13A: CLERE SCARP AND GREENSAND TERRACE

Watership Down

Above Hollington on the scarp face Beacon Hill (with Ladlle Hill on the Field south of Burghclere on the east side) forms a gateway either side Greensand outcrop with the chalk of the A34. scarp in the background

View from parkland at toLodge house at Burghclere estate From the scarp crest looking down the wooded chalk scarp into the Sydmonton estate

Hampshire County 1 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment Open Western Heaths

Hampshire County 2 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment New Forest Open Western Heaths

1.0 Location and Boundaries 1.1 This character area forms a linear east-west orientated landscape comprising a distinct scarp. Along its length the north boundary is formed by the base of the scarp slope, marking the transition to the lower lying lowland heaths. The southern boundary generally follows the contours at the top of the north facing scarp slope and the start of the dipslope which falls gently to the south. To the east the scarp peters out while to the west the scarp continues beyond the County boundary.

1.2 Component County Landscape Types Downland Mosaic Small, Chalk Scarp, Open Downs, Greensand Terrace.

1.3 Composition of Borough/District LCAs: Basingstoke and Deane N. Wessex Downs West Scarp Walbury Hill - Watership Downs Scarp East Scarp

The boundary of this character area is very similar to those noted above.

1.4 Associations with NCAs and Natural Areas: NCA 129: Thames Basin Heaths and JCA 130: Hampshire Downs NA 66: London Basin and NA 78: Hampshire Downs

2.0 Key Characteristics • Distinct escarpment formed by the Middle Chalk and a narrow belt of Upper Greensand. • Visually prominent dramatic steep scarp marking the change from lowland heaths to the chalk upland and forming a smooth, flowing open skyline. • Landscape of contrasts comprising open rolling downland and enclosed wooded steep slopes. • Pastoral land use on steep slopes with predominantly arable on shallower slopes interspersed with woodland (broadleaved and plantation). • Diverse woodland cover including beech hangers, coombe woodlands and areas of scrub regeneration. • Nationally-designated habitats, including floristically-rich grassland and ancient woodland contribute to the biodiversity of the area. • Highly visible archaeological remains including Bronze Age tumuli and Iron Age hillforts. • Sparse settlement including Old Bughclere and Sydmonton and isolated farm buildings.

Hampshire County 3 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment New Forest Open Western Heaths

• Narrow lanes climb slopes orientated mainly north-south and sometimes sunken (reflecting historic drove roads). • Wayfarers Walk long distance route and open downland provide access. • Areas of historic parkland and gallops. • Quiet, rural, empty character with high scenic quality designated AONB and with memorable long distance views.

3.0 Physical Characteristics and Land Use 3.1 This landscape is a manifestation of the underlying geology. The scarp face is a product of the erosion of the east-west anticline at Kingsclere, which has exposed the hard Middle Chalk forming a dramatic steep scarp slope and gentle lower footslopes to the north. Between Kingsclere and Burgclere the lower slopes are interrupted by an Upper Greensand Terrace which gives rise to strongly undulating landform. Land rises to 261 meters AOD at Beacon Hill and drops to around 100m AOD around Ecchiswell. The upper slopes of the scarp form distinctive rounded domes while the slopes of the scarp itself form sinuous indentations and coombes which are typical of chalk landscape and scenery and particularly evident around . Between Beacon Hill and Ladel Hill is a notable gap in the scarp – a feature which has been historically exploited for transportation and defence. The chalk and limestone geology give rise to well drained calcareous soils and fine loam/silty soils respectively. These soils are free draining although to the north of the character area clay deposits start to have an influence on drainage. Agricultural land quality is predominately medium with some areas of less quality on the steepest chalk slopes.

3.2 Land use closely reflects the varied topography and soils found in this landscape. On the steeper chalk scarp slopes there is a predominance of calcareous grassland (unimproved, semi-improved and improved) and broadleaved woodland some of which is ancient semi-natural beech, coppiced hazel and oak woodland and areas of regenerating scrub. Where these woodlands occur on steep slopes they form hangers e.g. lower slopes of Watership Down. On the more gentle footslopes land use becomes predominately arable in medium to large scaled rectilinear fields whose boundaries are either absent or marked by low well trimmed hedgerows. Hedgerows are more prevalent in the east of this character area on the greensand terrace. In places on the lower slopes are linear and sinuous assart woodlands. Within this general pattern are areas of parkland e.g. at Highclere and Symonton, and plantation woodlands, as well as areas of more recent gallops as seen south of Kingsclere and around Highclere Stud.

3.3 The northern part of this character area falls within the Environment Agency Kennet River/ catchment area while the southern more elevated area to the south falls within the Upper Test catchment area. There are no major water courses in this area although where the chalk meets the clay deposits to the north (about 1- 2km from the escarpment) there are a number of chalk fed springs which have influenced spring line settlements e.g. Kingsclere and as well as the development of parkland and fishponds at Symondton.

4.0 Experiential/Perceptual Characteristics

Hampshire County 4 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment New Forest Open Western Heaths

4.1 The elevation of the dramatic scarp affords panoramic views northwwards across the lower lying land particularly from the rounded summits of Walbury Hill and Watership Down. These open views are juxtaposed by the more enclosed character and secretive qualities of ancient hanging woods and sunken lanes. This landscape strongly relates to land to the north both culturally, visually and historically.

4.2 Along the top of the scarp is the Wayfarer’s Walk long distance footpath which follows an old trackway and offers outstanding views. This footpath connects a network of other public rights of way which run predominately north- south and also areas of open access on remnant downland e.g. Watership Down, , Beacon Hill and East Woodhay Down.

4.3 This area has a medium high degree of tranquillity which diminishes around Highclere and adjacent to the A34. Throughout much of this landscape however the limited settlement and few overt manmade features gives rise to a rural, yet working, landscape character.

5.0 Biodiversity Character 5.1 This landscape character area comprises a significant proportion of arable land, and some patches of improved grassland, the largest being located on Beacon Hill in association with a strip of unimproved calcareous grassland. There are some significant strips of unimproved calcareous grassland in the southern centre of the area, many of which are designated as SINCs. Woodland is distributed in medium to large patches across the area. There are some areas which remain open and unwooded, particularly in the northwest. Woodland varies in type, including broadleaved woodlands, mixed and coniferous plantations, dense scrub and patches of parkland, the latter extending from in the character area to the north. Much woodland is replanted ancient and semi-natural woodland, some being ancient and semi-natural.

5.2 There are five SSSIs in this character area namely Burghclere Beacon SSSI ( a dome of chalk grassland crowned by an Iron Age hill fort, comprising an extensive stand of juniper, privet, buckthorn, rose, bramble, wayfaring tree and hawthorn and whitebeam); Duncroft Farm Pit SSSI (only known exposure of beds of Upper Chalk known as the Kingsclere Monocline); Ladle Hill SSSI (comprising a hill fort on the crown of the escarpment and supporting some of the floristically richest chalk grassland on the northern escarpment of the Hampshire Chalk plateau); Old Burghclere Lime Quarry SSSI (exhibiting various stages in the succession from bare chalk on the steep quarry sides through chalk grassland to scattered and dense scrub); and Down SSSI (a small relict area of unimproved chalk grassland with several species of orchid).

5.3 In relation to SINCs there are 34 within this landscape character area. The largest is Sidown Hill Woods and Grassland, comprising 80 hectares of grasslands containing relict unimproved grasslands, woodlands with a significant element of ancient woodland surviving and pasture woodland and wooded commons which are of considerable biological and historical interest.

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6.0 Historic Character 6.1 Archaeology 6.1.1 This Character Area is unusual in that it is a narrow topographic zone between two wider zones, and has the Greensand to the north. It is important to look at the nature of the archaeological evidence either side of this narrow zone in order to hypothesise about the nature of its use and evolution.

6.1.2 There is very little evidence of Mesolithic date in this area, but in view of Mesolithic evidence within the vicinity it can be assumed that the area was generally being exploited during this period.

6.1.3 There is some evidence of Neolithic occupation on the chalk dip slope to the south, but there is no direct evidence on the scarp. On the scarp to the west there is a Neolithic Long Barrow at Coombe Gibbet in overlooking the Kennet Valley. This may reflect that in Hampshire the visual prominence of the scarp is from the land to the north which was not being intensively exploited. It is however a surprise not to find evidence of Neolithic burial on such a prominent setting.

6.1.4 In the Bronze Age the scarp can be divided into east and west. To the east where the scarp runs through Open Down land there are Bronze Age burial mounds on the scarp. To the east where the scarp runs through Small Mosaic Downland, which has a higher clay presence and may not have been intensively exploited, there are none. To the north of the scarp there are some burial mounds recorded at the fringe of the clay and heath. What happened on the Greensand is not clear. The absence of Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman evidence may suggest that the area was not exploited until a later date, perhaps sharing more with the heath land to the north. However, the Greensand is a small area and has many characteristics of the chalk. A pit of Bronze Age date to the west end of the Greensand may be evidence of some settlement however, this evidence alone is not sufficient to model intensive exploitation of the Greensand from the Bronze Age.

6.1.6 In the Iron Age there are two important hill fort sites on the scarp, over looking the gap in the scarp where the A34 runs and which will have been an important route way. Where the scarp runs east through Open Downland there is evidence of Iron Age occupation in the area and its vicinity. Where the scarp runs west through Small Scale Mosaic Downland there are fewer archaeological sites in the vicinity and none on the scarp. This may suggest that the Small Mosaic Down land with its higher clay presence has more sparse intensive exploitation with areas which are not being intensively exploited.

6.1.7 The scarp and Greensand do not have specific Roman evidence but there is a considerable amount of Celtic field evidence in the Faccombe area to the south of the scarp.

6.2 Historic Landscape 6.2.1 In the medieval period the established parishes ran north south perpendicular to the scarp in order to exploit a range of local resources. Several parish boundaries coincide with the top of the scarp, the southern boundary of the character area. This administrative arrangement and the need to exploit the different landscape resources resulted in principally two main medieval landscapes within this character

Hampshire County 6 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment New Forest Open Western Heaths

area. The first lies to the north where the chalk and greensand interface with the lower lying clay landscapes. The second comprises the steep chalk scarp face and associated chalk slopes.

6.2.2 Within the northern half of this character area there is a predominance of medium scaled parliamentary enclosures which are straight sided and regular in character. These enclosures would originally have formed part of the open fields systems associated with the spring line villages of Kingsclere, Burghclere and East Woodhay. Their regular form suggests that they were enclosed in an organised fashion through combinations of formal agreements and Act of Parliament, particularly in the 18th century e.g. open fields in Burghclere parish were mainly enclosed in the mid to late 18th century6. Associated with these enclosures are linear strips of assart woodlands or shaws - their sinuous nature may relate to baulks associated open fields which were particularly extensive67in the Greensand areas. In the central part of this character area and in association with Highclere Park (a former deer park) and Old Burghclere (medieval settlement), the enclosures are also more sinuous in character indicating perhaps an earlier period of enclosure (possibly 17th or 18th century). Here the parkland influences (Highclere and Sydmonton) along with 19th century plantation woodland gives rise to a more varied and enclosed character. In places these medieval enclosures and settlement patterns are overlain with recent changes in land use such as the gallops north of Kingsclere and stud farm at Highclere. Throughout this landscape there is evidence of former quarrying particularly on the Upper Greensand terrace. The small scale of the quarries suggests local operations supplying the immediate area with Malmstone building material. In the west there are numerous small chalk pits.

6.2.3 Within the southern half this character area the steep slopes of the chalk escarpment and freer draining calcareous soils have resulted in a different historic pattern. The steep slopes would historically have been too steep for arable cultivation and would have formed areas of common grazing or downland. Remnant areas of downland can be found at Watership Down and Beacon Hill. Between the downland would have been areas of broadleaved woodland reflected today in the high incidence of ancient semi-natural woodland hangers. It is likely that these wooded areas would have been used for hunting as suggested in the place name ‘The Warren’ north of Kingsclere. Warrens were areas where local lords had rights to hunt on their estates. On the more gentle slopes the enclosure pattern is large scale reflecting formal parliamentary enclosure of former open fields in the 18th and 19th centuries.

6.3 Built Environment 6.3.1 Access to and across this landscape is limited but includes the scarp top lane (Wayfarers Walk) and a small number of narrow lanes which climb the escarpment. Many of these lanes are sunken, cutting into the chalk escarpment with steep earth banks and overhanging vegetation and reflecting years of use as droveroads for livestock - connecting the downs with lower lying settled land to the north. Where these roads cross the more open arable landscape they are often open with grass verges. These rural transport routes contrast with the A34 which runs through the gap in the escarpment between Beacon and Ladle Hill as does the disused railway which used to connect Newbury and Whitchurch.

Hampshire County 7 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment New Forest Open Western Heaths

6.3.2 There is a virtual absence of settlement with the exception of the old medieval hamlet of Old Burgclere and the park/farm of Sydmonton. Beyond this there are occasional isolated farms. As a result this landscape has a largely empty unpopulated character particularly in comparison to the landscape immediately adjacent to the north. Other man made elements including pylons which cut across Watership Down and a mast at Cottington’s Hill.

6.3.3 The medieval settlement of Old Burghclere is an example of a shrunken village which in the 14th and 16th century was owned by the Bishops of Winchester. Its depopulation and desertion was influenced by a change from arable to pasture farming that occurred on Episcopal estates in the later medieval period. Kingsclere and Ecchinswell are also medieval settlements located on the spring line on the northern fringes of this character area. Both villages have conservation areas and are representative of settlements which exploited both the chalk landscape (which formed arable open fields) and the more wooded heavy soils to the north as parts of a sheep-corn agricultural economy. Kingsclere was granted a charter for a market in 1154 reflecting its important role in the local economy.

6.3.4 The most significant aspect of local vernacular building in this character area is the incidence of buildings constructed of Malmstone (derived from the Upper Greensand). There is a strong correlation between past stone quarries on the greensand geology and the close proximity of buildings constructed from this material e.g. at Old Burghclere. Other isolated cottages and farms in this landscape are generally constructed of brick and tile where as agricultural buildings are timber framed in construction often with clad with weather boarding.

6.3.5 This landscape has a high scenic quality as a result of its dramatic topography and land use patterns which is reflected in its designation as part of the North Wessex Downs AONB. It has also inspired the writing of the novel Watership Down.

Hampshire County 8 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment New Forest Open Western Heaths

EVALUATION

7.0 Forces for Change 1. Changes in farming practice/land management due to agricultural intensification. 2. Potential development of masts/tall structures on sensitive skylines. 3. Loss of local character and distinctive landscape features due to incremental change and insensitive small-scale development and road improvements. 4. Climate change, particularly affects on farming practices and potential increased drought, storms and disease resulting in tree loss.

KEY QUALITIES AND EFFECTS OF FORCES 7.1 Dramatic chalk scarp landform consisting of a steep slope with sinuous indentations and combes, running below a smooth, flowing and open skyline, with panoramic views. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 2 Threats: Continued presence of detracting features on the skyline, such as pylons at Watership Down, and the mast at Cottington’s hill. Potential additional detracting features on the skyline include masts and wind turbines.

Opportunities: Use planning policies and conditions to conserve and enhance the smooth scarp skyline, with its series of rounded domes and prominent earthworks, and maintain uninterrupted views towards the scarp from surrounding areas.

7.2 A landscape of contrasting patterns of vegetation and land use, including open rolling downland, woodland on steep slopes, and regular hedged arable fields at scarp foot. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.3.4 Threats: Trend towards loss of livestock and changes in grazing patterns, resulting in scrub encroachment onto former grassland areas altering patterns of the landscape. Potential further loss of hedgerows and shaws within the scarp footslopes, fragmenting and compromising the unity of the hedgerow network. Horse grazing and gallops visually resulting in fencing and altering patterns and texture.

Opportunities: Retain traditional land uses of pasture on steep slopes and arable on shallower slopes at the scarp foot to retain landscape patterns, in accordance with AONB management plan. Target agri-environment and other schemes to encourage hedgerow and field pattern management, and retention of hedgerow tree saplings.

7.3 An area of rich biodiversity, designated at a National level for its extensive areas of floristically rich unimproved calcareous grassland, and its ancient woodland. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.4 Threats: Potential continued loss, fragmentation and inappropriate management of ecologically-

Hampshire County 9 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment New Forest Open Western Heaths

important calcareous grassland, reducing its biodiversity value. Potential loss of broadleaf woodlands, and trend towards under management of ancient semi-natural woodland, including hazel coppice. Poor species and structural diversity, and low ecological value within coniferous plantations, and a high proportion of conifers growing on alkaline soils. Intensive agriculture may result in reduction of biodiversity e.g. few grass field margins.

Opportunities: Target agri-environment schemes to conserve and manage remnant calcareous grassland, including appropriate grazing to minimise scrub encroachment in accordance with BOA guidelines and AONB management plan. In particular, extend and link existing chalk grasslands where possible, including road verges. Retain the diversity of woodland through appropriate management including coppicing, thinning and replanting, possibly through the use of woodland grant schemes. Explore opportunities to promote improved management of land no longer in the farming system (e.g. currently being used for horse grazing) to increase its biodiversity value.

7.4 Numerous visible historic sites including prehistoric earthworks and hillforts, ancient sunken lanes, historic parkland, spring-line villages and buildings of local malmstone. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 2.3.4 Threats: Continued erosion and other impacts on fragile chalk grassland and archaeology at “honeypot” sites such as Beacon Hill, due to visitor pressure. Increased volumes of traffic on minor lanes leading to bank erosion on sunken sections. Potential damage to the settings of historic sites by insensitive development. Potential loss of parkland trees due to over-maturity, possibly exacerbated by drought or disease caused by climate change.

Opportunities: Improve visitor management at fragile sites to minimise erosion and other damage to archaeology and ecology, in accordance with CAP actions. Potential use of Rural Roads Initiative to retain the character of sunken lanes whilst meeting Highways standards. In particular explore measures to reduce bank erosion. Use planning policies and conditions to ensure that new development is only permitted where it will not compromise the settings of historic sites. Potential to carry out conservation management plans for parkland landscapes.

7.5 Limited settlement and few overt man-made features create a quiet, rural, and empty landscape, but with a working character and high scenic quality. FORCES FOR CONSEQUENCES CHANGE: 1.2.3 Threats: Continued visual and noise intrusion from main roads. Changing agricultural practices resulting in incremental loss of distinctive patterns/features.

Opportunities: Use planning policies and conditions to encourage sensitive planting to incorporate new development into the surrounding landscape. Explore measures for visual and acoustic screening of main roads. Use planning policies and conditions to retain the high scenic quality of the area, and maintain existing pattern of woodlands, pasture, narrow sunken lanes and general absence of settlement, in accordance with the AONB management plan.

Hampshire County 10 Status: FINAL May 2012 Integrated Character Assessment New Forest Open Western Heaths