pre 1810 woodland both within and along its formal borders.

6.2.3 Elsewhere in this landscape the historic pattern comprises small scale fields associated with woodland reflecting substantial assarting of a previously wooded environment in the late medieval and post-medieval period to support an important wood-pasture economy. These small scale fields have in places been reorganised in the 19th and 20th centuries to create the larger irregular fields seen today.

6.3 Built Environment 6.3.1 Lanes weave through this landscape often shaded by hedgerow trees and sometimes sunken. They generally follow a north south orientation passing though areas of woodland and farmland. There are no major roads.

6.3.2 There are no nucleated villages or hamlets located within this character area, although a number occur on the margins in adjacent character areas e.g. or West Dean in Wiltshire. There are however linear settlements which occur in close association with areas of former common and have developed along roads e.g. Frenchmoor Lane and the road between Lockerley and East Tytherley. These linear settlements comprise a loose collection of buildings including farms. Traditional building materials include timber framed buildings with brick infill panels, and clay roof tiles. There are also modern infill dwellings built from a variety of materials and in a range of different styles.

. Hampshire County 6 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland

6.3.3 A small number of dispersed farmsteads can be found in this landscape located along roads and tracks e.g. Spearywell Farm, Little Bentley Farm and Holbury Farm. Farms buildings are often arranged around a yard in an L or U shaped fashion although the small dairy farms may comprise just one or two buildings. Farm buildings reflect the need for housing for cattle and also for horses and are timber framed with weatherboarding or are brick built. The roofs of many farm buildings are half-hipped and aisled on one or two sides, creating low eaves and large expanses of roof.

6.3.4 The parkland landscape of Lockerley Hall (a country house built in the 19th century) is notable. Its high concentration of oak trees and associated model farm at Home Farm to the west are defining features of this landscape.

. Hampshire County 7 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland

EVALUATION

7.0 Forces for Change 1. Changes in land and woodland management practices, often associated with agricultural intensification. 2. Loss of tranquillity due to an increase in road traffic, and loss of tree cover. 3. Visual intrusion from small scale developments. 4. Climate change; storm frequency and increased drought and disease affecting trees and woodlands.

KEY QUALITIES AND EFFECTS OF FORCES 7.1 Historic landscape features including ancient and assarted woodland, field boundaries and extensive parkland create a strong sense of time-depth, and a well-managed and “tamed” quality. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.3.4. Threats: Past (and potential future) loss of historic field patterns and hedgerows due to field amalgamation and/ or poor maintenance. Loss of veteran and parkland trees due to over maturity, possibly exacerbated by drought resulting from climate change. New uses of parkland landscapes and mansions can result in incremental changes (e.g. additional car parking; ornamental planting) which may impact significantly on the character and quality of designed landscapes. Potential conversion of parkland and associated pastoral landscapes to arable.

Opportunities: Retain existing field patterns and encourage traditional methods of hedgerow management and the retention/ replanting of hedgerow trees through targeting of agri-environment schemes and other grant funding. Protection of the setting and features of historic landscapes. Potential to carry out conservation management plans, as appropriate for parkland landscapes within this LCA.

7.2 A network of traditionally managed and plantation woodlands and semi-natural grassland habitats, which together form important habitats for bats and butterflies. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.4. Threats: Lack of woodland management in the future, leading to neglect of habitat and decline of key species. Potential loss of semi-improved grasslands due to scrub invasion from lack of grazing or conversion for intensive farming.

Opportunities: Restore traditional woodland management to PAWS woodlands in line with BOA objectives. The number of woodland and grassland sites means there is particular potential through restoration to form a better connected landscape scale habitat network for these two habitats.

. Hampshire County 8 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland

7.3 An intimate and enclosed landscape with a strong sense of tranquillity and seclusion, due to the area’s extensive woodland, hedgerows and trees, and its short, inward-looking and woodland-framed views. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3.4. Threats: Potential loss of trees as a result of over-maturity, poor woodland management and/or climate change, leading to a reduction in the sense of enclosure, Increased traffic levels, potentially leading to a loss of tranquillity which would be exacerbated by a loss in tree cover. Changes in agricultural practices my lead to a loss of landscape pattern, potentially exacerbated by climate change.

Opportunities: Maintain current levels of landscape seclusion and tranquillity through retention of current levels of woodland and tree cover. Retain the predominance of woodland to keep the existing contrast between this wooded landscape and the surrounding open chalk hills and river valleys. Target woodland grant schemes to promote good woodland management practices such as coppicing, thinning and replanting, taking into consideration the visual qualities of the area, and retaining the sense of enclosure.

7.4 A settlement pattern of distinctive and well-dispersed farmsteads and linear villages, with rural, shady lanes (sometimes sunken) running north-south through the area, joined by an extensive network of footpaths. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 2.3. Threats: Potential loss of setting, character and linear form of settlements. Potential incremental suburbanistion of rural lanes due to insensitive signage and engineered features such as kerbs and traffic calming measures.

Opportunities: Promote use of historic building guidance documents (EH, HCC and local) with regard to the use of local traditional materials. Use planning policies and conditions to emphasise the need to retain linear settlement form, to integrate new development into the surrounding landscape through tree planting, and to be sympathetic to traditional building styles and materials. Potential use of Rural Roads Initiative to balance the need to meet highways standards whilst offering a sympathetic design approach to the retention of shady, sunken rural lanes. Manage footpaths and rural lanes in accordance with Countryside Access Plan policies. There is also the potential to enable increased countryside access from nearby railway stations.

. Hampshire County 9 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Lockerley Wooded Farmland