LCT6 Enclosed Chalk and Clay Woodland
General Description
The Enclosed Chalk and Clay Woodland landscape character type consists of woodland with associated fields which are predominantly arable, but mixed in size ranging from large to small scale. Smaller fields of pasture are found adjacent to settlements and areas of steep gradients. The fields have a strong hedgerow structure, which is more intact than the Open Chalklands LCT 10.
A feature of this landscape is the dramatic scarps, with rounded tops and gentle dipslopes. These scarps generally encircle valleys or overlook more extensive vales. Their steep topography makes arable farming difficult so most commonly they are either grazed by sheep or are left to develop as woodland and rarely have roads or settlements associated with them. The scarps are popular for recreation, due to the dramatic landscape and opportunity to gain panoramic views.
There are numerous historic parks and designed landscapes, many originating as medieval deer parks. Small villages nestle within sheltered valleys with widespread scattered farmsteads and hamlets and an intricate network of rural lanes overhung by deep grassy banks and woodland.
Location
The landscape character type is found across the Borough north of a line from West Tytherley to Michelmersh. It is closely associated with the Open Chalklands and together with LCT7 forms a distinctive transition landscape between the predominantly chalk upland and clay lowlands of LCT3, 8 and 9.
The Chalk and Clay Enclosed Woodland landscape is divided into several character areas. These comprise:
LCA 6A: Norman Court Wooded Downs
LCA 6B: Compton with Parnholt and Michelmersh Woods
LCA 6C: Little Somborne Wooded Downs
LCA 6D: Harewood Forest Wooded Downs
Physical Influences
Geology and Soils: Upper Chalk, distinguished by a thick capping of clay with flint. The reddish brown clay creates heavier sticky loams in comparison with the light, freely draining, calcareous soils found on the chalk.
Landform: This landscape type covers a wide topographical range from 30m to 240m. It has a more undulating topography than Enclosed Clay Plateau, Semi Enclosed Clay Plateau and Open Arable, with some parts exhibiting ridge and valley landforms, dry valleys, coombs and scarps within the overall undulating, rolling landscape. Very long views are limited due to the high percentage of woodland.
Drainage: Due to the pervious nature of the chalk there is no evidence of surface waterbodies.
Biodiversity and Vegetation Pattern
This landscape has some open arable areas but has a strong pattern of woodland and hedgerows. The hedgerow structure is relatively intact and links with areas of ancient semi-natural woodland. The woodlands vary from small copses and game spinneys to shelter belts and larger woodlands. Most of the ancient semi-natural woodlands are dominated by Oak or Ash. The presence of Oak indicating the more acidic nature of the soils. Most important trees include Yew, Holly, Whitebeam and Hazel. Small pockets of unimproved calcareous grassland, of great conservation value, occur in places.
Notable habitats
Unimproved and semi-improved calcareous grassland
Historical Influences
The Enclosed Chalk and Clay Woodland demonstrates a cross section of an historic environment captured in a state of change. This landscape contains varying degrees of later post-medieval parliamentary field systems and a series of larger and more modern prairie fields which represent the introduction of an increasingly mechanized state of farming during the 20th and into the 21st centuries. The later and clearly surveyed parliamentary field systems and their subsequent but more sporadic opening up into larger prairie fields removed what appear to have been extensive elements of large assarted fields. These assarted fields occur on the upland slopes of this landscape character type and, given the size and shape of their boundaries most probably represent eighteenth and early nineteenth century assarting of upland woodland.
Extensive elements of woodland displaying both pre and post-1810 elements survive particularly upon the upland areas of Enclosed Chalk and Clay Woodland.
Settlement Pattern
Substantial and formal settlements are missing from Enclosed Chalk and Clay Woodlands. Where assarted field systems or woodland survive to any extent there remains a scattered number of farmsteads dotted around the landscape in relative proximity to each other. Where parliamentary field systems and later prairie fields have any replaced evidence of assarting, the farmsteads are more widely spaced.
Communication Network
Narrow, winding roads extend throughout this Landscape Character Type and appear to retain their medieval or early post-medieval character. These routes generally move between the higher forested and assarted upland areas down towards the lowland areas.
Key Natural and Cultural Landscape Issues
Erosion arising from access to viewpoints on, or close to, fragile areas of grassland
Maintenance of public rights of way
Appropriate management of woodland
Maintenance of Parkland
Maintenance of the intimate winding rural lanes with a good sense of tranquillity and remoteness
Impact of traffic on the tranquil and remote character
Loss of chalk downland to arable or scrub encroachment
Lack of coppice management leading to a reduction of specialised species such as butterflies
Isolation of small patches of habitat
Hedgerow fragmentation and loss
Declining farmland bird populations
Loss of unimproved mesotrophic grassland to arable or through application of fertilisers
Management of local woodlands for commercial game shooting.