LCA4B Michelmersh To Ampfield Wooded Farmland
Landscape Strategy and Guidelines
There is a delicate balance between the existing settlement pattern and the surrounding landscape, which is much valued at present. The overall strategy is therefore to conserve the existing settlement and landscape pattern of Michelmersh to Ampfield Wooded Farmland.
Land Management
Landscape Distinctiveness
Maintain the distinctive character of each settlement and its surrounding field pattern
Protect existing levels of tranquillity
Agriculture
Maintain existing field pattern and hedgerows
Encourage reversion of arable fields to pasture
Hedgerows
Encourage the replanting of former hedgerow boundaries and the better management of existing hedgerows
Woodland and Trees
Encourage woodland planting, especially along the southern boundary to link in with Sir Harold Hilliers Arboretum and Ampfield Wood
Maintain the existing historic woodland pattern and composition
Encourage the regeneration of young hedgerow trees
Biodiversity
Conserve and enhance remnant heathland and unimproved meadow and grassland
Protect watercourses and associated mires and ponds
Maintain and enhance valued habitats on disturbed ground as at Casbrook Common
Historic Landscapes
Respect the landscape setting to Sir Harold Hilliers Garden and Arboretum
Urban Fringe
Protect the area from intrusive elements in association with the urban fringe of Romsey
Land Use and Development
Built Developments
Maintain and enhance the existing quality of the landscape buffers between the existing settlements
Protect the area from suburbanising influences and inappropriate landscaping and infrastructure design
Seek opportunities to mitigate intrusive elements in the landscape through appropriate landscape treatment
Infrastructure
Avoid suburbanisation arising from introduction of inappropriate highway measures
Recreation, Tourism and Access
Encourage management of woodlands for public access
Minerals and Waste
Encourage replanting of existing minerals sites to create new woodland in keeping with the local landscape pattern