LCA10D Leckford and Chilbolton Chalk Downs

General Description

Leckford and Chiltbolton Chalk Downs is an elevated, rolling landscape, sloping down towards the River Test with a series of steep dry valleys.

It is predominantly arable with large fields with a poor hedgerow structure, creating expansive areas with big skies and long views across open countryside and over the River Test. Pockets of pasture exist predominantly adjacent to farmsteads and settlements. Other areas of grassland can be seen associated with the MOD rifle range.

Groups of shelter belts exist sporadically throughout this area, with a high density seen to the east of Barton Stacey and again associated with farmsteads, for example Newton Down Farm. Where these shelter belts occur they create some visual enclosure and contain the larger fields.

The landscape adjacent the River Test has a more complex character than the main area of this LCA with a higher frequency of woodland, better quality hedgerows and the location of the only settlements within this LCA.

Location

Leckford and Chilbolton Chalk Downs is located to the east of the River Test Valley, south of the River Dever and the west of the Borough boundary. The boundary to the south is less well defined, running from Stockbridge in a north easterly direction to north of Sutton Scotney, and including Brockley Down and Barton Stacey.

Local Physical Influences

Geology and soils: Upper Chalk.

Landform: Gently undulating landform, rising to the south-east.

Drainage: A well drained area, draining into the River Test.

Local Biodiversity and Vegetation Pattern

In addition to the main vegetation types, there is a large area of orchard NE of Stockbridge (Leckford Estate).

Local Historical Influences

Parliamentary field enclosures of the later 18th and 19th centuries extend across much of this Landscape Character Area. One area of 20th century prairie field development is present within this area associated with Middlebarn Farm.

An area of 19th century plantation and occasional stands of pre 1810 woodland survive within the eastern portion of this area. The pre-1810 woodland does in places retain evidence of earlier episodes of assarting along its boundaries although the assarted fields themselves have since been subsumed within larger parliamentary schemes.

A radio telescope field station and associated buildings (now disused) are present within this area close by the village of Leckford. Also present is a substantial area of orchards and a golf course.

Settlement Pattern

A small portion of modern Stockbridge extends into the southern part of this character area. The other settlements of Barton Stacey and Chilbolton are largely 19th and 20th century developments although Barton Stacey does retain a limited historic core focused upon the main street and to the south of the medieval church.

This open landscape is dominated by large parliamentary fields and the farmsteads which controlled these land holdings are generally well dispersed. Not all are located upon surveyed roads or tracks but they do tend to lie within field systems provided with straight boundaries and trackways.

There are two settlements (Chilbolton and Barton Stacey) within this LCA, both have a strong association with adjacent river valleys, however more recent expansion has led to their development up the valley sides into this LCA. The only settlements within the rest of this LCA are limited to farmsteads, which are scattered and occupy isolated positions.

A number of roads follow the alignment of dry valleys down towards these settlements. While others roads are more directional and cut across the higher parts of the landform, as seen with the A30.

Local Settlements and Features of Built Form

Barton Stacey: Chalk Downland. Dry Valley Settlement Type

Chilbolton: Chalk River Valley Settlement Type

Leckford: Chalk River Valley Settlement Type

Stockbridge (North eastern portion): Chalk River Valley Settlement Type

Traditional building styles include brick and brick with flint walls with clay tiled roofs.

Community Perceptions

This area is regarded as a mirror image of LCA10C Thruxton and Danebury Chalk Downland, but is considered to have more woodland.

The area is noted for its hilly downland topography, which was thought to be different to other parts of the Borough. The loss of pasture and grazing animals to arable land use is a concern. Modern farming methods are blamed for the loss of hedgerows and soil erosion. There are comments that the farmland is becoming disused and derelict or poorly maintained. Horse riding is considered to be coming more popular, partly due to the openness of the countryside.

There is a perception of an increase in deer and in partridges, pheasants, woodpeckers and house martins in this area, although hedge cutting is perceived to interfere with nesting pheasant and partridge.

Remoteness and Tranquillity

A feeling of remoteness and exposure exists across the areas of higher ground, but local detractors, which include the firing range and the A30, affect adjacent tranquillity levels.

Key Characteristics

An elevated downland landscape sloping down through a number of gentle dry valleys towards the valley of River Test

Large a reas of open arable farm land, with very limited areas of grassland

Poor hedgerow structure

Isolated small woodlands, sometimes associated with farmsteads

Shelter belts some of which are linked together provide some enclosure

A more complex landscape adjacent the Test Valley

Largely a landscape dominated by 19th century parliamentary enclosure

Visually prominent radio telescope communication centre at Chilbolton

MOD rifle range at Barton Stacey with associated grassland

Large orchard at Leckford Abbas

Well dispersed farmsteads

Expansion of Chilbolton and Barton Stacey up from the valley floor into the area

A large scale landscape of ‘big skies’ and wide views.

Local Natural and Cultural Landscape Issues

Risk of extensive views of any new large to medium scale development

Potential impact from any change to the use on MOD sites.

Designations

SSSI

Stockbridge Down (<10% of SSSI) - Calcareous semi-improved grassland, broadleaved woodland and scrub

Brockley Warren (<10% of SSSI) - Calcareous semi-improved grassland

Bransbury Common (<1% of SSSI) - Broadleaved woodland

River Test (<1% of SSSI) - Marginal broadleaved woodland

SINC

3 SINCs, agriculturally unimproved grassland and sites supporting notable species

Volume 2: LCA10D Strategies and Guidelines