LCA11A Quarley Hill Downs

General Description

Quarley Hill Downs is formed from two main areas linked in the middle. The north of the area is dominated by arable farmland and the south (owned by the MOD) is covered in grassland, scrub and woodland. There are a number of wooded small scarps within this area, including at Shipton Plantation, and at Cholderton Hill.

The area to the north starts by gently rising from the east from the elevated adjacent chalk plateau of Thruxton and Danebury Chalk Downland LCA 10C. At around, 125m the slopes become steeper with more pronounced dry valleys, climaxing at the ridge at around 170m. This ridge then steeply falls away to the west.

The landform of the area to the south is similar to the north but with less of a pronounced ridge and with smaller hills. The vegetation structure forms an irregular pattern of regenerating areas of rough grassland, scrub, small woodland copses, which contrasts with the adjacent Open Chalklands. Towards the southern boundary, there is a loose grid of newly planted woodland blocks.

Location

Quarley Hill Downs is located to the west of the Borough and covers an area of low lying hills aligned in a north south direction, which includes Snoddington Hill, Thruxton Hill, Quarley Hill, Boar Knoll and the Isle of Wight Hill.

Local Physical Influences

Geology and Soils: Upper Chalk.

Landform: Gently rising land, giving rise to a series of distinctive and prominent small hills along a north-south ridgeline.

Drainage: Well drained area, mostly lying outside the River Test catchment area.

Local Biodiversity and Vegetation Pattern

This area is mostly pastoral farmland, with arable farming in the north on the thicker soils on gentle slopes. There are many important patches of unimproved calcareous grassland. These grasslands are typically a rich mixture of grasses and herbs and are characteristic of a vegetation with a long history of grazing. The grasslands are dominated by fine-leaved grasses such as Sheep’s Fescue and Red Fescue with Velvet Bent, and there is a variety of flowering plants that comprise a substantial proportion of the herbage, these include Salad Burnett, Selfheal, Birds-Foot Trefoil, Harebells, Lady’s Bedstraw, Devils-Bit Scabious. Less frequent plants include Fairy Flax, Gentian, Eyebright, Kidney Vetch and Stemless Thistle. Typical orchids include Bee Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Early Purple Orchid, Fragrant Orchid, Green-Winged Orchid, Burnt Orchid, Frog Orchid. Chalk grasslands are noted for their rich floristic diversity and also for their invertebrate populations.

There are occasional remnants of ancient semi-natural woodland, mostly small copses and shelter belts. Most of the ancient semi-natural woodland is dominated by Ash with some Oak where the presence of Oak indicates more acidic pockets of soil. Ash is the most common tree species with Field Maple and Yew. Other trees found in low frequencies include Lime, Hornbeam and Elm. The shrub layers are generally composed of Hazel, Elder, Blackthorn, Dogwood, Spindle and Privet. Typically Hazel was planted as a coppice crop. Ground flora includes Dogs Mercury, with Bluebells, Enchanters Nightshade, Arum Lily, Early Dog Violet, Yellow Archangel, Sanicle, Moschatel, and Pignut. Wetter areas often have dense covers of Ransoms/Wild Garlic. Typical orchids include Early Purple Orchid, Twayblade Birds-Nest Orchid.

Local Historical Influences

Four different historic landscape types exist in this long narrow chalk upland area, which is found on the western side of the Test Valley. The majority of the area is downland with areas of 19th century plantations running through. Much of the area is still unimproved and identified as grazing land, particularly used for sheep pasture as unsuitable for growing crops.

In the northern section of this character type there is a large expanse of regular “ladder” fields, along the upper Test basin. As expected, these fields are associated with an area of Parliamentary enclosure and links the valley floor enclosure to downland on higher ground. It is highly likely that this area resulted from informal enclosure of the downland in post medieval times and is not directly associated with formal enclosure.

This landscape character type is historically significant with numerous features of archaeological importance including surviving Bronze Age burial mounds occupying the length of the downland ridge. Also surviving is a Neolithic long barrow and the site of a flint mine south of Martin’s Clump, an Iron Age hill fort on Quarley Hill and numerous undated earthworks (either field systems or a settlement) to the north of Martin’s Clump. Finally the Portway Roman Road extends a short distance across this character area to the south of Quarley Hill and is fossilized within the minor road north of Grateley.

As mentioned above, Regular “Ladder” Fields are present in this area. This means that long and regular natured trackways or footpaths (which make up the “Ladder” effect) can be seen crossing the area. Throughout the downland areas, winding drove/track ways are visible. These would have aided the movement of sheep across the pasture area.

A band of 19th century plantations extend along the border between this area and the downland ridge to the east. These discrete stands of purposely planted trees most probably resulted from the desire to create a view for the two parks close by to the west; Cholderton Park and Snoddington Manor. Also within this area along Thruxton Hill is an extensive and undated linear earthwork.

Settlement Pattern

Quarley Hill Downs has no associated formal settlements. Isolated farmsteads are scattered throughout the landscape of this LCA with considerable distance between any two farming complexes. No farms occupy the open downland.

Farmsteads associated with parliamentary fields systems in this LCA tend to be located on the outskirts of field groups, usually associated with formal and surveyed roads or lanes. Where regular ladder fields survive the farmsteads appear to have originally been located within the center of field groups presumably to maximize access to the surrounding field systems (as at Racedown Farm). With the encroachment of 19th century agricultural practices upon the landscape such farmsteads have become partially or completely disassociated from what would have been their contemporary field systems.

Roads cross this area predominantly on an east west alignment, through the dry river valleys. Additionally the railway also aligns in an east west direction. No roads cross the area of land owned by the MOD.

Features of Built Form

Traditional building styles are mainly brick walls and clay tiled roofs.

Community Perceptions

The dominant features of this area are seen to be the downland hills, agriculture and army bases.

Local residents perceived a clear distinction between the Quarley Hills and the area around Shipton Bellinger to the west. Access to the area for walks is considered poor.

Remoteness and Tranquillity

Parts of this LCA are remote, especially where the land is inaccessible due to the steep slopes, for example to the north around Shipton Wood and Cholderton Hill. These areas will therefore offer a high level of tranquillity.

The area owned by the MOD in the south, and the extreme north, have a remote quality, with high levels of tranquillity except when there are exercises taking place. However this area is not accessible to the public.

Key Characteristics

Area has a remote and tranquil character

Wide open vistas

Range of small hills, becoming more pronounced in the north

Mainly pasture with open arable farmland to the north on gentler slopes

Large area of grassland, scrub and woodland in the south owned by the MOD

Linear arrangement of woodlands on the western slopes and wooded scarps

Band of largely ornamental 19th century plantations run along the ridgeline

Significant patches of unimproved calcareous grassland characteristic of long history of grazing

Areas of regular ladder fields (aligned east-west), closely associated with the surrounding parliamentary field systems extend up onto the downland, representing later post-medieval rationalization of the more marginal soils of the downs

Historically significant area due to numerous features of archaeological importance

Band of 19th century plantations forming a part of parkland design for the adjacent Cholderton Park and Snoddington Manor

Absence of settlements and a very sparse scatter of farmsteads

Few roads travel along the top of the downland.

Local Natural and Cultural Landscape Issues

Future use of decommissioned military bases

Increase in MOD activity or change of use as a result of the Strategic Defence Review

Extension of modern settlement south from Tidworth onto the downland threatening historic monuments and their landscape context.

Designations

Nature conservation

SAC / SPA

Porton Down - See below

SSSI

Porton Down (<50% of SSSI) - Unimproved calcareous grassland, broadleaved woodland and dense scrub

Quarley Hill Fort - Unimproved calcareous grassland

SINC

12 SINCs, mostly agriculturally unimproved grassland, with sites which support notable species and some semi-natural woodland

Volume 2: LCA11A Strategies and Guidelines