A Landscape View of Trees and Woodlands

Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty A landscape view of trees and woodlands

Contents Cranborne Chase & West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty A landscape view of trees and woodlands

Introduction...... 5 Connectivitiy: habitat management on the scale of the landscape...... 13 Our Woodlands in a changing climate...... 15 Chapter 1 Chalk Escarpments...... 21 Chapter 2 Open Chalk Downland...... 27 Chapter 3 Wooded Chalk Downland...... 35 Chapter 4 Downland Hills...... 43 Chapter 5 Chalk River Valleys...... 49 Chapter 6 Greensand Terraces...... 57 Chapter 7 Greensand Hills...... 63 Chapter 8 Rolling Clay Vale...... 71

AONB Office, Castle Street, Cranborne, Dorset BH21 5PZ Tel: 01725 517417 email: [email protected] www.ccwwdaonb.org.uk

Introduction Introduction

and other statutory bodies to have The role of trees due regard for AONB in all their work. The AONB Partnership came and woodlands in together to formulate a management plan. In 2003 a Landscape Character the landscape well-being. They are integral to Assessment2 was undertaken to outdoor recreation, game shooting Trees and woodlands play provide a detailed, integrated and and equestrian sports such as objective analysis of the character a vital role in our landscape: hunting. Trees and woodlands frame of the landscape. This formed the they provide for us, regulate views and act as focal points within basis for the public consultation and support the environmental the landscape. They are inspirational that produced, in 2004, the first by their individual presence, as AONB Management Plan. In 2008 systems that enrich our lives remarkable or architecturally beautiful and upon which we depend. this was reviewed and the refreshed trees, and in their collective effect, plan published in 20093. In that year as in the ambience created in and there were several landscape scale Trees provide us with services around woodlands. Trees have enhancement projects arising: without which life would become a deep spiritual importance for very much harder. They provide us many people and certainly form an • Rivers – on the Avon the 4 with timber, fibre, fuel, food and important part of the genius loci, the STREAM programme and Living 5 the genetic material to sustain and sense of place, which characterises River Project addressed issues improve future generations of trees. where we live, work and play.1 relating to chalk streams and the riparian zone. Trees regulate our environment by • Downs – across the chalk storing carbon and by being a part The need for a downland the Wildlife Trusts of the hydrological cycle; taking up were working through the New water from the soil and emitting it as landscape view Life for Chalk Grassland Project6 a vapour. They reduce the velocity in Wiltshire and the Pastures of water that flows through and of trees and New Project7 in Dorset. over the ground, reducing erosion and intercepting pollution before it woodlands. • Farmland – a Farmland Bird reaches water courses. Pollutants Adviser joined the AONB team have to be removed from water to work with agri-environment in expensive processes to protect The Cranborne Chase and West schemes and support habitat drinking water and wildlife; when Wiltshire Downs was designated creation on the arable land. as an Area of Outstanding Natural riverside trees do this for us it saves 2 The AONB Landscape Character Assessment us all money. Beauty (AONB) in 1981 because it chapters can be down loaded from www. was judged to be a landscape of ccwwdaonb.org.uk Trees support our ecosystems by such special and unique character 3 The AONB Management Plan can be obtained storing and cycling nutrients and that it should be conserved as a part from www.ccwwdaonb.org.uk or by calling of our shared national heritage. The 01725 517417 providing habitat for a huge range 4 For more information about STREAM go to of species, including whole groups Countryside and Rights of Way Act www.streamlife.org.uk such as bats and avian raptors. 2000 put a duty on Local Authorities 5 For more information about Living River Project go to www.livingriver.org.uk Trees and woodlands also have 6 For more information about New Life for Chalk Grasslands go to www.wiltshirewildlife.org.uk and a huge cultural and historical 1 For more information about ecosystem services, you can down load “Taking an Ecosystem click on to Living Landscapes significance and have a proven Services approach to land management” from 7 For more information about grassland positive impact on our health and the South West Protected Landscapes Forum at conservation in Dorset, visit the Dorset AONB www.southwestlandscapes.org.uk web site at www.dorsetaonb.org.uk • Ancient and Veteran trees – the Dorset Greenwood Tree Project and the Wiltshire Tree Warden Scheme had been launched. • Historic Environment Action Plans – the H.E.A.P. project was launched in February 2009, to focus attention on the archaeological and historical aspects of the AONB landscape.8

Trees and woods were important or key components in each initiative. If the AONB Partnership was to successfully form collaborative links between all these initiatives, so that sustainable management of Who will benefit the people and places of the area ancient woodlands in line with could derive the most benefit from the Forestry Commission Ancient from this work? them, then there was a need for Woodland Practice Guide. This document is aimed primarily better and more relevant knowledge • Encourage and implement the at land owners and managers, of trees and woodlands. restoration of plantations on advisers and consultants, but also ancient woodland sites to a Forestry Commission and Natural native character. England officers and those people New • Safeguard, enhance and in local authorities that formulate extend landscape scale habitat and deliver rural and tree-related developments for networks. policies. It is hoped that this work will help these individuals by giving • Encourage and implement woodlands and them an evidence base that justifies appropriate creation of new landscape scale working; given a native woodlands. trees fuller understanding of the landscape The two most significant • Raise awareness of the value character context in which they are developments for woodlands and of ancient woodlands amongst working. The forester or landowner trees at that time were firstly that the landowners. will then be able to make better AONB became an Ancient Woodland decisions about their own sites, • Gain the greatest benefits for Priority Area and secondly, the applying to this base layer their both land owners and the public re-launch of the Dorset Woodlink detailed site knowledge from the site good by linking woodland Project9 that coordinates woodland history, their personal experience, and other land management and trees policy across Dorset. their training and their own initiatives. objectives. This document also aims The Cranborne Chase Ancient • Build partnerships to identify and to inspire those people who may Woodland project10 was established deliver common goals not be directly involved in woodland by the AONB Partnership, Forestry management but are enthusiastic Commission and Natural England These developments made it about, and interested in, the trees with support from the Woodland necessary to instigate a research and woodlands of our exceptional Trust and other non-governmental project that would give us the means landscape. organisations. It has the broad to at least address some of the objectives to: issues around woodland and trees, It was also realised that the dataset if not actually provide solutions. • Promote the establishment of had the potential to answer a whole Therefore the AONB Team began robust, resilient landscapes range of other questions, have a to create a dataset characterising well suited to meeting future diversity applications, as well as the woodland in the AONB which challenges. posing new questions for further corrected or resolved many of enquiry. It would, for example, allow • Encourage and implement the the issues with the datasets then the AONB to: available. (A full description of the 8 For more information about Historic Environment • Gain a better understanding Action Plans, or to view the Historic Landscape method for this research can be of the location and nature of Characterisation of the AONB, go to www. found in a separate document). It has historiclandscape.co.uk ancient woodland in the AONB culminated in the publication of this 9 For more information about Dorset Woodlink, and its relationship to historic document. contact Dorset AONB at www.dorsetaonb.org.uk land use. 10 For more information about the ancient woodland priority area, contact the AONB Office • Identify landscape scale on 01725 517417 or via www.ccwwdaonb.org. uk management priorities for Introduction

Ancient Woodland based on a 11 • The level of connectivity to semi- more complete picture of this Method summary natural habitats habitat type in the AONB. This document has introduced a new The creation of the new GIS based • Identify areas of woodland, in a desk based method of digitising, AONB woodland dataset took 40 systematic manner, which may characterising, and recording working days during the latter half of contain undiscovered woodland woodland at a landscape scale. 2008, not including the pilot study archaeology, or which may The dataset is more precise and which took 4 working days. warrant future archaeological comprehensive than has ever been

survey. achieved before and allows the relationships between origin, type • Identify priority areas for the and connectivity of woodland to be Categorising the enhancement of landscape mapped for the first time. For the connectivity as a necessary step purposes of the project woodland historical origins of for improving biodiversity. was defined as “land that is mostly • Deepen our understanding of covered with dense growths of trees woodland the contribution that woodland and shrubs”. The Historic Landscape makes to the character of Characterisation (HLC) of the AONB Landscape Character Types had already studied the history and Areas identified in the Identifying of land use in the AONB in some AONB Landscape Character detail. This meant that the historical Assessment. and mapping mapping sources had already been analysed. The historic map • Transmit to a wider audience woodland datasets were compared against a an enhanced and more detailed modern mapping base to identify understanding of the nature of The AONB Woodland dataset the origin of woodland by historical woodlands in the AONB. was created using a desk-based programme of GIS mapping and map regression (the existence of a particular block of woodland is The new dataset that this document analysis which drew primarily on tracked back in time). There are draws upon identifies all the aerial photography, Ordnance Survey some limitations imposed on the woodland in the AONB, regardless mapping and the AONB Historic accuracy of the allocation of origin of size. It uses existing data available Landscape Characterisation dataset. to woodland that derived from the to the AONB in a number of new The GIS package used was MapInfo nature of the sources used. These ways. The dataset applied a much Professional version 9.5. are: broader definition of woodland than that used in the National Inventory Each woodland was digitised in a • The approach will underestimate of Woodland and Trees. All the GIS layer and information recorded the age of older woodland different kinds of woodland habitat on the following: - as it only attributes the age of that are found in the AONB were woodland to the earliest source recorded. This included features • Period of origin of woodland on which it is depicted such as wooded scrub on the • Smaller woodland is not always sides of chalk escarpments, small • The broad type of woodland featured on the oldest available copses in the corners of fields present (Broad-leafed, map and so may be given a and small ornamental plantations Coniferous, Mixed) more recent date within the setting of larger designed landscapes, all of which tended to be • There is a mismatch between excluded from the previous datasets 11 For a full explanation of the summary and to the woodland boundaries down load the feasibility study, go to www. available to the AONB. ccwwdaonb.org.uk featured on the very oldest Map showing medieval hunting areas on and around current Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Introduction

mapping sources and their The AONB was interested in Connectivity between woodlands actual boundaries, which means recording the broad type of each and veteran woodlands was that relating particular woodland woodland and therefore only three assessed using data from the in today’s landscape with categories were identified: Forestry Commission research woodland depicted on old maps that defined Ancient Woodland can often be an approximation. 1. Broad-leafed – over 60% of the clusters in the South West England woodland is broad-leafed Conservancy (Watts & Griffiths: The historic period in which 2. Coniferous – over 60 % of the 20051). This research defined woodland originated was assigned to woodland is coniferous focal species according to their one of four categories: 3. Mixed – For woodland which habitat area requirements and does not fall into categories 1 or dispersal abilities. This effectively 1. AD 1900 to present – Woodland 2. This mixed woodland could measured the species vulnerability only present on Modern Mapping be where individual trees are to habitat fragmentation. Habitat 2. AD 1750 to AD 1900 – interspersed with coniferous and fragmentation, the combination Woodland present on the First broad-leafed species or where of reduced habitat area and County Series survey the blocks of plantation which increased isolation, is considered 3. Pre AD 1750 – Woodland make up the woodland are not to be a major threat to woodland present on the historic county dominated by broad-leafed or conservation and an important factor maps and the Ordnance Survey coniferous species. in loss of biodiversity. The Forestry 2” Surveyor’s Draft Commission research considered 4. Veteran- Only those woodlands ancient woodlands to be close to which can be firmly dated as Recording each other when they were 1 km remnant veteran woodland apart and distant when 10 km apart. through depiction on the oldest information on map based sources available This document has attempted to the AONB is identified as the landscape to assess the permeability of Medieval. This means that much the landscape by looking at the of the woodland identified as connectivity of connectivity of the areas surrounding category 3 – Pre AD 1750 could the mapped woodlands. As also have a much earlier origin. woodlands. Watts and Griffiths report: “Semi- natural and extensive habitats are The AONB is interested in the level of considered to be more conducive connectivity between the woodland or permeable to species movement, Categorising the identified and semi-natural habitats, whereas, intensive land uses are particularly veteran woodland. Each predicted to reduce connectivity woodland type. woodland polygon was allocated to and increase ecological isolation” The AONB is interested in the effect one of the following categories: and “based on these assumptions of woodland on landscape character. 1. Contiguous with veteran a woodland species with a dispersal Each woodland was recorded as one woodland. distance of 1000m can effectively woodland block rather than recording move 1000m through a scrub habitat separate polygons comprising the 2. Less than 0.5km from a veteran due to its low modification and high component parts of each woodland. woodland. vertical structure … while it can This avoids a short coming of the 3. Between 0.5km and 1km from a other available woodland datasets veteran woodland. 1. Watts, K., Griffiths, M., Quine, C., Ray, D. and and is a different approach to that Humphrey, J.W. (2005). Towards a Woodland adopted for the National Inventory of 4. Over 1km from a veteran Habitat Network for Wales. Contract Science Woodland and Trees. woodland. Report, 686. Countryside Council for Wales, Bangor. only move 50m through an arable cut down and utilised for timber and woodlands and trees of Britain were landscape … due to the high level fuel. European forestry has tended conserved over the last thousand of modification and lack of vertical towards the retention of broadleaved years better within hunting areas structure”. However, there is not forests and land tenure systems than anywhere else. The best a great deal of empirical evidence have meant that much forestry is assemblages of ancient trees are to support these widely accepted in communal ownership, which to be found in places such as New assertions, therefore the AONB study encourages exploitation rather than Forest, Sherwood, Forest of Dean, used 1 km between semi-natural neglect. In Britain, natural woodland Savernake and Cranborne Chase. It habitats as the least acceptable was removed during periods of high is no coincidence that these names measurement and contiguity as the population density, notably in the late bring to mind pictures of huge preferred situation. Iron Age and the late Seventeenth spreading oaks, deep forests and and early Eighteenth Centuries. evoke the stories that go with them. When British foresters began to The map (page 8) shows the greatest Ancient & use rapid growing exotic conifers extent covered by hunting areas for their fine timber our broadleaved during the Medieval Period in and Veteran Trees woodlands were often neglected or around the AONB. It is of no surprise only retained by landowners who then, that trees of 400 years of age The Cranborne Chase & appreciated them more as game or more are not uncommon in the West Wiltshire Downs hold an preserves and for their aesthetic area. internationally important aggregation qualities than their financial value. of superb trees. That this is not British people, far more so than in well understood by people living in How can we Europe, got into the habit of burning the area, or by some of the people coal as fuel rather than wood. So managing trees in the area, makes it conserve our many of our broadleaved trees one of the better kept secrets of the were left to attain great ages, either area. heritage of through deliberate conservation, but more often because they were not There are historic reasons for this remarkable trees? seen as being worth cutting down. aggregation of trees and for the There is a need to identify and scarcity of such trees in Western conserve individual ancient and So why is this area in particular so Europe. European forests tend not veteran trees, but first they must be rich in veteran trees? The ancient to have old trees because when they reach economic maturity they are Ancient Beech in Grovley Wood Ancient Beech in Grovley Introduction

11 found. Land owners and interested • To increase the robustness organisations should concentrate What are the of woodlands to a changing search effort on areas where climate. such trees are most likely to have opportunities for • To ensure that woodlands play survived such as former deer parks, a full part in mitigating climate former wood pasture and boundary the conservation change. features like parish boundaries and woodbanks. of woodlands In order to take advantage of these opportunities we must act at the When individual trees, or groups and trees in the scale of the landscape and in concert of trees, have been identified then with one another. conservation measures for them AONB? Specifically, if we are to achieve should be formulated as part of The first and last opportunity that we the points above, then we should a wider woodland plan or other have as a generation of land owners, consider the following: management plan after obtaining land managers and policy makers suitable advice. Exceptionally good is to achieve the conservation • Woodlands benefit from long areas may require ancient tree and enhancement of the existing term plans that record actions management plans. woodlands. and the reasons for decisions To do this, as well as setting objectives for One of the most important parts of specific sites. such a plan would be a means of • The economic and productive • Long-term planning allows identifying trees that will be going potential of our woodlands managers and owners to take on to attain ages beyond their must be maintained by careful landscape scale decisions: commercial maturity; effectively management. decisions about individual promoting certain trees to become • This will require the successful woodlands or compartments the ancient trees of the future. production and marketing of that take into account the Woodland owners and managers forest goods and services in the context of the landscape. should consider nurturing not only face of changing markets, rising native species such as oak towards costs and a changing climate. • Planning over long time scales great age, but also preserving and wide areas also allows us to some of the exotic conifers such as • The woodland that the next see how our woodlands can be Douglas fir that are testimony to the generation inherits should be adapted to a changed climate. long history of forestry associated richer in wildlife than before. with our managed forests and as • The resource of woodland and The species we use in our remarkable trees in their own right. trees must be increased. woodlands may have to change. Nurturing trees to great age is much Species that have been used before more difficult than in the past as The immediate opportunities for may not be appropriate in a changing these individual trees will have to everyone involved with trees and climate. cope with future climate change and woodlands in the AONB are: often the accumulation of damage We need to increase the amount of from grey squirrels.12 • To ensure that the woodlands woodland in the AONB, but it has to we plant and manage today are be based on the maxim of “the right relevant to the people who come tree in the right place”. This means after us. establishing new native woodlands • To increase the resilience of that increase the connectivity of the 12 For more information about ancient trees and landscape and replace woodlands how to conserve them, go to www.ancient-tree- woodlands to extreme weather hunt.org.uk events. that were lost in the past. But it also means restoring wooded landscapes allow, we need to develop a good by promoting the use and growth wood fuel market that can contribute of hedgerow trees and in particular significantly to management costs. finding a replacement for the elm that was lost in the 1970s so that we can If we are to achieve the multiple restore the wooded character of the benefits of timber, fuel wood, valleys. biodiversity, climate change adaptation and recreation then While future markets may come we need to create diverse stands and go (Britain will never be in of trees, in terms of both age and the forefront of timber producing species. nations) and costs continue to rise, there will be good markets for This document examines what this high quality timber. Our woodland means for each of the Character management should be geared to Areas in the AONB. The table the production of quality because our below summarises in the briefest small woodlands cannot compete on possible manner what the key quantity. opportunities are for landscape scale enhancements in each Character In order that we can manage our Type. From the table you can also woodlands for optimum production see which Character Types are rather than as and when the markets most affected by their woodland component.

Table of most and least wooded areas – to show what extent woodland determines character and the general opportunities for landscape scale enhancement. Further detail and explanation can be found in the Character Type chapters.

% of the Character Character Type % of total woodland Type area that is Opportunities for landscape scale enhancements in the AONB wooded Greensand Hills 48% 31% • Conserve and expand veteran woodland. (10% of the AONB) • Improve coniferous plantations. • Conserve parkland trees. • Develop woodland recreation. • Increase understanding of archaeological resource Wooded Chalk 30% 16% • Conserve veteran woodland. Downland • Improve connectivity with new native planting. (8% of the AONB) • PAWS* conversion. • Conserve underwood working. • Increase understanding of archaeological resource Downland Hills 20% 6% • Conserve and expand veteran woodland. (4% of the AONB) • Improve coniferous plantations. • PAWS* conversion. • Conserve and improve hedgerows. • Develop woodland recreation. • Retain open views and distinctive landforms. Chalk Escarpments 15% 5% • Improve plantations. (5% of the AONB) • Extend natural broadleaved woodland. • Manage balance between thorn scrub and semi-natural grassland. Open Chalk 11% 28% • Conserve and expand veteran woodland. Downland • Use cooperative planning to connect woodlands and semi-natural habitats. (36% of the AONB) • Conserve woodland features. • Develop woodland recreation. • Conserve open character. Rolling Clay Vale 11% 5% • Improve connectivity with new native planting. (7% of the AONB) • Conserve parkland trees. • Conserve and improve hedgerows. Chalk River Valleys 6% 8% • Improve plantations. (20% of the AONB) • Conserve and improve hedgerows. • Conserve and replace single trees and groups of trees. Greensand Terraces 2.5% 2% • Conserve and improve hedgerows. (9% of the AONB) • Improve connectivity with new native planting at foot of escarpment.

* Plantations on Ancient Woodland Sites Connectivity Connectivity: habitat management on the scale of the landscape

Therefore blanket prescriptions for What is conservation action could be a waste connectivity? of time and money. The study has considered not just The ability to move from one the special sites. This makes it location to another is important woodlands, but also taken into unusual in Britain where land use account other semi-natural habitats for all species, both plants and intensification has made the matrix animals, because it allows them to such as species-rich grasslands of habitats around such special sites and rivers. It is assumed that semi- move away from hostile conditions increasingly hostile to the wildlife and exploit new resources, such natural habitats are more permeable they sustain. For this reason, and to wildlife than areas that have been as finding the right conditions lying as it does between two of the for foraging and reproduction. greatly altered, such as built up largest surviving semi-natural areas in areas, or areas of land that are being Connectivity is the degree to which a Britain, the Salisbury Plain grasslands landscape is permeable to individual intensively managed for arable or and the New Forest woodlands fodder crops, for instance. plants and animals, populations and and heaths, the AONB has been species. Connectivity is vital if local identified as a habitat network of extinctions are to be avoided and strategic importance2. This network Measuring it helps to maintain the ability of a of habitats makes the AONB population to adapt to environmental landscape more permeable for connectivity. change. This is particularly important wildlife and, with some enhancement if the landscape is to be resilient in the right places, it could be The scientific basis for the distances to climate change and changes made into a mosaic of habitats used in this study is weak due in cropping patterns. The degree that allows wildlife populations to to a lack of data and following a to which habitats are connected expand or move more readily in species-specific approach would will be an important factor in the response to changing environmental have been misleading because the wealth of wildlife that we hand on to conditions. This assumes that the dispersal and movement behaviour subsequent generations. special sites are being well managed of most species of conservation already. It would be a mistake to concern is not known (only 28 expend resources on increasing the out of the 1245 species reviewed Connectivity connectivity of the landscape without by Roger Catchpole in England first securing the source sites. Habitat Network have dispersal in the AONB data). A great deal of the data The Cranborne Chase & West The analysis of connectivity in regarding woodland species is Wiltshire Downs AONB is an area this study should be used by land brought together in the Forestry with a relatively high density of managers and policy makers to Commissions publication South semi-natural habitats, some of prioritise areas where action to West England Ancient Woodland which are designated conservation increase connectivity will be most Habitat Networks: a Scoping sites such as Sites of Special effective. Not all parts of the AONB, Study by Watts, K & Griffiths, M. Scientific Interest or Special Areas for or any landscape, have a uniformity However, the shorter the distance Conservation1, and others that are of habitats. Just as the AONB that an individual or population has outside the statutory system, such represents an aggregation of semi- to travel over inhospitable ground as small woodlands, hedgerows and natural habitats at a national scale, before reaching a patch of suitable ponds that buffer and compliment so some areas within the AONB are habitat, the more likely it is that more or less rich in wildlife resources. the journey will be successful and 1 For more information on special and protected occur more frequently. Drawing on sites visit the Natural England web site www. 2 Catchpole, Dr R. England Habitat Network. what published data there is for natural-england.org.uk Natural England Briefing Note November 2007 dispersal, the distances used in this wait, the more likely one is to see • Connectivity has risks. Pests, study were selected from values the dispersal occur. At the end of diseases and invasive non-native that described highly connected the day it is up to the land manager species will also take advantage habitat networks, so what would and their intimate knowledge of of these connections and this appear to be good connections in their own situation to make the can have severe consequences other places were regarded as the choices regarding the placement of for biodiversity. limit of acceptability in this study. crops, wildlife habitat and the use Using shorter distances is also more of management regimes; it is hoped In formulating this method we practical at the local level at which that this document will enable better have drawn heavily on the work of we are working. Some studies of decision making. Natural England and the Forestry connectivity have advocated the Commission and that of Dr creation of wildlife superhighways In the use of connectivity as an aid Roger Catchpole in particular. For from south to north to allow species to decision making there are some further information on connectivity to escape the advance of climate warnings that should be made: the following resources are change. Even if this is realistically recommended: achievable, then it is beyond the • The distance one considers scope of this AONB and the people Bennett, A.F. (2003). Linkages in the acceptable between habitat landscape. The role of corridors and who own and manage the land patches and what one connectivity in wildlife conservation. within it. Creating short steps across considers to be good habitat Conserving Forests and Ecosystems the arable downland, or across a Series 1. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland. depends on circumstances; river valley, is more achievable. We what is permeable to one Catchpole, R.D.J. (2006). Planning for have not measured the length of animal or plant will not be to biodiversity - opportunity mapping and habitat boundary that is connected from one another, all conservation action networks in practice: a technical guide. English habitat to another, so a “contiguous” Nature Research Report: 687. Peterborough. benefits some species and connection could be connected at disadvantages others. Crooks, K.R., Sanjayan, M. (Ed.) (2006). just one point. Considering all of Connectivity Conservation. Cambridge the above, a ‘best guess’ approach • Connectivity has costs. It is Conservation Biology Series 14. Cambridge. proves to be a robust and practically expensive to link habitats and applicable method of arriving at the a great deal of the cost will Jongman, R.H.G., Külvik, M., Kristiansen, I. (2004). European ecological networks and distances we used. be placed on the public purse greenways. Landscape and Urban Planning, in the form of incentives and 68: 305–31. The distances used in this study are: payments for profit foregone to landowners. Careful evaluation Watts, K., Griffiths, M., Quine, C., Ray, D. and Humphrey, J.W. (2005). Towards a Woodland 1. Contiguous with semi-natural is required and we hope that this Habitat Network for Wales. Contract Science habitats study will assist with prioritisation Report, 686. Countryside Council for Wales, 2. Less than 0.5km from a of action within the AONB. Bangor. semi-natural habitat 3. Between 0.5km and 1km from a semi-natural habitat 4. Over 1km from a semi-natural habitat

Connectivity is therefore necessarily broad-brush in its approach and its application, but this will be greatly refined in years to come as this subject is attracting research attention. Warnings regarding connectivity The user of this information should consider that time is a factor. Eventually an individual or population may cross an unfavourable area to a patch of habitat, but species disperse at different rates and in different ways. The longer one can A well connected landscape in the Downland Hills Our Woodlands in a changing climate Our woodlands in a changing climate 15

1 Scenario for 2 What does the future. this mean for It is important, at the outset, to say • an increasing soil moisture deficit woodlands and that a scenario for climate change is during summer and autumn not a prediction, let alone a forecast. The following scenario is designed • an increase in very hot summer their owners? to give the reader a general idea days (the central estimate of In short, our woodlands will have: of what kind of average weather increase in summer mean daily 1. a longer thermal growing season will be taking place in the modified maximum temperature is 3.8ºC; climate of southern England in it is very unlikely to be less than 2. less frost the 2050s. Broadly speaking, with 1.4ºC and is very unlikely to be 3. natural regeneration rates some reduction in the current rate of more than 6.8ºC. A wider range different to those of today greenhouse gas emissions, it will be of uncertainty is from 1.2ºC to composed of: 7.6ºC). 4. a surfeit of winter water, possibly leading to root death from • drier and warmer summers (the • About the same amount of rain, waterlogging and a loss of central estimate of increase in but there will also be a tendency stability summer mean daily minimum for it to fall very heavily for temperature is 2.9ºC; it is very protracted periods in the winter 5. a deficit in summer water, unlikely to be less than 1.2ºC and spring. The central estimate possibly leading to reduced and is very unlikely to be more of change in annual mean growth in some species and than 5ºC. A wider range of precipitation is 0%; it is very increased fire risk uncertainty is from 1ºC to 5.5ºC. unlikely to be less than –4% and The central estimate of change is very unlikely to be more than The character and composition of in summer mean precipitation 6%. A wider range of uncertainty native woodland plant communities is –19%; it is very unlikely to is from –5% to 6%. is likely to change in response to this, be less than –41% and is very • an increase in the frequency and possibly with the formation of new unlikely to be more than 7%. severity of winter storms. communities and sub-communities A wider range of uncertainty is not currently recognised in systems from –43% to 16%. (from UK Climate Projections, June 2009. such as the National Vegetation Classification. Indeed this is likely • milder and wetter winters (the Available from www.ukcip.org.uk) to be the main biophysical impact central estimate of increase of climate change2. The rate of in winter mean temperature As can be seen, a degree of community change, and the exact is 2.1ºC; it is very unlikely to uncertainty exists about this nature of that change (which be less than 1.1ºC and is very scenario, but we are sure to feel the species will be present or absent unlikely to be more than 3.2ºC. difference by 2050 when our climate and which will decline or increase) is A wider range of uncertainty is will have changed significantly. By impossible to predict at this stage, from 0.8ºC to 3.5ºC. The central 2080 we could have a climate similar 1 but indirect effects acting through estimate of change in winter to that of parts of Portugal today . changing competition are likely to mean precipitation is 17%; it is have impacts on the overstorey and very unlikely to be less than 4% and is very unlikely to be more 2 Walmsley, CA., Smithers, R.J., Berry, P.M., than 38%. A wider range of Harley, M., Stevenson, M.J. and Catchpole, R. 1 For more information on climate change impacts, 2007. MONARCH – Modelling natural resource uncertainty is from 0% to 41%. go to the web site of the United Kingdom Climate responses to climate change – a synthesis for Impacts Programme www.ukcip.org.uk biodiversity conservation. UKCIP, Oxford

Our Woodlands in a changing climate

17 understorey alike. Some species those that cannot such as ash. Given escarpments beech will still be doing may only survive if they can move to that CO2 levels and temperatures are well. different places. set to rise above current levels in the One of the hardest things to predict coming decades, the AONB should is the rate of regeneration of tree One can easily get overtaken by a become a better place to grow species from seed because this sense of impending doom when trees, except perhaps on sites prone is affected by so many factors. considering how our woodlands to drought or lacking in nutrients. However, natural regeneration may will fare in a changing climate. Overall, it is likely that an increase be the preferred restocking method This is unnecessary and ultimately in the length of the growing season as establishing new woodlands with unhelpful. It is important for people will be beneficial for trees. The transplants may be problematical: to understand that although some plants that compete with trees will increasing heat and drought can be timber yields may be down and also do well; bracken, bramble and expected to increase losses in newly there will be some changes in the gorse are likely to grow faster under planted trees. composition of our woodlands, it climate change and will require more Climate change has already started. does not mean that all the trees vigorous management. Phenological changes (the timing of will suddenly die or that trees will annual events in natural ecosystems) no longer grow in the AONB. What When we look at individual tree are already being observed in we do to our woodlands has a far species and how they might fare in a the UK; earlier arrival of birds and greater impact than the climate changed climate we see some doing butterflies in the spring have been can ever have. For instance, soil better than others. The Forestry recorded and tree leaf appearance and water changes associated Commission has used Ecological in Surrey has been found to be 10 with normal afforestation and forest Site Classifications for tree species days earlier in the 1990s than the management practices are far more in the SW of England and these 1980s4. While it may be too soon for profound than those expected show that most tree species that woodland managers and owners to from climate change. The wise we currently grow in our woodlands start doing things in their woods to husbandry of woodlands will be a will produce slightly less timber in adapt to climate change, there is an key component in how land owners the future. However, this does not urgent need for them to understand can help ameliorate the effects of take into account rising levels of the ramifications of climate change climate change. atmospheric carbon dioxide and and amend their long term woodland site details such as micro-climates plans accordingly. Some of the aspects of a changed and changes in local soil conditions climate will have positive implications or aspect. In particular, there has for woodlands. Storms, usually seen been much recent discussion of 3 General as destructive in woodlands, can beech. As a silvicultural species have a positive effect on woodland (as measured by its yield class, or adaptations biodiversity by creating gaps that the increase in volume of crop per Specific adaptations relevant to allow an increase in structural hectare per year), it will become less particular areas are given in the diversity as shrub species emerge suitable to grow in the AONB by chapters on each Character Type. and the fallen dead wood creates 2050, but it will not disappear from However, there are some general habitat for insects and fungi. the landscape3. But even so, we can ways in which our woodlands can be expect that in sheltered coombes on adapted to climate change. An increase in annual mean the north facing slopes of the chalk temperature will lengthen the 3 Broadmeadow, M, Forestry Commission. growing season. This may be Climate change, trees and the future. 4 Sparks, T., Crick, H. Woiwod, I. and Beebee,T. beneficial to some species which can Proceedings of PlantNetwork Spring conference, 2001. ‘Climate change and phenology in the adapt to a longer growing season, Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester with United Kingdom’ in Green, R., Harley, M. The National Arboretum at Westonbirt, 10-12 Spalding, M. and Zockler, C. (Eds) Impacts of for example oak, but detrimental to September 2008 climate change on wildlife RSPB, Sandy

Our Woodlands in a changing climate

When evaluating the impacts of thinning a Norway spruce stand, • Douglas fir will remain a climate change on landscapes, some spruce might be removed suitable species and there are and therefore how we might go to allow naturally regenerated already good stands of this about adapting our woodlands to broadleaves and conifers to go species in the AONB. Climate those changes, the terms robust on and form part of the mature change scenarios indicate that and resilient are potentially useful. stand. investment in these stands However, there are subtle differences designed to increase the crop • An increased incidence of between the terms. Resilience quality and encourage natural summer drought will make is defined in the climate change regeneration may yield an trees more vulnerable to attack literature as “the ability of a system to acceptable return. by weak pathogens, therefore recover from the effect of an extreme droughty sites may be more • Veteran trees, hedgerow trees, load that may have caused harm” suitable as areas for long term orchards and isolated parkland whilst robustness is defined as “the natural regeneration rather than trees are at particular risk of high ability of a system to continue to clearfell and replant. winds associated with storms. perform satisfactorily under load”5. Exotic trees in parklands are In terms of climate change and • Increased winter rainfall may also at risk from the arrival of the natural environment, a robust raise water tables enough to kill new pests and diseases. These landscape is one that has the roots, thereby reducing effective factors may make historically capacity to cope with climate change rooting depth and making trees authentic tree plantings as part without major adaptation while a more vulnerable to summer of parkland conservation and resilient landscape can be thought droughts. This may affect the restoration increasingly difficult. of as one that can recover following timing of felling and the intensity Therefore the free-standing an extreme climate event (such of thinning regimes. However, copses and small woods that as a storm or flood). It is however there may be opportunities for are such a feature of the AONB important to say that recovery may the restoration of floodplain should be increased in size and not be to the same condition as it woodland that will yield benefits buffered, especially in exposed was in prior to the event. Recovering in terms of flood control and situations. Management around from extreme events will involve a associated biodiversity. existing veteran trees needs to shift in state; recovery to the status • Populations of deer and squirrels be planned and improved; less quo will not be sustainable in the are adversely affected by cool, cultivation, reducing grazing long term. wet weather, through reducing & barking of trees, reducing food availability and increasing fertilizer or pesticide drift. Some of these adaptations are as mortality. Predicted climate follows: change is therefore likely to result This section has relied heavily on • Norway spruce could cease to in increased population densities Forestry Commission Bulletin 125 be a productive species over and ranges if appropriate control Climate change - Impacts on UK much of England, therefore other measures are not put in place. forests. This is available from the better adapted tree species Forestry Commission web site www. • In the long-term, Corsican pine should be considered when forestry.gov.uk in the climate change will become more suitable as stands of Norway spruce are publications section of the Forest a commercial species in the felled. This is an example of Research pages. AONB. It may be an appropriate where a greater mix of trees replacement for existing stands could be encouraged, for of conifer crops, or an addition instance when weeding or to future stands. 5 UKCIP, 2003. Climate adaptation; Risk, uncertainty and decision-making UKCIP Technical Report, UKCIP, Oxford Figure 1.1 Map showing the woodlands of the Chalk Escarpments. Chalk Escarpemtns Chapter 1 Chalk Escarpments

other escarpments within the AONB, Landscape the magnitude of this landscape is exaggerated by the simplicity of its Character Areas land cover. Predominantly comprising grassland, there is a sense of • Melbury to Blandford • The dominant soil group is uniformity that adds to its openness, • West Wiltshire Downs Rendzina. Grey rendzina is expanse and remoteness. Where the most common subgroup, woodland occurs, it follows the line • Fovant and Chalke a shallow, well drained soil of the contours and delineates the associated with steep slopes. contrast between the escarpment Brown calcareous earths are also and adjacent Open Chalk Downland 1.1 Introduction present, being strongly affiliated landscape. to the Chalk with the tributary valleys. 1.1.3 Fovant and Chalke Escarpments 1.1.1 Melbury to Blandford Chalk Escarpment Chalk Escarpment • Covers 5,182 hectares, 5% of This character area occupies a The Melbury to Blandford Chalk the total area of the AONB. central location within the AONB Escarpment forms a western and comprises two roughly parallel • They mark dramatically boundary to the AONB. To the sections. The northern Fovant the transition between the east, the crest of the scarp is Escarpment runs between Burcombe Cretaceous chalk and the marked by the regular occurrence and Berwick St John, while the adjoining rocks. of woodland and the landscape of southern Chalke Escarpment Cranborne Chase. The escarpment • These are large scale landscapes extends from Melbury to Knowle Hill. is a dramatic feature in the AONB composed of repeating patterns The Fovant Escarpment rises from landscape and forms a transition of rounded spurs and deep the Fovant Greensand Terrace. The from the rolling chalk landscapes of combes affording panoramic Chalke escarpment rises from the Cranborne Chase to the lowlands of views over adjacent landscapes. Ebble Valley. These two precipitous Blackmore Vale. The open, remote escarpments make a substantial • Areas of unimproved chalk scarp with its unenclosed chalk contribution to the character of the grassland of international grassland and woodland contrasts AONB as a whole. They are very importance are found on some with the enclosed and more visible, appearing as a range of of the steeper slopes while domestic appearance of the vale. stark hills dominating the Vale of improved pasture and arable Wardour, the skyline punctuated by fields occupy the shallower, more 1.1.2 West Wiltshire the copses and woodland blocks accessible, slopes. Downs Chalk Escarpment along the crest. They hold significant • Beech hangars and natural ash tracts of unimproved chalk grassland woodland (or ivers) are features The West Wiltshire Downs Chalk and some broadleaved and mixed of the steepest, enclosing chalk Escarpment marks the north-western woodland occurring in distinctive combes. edge of the West Wiltshire Downs patterns. just south of Sutton Veny and running • Copses of beech and single in a convoluted south westerly trees act as focal points. direction to Mere. In addition, there are three hills separated from the escarpment by the River Wylye. Although not as conspicuous as 1.2 General description of the • 35% was present prior to 1750, • The majority of the woodland on 25% dates from between 1750 the escarpments is broad-leafed woodlands and 1900 whilst 40% is post or mixed. 1900 in origin. • The woodland in this character • 718 hectares of woodland, • On the Chalk Escarpments there type is moderately well representing 5% of the total seems to have been a much connected; over 40% of it woodland cover of the AONB. more stable pattern of woodland is contiguous with or within • The escarpments are not usually cover than seen in other areas of 0.5 km of a veteran broad- considered to be wooded, but the AONB. However the patterns leafed woodland. However this 15% of the Character Type is in the retraction and expansion connectivity is linear in nature, covered by trees so woodland of scrub, a characteristic feature so the strength and resilience plays a significant role in of these escarpments, are of these connections may be supporting its character. unknown. weaker than the figures suggest.

Figure 1.2 – Woodland of the Chalk Escarpments displayed by type Chalk Escarpemtns

23 Chalke Valley escarpment Chalke Valley

1.2.1 Melbury to Blandford the calcareous slopes, through to Western Red Cedar, are a distinct oak and downy birch woodland on feature at the foot of the escarpment Woodland the more acidic plateau. The other or occupying prominent ridgeline There would seem to have been woodlands are of post 1750 origin locations. Their strong geometric very little woodland creation in the and shows that the area has for a form is a striking contrast to the 18th and 19th Centuries. Woodlands long time been open downland. The rounded form of the escarpment, but dating from earlier periods are woodlands are poorly connected they offer opportunities for redesign scattered throughout the area, to any other veteran woodland to blend with the landform and give but particularly at the base of the but it should be remembered this more benefit to both landscape escarpment, while woodlands character area contains small areas character and wildlife habitat. established in the 19th Century or of thorn scrub which provide a range Areas of scrub woodland are also a later tend to be on the top of the of habitats for invertebrate species characteristic and important part of slope. Most of the woodland is and birds of restricted distribution this landscape such as on the Fovant broadleaved, the steepest slopes in a large area of important chalk escarpment where the woodland are often covered by areas of thorn grasslands. supports a population of scattered and hazel scrub woodland. These juniper, a declining species. The small woodlands have occasional 1.2.3 Fovant and Chalke connectivity of woodlands to veteran ash, field maple and oak trees woodland is better in this character within them and if left to develop will Woodland area than on the other escarpments, gradually grow into ash dominated Woodland plays an important but is still considered poor on the woodlands. The grassland and role in this Character Area. Mixed Fovant area and much better on the woodland mosaics support many and deciduous woodland is Chalke area. local and endangered species, such found on both the escarpments, as the marsh fritillary butterfly and but is particularly characteristic the silver spotted skipper butterfly, of the Chalke escarpment. The both UK BAP priority species. The predominantly broadleaved, 18th and mosaics also greatly enrich the 19th Century, woodlands are found landscape and provide habitat for a on the Berwick St John – Alvediston variety of species of birds, beetles north facing escarpment. There is a and mammals. The woodlands good deal of older, possibly medieval are better connected to veteran in origin, woodland locally named woodlands around Pimperne, Iwerne ‘ivers’ that follow the contours in Courtney and Iwerne Minster and a sinuous form and this is most less well connected around Melbury apparent where they line the base and Compton Abbas. of the escarpments, in some places stretching to mid-slope. They are 1.2.2 West Wiltshire a significant landscape feature marking the transition from the steep Downs Woodland downland slopes to the intensively Woodland does occur but is cultivated land below. The origin of generally small scale and confined to these woodlands is hard to attest the sheltered combes. to due to the lack of detail in the There is one area of woodland, 1750 maps that did not show the full considered to be of veteran origin, extent of woodlands. Game covert at Bidcombe Hill. This woodland woodlands, mixed woodlands with grades from ash dominated on a fringe of Lawson’s Cypress or Woodlands and grasslands occur side by on the escarpment Woodlands of the escarpment, has preserved These earthworks provided both an 1.3. Cultural many features which reflect patterns effective territorial boundary and a of activity dating back thousands of barrier to the movement of stock. Heritage years. Some may have symbolised Areas of strip and other field systems ancestral rights to territory for an on the steep slope of the escarpment early farming community, but others may represent the expansion of 1.3.1 General Character suggest an ideological representation arable farming onto marginal land The escarpments convey a sense of of individual power and status. Both at times of increased population antiquity and history which has often types were sited on the escarpment pressure and the pillow mounds, been obscured or lost in the more where they could be viewed both usually situated on marginal land, as intensively worked and constantly from the valley and combe bottoms seen at the base of Whitesheet Hill, adapting lowland landscape below. as well as from the downs. The would have been used for the rearing A comparative lack of recent extensive lengths of linear ditch and of rabbits. agricultural activity, traditionally far bank earthworks indicate a more less intense on the meagre soils direct means of controlling territory.

Figure 1.3 – Woodland on the Chalk Escarpments displayed by origin Chalk Escarpemtns

Figure 1.4 – Woodland on the Chalk Escarpments displayed by Connectivity 1.3.2 Woodland trees in chalk grasslands as habitat or for the spring nectar they offer. 1.6 Opportunities Archaeology They may be used as singing posts The majority of known archaeology for both birds and insects as well as for future on the Chalk Escarpments is being refugia for small mammals and located outside of woodland, with bats. management the exception of two Bronze Age Appropriate management of the Round Barrow cemeteries. However woodland resource should be the many field systems, lynchets 1.5 Climate the priority when land owners are and linear earthworks found on the considering future opportunities. escarpments probably continue change adaptation Even though the woodlands within woodlands, supported by the The north-facing escarpments of the themselves may be small, and few examples which are recorded AONB may become more suitable the amount of woodland on this as doing so. This suggests that the for woodland as climate change character type on any given woodland here warrants further progresses. Scrub woodland may landholding will be comparatively archaeological exploration. grow faster, quickening the seral small, there may be opportunities progression from grassland to and advantages to both land 1.4 Ancient and woodland. The north and east facing owners and the public interest in escarpments may hold the best working with neighbours to develop veteran trees environment for beech by 2050, cooperative woodland plans. Large ancient trees are not a but this in itself may not make them common feature of this landscape suitable plantation sites as the steep Further planting of small coniferous type. However, isolated trees and slopes would make operations game coverts should be strenuously groups of trees may be of particular problematical and expensive. The discouraged by those giving advice value. Single ash trees, isolated careful management of an expanding and support. In particular, the thorns or field maples may be of area of natural woodland and scrub planting of Western Red Cedar, great antiquity and are not only may yield more benefits in terms of Lawsons Cypress and Norway valuable for their scenic qualities but wood fuel, wildlife habitat and game spruce brings stark colour variation also as focal points in the landscape. coverts as well as having greater not characteristic of this landscape Many invertebrates, including some landscape integrity than beech and these species are unlikely to very rare beetles, require isolated plantations. survive if even moderate climate change forecasts are correct.

It is vital to maintain a balanced scrub and chalk grassland mosaic, coupled with appropriate grazing regimes, to maintain the ecological integrity of the chalk grassland. On the Fovant and Chalke Escarpments it is particularly important to conserve the distinct pattern of deciduous woodland, especially at the break of the lower slope, where the woodland creates the distinction with the adjacent Fovant Greensand Terrace. Enhancing this with additional planting would be desirable; linking woodlands and hedgerows across the landscape.

The small areas of surviving medieval woodland and more recent plantations may well hold archaeological features obscured by vegetation. This must be considered in any operations that are carried out in woodlands and scrub areas of the escarpments. Such operations include agricultural practices such as the siting of round feeders and troughs as well as forestry and scrub clearance operations. Open Chalk Downland Chapter 2 Open Chalk Downland

Landscape 2.2 General Character Areas Description of the

• West Wiltshire Downs Open landscape of broad rolling hills and Woodland Chalk Downland undulating land separated by dry • 4,036 hectares of woodland, • Southern Downland Belt river valleys. The area is dominated by an Upper Chalk surface geology representing 28% of the that lends itself to arable production. woodland cover of the AONB. 2.1 Introduction The clay-with-flints capping of the • These woodlands tend to be higher ground is reflected in the broadleaved or mixed, few are to the Open Chalk occurrence of large wooded areas purely coniferous. such as Groveley and Great Ridge. Downland Broad leaved copses and clumps • The majority was present prior stand out on the hill tops. to 1750, with a large proportion being at least medieval. • Covers 35,629 hectares (36%) of the AONB, making it the most 2.1.2 Southern • There are also large tracts of significant landscape type in Downland Belt more recent woodland. terms of area. • There has been a gradual This character area extends across • The open downland comprises increase in the number of small the southern part of the AONB. To the dip-slope and plateau of linear and rectangular plantations the north it gradually merges into the Cretaceous chalk; a gently especially along the northern the Cranborne Chase character area inclined landform representing edge of the West Wiltshire and drops into the Chalke Valley, to the original chalk ‘surface’. Downs and the southern and the south it gives way to the sandy northern edges of the Southern • The uninterrupted rolling hills and heathlands of East Dorset. The Downland Belts. gentle slopes give a great sense Stour and Avon Tributary Valleys cut of openness. through the downland landscape. As • Noticeable losses of woodland with the downland to the north, this have occurred on the West • Predominantly under arable is a large-scale landscape of broad Wiltshire Downs around Great cultivation. rolling hills and gentle slopes, but cut Wood, Grovely Wood, Pertwood to the south by a series of distinct and Upper Pertwood and on the 2.1.1 West Wiltshire river valleys. Another difference is Southern Downland Belt around Downs Open Chalk that mixed woodland is a significant Chetterwood and in the vicinity feature to the west where the land of Pimperne Wood. Downland is more undulating. Coniferous • Large swathes of woodland in blocks and shelterbelts gain unusual Occupying an extensive area within the Character Type occurs in prominence, their presence making the northern half of the AONB, the the large blocks at Great Ridge, a stark contrast to the gently sloping character area of the West Wiltshire Grovely and Chettle Wood, landscape. Downs Open Chalk Downland so over 50% of the woodland extends from the village of Wilton in in the Character Type is very the east to Mere in the west. To the well connected being either south lies the Vale of Wardour and contiguous with or within 0.5km to the north lies the Wylye Valley and of a veteran broad-leafed Salisbury Plain. It is a large-scale woodland. Beech plantation in Great Ridge Wood

Figure 2.1 Map showing woodlands of the Open Chalk Downlands Open Chalk Downland

smaller conifer plantations have in Wiltshire. Deciduous and mixed 2.2.1 Woodland of the broadleafed species in their centre, woodland have been planted or being planted as game coverts, developed from coppices. 18th West Wiltshire Downs but also hold exotic shrub species and 19th Century plantings are Open Chalk Downland such as bush honeysuckle (Lonicera particularly evident in and around the nitida). Copses and clumps of trees parklands and planned landscapes Woodland, both large and small are a particularly distinctive feature of of Kingston Lacey and Wimborne St scale, makes an important the downland landscape, crowning Giles. Coniferous woodland blocks contribution to the character of this a number of hilltops. Some of the established in the 20th Century as landscape. Although woodland rich scrub woodlands are of high game coverts and shelter belts are interrupts some long distance conservation importance, such similar to those found on the West views, there is a feeling of exposure as Baverstock Bank SSSI which Wiltshire Downs are a common and expanse across the entire supports a large colony of juniper. feature of the area; their geometric landscape. This heightens the sense As one would expect in a downland edges can intrude on this otherwise of remoteness as well as providing landscape, the woodlands are very smooth and simple landscape, wide open views and the impression poorly connected beyond the largest however they can also add points of of being in an upland landscape. woodland blocks. interest within it . Groveley Wood and Great Ridge are two extensive areas of woodland associated with elevated plateaux 2.2.2 Woodland of the 2.3 Cultural where the chalk is capped by Southern Downland Belt clay-with-flints. Both were present Heritage prior to 1750 and were part of the In this area pockets of woodland medieval landscape along with occur corresponding to the loamy associated open habitats. They brown earth soils that overlie the 2.3.1 Cultural Heritage on are now mosaics of deciduous, clay-with-flint drift deposits. The coniferous and mixed woodland with landscape is more wooded towards the West Wiltshire Downs the valleys and to the west. Small fragments of pre 1750 woodland 2.3.1.1 General Character around their edges. Twentieth blocks of pre 1750 woodland are Century planting with coniferous widely scattered across the Southern This character area is rich in Neolithic blocks inside these woodlands Downland Belt. However a large remains, such as the causewayed replaced the oak – ash stands complex of ancient woodlands at enclosure at Whitesheet Hill. The and has resulted in the coniferous Chettle Wood, the remnants of the settlement enclosures at Stockton canopy standing above the broadleaf once more extensive Chetterwood Wood, Cow Down and Hamshill canopy, altering the skyline, Walk of Cranborne Chase, occupies Ditches are accompanied by hardening it against the cloudscapes the high ground between the Rivers territorial boundaries such as Grim’s and removing the seasonal changes Tarrant and Allen. Among these Ditch linear earthwork, the frequent that occur with a deciduous treeline. woodlands is Oakhill Coppice, an cross-ridge dykes and the string of The years 1750 – 1900 saw very little oak–bracken–bramble community hillforts and defended enclosures woodland established across the that supports a rich lichen flora. overlooking the Wylye. The Roman West Wiltshire Downs, except where Other veteran woodlands overlap road that extended from Sarum to the Fonthill Woodlands overlap the southern boundary of the the Mendips was used as a trackway from the Greensand Hills. Twentieth Character Area from the Dorset for centuries and the drove roads Century woodland frequently occurs heaths and close to the Hampshire- may be even older. elsewhere across the downs, either Wiltshire border is Great Yews, which as small farm woods or geometric represents one of the two best conifer plantations. Many of the examples of natural yew woodland 2.3.1.2 Woodland Archaeology further archaeological attention. The an unparalleled insight into social archaeology includes major field developments from the Neolithic The 2006 LiDAR (Light Detection and systems, prehistoric enclosure and period. The concentration of Ranging) survey of Savernake Forest, linear earthworks, Iron Age Hillforts Neolithic and Bronze Age mortuary, in North Wiltshire, has demonstrated and Bronze Age Round Barrows. burial and ceremonial monuments, how much undiscovered archaeology including long barrows and round may exist in extensive tracts of 2.3.2 Cultural Heritage on barrows, henges and pit alignments, downland woodland. The majority in a landscape dominated by the of the woodland archaeology on the Southern Downland 10km long Dorset Cursus, indicates the West Wiltshire Downs falls Belt that this was not a normal prehistoric within Grovely Wood and Great landscape but one in which certain Ridge and the wealth of known 2.3.2.1 General Character areas were imbued, for millennia, archaeological sites in both of with a distinct symbolic significance. these large woodlands suggest The wide range of monuments on these open downs provides The imposition on the prehistoric that these woodlands warrant landscape of the Roman road, the

Figure 2.2 Woodland of the Open Chalk Downland displayed by type Open Chalk Downland

Figure 2.3 Woodland on the Open Chalk Downland displayed by origin Ackling Dyke, between Old Sarum use into the medieval period, the continue within woodland as extent and Badbury Rings (which then split latter marking the modern boundary earthworks. A notable historic feature south to Poole, west to Dorchester, between Hampshire and Dorset. is the woodland forming the great and north into the Nadder valley) ‘Brownian’ ride of Wimborne St Giles contrasts with the overall continuity 2.3.2.2 Woodland Park. of Romano-British agricultural settlement and production on the Archaeology downs. The siting of Saxon burial In the southern Downland Belt in monuments in relation to earlier comparison the majority of known features, as on Oakley Down, points archaeology is located outside of to their continuing significance in woodland, but as with the Chalk the landscape. The landscape is Escarpments it appears that many also rich in boundary features such of the expansive ancient field as Grim’s Ditch and Bokerley Dyke systems covering the area may which retained a significance and

Figure 2.4 Woodland on the Open Chalk Downland displayed by Connectivity with semi-natural habitats Open Chalk Downland

33 Characteristic line of even-aged beech

Reportedly, many yews were planted as game coverts or that are 2.4 Ancient and removed from this character type the remnants of once more extensive during the 1950s. Where yews woodlands. Expansion of these veteran trees still occur in hedgerows and on small woodlands will buffer them roadsides they should be afforded against extreme weather, increase 2.4.1 Trees of the West particular attention, removing the connectivity of the landscape and Wiltshire Downs Open cultivation and wheeled traffic from make them more valuable as sources Chalk Downland under the canopy and a further 5 of timber and as game coverts. metres wherever possible. English The creation of new wood pastures While this area is characterised by yew is one of the potentially longest will be desirable. There are many its openness and therefore lack of lived life forms on Earth, given good scattered grasslands across the trees, the sparse hedgerows and conditions they will live for thousands Open Downlands and while this copses shelter some extraordinarily of years. Very large ash boles are area is predominantly under arable large ash boles, ancient thorns and also a characteristic feature of this cultivation, and will continue to be very occasionally a pollarded oak character area. The longevity of the so, there will always be an element of or even a yew. These should be boundaries in this area, some dating permanent pasture in the landscape. identified within any plan to improve back to the Bronze Age, make the The addition of single trees and small the existing woodland, game coverts hedgerows and woodland strips clumps of trees in the pasture will or plant additional woodland on a associated with the boundaries afford shelter and shade to livestock, landholding. The majority of the such as the Shire Rack fruitful areas may provide some fodder if the trees ancient trees will be found in the to search for ancient and veteran are pollarded and greatly increase the large woodlands of the character trees of all species. It is important range of habitats for wildlife. Some of area: Groveley and Great Ridge. The for land managers to identify those these trees could be selected from wood pasture and oak coppice of hedgerows that may be of ancient naturally seeded individuals amongst Great Ridge and the large beech of origin and manage them and the land areas of scrub, but others could be Groveley are no doubt recognised in immediately adjacent accordingly. planted to provide particular things, the forestry plans for the properties. such as walnut for its fruit, foliage The Wilton Estate has sponsored a and timber. survey of four hundred beech trees, 2.5 Climate undertaken by retired forester Tony Caceras, and is carrying out gradual change adaptation removal of conifers around them, or Yew was undoubtedly more 2.6 Opportunities “haloing”, that will lengthen their lives common in previous centuries than considerably. it is now. Across the chalklands of for future southern England yew is found more 2.4.2 Trees of the commonly than in this Character management Southern Downland Belt Type. This probably reflects the removal of yew from the downs to 2.6.1 Opportunities on Field trees are rare in this landscape protect cattle from its toxic leaves. character type, but isolated veteran However, yews can live for millennia the West Wiltshire Downs trees can be found in chalk pits and are therefore the one native tree Open Chalk Downland and hidden within conifer game that we know can survive changes in coverts. The majority of ancient climate. This species would therefore There are good opportunities for and veteran trees will be found in be highly suitable as a component woodland creation where woodland boundary features, particularly the in new planting schemes around has been lost or where new planting ancient hedgerows and roadsides. the small woodlands that have been could connect or buffer existing woodlands; this would be an eminently desirable enhancement to the character of the area. Any planting of new woodland on this character area should seek to conserve the sense of openness and simplicity of the character type. The distinctive deciduous woodland clumps require management and a programme of planting to maintain and enlarge them as features.

This area has high recreational potential, with long-distance footpaths, accessible Open Country and other rights of way that criss-cross the area. It is popular with walkers and horse riders as well as motorised users of the By-ways Open To All Traffic. Grovely Wood forms knowledgeable staff or consultants such as Douglas fir, should not be an extensive area of Registered so that any features (even if their true ruled out. Hedgerows and new Common Land. The wooded origin is not known) can be avoided. woodland planting should seek to areas of the West Wiltshire Downs Much of the ancient archaeology increase the visual integrity of the could be suitable for recreational may be masked by or confused landscape by expanding and linking development in keeping with the with later remains such as medieval existing woodlands and semi-natural AONB designation. They are also woodbanks or the extensive military grasslands. important nature conservation sites use of the wooded areas during the and have important archaeological World Wars, but these remains have Where blocks of coniferous features within them. Their their own intrinsic value and should trees have been introduced, management should therefore be also be assiduously preserved. their geometric shapes could be for multiple benefits: game shooting, softened by the planting of native recreation, timber production, 2.6.2 Opportunities on the species around them or redesigning nature conservation and all within the edges to encourage natural a modus operandi that will ensure Southern Downland Belt regeneration of native trees and the continued survival of historic shrubs. However, any new planting features. This kind of management There are good opportunities for additional woodland to be created should conserve the distinctive open requires detailed, long term planning character of the landscape and and professional advice. in this character area. It may be particularly advantageous for the long ranging views it affords, especially from roads. This may be It should be remembered that the neighbouring landowners to consult with each other over any woodland achieved by creating wood pasture archaeological remains of the West or parkland plantings close to roads, Wiltshire Downs have disappeared creation or enhancement plans so that such long term changes can with planting densities increasing rather than never having existed. It is with distance from the highway. certain that much lies undiscovered complement one another’s strategic in the woodlands where the plough objectives (such as game and deer management or timber extraction). Any woodland management at any has not ventured for decades or scale, or woodland creation or hedge centuries. Therefore mechanised There should be a presumption that it will consist of native species, but or tree planting, must take into forest operations should be account the unique and invaluable preceded by careful inspection the inclusion of commercial species adapted to climate change forecasts archaeological heritage that must be and survey by suitably trained or left intact for generations to come. Wooded Chalk Downland Chapter 3 Wooded Chalk Downland

Figure 3.1 Map showing the woodlands of the Wooded Chalk Downland. defined by Upper Chalk of the Of the woodland sites Cranborne 3.1 Introduction to Upper Cretaceous era. Older Chase SSSI itself comprises a large chalk strata layers are exposed tract of woodland derived from the Wooded Chalk in the deep combes. On the ancient hunting forest and includes highest ground drift deposits remnants of traditional coppice Downland of Clay-with-Flints overlie the woodland and wood pasture. The chalk. Rendzina soils are found site supports a number of woodland • There is just one area of Wooded overlying the chalk and Paleo- types, the commonest being an Chalk Downland located within argyllic brown earths cap the ash and field maple dominated the southern half of the AONB: Clay-with-Flint. woodland, which occurs on freely Cranborne Chase, but it includes drained soils, which is replaced on 16% of the woodland found in the heavier soils by an oak, hazel and the AONB. 3.2 Woodland of ash community. The ground flora of • Covers 7,970 hectares (8%) of these communities varies according the AONB around Tollard Royal. the Wooded Chalk to historical management and soil conditions, but is generally species- • To the west is the Melbury to Downland. rich and includes many nationally Blandford Escarpment that rare species. In particular, the area The distinguishing feature of the overlooks Blackmore Vale. has a high ecological value for the character type is its woodland, range of nationally rare bryophytes • To the north the Fovant and covering 30% of the Landscape and lichens that are found there (it Chalke Escarpment provides a Character Type. Of the 2,318 has been recognised by Plantlife definite boundary as the land hectares of woodland in the www.plantlife.org.uk as a Special drops towards the clay vale from Character Type, over 1,800 hectares Plant Area for this reason) and for its some of the highest elevations in are of veteran origin, originating from diverse invertebrate fauna. the region. semi-natural plant communities. This reflects approximately 1,000 years • To the south the landscape The AONB study of the historic of management as a hunting chase gradually merges into what is aspects of the landscape (the which only came to an end with the termed the Southern Downland Historic Landscape Characterisation) disenfranchisement of Cranborne Belt. There is no definite can be used to give an indication of Chase in 1829, though of course boundary between these two the history of woodland contraction smaller scale game management character types and they merge and expansion in the last 100 years. practices have continued. The together, sharing significant In the Wooded Chalk Downland biological importance of this similarities. there has been a large proportion of woodland cannot be over-estimated. woodland loss and little woodland • The differentiation between the Two thirds of the woodland in the gain. This is most noticeable in Cranborne Chase and Southern character type is predominantly the north east of the area between Downland character areas lies broad-leaved in character and 85% Chase Woods, Stonedown Wood in the dramatic topography of it is contiguous with or within and Vernditch Chase which at the that develops as one moves 0.5km of a broadleaved veteran beginning of the 19th century were north from the gently undulating woodland. It is the nature of the extensive areas of coppice. Irregular dipslope of the Southern woodland and its relationship to woodland clearance also occurred Downland, culminating in the the chalk landform which lies at the in the area to the south of Ashmore deep chalk combes of Quarry heart of the area’s special character. Wood with the creation of new fields Bottom, Ashcombe Bottom and Chalk grasslands have been in the 20th century, though in this Malacombe Bottom which are retained, including the extensive area these fields were interspersed scooped out of the chalk downs Rotherley Downs SSSI which by new smaller linear plantations. around Tollard Royal. comprises an area of floristically The main body of woodland of the rich chalk grassland, scrub and • These dry tributary valleys are an Wooded Chalk Downland is around ancient woodland, and is particularly important feature of the AONB, Rushmore and Tollard Royal. In notable for supporting a colony of their valley heads cutting deeply 1880 this became the home of the rare early gentian. Chickengrove into the downs behind the General Augustus Pitt-Rivers, the Bottom SSSI is an example of a escarpments to the north and instigator of modern, systematic much smaller site and consists west. archaeology. During the latter years of an intimate mixture of chalk of the nineteenth century and the • This is a classical English grassland, scrub and woodland and early part of the twentieth century piece of scenery; a mosaic of is particularly notable for supporting he created the Larmer Tree Gardens downland, woodland and arable a small colony of the rare tuberous and the great beech avenues of the land in an undulating landscape thistle and dormice a UK BAP priority Chase Wood. of upstanding chalk ridges and species. Forestry Commission and deeply incised combes. Natural England are working together • The solid surface geology of this on this site to manage the interface character area is predominantly between downland and woodland. Wooded Chalk Downland

Figure 3.2 Woodland of the Wooded Chalk Downland displayed by type boundaries (such as Grim’s Ditch), 3.3.2 Woodland 3.3 Cultural cross-ridge dykes, and ultimately in defended Iron Age hillforts (such as Archaeology Heritage Caesar’s Camp). The continuity of The woodlands of the Wooded 3.3.1 General Character downland settlement and agriculture Chalk Downland are packed with in the Romano-British period is a wealth of known archaeology. The are a large number of prehistoric evident in the Roman road between Notable features include Neolithic monuments in this areas including Badbury Rings and the Nadder Archaeology including isolated long barrows and a large numbers valley. In the medieval period the find spots and a Long Barrow in of early Bronze Age round character of the area was dominated Vernditch Chase, Bronze Age Iron barrows, particularly around Tollard by its use as a Royal hunting ground, Age / Romano-British settlements Royal. Later prehistoric activity restricting the local communities within woodland (e.g. Rotherley is represented by field systems rights of habitation and agriculture, Wood) with field systems and with associated open settlements, and still evident in the pattern of earthworks running into woodland enclosures, linear ditch and bank settlement and landuse. (e.g. Woodcutts Common). Two separate Roman Roads, sections of which survive in woodland for

Figure 3.3 Woodland on the Wooded Chalk Downland displayed by origin Wooded Chalk Downland

39 example in Kingston Woods and in woodland management will be a the woods to the east of Ashmore 3.5 Climate priority for landowners and is one Farm. Saxon remains including of the top priorities for government sections of the Bokerley Dyke change adaptation funding in this area. complex (with probably earlier origin), Over the next fifty years beech historic Saxon borderlands marked will become less suitable as a The woodland of this character type by the historic county boundaries. commercial tree species. Existing is predominantly veteran broad- There are also Four Medieval beech dominated stands, unless they leaved woodland, contiguous with deer parks (Harbins Park, Tollard are on sites with northern aspects, other woodlands or semi-natural Royal Park, Rushmore Park and will yield less well as time goes on. habitats such as chalk grasslands, Ashcombe Park) and a multitude The characteristic free-standing hill- hedgerows and ponds. Therefore of medieval earthworks, enclosures top copses, parkland and roadside the overriding priority for landowners and settlements. The Registered beech trees will benefit from active and those giving advice and ornamental Rushmore Park and the replacement and buffering with new support should be to sustain the historic Larmer Tree Gardens are a planting around them. management of veteran woodland. dominant feature in the landscape. Finally there are many other However the area should be more This Character Type includes some undated field systems, earthworks suitable for small-leaved lime and it of the finest and largest areas and features relating to historic is recommended that pure beech of coppice and coppice-with- management of the woodland. stands are gradually replaced with standards still in existence in the mixed species stands, incorporating UK. The continuation of underwood 3.4 Ancient and oak and small-leaved lime where management should be a priority for appropriate, and encouraging natural private enterprise coupled with public veteran trees regeneration in some areas to give funding in the area. The area is exceptionally rich greater structural diversity. It is desirable that any conifer in ancient trees, coppices and woodland in this character area is significant hedgerow trees. In As the climate changes there is gradually converted to native broad- particular, the large field maples are expected to be changes in the leaved woodland. All woodland characteristic of Cranborne Chase ground flora of woodlands in the management and woodland creation woodlands. Very large ash stools character type. Therefore any should strengthen the connectivity are found in the hedgerows and monitoring of woodland plant between woodlands and semi- there are many grand beech trees, communities, for forestry or nature natural habitats. that were planted in the late 1700s conservation, should take this effect and early 1800s in woodlands and into account. Any removal of trees or forest copses across the character area, operations that occurs should not that are now in senescence and 3.6 Opportunities weaken the connections between worthy of preservation for their semi-natural landscape components, cultural and landscape qualities as for future even temporarily, and any such well as their value as wildlife habitats. operations that threaten to do so The history of Cranborne Chase can management should be strenuously discouraged be seen in the older trees, such as The great opportunity in this by those people and organisations the avenues of beech planted by character type is that the that offer advice and support to General Augustus Pitt-Rivers and conservation of the character of woodland owners. the pollarded holly and other rideside this area is dependant upon the trees that were lopped to provide conservation and enhancement of winter deer forage. its woodland and trees. Profitable It is not expected that there will be The high proportion of veteran large amounts of woodland creation woodland in this character area on the Wooded Chalk Downland, makes it highly likely that there is a but there are opportunities for great deal of hidden, undiscovered landowners to plant up small archaeology. Any forestry operation strategic areas to increase the in the veteran woodland should connectivity between existing be planned with the expectation veteran woodlands. Any new that there is valuable unrecorded woodland should be composed archaeology in the area and of native species, particularly ash, appropriate precautions taken. pedunculate oak, hazel and field maple. Wooded Chalk Downland

41 Dead hedging around a coppice coupe to exclude deer Dead hedging around

Figure 3.4 Woodland on the Wooded Chalk Downland displayed by Connectivity with semi-natural habitats Figure 4.1 Map showing the woodlands of the Downland Hills. Downland Hills Chapter 4 Downland Hills

Figure 4.2 Woodland of the Downland Hills displayed by type making it one of the most wooded woodland softens the harshness of 4.1 Introduction to areas in the AONB. The area, in the coniferous blocks. Sunken lanes terms of its woodlands, exhibits a with overhanging trees contribute the Downland Hills transition from the open downland to the wooded appearance of this in its northern half to the woodlands character area. Boulsbury Wood • Covers 4,334 hectares, (4%) of of the southern half. From the SSSI is perhaps the best example of the AONB. wooded hills one can look towards the medieval woodland of this area. • There is just one area of this the extensive wooded landscape A nationally important woodland landscape type located in the to the east of the Avon (the New complex consisting of a number of south east of the AONB. Forest, Clarendon and the Tytherley separate broadleaved woodlands, Woods) rather than Cranborne together with areas replanted with • It is intersected by river valleys, Chase and the view from Pepperbox conifers, this large woodland reflects the northern edge of the Hill back towards the AONB reveals the varied soil conditions over character area meets the high the wooded character of the whole which it has formed and over ten downland of Cranborne Chase region. The larger woodlands of the separate forest stand types have with the southern edge being Downland Hills are broadleaved and been recorded. The ground flora is defined by the sands and mixed and a large proportion (over exceptionally rich, in fact the richest gravels of East Dorset and West 70%) were present prior to 1750. vascular plant flora of any Hampshire Hampshire. The AONB study of the historic wood, with over 60 ancient • The hills are formed from the aspects of the landscape (the woodland indicator plant species. dissected remnants of an older Historic Landscape Characterisation) chalk escarpment cut by the can be used to give an indication of rivers which drain the chalk the history of woodland contraction 4.3 Cultural dipslope. and expansion in the last 100 years. On the Downland Hills, particularly Heritage • The ‘whale-backed’ ridges tend in the area to the north east of the to be capped by clay-with-flints Allen valley in the vicinity of the 4.3.1 General Character and small areas of Reading Bokerley Dyke plantation, there has Beds. There are a range of prehistoric and been noticeable woodland reduction Romano-British features in this area, • Ploughed slopes and enlarged during the 20th century. The north such as the multi-vallate Hillfort at fields create a vast patchwork western edge of the area has seen Whitsbury Castle, similar in size and of arable land with isolated the creation of small linear blocks location to Badbury Rings to the remnants of chalk grassland and of woodland that are predominantly southwest. In addition, there are a veteran woodland that provides coniferous. The pattern of small number of ancient boundary features significant ecological interest. irregular fields with interspersed such as Grim’s Ditch and Bokerley copses in the area around Lopshill Dyke. • This is a landscape of contrast suggests that there was early with enclosed areas of woodland piecemeal clearance of woodland in opening out to provide extensive this area interspested with common 4.3.2 Woodland views across large fields. land. Over 80% of the Downland Archaeology • Both framed views from sunken Hills woodlands are very well The majority of known archaeological lanes and open views from hills connected to veteran woodlands, sites are located outside of can be enjoyed. being either contiguous with or within 0.5km of a veteran broad-leafed woodland in the area of the Martin • Woodland crowns the tops of woodland. This is particularly true and Whitsbury Downland Hills. The slopes; mixed woodland occurs in the southern part of the area. exceptions being the woodland alongside coniferous blocks Scattered oak woodlands such as located on the ramparts of Whitsbury softening their edges. Martin Wood, Boulsbury Wood and Castle, Bronze Age Round Barrows • Scattered copses and mature Burwood occur with coniferous situated on the crest of hills and hedgerow trees provide a and deciduous woodland on the several undated field systems connection between arable fields crests of hills like Blagdon Hill and and linear features. As with other and the wooded hilltops. Boveridge.These woodlands, and Landscape Character Types several the occurrence of copses, are a key woodlands are associated with feature that emphasise the height historic parks for example Boveridge. 4.2 Woodland of and form of the hills. In contrast, the sharp edges and vertical uniformity the Downland Hills of coniferous plantations break the 4.4 Ancient and subtle flow of the chalk landform and There are 828 hectares of woodland while the other components of the veteran trees in the Character Type which landscape change with the seasons, represents 6% of the woodland in the The Character Area is exceptionally the coniferous plantations remain AONB. Over 20% of the Charcater rich in veteran and ancient trees of the same. Where the two woodland Type is covered by woodland, all species. These remarkable trees types occur side by side, the mixed should be identified on woodland Downland Hills

Contrast between hard and soft horizons created by different plantings

Figure 4.3 Woodland on the Downland Hills displayed by origin plans and in estate management plans and given appropriate 4.5 Climate 4.6 Opportunities management to extend their lives and preserve the unique biodiversity change adaptation for future that they support. Just as important The coniferous components of the is the identification of individual woodlands may not be sustainable management trees and stands of trees that will be in a changing climate. In particular, This area offers an opportunity for allowed to achieve great ages, or Norway spruce, Lawson’s Cypress woodland owners to enhance the become senescent. Even short-lived and Western Red Cedar should landscape character by planting new trees such as birch and willows need be replaced when felled with either native broadleaved woodlands that to be allowed to persist into the latter native trees species or with species follow the natural pattern of existing stages of their biological lifespans. that will yield better in the future woodland. People and organisations climate such as Douglas fir and that offer advice and support should Corsican pine. encourage the establishment of such

Figure 4.4 Woodland on the Downland Hills displayed by Connectivity with veteran broadleaved woodland Downland Hills

Native tree species soften the edge of a conifer plantation and create wildlife habitat woodlands, particularly where they species. Woodlands of veteran Any planting or management connect and enlarge existing veteran origin, whatever their type and operation should take into account woodland, and discourage new composition, should receive the archaeological heritage of the coniferous plantations and exotic appropriate management and area and long term woodland plans planting. Such opportunities may be coniferous plantations within them should be cognisant of the possibility enhanced by landowners working should gradually be converted to that veteran woodland may hold cooperatively with their neighbours. broadleaved native communities hidden archaeological treasures as that reflect surrounding woodland yet unidentified. Existing conifer plantations structure. Older hedgerows should should either be replanted with be identified and appropriately There are opportunities to develop native species or with species managed, along with the adjacent woodland recreation as Rights adapted to climate change such land. Hedgerows of more recent of Way networks are particularly as Douglas fir and Corsican pine. origin should be managed so as to dense through woodland areas and The edges of conifer plantations preserve the open views and flowing the Jubilee Trail, a long distance can be softened and naturalised landforms. footpath, cuts across the area. with planted broadleaved trees Landowners should be supported in or naturally regenerated native efforts to develop better access for visitors. Ancient woodland with old coppice The people of Great Wishford celebrate Oak Apple Day Chalk River Valleys Chapter 5 Chalk River Valleys

Figure 5.1 Map showing the woodlands of the Chalk River Valleys. special qualities for which the Landscape 5.1 Introduction area was designated as an Area Character Areas to the Chalk River of Outstanding Natural Beauty. • In physical terms, the valleys • Wylye River Valley Valleys they form can be divided into two groups: • Ebble River Valley • Covers 19,559 hectares (20%) of -- the valleys which follow lines • Stour and Avon Tributary Valleys the AONB. of weakness in the underlying • The rivers which emerge from chalk, often associated with the underlying chalk strata are retreating escarpments to the a key element of the landscape. south, these streams flow The clear, fast flowing chalk ‘across’ the chalk landform, streams are an internationally from west to east. The important habitat and one of the Wylye and Ebble fall into this category.

Figure 5.2 Woodland of the Chalk River Valleys displayed by type Chalk River Valleys

-- the valleys which arise from 5.1.2 Ebble River Valley open chalk downs. The designed the dipslope of the chalk, landscapes surrounding country tending to flow ‘down’ the This character area is centrally houses provide additional interest in landform, from north to south. located within the AONB. It stretches the form of avenues and copses. The Tarrant and Allen, that from Berwick St John flow into the Stour, and the in the west where the two sections of Crane and Allen, that flow the Fovant and Chalke Escarpment 5.2 General into the Avon, fall into this wrap around to enclose the head category. of the valley. Its easterly extent is Description of the defined by the AONB boundary; in reality the river valley continues Woodland 5.1.1 Wylye River Valley beyond the boundary to join the This character area does not include River Avon south of Salisbury. The • 1,125 hectares of woodland in the whole of the Wylye Valley. It Ebble Valley is a shallow valley the Chalk River Valleys, 8% of extends from Sutton Veny to through which the fast flowing the total woodland cover in the Stapleford and encompasses the stream follows a largely straight AONB. floodplain of the river and its steeply course along a narrow floodplain with • The river valleys are not wooded enclosing valley sides to the skyline. willow and poplar frequently planted landscapes, only 6% of the area To the south is the large, open on the banks. Visual connectivity to is covered in woodland. expanse of the West Wiltshire Downs the surrounding downland landscape while to the north Salisbury Plain is emphasised by the predominant • This woodland tends to be stretches out beyond the AONB arable land use and large fields. mixed or broad leaved in boundary. character with the majority The River Wylye has carved a deep 5.1.3 Stour and Avon of woodlands having been valley through the chalk following established after 1750. a line of structural weakness along Tributary Valleys • The majority of it is poorly a geological fault. The channel The Stour and Avon Tributary Valleys connected to broad-leafed meanders across a flat valley floor character area occupies the series of veteran woodland. forming a corridor which maintains a parallel valleys formed by the streams constant width of about 1 kilometre. that intersect the southern dipslope • Within this landscape character The steepest valley sides support of the chalk towards the south- type in particular, there is a lack unimproved chalk grassland eastern boundary of the AONB. of detail on the oldest maps and hanging woodland while the The area includes the valleys of the and on the 1750 mapping less steep valley sides provide Tarrant and Allen that flow into the that can cause inaccuracies opportunities for the cultivation of Stour and the valleys of the Crane in determining the origin of arable crops or improved pasture. and Allen Rivers that flow into the woodlands. Small woodlands The valley floor is a rural landscape Avon. and withy beds may not appear where sheep and cattle graze the These streams, emerging from on the old maps and therefore floodplain within irregular fields the chalk dipslope, have eroded some of the river valleys bound by intermittent hedgerows. shallow valleys into the upper woodlands may be older than This is an intimate landscape and its chalk. Most of the valley sides are they would appear to be. variety in texture, colourful villages in arable cultivation interspersed • In the Chalk River Valleys and country houses provide visual with unimproved chalk grassland or there has been relatively little interest and the floodplain retains a woodland and there are willows and woodland loss in the last 100 peaceful quality. poplars planted on the banks. These years. valleys provide an intimate landscape contrasting with the adjacent • On the north side of the Wylye is restricted to small clumps and with the greens of the meadows, and Ebble, and to a lesser linear shelterbelts scattered in a give the valley floor a pastoral, extent within the Allen Valley, haphazard pattern across the valley. sheltered character which contrasts there has been the creation of a It is mostly of relatively recent origin, with the more exposed open downs. large number of thin linear and and includes broadleaved, mixed and Wet woodland and withy beds have sometimes sinuous woodland coniferous types. There is a low level been replaced by poplar plantations plantations continuing a pattern of connectivity, but some of the older or drained. The valley sides are of 19th century woodland woodlands are associated with the more wooded, steeper sections creation. fringes of Grovely and Great Ridge. are occasionally clothed in hanging However, tree cover is a vital part of woodland. Many of the hill-tops and 5.2.1 Woodland of the the landscape along the valley floor. rounded bluffs on the valley sides Lines of willows and poplars follow are capped with characteristic small Wylye River Valley field boundaries and the past and copses and plantations. Within this character area, woodland present courses of the Wylye and its tributaries. These, in combination

Figure 5.3 Woodland on the Chalk River Valleys displayed by origin Chalk River Valleys

53 Chalke Valley

5.2.2 Woodland of the and were included into later planned House, Wimborne St Giles and landscapes. The woodland of these Eastbury House. Ebble River Valley valleys is better connected to veteran This is an open landscape, but broadleaved woodlands than is 5.4 Ancient and the small amount of woodland the case in the Wiltshire valleys, forms an important feature. The especially in the Allen Valley. veteran trees regular occurrence of small copses, The floodplain trees, many of which shelterbelts and avenues gives a 5.3 Cultural are old if not actually ancient, provide textured quality to the landscape and habitat and an important focus for an impression of more tree cover Heritage the foraging of birds, invertebrates than is actually the case. In addition, 5.3.1 General Character and bats. The shade afforded over small broadleaved woodland belts the stream itself is important in and scattered trees line the narrow In comparison with other Landscape creating patterns of light and shade floodplain and are conspicuous along Character Types the woodlands that regulate weed growth in the the course of the river. The now in the Chalk River Valleys contain stream and the spatial distribution fragmented beech avenue which little known archaeology. This is of aquatic habitat. Careful rises from Broad Chalke to Knowlton due to the intensive management management of the floodplain and Hill forms a valuable landscape of the valley bottoms obscuring riverside trees is a vital component feature within the valley, providing earlier traces of human activity and of maintaining the high quality of the a ‘tunnelled’ lane up the hillside. the fact the archaeology may be chalk streams. There are occasional Woodland is a fairly uncommon buried under alluvium. Much of the ancient trees associated with houses feature of this character area, it is known archaeology is found on the and villages in the valleys, which of recent origin (predominantly 20th valley sides and tops and includes need to be individually preserved. Century) and is poorly connected to hillforts, field systems and ancient veteran broadleaved woodland. settlements. 5.5 Climate 5.2.3 Woodland of the 5.3.2 Woodland Stour and Avon Tributary Archaeology change adaptation Valleys Wessex Water has carried out Several Bronze Age Round Barrow research into the effect of climate The narrow valley bottom is cemeteries are sited within woodland change on the rivers of the AONB distinguished by the mature willows in the Wylye and Allen Valleys. The given the likely scenarios through and poplars which form a dense Wylye valley is also associated to 2025. This has indicated that ribbon of trees tracing the course with undated field systems on both the rivers will be more affected of the river. These seven valleys its northern and southern slopes by changes in temperature than are smaller and narrower than the recorded mostly as crop marks but changes in flow rate. This is because Wiltshire valleys and are too small existing as extant earthworks on the ground water temperature to have extensive plantations or to occasion. These systems are overlain may rise from its current annual have retained large woodlands. The by woodland in several locations average of 11oC to 13oC. This will woodlands that occur are mostly suggesting that the woodlands may be accompanied by greater diurnal broadleaved and are easy to date contain evidence for them as well and annual thermal variation. The if they are related to parklands, as the enclosure with which they effect of this will be to make a large which many of them are. There are often associated. The larger proportion of the river no longer was a good deal of planting in the expansions of woodland are often amenable to brown trout and other 18th and 19th Centuries but some associated with historic landscape important species. The thermal woodlands do date from before 1750 parks and gardens as at Crichel effects will be accompanied by an increase in storm flow that may structure of ash and willow and increase turbidity and pollution 5.6 Opportunities other moisture loving trees should be washing into the river. Tree planting retained along field boundaries and can do a lot to ameliorate these for future the course of the river by pollarding effects. Tree cover on the banks of being favoured over removal of large the river will slow storm water down, management or damaged trees. A new generation causing it to drop a lot of the silt and Opportunities for new woodland of floodplain trees could be planted pollutants that might cause harm planting in this character type are and existing trees protected from before it reaches the river. Tree cover small. However, there is a great damage by livestock. also reduces water temperature need for hedgerows and hedgerow (100 metres of 100% broadleaved trees to be replaced where they have There was once a much greater canopy over the river reduces water been lost, particularly to replace the amount of wet woodland in the temperature by 4˚C). This could elm that was lost in the 1970s. In valleys. Restoring alder and willow retain trout and other classic chalk particular, the comparatively dense wet woodlands would provide wildlife stream biodiversity in river reaches habitat for species such as otter and that would otherwise lose them.

Figure 5.4 Woodland on the Chalk River Valleys displayed by Connectivity with semi-natural habitats Chalk River Valleys

increase the capacity of the valleys to absorb flooding, retain summer water levels in the rivers levels and reduce pollution. Owners of poplar plantations have a good opportunity to add to the wet woodland resource. The plantations of poplar, which often look out of place due to their great height in the low level open landscape of the valley and produce timber with a greatly reduced market, could be clearfelled and replanted with alder and other natives.

Around villages and houses, particularly in new development, the use of native planting should be encouraged as screening and exotic species, such as Leyland Cyprus or Western red cedar hedging, removed. Characteristic arboreal landscape features, such as the beech avenue which rises from Broad Chalke to Knowlton Hill, should be reinforced.

New woodland planting should not be placed on or beside archaeological or historic structures such as barrows, earthworks and water meadows. Riverside trees are characteristic and provide wildlife habitat characteristic and provide are Riverside trees Figure 6.1 Map showing the woodlands of the Greensand Terraces. Greensand Terraces Chapter 6 Greensand Terraces

Landscape 6.2 General Character Areas Description of the

• Fovant Terrace to the south. The area extends from Woodlands • Kilmington Terrace the outskirts of Shaftesbury in the west to Barford St Martin in the east. • 222 hectares of woodland in It is a flat, open landscape offering the Character Type; only 2% of 6.1 Introduction good agricultural opportunities for the total woodland cover of the arable and livestock farming. Mixed AONB. to the Greensand woodland nestles at the foot of the • The very small amount of adjacent chalk escarpment forming woodland in this character type Terraces a transitional belt and marking the (only 2.5% of the Greensand distinctive change in landform. Terraces is woodland) tends to • Covers 9,186 hectares (9%) of Coniferous plantations at the junction be broadleaved with a significant the AONB. with the escarpment provide a more element of coniferous plantation. abrupt contrast. Localised changes • Level terraces that lie between in landform are most marked • The woodland has a range of the greensand hills and chalk towards the settlement of Charlton, origins and is moderately well escarpments. where the land becomes more connected to other woodlands. • The geology has given rise to undulating and tree cover increases. • Minimal woodland loss or gain rich brown earths which are well compared to other areas apart suited for arable cultivation and 6.1.2 Kilmington Terrace from the creation of a few small improved pastures. regular blocks in the northern The Kilmington Greensand Terrace is part of the character type. • The large rectangular fields located within the north western part which dominate the terrace of the AONB. Bound along its entire landscapes are characteristic western edge by the greensand hills 6.2.1 Woodland of the of Parliamentary inclosure of a that run from Penselwood through Fovant Terrace probable late 18th or early 19th Maiden Bradley to Longleat, and century date. along its southern edge by the West Wiltshire Downs Chalk Escarpment, Belts of natural ash woodland occur • Calcareous subsoils tend to be along the boundary with the chalk found at the foot of the chalk the terrace is located neatly between the two elevated landscapes on escarpment where the soils are more escarpment and it is here that calcareous. These woodland belts mixed woodland typically marks either side. This is an uncluttered landscape that affords unobstructed are an important visual component the transition and edge of the as they mark the transition to the terrace. views to the hills beyond. It is a flat, open landscape offering good escarpment landscape. Occasional agricultural opportunities for arable mixed woodland game covert 6.1.1 Fovant Terrace and livestock farming. It contains the blocks planted at right angles to the escarpment interrupt the smooth, Centrally located within the AONB, upper reaches of the River Wylye open character of the terrace and this distinctive terrace forms a which crosses the Greensand terrace do not compliment the character platform between the undulating following the line of two geological of the native woodland. Generally, greensand hills of the Donheads, faults. tree cover is quite even but sparse Swallowcliffe and Fovant to the north towards the west of the area and, and the dramatic chalk escarpment combined with the more undulating 6.2.2 Woodland of the landform, provides a greater sense of 6.3 Cultural enclosure. Occasional small blocks Kilmington Terrace of veteran woodland also remain; The Kilmington Terrace has a Heritage forming an important ecological range of land uses, both arable 6.3.1 General Character component of the landscape area. and permanent and rotational However, the type, origins and pasture, and has retained some The continuity and intensity of arable connectivity of these woodlands is excellent ancient trees in hedgerows, cultivation on the Greensand terrace very mixed, further confirming that river banks and beside springs. has meant that little archaeology woodland is not playing a significant Occasional shelterbelts, the majority has survived. However, the henge role in the character of the area. of which comprise relatively recent west of Sutton Veny is likely to have broadleaved plantation, occur been a social focus for late Neolithic throughout the character area, and communities dispersed within the compliment the older woodlands and wider landscape and Bronze Age isolated copses.

Figure 6.2 Woodland of the Greensand Terraces displayed by type Greensand Terraces

59 New parkland on the Greensand Terrace at Ferne Terrace New parkland on the Greensand round barrows, such as those beside thicken and expand both along the the River Wylye west of Kingston 6.5 Climate contour and onto the margin of Deverill, may indicate the continued the terrace. This may be through importance of the river in a largely change adaptation planting, but could also be achieved pastoral economy dependant to A changed climate in line with through natural regeneration if a large extent on the adjacent the scenario envisaged in the deer, rabbit and hare browsing downland grazing. introduction to this document holds is controlled. On the Kilmington opportunities for an increased role Terrace, additional planting of 6.3.2 Woodland for trees in the landscape. In the individual trees and small woodlands future hedgerow and in-field trees will along the course of the River Wylye Archaeology play an important role in providing should also be encouraged. The Little of the known archaeology shade and shelter for livestock. While coniferous plantations that interrupt on the Greensand Terrace falls arable crops will not be replaced by the landscape, intruding on the within woodland, this is especially trees, there may be good returns to character of the deciduous woodland notable when compared with be made from orchard crops. The and on the visual relationship other landscape character types. changing pattern of cropping over between scarp and terrace, should Exceptions include late medieval the next ten to fifteen years may see ultimately be removed and replaced settlements, undated enclosures considerable tree planting in this with natural woodland or scrub that and linear features and unassociated currently open landscape. can offer the same service as game findspots of variable dates. covert without the loss of character. Woodlands are also associated with parkland as at Ferne House. 6.6 Opportunities The area is largely devoid of woodland of any extent and much for future of what is there is of recent origin. 6.4 Ancient and It is therefore unlikely that there will management be significant archaeology within veteran trees the woodlands, but a few of the The Greensand Terraces have been, woodlands at the base of the scarp The ancient trees that survive do so, and always will be, predominantly are larger and may be of more generally speaking, in spite of recent agricultural in land use. There are ancient origin in which case care management and not because of it. very limited opportunities for any should be taken as any surviving A few trees, remnants of hedgerows significant woodland establishment archaeology would be of great value. and copses that have been wholly or in this character type. Indeed, any partly removed, still exist and some significant interruption of the open of them are truly remarkable. Most views across the terraces to the of them are ash or oak, but there dramatic escarpment would be are also individual hawthorns of detrimental to the conservation of relatively great antiquity and some landscape character. of the houses and gardens have retained very large trees. Because At a smaller scale, landowners of their scarcity, the pressures from could be seeking to restore gappy development and the intensity of hedgerows, planting additional agricultural operations around them, hedgerow trees and restoring these trees require special attention hedgerows to their former locations and care. where farming operations allow it. The woodland at the base of the escarpment should be allowed to Figure 6.3 Woodland on the Greensand Terraces displayed by origin Greensand Terraces

Figure 6.4 Woodland on the Greensand Terraces displayed by Connectivity with semi-natural habitats Charles Buckler and Major provide horse logging services from the farm at Penselwood Greensand Hills Chapter 7 Greensand Hills

Landscape Character Areas 63 • Donhead to Fovant Greensand Hills • Penselwood to Longleat Greensand Hills

Figure 7.1 Map showing the woodlands of the Greensand Hills. • Tributaries of the major rivers 7.1.1 Donhead to Fovant 7.1 Introduction have eroded it to expose Greensand Hills to the Greensand underlying deposits. • Characterised by tight valleys, The Donhead to Fovant Hills Hills sunken lanes and are typically character area wraps around the covered in woodland. rolling valley landscape of the Vale of Wardour in a narrow band that • Covers 9,811 hectares (10%) of • Historically provided desirable widens towards the west around the AONB. locations for large houses and East Knoyle and Shaftesbury. To • Marks the transition from the clay parklands as well as providing the south, the hills form a transition vales to the elevated chalk. strategic sites for fortified from the Vale to the flat landscape of settlements and buildings where the Fovant Greensand Terrace and • Located to the north and south they have commanding views to the north the hills lead from the of the Vale of Wardour and along over the adjacent lowlands. Vale to the upland chalk landscape the north-western boundary of the AONB between Penselwood and Warminster.

Figure 7.2 Woodland of the Greensand Hills displayed by type Greensand Hills

65 of the West Wiltshire Downs. The tree clumps, avenues and grazing woodlands are also a complex mix of Upper Greensand of the hills has animals associated with private types and origins. The steep slopes been eroded into a series of rounded estates contribute to the scenic along the northern and southern knolls by tributaries of the River beauty of the area. sides of the Vale of Wardour are Nadder, many of which have carved clothed in woodland. deep combes. The steep slopes are clothed in woodland, the irregular 7.2 General Although there are some large outlines of which indicate early assart areas of broadleaf woodland, incursions and inclosure of fields. Description of the mainly around the western end of Ancient sunken lanes, enclosed by the Character Area (East and West high banks and shaded by trees, Woodland Knoyle and Semley), plantations produce strongly framed views. of Douglas fir, larch and Norway Historic estates and parkland are • 4,670 hectares of woodland, spruce predominate, giving the hills typical, such as Fonthill Abbey and representing 31% of the total a very different character to the chalk Phillips House. woodland cover in the AONB. downs. The sandy influence of the soils is visible in the presence of • The most wooded character acidic woodlands and the variations 7.1.2 Penselwood to type in the AONB; almost half of in soil moisture yield a variety of plant it is covered in woodland. Longleat Greensand Hills communities. Hang Wood SSSI is These hills form the transition • Dominated by coniferous a good example and includes wet between the high chalk hills of plantations, most of which were ash-field maple woodland grading the West Wiltshire Downs and the established prior to 1900 or to acid oak-hazel-ash woodland. clay valley of the Frome that lies have been planted to replace The site has a history of traditional beyond the AONB boundary. The broadleaved woodland. coppice management and supports interface of the hills with the terrace • There is moderate connectivity a rich ground flora with species such landscape is clearly defined by a with broadleaved veteran as bluebell, dogs mercury and sweet change in density of contours and woodlands. woodruff. the amount of woodland. It is a • The existing large belt of landscape with a steeply undulating A belt of oak woods, some of woodland covering the majority landform; the hills are joined by which have been converted to of the area has seen the sunken lanes that writhe through conifer production, occur on the piecemeal addition of woodland secretive valleys where fluvial Greensand Hills to the north of along its edges. erosion of the Frome and Stour Shaftesbury spanning the AONB tributaries has exposed older rocks. • There has been clearance of boundary around Motcombe and Extensive woodland is a unifying three or four small areas of Sedgehill. They can be seen in the characteristic, the hills are clothed woodland within the main belt of AONB at East and West Knoyle and in deciduous woodland and fine woodland over the last century. Semley and the Donheads. Much coniferous plantations. In the valleys of the woodland around East and West Knoyle was present prior to the fields are predominantly small 7.2.1 Woodland of the and of an irregular form. Extensive 1750 and has been complimented landscaped parks surrounding large Donhead to Fovant by the Woodland Trust plantation country houses at Longleat and Greensand Hills at Mackintosh-Davidson Wood. Stourhead are the greatest examples The pre-1750 woodland around of what is common in the area: large This area contains a mosaic of Semley has been added to as houses with significant gardens and permanent pasture and mixed the commonland has scrubbed small parks. Neatly laid hedges, woodland with fen and neutral up and formed natural woodland. meadows on the valley floors. The One of these is Gutch Common SSSI which comprises a mosaic Around Donhead St Mary, and on the part of the tree cover of this area of habitat types including wet and slopes along the southern side of the and their comparatively recent dry acid woodland, open bracken Vale of Wardour, hill top woodlands establishment hides the fact that stands and a neutral meadow. This give way to pasture as the land they were established amongst a habitat diversity has resulted in the drops away towards the valley well wooded landscape, as attested site supporting a wide range of below. Many of these woodlands to by the presence of many ancient plant species, together with a good are producing excellent crops of hedgerow trees and artefacts such range of woodland birds. Botanically, timber from coniferous species, as woodbanks. Gutch Common is not unlike much but this can be hampered greatly of Fonthill Woods and the woodlands by the presence of invasive plants 7.2.2 Woodland of the around East Knoyle. Many of these such as rhododendron and cherry woodlands are producing crops of laurel. The woodland of this area Penselwood to Longleat timber from coniferous species, the are generally very well connected, Greensand Hills revenues from which can support but this is not the case in the 19th the commercially unproductive Century plantations around Fonthill. Long-established woodland is broadleaved woodlands. These woodlands are a significant perhaps the most distinguishing

Figure 7.3 Woodland on the Greensand Hills displayed by origin Greensand Hills

67 feature of this character area and Bailey Castle. There are also a much of it has been replanted 7.3 Cultural number of undated features and with exotic coniferous species. enclosures. The woodlands here Figure 7.3 displays the origins of Heritage are also associated with medieval the woodland, the ancient hunting and post medieval settlement sites forest of Selwood is clearly defined 7.3.1 General Character including the edge of Witham Friary. and the 19th Century planting at The strategic importance of the Finally their form in places relates Longleat Plantation is also clearly hills as transitional landscapes is to their inclusion as part of two picked out. There is very little recent reflected in the presence of Bronze large historic parklands – Longleat establishment except around the and Iron Age hillforts and earthwork and Stourhead. In the woodland of forest edge. This area has a long enclosures. The continuing strategic the Donhead-Fovant Hills notable history of forest management and importance of the landscape is sites include ancient Field systems, the generally very high quality of the evident through the presence of a Iron Age Hillforts, Romano British coniferous plantations, particularly number of castles, such as the motte Settlements, Medieval Deer Parks, the Douglas fir, is testimony to this and bailey earthworks at Coneygore medieval quarries. The fact that heritage. Some substantial areas and Zeals Row, to the south, and these woodlands have never been of broadleaved woodland remain. Woodhouse Castle and Hale’s Castle subject to systematic survey across Longleat Woods SSSI provides an further north. Some of the larger their whole extent suggests that example of nationally important areas of woodland, plantation and there may be much archaeology still woodland of medieval origin parkland reflect the locations of a to discover managed as high forest. In contrast, number of substantial landscaped Bradley Woods SSSI is an extensive estates, such as Wardour Castle, 7.4 Ancient and area of lowland alder woodland, Phillips House and Fonthill. The with oak and hazel dominating on present day wooded character of the veteran trees the drier ground. The site has largely area reflects the history of the area The Greensand Hills have such a been managed under a coppice as a boundary land that became profusion and diversity of ancient regime, and supports a rich ground valued as hunting grounds. The and veteran trees that it would take flora. Many plant species are present Penselwood to Longleat area owes more than the space available here which indicate a long continuity of much to the medieval Royal forest to do them justice. Great oaks can woodland cover, for example dog’s of Selwood. The presence of large be found looming out of hedgerows mercury, yellow archangel and areas of commercial forestry reflects all over the Greensand Hills, ancient ramsons. It also holds several locally the former presence of deerparks crab apples form groves along the restricted plants such as marsh and landscaped parkland along the ridge above Semley, huge ash and violet and thin-spiked wood sedge, fringes of the Nadder Valley. oak adorn the fields throughout the however the most notable feature Donheads and many of the larger of this woodland is its exceptional gardens in the area have massive diversity of bryophytes and lichens. 7.3.2 Woodland Character specimens of both native and exotic The connectivity to veteran The woodlands of the Greensand species, often with a bench beneath broadleaved woodlands is very high, Hills are associated with several them or a swing slung from a lower particularly around Stourton and in prominent archaeological sites. bough. The section given in the the vicinity of Colehill where place In the woodland of the Longleat- General Introduction applied to this names suggest the presence of long Penselwood Hills these sites include character type more than any other: established woodland and the uses Bronze Age Round Barrows, the the ancient and veteran trees of our to which it was put. Iron Age Hillforts of Kenwalch’s landscapes are a key component Castle and Roddenbury, the Iron that we cannot do without and they Age quern stone quarries at Pen need to be recognised and included Pits and a Medieval Motte and in land management planning so that winter water and a deficit in summer become a better place to grow trees. their conservation is ensured. water. Native woodland plant The plants that compete with trees communities are likely to change in will also do well; bracken, bramble 7.5 Climate change response to this, possibly forming and gorse are likely to grow faster new communities not currently under climate change and will require adaptation recognised. Some plant and more vigorous management. The scenario presented in the invertebrate species may only survive The outlook for conifer production introduction to this document if they can move to different places, is therefore pretty rosy, especially suggests that in the foreseeable such as further up hill or to a different for Douglas Fir and Corsican Pine. future the woodlands of the aspect. The increase in temperature However, Norway spruce could Greensand Hills will have a longer and atmospheric CO2 will lengthen cease to be a productive species thermal growing season, be exposed the growing season. This may be so a greater mix of trees could to less frost, exhibit different natural beneficial to some species such as be encouraged as it is gradually regeneration rates, have a surfeit of oak, but detrimental to others such removed from plantations. The as ash. Overall, the AONB should markets for the timber are impossible

Figure 7.4 Woodland on the Greensand Hills displayed by Connectivity with semi-natural habitats Greensand Hills to predict and have recently proved to be more unstable than anyone could have foreseen. Therefore the prudent forester on the Greensand Hills will use the good soils and improving climate to produce quality timber that can be sold into high value markets. Some of the Greensand Hills locations are very wet. This is likely to increase and it could create operational and silvicultural problems as slopes become harder to work, soils become more prone to mechanical 69 damage and increased winter rainfall raises the water table enough to kill roots (thereby reducing effective landowners may be able to realise archaeology will lie within the area of rooting depth and making trees more greater benefits by working together the plan or operation. vulnerable to summer droughts). with their neighbours. The parkland A drive for high quality timber and should have equally long-term Exotic trees in parklands are at risk a move towards more natural conservation plans. Where pre- from the arrival of new pests and regeneration in restocking plans 1750 woodland has been replanted diseases, just as are the native will mean a greater necessity for with conifers, the aim should be to trees. These factors may make deer, rabbit and squirrel control. The eventually create a mixed species, historically authentic tree plantings ancient and veteran trees mentioned structurally diverse stand where as part of parkland conservation in the paragraph above will be natives predominate and natural and restoration increasingly difficult. at particular risk from high winds regeneration provides replacements Therefore the free-standing copses associated with storms. for harvested trees. Native woodland and small woods that are such a habitats and their associated feature of the AONB should be flora should be encouraged along increased in size and buffered, 7.6 Opportunities with natural tree regeneration, especially in exposed situations. which will require firm action to be Management around existing veteran for future taken against alien invasive plant trees needs to be planned and species such as rhododendron improved by instigating measures management and Japanese knotweed as well such as removing cultivation from There are greater opportunities for as cooperative deer management. around the tree, reducing grazing woodlands in this character area Wherever possible, veteran pressure under the canopy and than any other part of the AONB. broadleaved woodlands should be stopping livestock damaging the To retain the character of these expanded by additional planting bark, reducing fertilizer or pesticide landscapes it will be necessary to on the perimeter or the conversion drift on to the tree’s roots and foliage. conserve the woodland, parkland of mixed and coniferous stands and the mosaic of pastures and to appropriate native stand-types. 7.6.1 Penselwood to Woodlands could include elements meadows that function as clearings Longleat Greensand Hills within the woodland. Woodland of wood pasture and open space conservation and management is where appropriate, to conserve the This is a landscape of significant the key activity in this process. The mosaic of semi-natural habitats leisure and recreation interest area not only holds some of the such as fen meadow, unimproved including the attractions of most admired estate forestry in the neutral grassland, meadows and Centre Parcs Holiday Village, country, but also some exceptional wet flushes. Harvesting should be Longleat Estate and National Trust broadleaved veteran woodland of responsive to the management properties including high nature conservation importance. needs of the forest as well as the Stourhead, King Alfred’s Tower, The management of woodlands of available markets, but this will Cockroad Wood and Cley Hill Fort. high nature conservation value is depend upon local markets, for There are also many local forest currently supported by the profitable example in wood fuels, generating a walks and three long distance production of timber from short constant, if low value, demand. Public Rights of Way routes. rotation coniferous plantations. Woodland recreation is already well Therefore the mix of high quality Most of the archaeology of this developed in this area and there timber and high quality nature area will be found in wooded will be opportunities to extend and conservation needs to be retained. areas. Therefore any forest plan improve its provision in the future. and planned operation should have Landowners should be supported All the larger woodlands should cognisance, as far as is possible, to do so by those people and have long-term forestry plans and of the archaeology of the area and organisations that offer support an expectation that undiscovered and advice and be particularly encouraged to work and plan collaboratively.

Rolling Clay Vale Chapter 8 Rolling Clay Vale

Figure 8.1 Map showing the woodlands of the Rolling Clay Vale. than it might appear from the and Fonthill Grottoes SSSI that need 8.1 Introduction mapping as the ancient trees of the the mix of woodland and pasture in hedgerows and other landscape which to find food. to the Rolling Clay features indicate that this woodland was created in a diverse and Vale wooded landscape. The AONB study of the historic aspects of the 8.3 Cultural • Covers 6,431hectares (7%) of landscape (the Historic Landscape the AONB. Characterisation) can be used to Heritage • To the north and south of give an indication of the history of the vale the land rises to the woodland contraction and expansion 8.3.1 General Character greensand hills. in the last 100 years. In the Rolling A small number of monuments, Clay Vales the edges of the Vale have • To the east, beyond Barford St including a reported stone circle/ seen piecemeal loss of woodland henge at Tisbury (reputedly Martin, the Vale narrows to follow along its edges, especially in the area the River Nadder to Wilton. dismantled in the 18th century to the north of Semley Hill, in the area to form part of the grotto at Old • To the west the vale is near Summerleaze, at Teffont Evias Wardour), a Bronze Age round interrupted by the greensand and at Haredene Wood. Woodland barrow and field system east hills around Sedgehill before creation has also occurred, albeit at of Fonthill, and an enclosure at expanding into Blackmoor Vale. a much smaller scale, and mostly Baverstock, point to the range abutting or adjacent to existing • The River Nadder and its of social and economic activities woodlands. during the prehistoric period. The tributary, the Sem, wind across Areas of woodland vary both in the landscape. The Sem flowing vale landscape contrasts markedly terms of size and shape with larger with the chalk downland to the west to east and the Nadder woodland swathes occurring at the flowing south to north before the north, displaying little evidence now base of the Greensand Hills such as of any prehistoric settlement. The rivers meet to the northwest of south of Fonthill Abbey Wood and Wardour Castle. At this point the layout of fields, farms and villages at Compton and Fovant Woods. illustrate the pattern of medieval rivers become one, The Nadder, Here, the woodland appears to which then flows eastwards settlement, clearance and farming, roll off the surrounding hillsides and the post-medieval process before meeting with the River and into the Vale forming a strong Wylye at Wilton. of agricultural improvement and connection between the two estate development. The key visible • The Vale of Wardour is a wide landscapes. Woodland occurring historic components are the small open vale that provides a to the west of the character area, irregular fields, particularly in the contrast to the adjacent chalk on the Kimmeridge Clay geology, west, suggesting early clearance of downland and is characterised is generally broad leaved, smaller, woodland and enclosure, the water by its small scale fields divided more fragmented and of a loose and meadows in the lower reaches of the by lush hedgerows and sinuous nature in comparison with vale; the Medieval settlement pattern scattered with woods and the more regular, geometric form of and deserted medieval villages, as copses. woodland occurring to the east of at South Ugford and Wyck; and the Tisbury. Woodlands associated with • It has a strong wooded character large country houses with extensive large country houses and historic estates, including some landscaped with large trees and scattered parkland are also a feature, for woodland. parkland and remnants of Medieval example at Pythouse and Phillips Deer Parks. House. Shelterbelts also occur within this character area and large in-field 8.2 Woodland of trees, particularly open-grown oaks 8.3.2 Woodland and alder along the course of the Archaeology the Rolling Clay River Nadder, maintain the wooded character across the farmland. So Very little of the known archaeology Vale although the Vale of Wardour is of the Rolling Clay Vales falls within woodlands – the exceptions being There are 739 hectares of woodland dominated by arable agriculture several medieval/late medieval in the Vale of Wardour; 5% of the and pastoral land uses, the area settlements, undated enclosures and total woodland cover. Most of the has retained its tree cover (with the isolated find spots. This is in contrast woodland was present prior to obvious exception of the elm that with the surrounding Donhead- 1750 and is either broadleaved or was lost in the 1970s). This is vital Fovant Hills. However much of mixed in character. This woodland to the ecological integrity of the the woodland is associated with demonstrates a high level of landscape, particularly for the bats historic parkland including Wardour, connectivity with broadleaved of the caves at Chilmark Quarries Pythouse and Fonthill. veteran woodland areas except in Special Area for Conservation (which the 19th Century planting around holds the largest UK wintering roost Fonthill. However, these woodlands of the rare Bechstein’s bat and both are of greater ecological interest Lesser and Greater Horseshoe bats) Rolling Clay Vale

Figure 8.2 Woodland of the Vale of Wardour displayed by type Figure 8.3 Woodland on the Vale of Wardour displayed by origin Rolling Clay Vale

conserving important trees. 8.4 Ancient and Climate change may also bring 8.6 Opportunities an opportunity to enhance the veteran trees landscape of the vale with increased for future The Vale of Wardour and Nadder woodland cover around the rivers Valley holds an internationally Sem and Nadder. These two streams management important aggregation of ancient are very different in that the Sem The opportunities in this character and veteran trees. The great oaks is a clay stream that flows into the type lie more in the management of Pythouse Park, the limes around Nadder, a chalk stream, at their of trees than woodlands. In this Wardour, the apple and pear trees confluence between Wardour and respect, the overriding requirement in and around the villages and the West Hatch. in the Vale is to conserve and hedgerow ash along the Nadder enhance the arboreal elements of Valley are just a few examples, There will be a need for additional the landscape, particularly the in-field but certainly not the only ones. trees in the vicinity of the rivers for trees, parkland and hedgerow trees. In this largely pastoral landscape three reasons. The first is flood relief; It is vital that new trees are planted or it is vital that trees be protected areas of wet woodland can absorb singled from hedgerows to go on to from livestock. Sheep, cattle and flood waters, slowing down the be the large, mature, and eventually in particular horses can kill trees flow and holding water in the upper the veteran, trees of the future. by trampling around the roots and reaches. Secondly to remove silt removing bark from the trunk. Some and pollutants; areas of woodland In some places, such as parklands simple measures such as leaving can intercept storm flows coming and gardens, the use of exotic fallen branchwood around the base off surrounding land that would species will be justified by garden of the trees or protecting individual otherwise carry silt and pollutants design and the replacement of like- trees with fencing can ensure that such as fertiliser and pesticides into for-like, but generally there should be these important trees are enjoyed by the river system. Lastly, tree cover a presumption that native species will generations to come. reduces the temperature of the be used. Any new woodland planting water. Wessex Water research has in the Vale should be native, with a revealed that the biggest threat to the strong presumption against exotic 8.5 Climate chalk streams from climate change is species. increased average temperature and change adaptation increased thermal variation. Shading The location of new woodlands could the stream surface with tree cover enhance the connectivity between There are climate change for 100 metres reduces the average existing woodlands and between implications for the ancient trees, the annual temperature of the water by woodlands and semi-natural habitats parkland and field trees that are so o 4 C. This will be the only sustainable such as old hedgerows, ponds, bound up in the character of the vale. way of preserving populations of streams and species-rich grasslands. These trees will become vulnerable brown trout and other characteristic The management of trees and to storms, waterlogging, drought and chalk stream biodiversity. woodlands in the Vale should, new or invigorated pathogens. among other objectives such as game shooting, have at its heart the A programme of replacement as aim of conserving the ancient pattern trees get older and protection for of irregular mixed and broadleaved existing trees by buffering their woodlands interspersed with small root systems from livestock and fields and to join these up with other damage will be essential in species-rich hedgerows.

Rolling Clay Vale

Avenue plantings are characteristic of the planned landscapes around Fonthill

Figure 8.4 Woodland on the Vale of Wardour displayed by Connectivity with semi-natural habitats AONB Office, Castle Street, Cranborne, Dorset BH21 5PZ Tel: 01725 517417 email: [email protected] www.ccwwdaonb.org.uk