LCA2B North Baddesley and Chilworth Woodland Mosaic

General Description

North Baddesley and Chilworth Woodland Mosaic is a mix of large areas of woodland including plantations, predominantly along the northern edge of Southampton, with open areas of arable land, and rough grassland with heathland located to the west of Chandlers Ford. The areas of arable farmland have generally poor quality hedgerows, with fields collectively forming larger open areas that are contained within the woodland framework.

There are pockets of high-density residential development adjacent to Southampton and Chandlers Ford. A number of golf courses occupy sites within woodlands, for example at North Stoneham and Nightingale Wood, with golf courses also located within open areas south of North Baddesley. The M27 runs through the landscape to the south, with junctions and slip roads encroaching into the wooded and open arable landscape on either side.

Geology: Complex area of Bracklesham Beds, overlain in the south with Reading Beds, London Clay, and Bagshot Sands.

Landform: Gentle undulating ground sloping south to Southampton Water, becoming more pronounced south of the M27.

Drainage: This area lies between the Itchen and Test catchments and has numerous streams and ponds.

Biodiversity and Vegetation Pattern

Native broadleaved woodland is an important habitat in this area. Oak is the most common tree species, with abundant Birch. Ash is uncommon and Field Maple is rare. Sweet chestnut is also locally abundant and has often been planted as coppice. Other trees found in low frequencies include Holly, Whitebeam, Beech, Geum, and Rowan. Damper soils have Alder and Poplar. The shrub layers usually have abundant Hazel and Hawthorn. Ground flora includes Bluebell, Wood Anemone, Red Campion, Honeysuckle, Bramble, Woodruff, Wood Sorrel, Dog Violet, Wood Spurge, Twayblade and Greater Stitchwort. Typical orchids include Lesser Butterfly Orchid, Early Purple Orchid, Narrow-leaved Helleborine.

Mesotrophic grasslands are also characteristic habitat of this area, including some traditional grazed hay meadows. They are dominated by fine-leaved grasses such as Red Fescue, Crested Dogs-tail and Velvet Bent. Coarser grasses such as Cocksfoot and Yorkshire Fog are not so frequent. There is a variety of flowering plants that in some cases can comprise a substantial proportion of the herbage. This include White Clover, Red Clover, Birds-foot Trefoil, Knapweed, Bulbous Buttercup, Yarrow, Yellow Rattle, Selfheal and Oxeye Daisy. Typical orchids include Bee Orchid, Common Spotted Orchid, Pyramidal Orchid, Early Purple Orchid.

Other notable habitats include occasional patches of lowland heath dominated by heather, together with mosaics of acid grassland, patchy woodland and scrub. Often the valleys have wet areas. Ancient and semi-natural woodlands link with hedgerows and provide an important resource.

Local Historical Influences

Parliamentary field enclosure can be found close to several heath associated settlements and principally close or within the valley of the River Test at the western end of North Baddesley and Chilworth Woodland Mosaic. Further north the dominant form of historic landscape are regular assarted fields with straight boundaries typical of 19th or 20th century woodland clearance. Close by are surviving 19th century plantations further supporting the 19th/20th century date for the nearby regular assarted fields.

Earlier pre-1810 woodland does survive. When this is combined with the evidence for extensive assarting this suggests the presence within this area of the Test Valley Borough of a significant forested environment, possibly associated during the prehistoric period with the New Forest some miles to the south and west.

Settlement Pattern

Settlements within this area are concentrated towards the south and east, linking to the areas of existing development of Southampton and Chandlers Ford. This has resulted from localised growth of the individual settlements in the 19th Century and in the extensive development of new suburbs along major roads and the incorporation of smaller settlements within the greater conurbation of Southampton in the 20th Century.

Within the larger and more regular assarts farmsteads appear to be considerably more spaced apart than within areas where smaller assarted fields predominate. The various elements of woodland at the southern end of this character area appear to have no farmsteads within them.

Local Settlements and Features of Built Form

Chandlers Ford: Heath Associated Settlement Type

Chilworth: Heath Associated Settlement Type

North Baddesley: Heath Associated Settlement Type

Nursling (Eastern portion): Heath Associated Settlement Type.

The built form is dominated by modern building styles and materials, predomintly housing of brick construction with concrete tiled roof.

Community Perceptions

The residents of this area expressed concern that there is a lack of opportunity to access the countryside but they enjoy the sense of countryside whilst being in close proximity to urban facilities. This balance between urban and rural is particularly important although they missed the sense of the remoteness found elsewhere in the Borough. Damage to local hedgerows through excessive cutting is a particular issue.

Residents viewed North Baddesley and Chilworth as distinct places separated by open arable land.

Remoteness and Tranquillity

The M27, with its associated slip roads and junctions, have had an impact on levels of tranquillity within the adjacent area. Areas of woodland away from traffic noise still offer some sense of remoteness and tranquillity. The visibility of golf courses as well as residential development on the open landscape, has affected the sense of rural remoteness, replacing these areas with a more urban character.

Key Characteristics

Areas of suburban residential development extending from Southampton and Chandlers Ford

M27 corridor and major junctions in the south of the area

A framework of woodland cover, including plantation, with pockets of arable land with a poor fragmented hedgerow structure

Remnant heathland and unimproved grassland

A large number of golf courses set within wooded areas and areas of open landscape

Some parliamentary enclosure close to heath associated settlement and nearby the valley floor of the River Test which flanks the western boundary of this character area

Large areas of assarting present within the northern portion of this character area

The settlement pattern of this area is largely dominated by expansion from Southampton and its suburbs during the later post-medieval period

These larger post-medieval settlements are characterised by large areas of planned housing with clearly defined boundaries and connected by an often straight and well-connected network of roads.

Local Issues

Increased impact upon the pre-1810 woodland along the southern border of the Test Valley District from the development of afforestation, recreation, housing, industry and transport links

Erosion of rural character by the M27, M271, Chilworth and Nursling junctions

Significance of open land north of Southampton in maintaining the perception of separation of fringe settlements

Erosion of remaining sense of tranquillity away from developed areas

Further loss of historic parkland to modern use and design

Parcels of farmland left unmanaged due to aspirations for future development.

Designations

Historic

Chilworth Manor: No designation

North Baddesley Manor House: Grade II Listed Building

North Stoneham Deer Park: No designation

Nature Conservation

SSSI

Trodds Copse – Ancient semi-natural woodland

SINC

57 SINCs including ancient semi-natural woodlands, pasture woodland, agriculturally unimproved grasslands, wet flushes, heathland remnants, scrub and sites which support notable species or an outstanding assemblage of species

Volume 2: LCA2B Strategies and Guidelines