LCA5I Upper River Anton Valley Floor

General Description

The Upper River Anton Valley Floor is a narrow river valley that is typical of the source reaches of a lowland river, with frequent springs. The River Anton within this LCA is made up of two tributaries, which converge on the northern edge of Andover, before joining and flowing as one defined river. One of the two tributaries starts its life in a gentle ‘v’ shaped valley, flowing along field margins, before entering the broader flood plain of Andover, where it then flows through a number of manmade lakes. The other tributary (known as the source of the river) flows as a single river course through an area of scrub before joining the first tributary south of Charlton.

The River Anton then meanders through Andover as a single watercourse across a valley floor overlooked by infrastructure, warehouses and industrial development. A number of linear green spaces align the river, with also sinuous belts of trees and shrubs, lining the valley floor.

Location

Upper River Anton Valley Floor follows the River Anton from its source at Knights Enham, and its tributary starting at Weyhill, to where these two watercourses converge at a lake east of Charlton and continues onto the confluence of the River Anton and Pillhill Brook below the A303.

Local Physical Influences

Geology and soils: Alluvium as the valley passes through Andover, with Valley Gravels further upstream.

Landform: A shallow valley.

Drainage: A small meandering watercourse with a number of lakes on former gravel pits to the north of the town.

Local Biodiversity and Vegetation Pattern

The dominant pattern in this area is permanent pasture with patches of woodland, there are also abandoned watercress beds that have become vegetated and now support a varied range of flora and fauna. Anton Lakes just north of Andover is of particular importance to aquatic plants and animals that require a permanent supply of water as above here the water supply is inclined to be seasonable. Many of the wet meadows are dominated by fine-leaved grasses such as Red Fescue, Crested Dogs-tail and Velvet Bent, with a variety of flowering plants including White Clover, Red Clover, Birds-foot Trefoil, Knapweed, Bulbous Buttercup, Yarrow, Yellow Rattle, Selfheal and Oxeye Daisy, and can include frequent orchids such as Bee Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Southern Marsh Orchid, and Early Purple Orchid. Wetter areas include Yellow Flag, Water avens, King cup, and Milkmaids.

Other notable habitats include areas of wet carr woodland, which with hedgerows, link to patches of ancient and semi-natural woodland and provide an important resource.

Local Historical Influences

The Upper River Anton Valley Floor survives within a largely urban context and flows in part through the central portion of Andover. The small valley remains comparatively open for most of its course as it extends up to and through Andover. Originally Andover was a nucleated settlement located on the eastern bank of the River Anton. During the 1800s the town developed outwards, however leaving the valley floor devoid of development. Further development within the north in the 1900s also avoided the valley floor, probably again due to seasonal flooding. There has been limited development within this LCA although some settlement has intruded onto the valley floor.

This area contains several historic character types associated with valley floor activities including one area of bedwork water meadow (Type 4), a portion of other valley floor enclosures and some watercress beds.

Two modern roads cross the valley floor from north to south linking the settlements to the northern of the valley floor with the main centre of Andover.

Settlement Pattern

Elements of Knights Enham, Penton Mewsey, Penton Grafton, Charlton and Andover extend into this Landscape Character Area. However, settlement expansion onto the valley floor appears to have been limited.

No farmsteads are located within this character area.

Local Settlements and Features of Built Form

• Andover (Historic Core) Chalk River Valley Settlement Type

• Andover (Post-Medieval settlement) Chalk Down Land: Hill Top Settlement Type

• Charlton Chalk Down Land: Hill Top Settlement Type

• Knights Enham Chalk Down Land: Hill Top Settlement Type

• Penton Grafton Chalk River Valley Settlement Type

• Penton Mewsey halk River Valley Settlement Type

Traditional building styles include brick or cob walls with thatch and clay tiled roofs.

Community Perceptions

There is much concern over the possible use of the open space within Andover including the valley for new development. Tipping of rubbish along the watercourse is also an issue.

Remoteness and Tranquillity

Most of this LCA is dominated by infrastructure and built development, which will have a large impact on any feeling of remoteness and tranquillity but the relative quiet and openness are a relief from the adjoining busy urban scene.

Key Characteristics

• A setting of mixed urban and rural land uses

• Mixed riparian habitats including a number of lakes, small woodlands and unimproved pasture

• Abandoned watercress beds that have become vegetated and now support a varied range of flora and fauna

• Contrast of the open landscape with the surrounding urban built form

• Tranquillity affected by adjacent infrastructure

• Significant survival of valley floor enclosures, water meadows and watercress beds.

Local Natural and Cultural Landscape Issues

• Development pressures from Andover through settlement infill, and further development of transport and other infrastructure

• Intrusion from fly tipping

• Threat to important area of predominantly open natural landscapes

• Pollution of the river and its tributaries through fertiliser and road run off

• Degradation of banks and channel due to urban encroachment

• Visual and noise impacts of the A303 and other adjacent development.

Designations

Nature Conservation

SINC

• 6 SINCs including reedbeds and agriculturally unimproved grassland

• Volume 2: LCA5I Strategies and Guidelines