LCA2B North Baddesley to Chilworth Woodland Mosaic

Landscape Strategy and Guidelines

North Baddesley to Chilworth Woodland Mosaic retains strong elements of its wooded character and patches of heathland but these are being eroded. The area is also at risk from the cumulative effects of urban fringe facilities. The overall strategy is therefore to restore a dominant wooded and heathland character to the North Baddesley to Chilworth Woodland Mosaic through the conservation of existing habitats and new landscape opportunities.

Land Management

Landscape Distinctiveness

Maintain the present balance of urban and rural land use and vegetation pattern in the area

Agriculture

Encourage the reversion of arable land to woodland pasture

Maintain existing pattern of assarting in the north of the area

Hedgerows

Restore the continuity and quality of field hedgerows

New boundary hedgerows to be planted using locally native species

Woodland and Trees

Maintain and strengthen existing woodland cover, particularly east and north of the M27 and M271

Avoid replacement of open land with plantation

Woodland management and new woodlands to be planted with locally native species

Biodiversity

Conserve and enhance remnant heathland and unimproved grassland

Seek opportunities to link existing woodland and heathland through habitat restoration

Historic Landscapes

Identify and seek opportunities to restore historic landscapes

Urban Fringe

Avoid deterioration in the urban fringe landscape arising from poor design and intrusive development

Improve management of the landscape around settlements

Land Use and Development

Built Development

Maintain the wooded separation of areas of residential development

Avoid loss of separate identity of well defined settlements through coalescence and homogeneous design

New development to be contained within a wooded or treed setting

Infrastructure

Protect the area from further noise and visual intrusion from the M27 and its infrastructure

Avoid increased suburbanisation arising from introduction of highway measures which conflict with the predominant rural character

Telecommunications and other high structures to be sited to take advantage of woodland screening

Seek opportunity to reduce visual fragmentation by placing electricity cables underground

Recreation, Tourism and Access

Minimise the impact of golf course construction and maintenance through locally appropriate planting, and avoid damage to remnant heathland

Encourage management of woodlands for public access

Volume 1: LCA2B Landscape Character Types and Areas