Bighton and Bramdean Downs
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7D: BIGHTON AND BRAMDEAN DOWNS Beech lined track near Cheriton – leading up to former open downland. There are several designed landscapesThe character area is predominantly Land rises up to the clay plateau east particularly overlooking the Itchenlarge scale in character –Lower of Ropley – (St Swithun’s Way) valley – eg Hinton Ampner Bordean Views from this character area intoRopley developed at the head of the Some settlements are located on thee Itchen valley and head waters –River Alre on Tertiary gravels higher ground or ridge tops such as near Cheriton Kilmeston - Hampshire County 1 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Brighton and Bramdean Downs Hampshire County 2 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Brighton and Bramdean Downs 1.0 Location and Boundaries 1.1 This character area is located centrally within the County. It is bounded to the west by the upper reaches of the Itchen Valley at New Alresford and to the west by the settled and wooded plateau of LCA 6A. To the north the land drops away into the Candover Valley while to the south the land drops into the Meon Valley. 1.2 Component County Landscape Types Downland Mosaic Large Scale, Downland Mosaic Small Scale, Open Downs. 1.3 Composition of Borough/District LCAs: East Hampshire District Winchester District Ropley Downland Mosaic Bighton Woodlands Bramdean Woodlands The boundaries of this character area closely follow those defined in local character assessments. Although the three character areas above have differences which allow them to be distinguished at local level, at County level they are all landscapes forming the transitional downland between the elevated plateau to the east, and river valleys to the north, south and west. 1.4 Associations with NCAs and Natural Areas: NCA 130: Hampshire Downs and JCA 125: South Downs NA 78: Hampshire Downs and NA 74: South Downs 2.0 Key Characteristics • Upland area of chalk downland comprising upper chalk geology overlain with clay with flints. • Undulating topography comprising series of ridges and dry valleys. • Heavy although free draining soils with significant areas of woodland. • Mixed Land uses including arable, pasture, parkland and woodland, with resultant biodiversity of habitats and species. • Fields are defined by hedgerows to create a mixed scale pattern. • Significant areas of ancient woodland (some assarted) particularly on higher areas with some replanted. • Well settled landscape with notable parkland areas often associating with small nucleated settlements, and more linear dispersed settlement along rural lanes in the Ropley area. • Southern part of the area is within the South Downs National Park, and has high natural beauty. Hampshire County 3 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Brighton and Bramdean Downs 3.0 Physical Characteristics and Land Use 3.1 The geology of this area consists of Upper Chalk with occasional areas of Clay with Flints, giving rise to shallow well drained calcareous soils and patches of heavier clayey soil. The permeable character of the chalk means the area is generally well drained, and the occurrence of dry valleys is characteristic. Topographically this landscape forms an intermediate area of elevated land between the higher plateau landscape to the east and lower lying valley landscapes to the north, south and west. Its eastern edge is marked by a mini scarp which represents the edge of the clay capping at its junction with the underlying chalk of this landscape. West from the scarp this landscape comprises a series of ridges which extend east west between dry valleys, with the highest land occurring along the eastern fringe, rising to 207m AOD at Park Hill. Agricultural land quality is predominantly medium quality, with small patches of higher quality in the southeast of the area. 3.2 This landscape comprises a mosaic of different Land uses. Although mainly arable, there are also remnants of calcareous grassland and patches of pasture and horse paddocks, as well as woodland copses which are often found on hilltops where there are clay deposits. Beech, oak and hazel are the most common tree species found in woodland, with areas of hazel coppicing being characteristic. In the north around Abbotstone Down there are plantation woodlands. Fields comprise small to medium scale early enclosures often bounded by beech and elm hedgerows and hedgerow trees, giving rise to a strong hedgerow pattern. There are also areas of large more open fields, particularly in the north. In places the field pattern has distinctive, wavy boundaries reflecting fields carved from woodland and these areas of smaller scale fields are often associated with a scattering of ancient woods e.g. Ropley Wood, Lyeland Wood and Bowers Grove Wood. 3.3 The area drains mainly into the Itchen and its tributaries which finger into this area and also the Meon Valley. There is no surface water as a result of the chalk geology and free draining soils, although there are areas where dew ponds are features. 4.0 Experiential/Perceptual Characteristics 4.1 Although relatively elevated and open, in places offering some opportunities for long distance views, much of this landscape has a more intimate character as a result of the varied scale of field enclosures combined with wooded lanes and woodland copses and the undulating topography. This is strongly evident when approaching the character area from the east along wooded lanes. Tree cover, hedgerows and rural lanes provide continuity and unity. 4.2 There are numerous footpaths and bridleways which often run along ancient droveroads as well as green lanes and designated long distance routes including the Wayfarer’s Walk and St Swithun’s Way (the former line of the Pilgrim’s Way linking Winchester with Canterbury). There is also an area of open access on remnant downland at Abbotstone Down and an area of accessible woodland at Cheriton Wood. 4.3 This character area has moderate tranquillity with higher tranquillity found to the north and south away from the more settled areas and road corridors. 5.0 Biodiversity Character Hampshire County 4 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Brighton and Bramdean Downs 5.1 This agricultural landscape comprises arable land with large, interlinked patches of improved grassland. This landscape has a strong wooded element and often associated with woodlands are small patches of habitats including unimproved and semi-improved calcareous grassland, bracken, neglected rough grassland and tall herbs. Although most patches are small they provide habitat variation and diversity, as do gardens and amenity grasslands/ sports pitches which exist within the area. Woodland comprises many types with broadleaved woodland dominating. Other woodland types include parkland, mixed, broadleaved and coniferous plantations, mixed woodlands and active coppice with standards. Woodland exists as patches and as thin strips around fields, and forestry scrub is often associated with these woodland habitat mosaics. There are small patches of ancient and semi-natural woodland throughout the area, and some patches of replanted ancient woodlands. 5.2 This landscape character area is not covered by a BOA. There are over 70 SINCs in the area, most are designated for their ancient woodland resource. 6.0 Historic Character 6.1 Archaeology 6.1.1 This area is downland, with a mix of open down, and small and large mosaic down. However as a character area it interacts with the upper reaches of both the Itchen and the Meon rivers. The influence of these on the evolution of landscape and settlement patterns will be apparent in this area. In addition it is flanked to the east by a large upland block of clay plateau which seems not to have been exploited until the last few hundred years and which therefore may also have an influence. 6.1.2 There is very little Mesolithic evidence within this area, and it seems likely that the river valleys were the focus of the exploitation. Distribution of Mesolithic finds suggests that the Meon valley was exploited from the south (i.e outside this LCA) rather than the north. This pattern appears to continue into the Neolithic period. 6.1.3 A long barrow is associated with the head of the Itchen, and lies at the head of the valley rather than on the high ground above the valley. Else where in the open downland the long barrows are prominently located on the high ground above valleys. There is a slightly richer record of Neolithic artefacts at the southern tip of 7D on the flank of the Meon valley, possibly suggesting some activity in that valley spilling into this hinterland. In addition there are Neolithic finds on the northern edge of the Itchen valley. 6.1.4 The only recorded Bronze Age settlement in the area is in the Meon valley. There are also Bronze Age burial mounds in the area. One group clusters around the head of the Itchen in the Bishop Sutton area. The other is a distinctly linear trend between Cheriton towards Froxfield, and looks down from adjacent high ground on the A272. Is it possible that this is an ancient route from the head of the Itchen valley south, curving east? This line is later intercepted by the Froxfield dykes, and is taken up by a Herepath at its east end, and possibly a Moot, where the route heads down the hangars to the lower ground. This might support the use of this landscape by extensive mobile exploitation, and may be a glimpse of an ancient routeway through the pre agricultural landscape. Hampshire County 5 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Brighton and Bramdean Downs 6.1.5 There is evidence for Iron Age settlements and field systems along the western edge of the large mosaic downland, where it abuts the small mosaic downland. The large mosaic downland may have been exploited by the Iron Age, with the extent of exploitation under-represented in the record.