CRANBORNE CHASE AND WEST WILTSHIRE DOWNS AONB INTEGRATED LANDSCAPE CHARACTER ASSESSMENT Final Report Prepared for The Countryside Agency by Land Use Consultants June 2003 43 Chalton Street London NW1 1JD Tel: 020 7383 5784 Fax: 020 7383 4798
[email protected] CONTENTS Acknowledgements.................................................................................... i 1. Introduction ......................................................................................... 1 2. Physical Influences............................................................................... 5 3. Ecological Character......................................................................... 13 4. Human Influences.............................................................................. 19 5. Social and Economic Influences....................................................... 31 6. Overview of Agricultural Character................................................ 41 7. Recreational Influences..................................................................... 53 8. The Landscape Character of Cranborne Chase and the West Wiltshire Downs ................................................................................ 61 Type 1: Chalk Escarpments ................................................................... 63 1A Melbury to Blandford Chalk Escarpments ..................................... 65 1B West Wiltshire Downs Chalk Escarpment..................................... 73 1C Fovant and Chalke Escarpment......................................................