LCA3A Baddesley Mixed Farmland and Woodland

General Description

Baddesley Mixed Farmland and Woodland is a gently rolling to relatively flat landscape, with small discrete stream valleys with tributaries flowing in the direction of Romsey into the River Test. A number of these river valleys have lakes, as seen in the area north east of Romsey, an area of mixed farmland made up from medium size arable fields, small pasture fields, woodlands and areas of nursery tree planting. Hedgerows enclose the fields, however their quality varies throughout. Where their quality is poor or hedgerows are absent, large open areas have resulted, as seen to the north of Romsey.

Residential development abuts the open areas of arable farmland, as seen on the eastern edge of Romsey.

Location

Baddesley Mixed Farmland and Woodland lies to the east of Romsey and the River Test Valley Floor. The northern boundary abuts Sir Harold Hilliers Garden and the eastern boundary borders Bucket Corner, North Baddesley and Nightingale Wood.

Local Physical Influences

Geology and Soils: The area is a complex mix of Bracklesham Beds, Reading Beds with some Brickearth and an alluvial valley running west to east from the Test Valley.

Landform: The landform is undulating, falling westwards down to the River Test Valley.

Drainage: A number of streams run into the River Test but parts of the area are poorly drained, as at Emer Bog and Baddesley Common. There are some large ponds or lakes associated with former mineral workings.

Local Biodiversity and Vegetation Pattern

This area is predominantly improved pasture and arable farmland, divided by hedgerows. Several important areas of broadleaved woodland are found 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.

Occassional areas of important mesotrophic grasslands are found in this area. 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. Some of the valleys have wet areas. Ancient and semi-natural woodlands link with hedgerows and provide an important resource. Baddesley Common is a particularly significant habitat, comprising a complex mosaic of habitats including broadleaved woodland, dry heath, unimproved grassland, bracken, coniferous plantation, marshy grassland and a pond.

Local Historical Influences

The presence of regular field systems with wavy boundaries close to Romsey suggests that this area may have been the first within LCA 3A to be informally enclosed during possibly the 17th or 18th centuries. Elsewhere parliamentary field enclosure appears to be largely focused upon the Clay River Valley Type settlements located within this area indicating a drive for later formalized enclosure associated with such settlements

The medium sized irregular assarts and copses with boundaries, regular assarts with straight boundaries and 19th century plantation all point to a previously wooded landscape throughout this character area. This began to be cleared (informally at first) by the late medieval to early post-medieval period and this process continued into the 19th/20th centuries, with areas being replanted during the 19th century.

A possible Iron Age hill fort occupies a small rise within Telegraph Wood to the north of the M27.

Settlement Pattern

Romsey, while not within this character area has had considerable influence upon the surrounding landscape. This may explain why the relatively early and informal enclosure of fields takes place along its borders with LCA 3A with an increased need to feed a rapidly growing population during the 17th and 18th centuries. At this time railways were not invented, roads were by and large in a dreadful state and Romsey was not furnished with access to a canal or navigation. Therefore a productive agricultural hinterland was of paramount importance and informal enclosure was one of the first steps to ensuring this.

The parliamentary field systems to the north and east of Romsey retain only a few widely spaced farmsteads although other examples may have subsequently been subsumed within the settlement expansion of Romsey or may have been redeveloped as residential properties.

Dwellings within this area are limited to some low density intermittent ribbon development on the approach roads to Romsey, as seen along the A3090. Other settlements are limited to farmsteads, which includes a fish farm north east of Crampmoor.

Local Settlements and Features of Built Form

Ashfield: Heath Associated Settlement Type

Baddesley Common: Heath Associated Settlement Type

Crampmoor Heath Associated Settlement Type

Traditional styles of built form include brick walls with clay tile roofs and clay tile hanging, with older properties of brick with thatched roofs.

Community Perceptions

There is a good general awareness and pride in the history of this area with strong connections with Romsey but also a feeling that Romsey has reached the limit of its expansion. There is a perception of a lack of opportunity to access the countryside in the area with some support for a country park and management of woodlands for quiet recreation.

Emer Bog is noted as an important area of boggy lowland heath. This area, along with other areas of wetland, is valued as open land and is seen to have the potential to be enhanced through heathland habitat creation.

Remoteness and Tranquillity

Due to the lack of woodland cover and any substantial hedgerows, many parts of Romsey are visible to the surrounding landscape. Due to the proximity to Romsey and the number of roads which radiate from the town there is little sense of seclusion or tranqullity.

Key Characteristics

A mix of landuses, some suburban others rural

Mixed farmland

Views to the settlement of Romsey

Roads with scattered ribbon development

Poor sense of seclusion or tranquillity

Hedgerows are an local important feature but their quality is very variable sometimes resulting in large open areas

A number of streams with stream fed lakes

Patches of lowland heath and valley wetlands

Parliamentary field enclosure, generally close to Clay River Valley Settlement type and to the river valleys themselves

On the higher ground evidence remains of the previously wooded environment with narrow discrete roads and tracks, assarted fields and successive replanting of the forest

Ancient semi-natural woodland linked by hedgerows.

Local Natural and Cultural Landscape Issues

Potential erosion of the surrounding historic landscape and remaining wetlands arising from further development extending from Romsey into the Crampmoor area or from North Baddesley

Further loss or damage to local wetland heath areas.

Designations

Nature Conservation

SSSI / SAC

Baddesley Common - Complex mosaic of habitats including broadleaved woodland, dry heath, unimproved grassland, bracken, coniferous plantation, marshy grassland and a pond.

SINC

48 SINCs, mainly ancient semi-natural woodlands, other woodlands and agriculturally unimproved grasslands; also some heathland remnants, wet flushes, scrub and sites which support notable species

Volume 2: LCA3A Strategies and Guidelines