Summary Conclusion on Method of Approach
To record the perceptions and values that members of the local community attach to their landscape.
The methodology enabled the recording of perceptions and values held by the local communities both at an early stage of the process, uninformed by any aspect of the landscape character assessment process, and mid-way through the project when the participants had a better understanding of the landscape character assessment process. It was found that as new information was acquired, people’s values did not change but the knowledge gained did enable them to articulate their opinions better. Where perceptions did change, this was because they had been based on a lack of knowledge or a more narrow view. The process helped to point out features that were intrinsic to the local landscape and often taken for granted, only being missed once they were lost. Local distinctiveness was valued by all.
The perceptions and values the participants attached to the Test Valley landscape varied from a general attachment to the wider area and characteristics, features such as the riverside pubs, good fishing opportunities, to detailed knowledge of a very localised area, where small changes mattered, such as the demolition of an old wall, changes in water levels in the streams. Few regarded the borough of Test Valley as a landscape entity. Most participants considered that the landscape of Test Valley merged with adjacent landscapes (the New Forest, the Downs) but all valued the Test Valley for its landscape, and its natural and historic interest. They were however concerned that they had little or no control over the rural environment; that it was ill managed and untidy and that in part they were unwelcome. The more rural dwellers felt threatened by ever expanding features of urban life.
The participants expressed their view that it was important to involve local people in the process, not only as they know and understand their area well but they have strong views on the issues affecting their area. They felt that the process should not be the preserve of professionals and special interest groups.
a) Views from the Initial Focus Group Meetings
Above all, the greatest overall impression is that the local communities find the countryside within which they lived unspoilt, rich and tranquil, even ‘superb’, with ‘lovely places to go’. The variety of the landscape is notable with particular importance attached to the ‘New Forest’ part of the Borough, the open aspects of the downs, the lush farmland and river of the Test Valley and the tributaries with wooded valleys. Few unattractive elements are mentioned except for the quarries along the river valley sides.
The River Test is generally considered the borough’s greatest asset:
‘The Test is a chalk trout stream, one of the best in the world.’
‘If Test Valley is going to be defined the river must define it, because although there is chalk and wetlands and various styles of country in between, the basic description, the thing that makes it, is the river.’
‘The river goes right the way through it, and is the main feature. The quality of that river, there are very few rivers in the country of that standard. It is a very clean river. It is full of fish. You can really enjoy yourself there and appreciate the beauty of it round here. I think that is the central attraction of it.’
The Test Valley Borough landscape is not considered to have a strong identity, although many recognise that the north differs from the south and that the River Test Valley defines and links the Borough. It is recognised that parts of the south lay within, or were similar to, the New Forest. Otherwise the landscape has little in common with its neighbours such as the Wiltshire Downs (referred to as the Salisbury Downs). Local people seem generally unaware of the special wildlife habitats of the Borough but value what they see. The decline in some species, mostly birds, and the rise in others such as deer and pheasants (perhaps from a decline in hunting) is however noticed.
Access to the Test Valley countryside is a particular issue, with many people commenting on lack of footpaths, car parks serving accessible areas, information about the area and areas where the public are welcomed. Some residents would like to see more country parks. As a result few feel that the countryside plays a significant role in their lives. Many find woodland more attractive to walk in, compared to the openness of the downs. The north is considered better served than the south, except for within the New Forest.
‘I wouldn’t particularly know of the different kinds of landscape out there because I haven’t been given the access’.
It is not thought that the landscape has a strong historical tradition, with the notable exception of Romsey (‘steeped in history’), the River Test trout fisheries, Danebury Hill Fort, historic houses in the south and the typical thatch, flint and red brick buildings. Andover is perceived as all new and unrelated to the history of the rest of the borough.
The greatest source of change is seen to be:
Alterations in farming practice, in particular loss of pasture and farm buildings, poor maintenance of hedgerows (hedge cutting is a big issue) and ditches, the creation of larger fields and introduction of large areas of single crops
Changes in farming management are blamed for increased flooding, loss of wildlife, increased polluted watercourses
The over expansion of urban areas (in particular Andover) and loss of traditional local ways of looking after the landscape
The increase in golf courses and equestrian activity
Changing social structure resulting in alterations to the built form of the villages and heavier traffic
The expansion of Andover is a key concern of the north Test Valley residents. As one resident puts it:
‘The farming community used to be very widespread. The town (Andover) has scattered it all, because you started off with a small town, and then it started going out like a spider’s legs, and those legs have now got fatter and fatter, so the farming communities around have got thinner and thinner’.
In contrast the small ‘sleepy’ villages around Andover with their traditional thatched dwellings are ‘much valued’.
There is no particular perception that any one area is more in need of protection than another: all green rural areas and their villages are worth protecting. Many see farmers as the guardians of the countryside and the character of the landscape and therefore both the credit and criticisms are accredited to the farming community. Little mention is made of the role of the local authorities or environmental groups. There is more interest in the conservation of the existing landscape than in creating new landscapes, and in fact there is some criticism of ‘excessive and artificial landscaping’ as a part of new developments.
‘If we can keep farming then we’ll maintain this scenery’.
b) Summary of Views from the Workshop
The following cover the more general views expressed at the workshop. Particular comments on the landscape character types and character areas have been included under the Community Perceptions in the Test Valley Community Landscape Project: Landscape Character Assessment. March 2004. The main themes have been picked out from the contents of the transcripts.
Purpose of the Study: there was concern about the purpose of the study and whether the participants were wasting their time. For example:
‘Maybe the outcome of this should be made much clearer and much earlier on for the people that are involved in it. So you don’t feel kept in the dark.’
‘We were a bit suspicious because we thought it was to do with planning’. ‘Yes we thought there was a conspiracy, I am not totally unconvinced that there is not.’ ‘If you are being really cynical you could say - well have they just done this so that they can say that they are just asking the people what they wanted but they don’t take any notice’.
‘Will it make a difference; hopefully someone is not just going through the motions to say they have done it. But if they are actually going to somewhere or other, put this into documentation, and then in other areas, such as the planning department, they will make reference to it. Therefore it will be a completely useful document.’ ‘There is one good thing, doing something is better than doing nothing.’ ‘I would like to see this go all the way, where it is a document and it is referred to.’
Change: many were well informed of the causes of change and saw the process as long term. For example:
‘You have to remember that for the last 2,000 years people have been trying to get their living off these downs. If you are going to fossilise it and say it has got to be a museum, it has got to be done through (farmers) because he didn’t push hedges out for nothing. He did it for a sane reason’. ‘I think commercial farming in five years time won’t exist myself, what we are talking about putting the hedges back will probably enhance the fields and they will be more sympathetic to people riding horses, more walking and tourism, that is what it is going to be.’
‘This (demand for irrigation) comes back to our business of hill water, taking out so much water from the aquifers that the land is becoming drier and I think possibly in the near future it is going to be an issue because arable land will no longer be arable because it will be dry.’ ‘Because the water table (is) being lowered by this constant withdrawal of this water for commercial purposes’.
‘Overall the whole area of the southern area is at risk from people who either want to dig holes in it or build houses on it’. ‘You find yourself in a village and come back in 10 years time you find yourself in a town.’
‘There was a lot of talk about keeping things the way they are, which is very important. But we are actually going to have to have to think about how things are going to change. Not necessarily just about how to keep things the way they are’.
Hedgerows: views varied on the main causes of damage. For example:
‘But I think also too that the hedgerows now are gradually being ripped up to let farmers make the fields bigger so they can use the huge implements they use.’ ‘I think that has slowed down. There are grants and things flying around. Ashley is a big sheeping estate and I know he has got a lot of hedge covering.’ ‘They have got to be maintained as well, that is the problem. They go and plant them and then they are totally ignored because of the busy times. So they just disintegrate.’ ‘There is a wonderful piece of proper hedge laying that someone has done just down Foxes Lane in Wellow. I would love to say – could we not support farmers doing that.’ ‘Poor quality hedgerows is important, in particular quite a number of the verge side hedgerow are the responsibility of the highways authority who are being singularly remiss in that respect.’
Woodland: when asked about the priority for woodlands:
‘Moving away from the pine to the more traditional English trees.’ ‘Changing the character of the woodland is one of the aspects and improving access.’ ‘But a wood is no use to anyone unless it has open space in it because it is very devoid, it is the change in the land/woodland that makes the environment interesting and diversified.’ ‘So it is all very well having woodland but you need to keep some open spaces as well and to use it usefully.’
‘There needs to be some kind of woodland management, other than just leave it until it falls down.’ ‘I think if you manage an area correctly and enhance it in the way you can make it accessible to people. It is also going to have the side effect that there will be less vandalism because people will see it.’
Fields: there was importance attached to local history. For example:
‘I don’t know if you are aware of it but in this area all the fields from the original estate will have their own names and now suddenly the hedges are ripped out and what would have been three or four fields is now one field.’ ‘The farmer who managed the land would have his map with all the names of the fields on his map.’ ‘These downs never were fenced and when they were fenced they were always as large fields. I don’t think on a lot of these downs there were hedges. The sheep went out there for miles.’
Heathland: perceptions varied as to what constituted heathland. For example:
‘If someone said ‘heathland’ to me I would think of where heather grows. We don’t have heather so much.’ The heath is growing this year where there has been less stocking let at it and the gorse has been cut.’ ‘There has been so little gorse cutting in the past few years the gorse is very intrusive.’ ‘If they do less grazing then the heather will come back.’ ‘I think I would agree that normally with heathland it is associated with Scots pine.’
MOD land: there were many concerns. For example:
‘Air fields at Middle Wallop. There is never a dark night up there, the light pollution in the village from the camp.’ ‘They don’t need to have their lights going up as well as down’. ‘The openness around Danebury Ring is essential; the last thing you want to see is the airfield slowly encroaching its way towards Danebury Ring.’
‘The MOD rifle range at Barton Stacey has a huge impact on the visual environment. It has these huge butts that they shoot at.’ ‘It is pretty well camouflaged, unless you are looking for it.’ ‘If you go along the A30 it stands out quite well, they use it a lot and the noise factor is quite high.’ ‘All around Shipton is the tank training area. So it is a huge impact.’
Minerals and Waste: proper restoration of these sites was a key issue: For example:
‘Restoring the mineral extraction I think is most important.’ ‘I do feel that the restoration of minerals and waste sites is important. We don’t want any more.’
Natural beauty: the report was criticised for the lack of reference to the beauty of the area. For example:
‘It (the study) doesn’t say how beautiful it (the Test Valley) is, it is all quite negative.’ In response to the question ‘Does the beauty of this countryside come out in this document?’ ‘No’. ‘Hardly anything is said.’
Terminology: this was generally a problem. For example:
‘Intrusion out, enrichment out and also a plea for intimate out. It is a technical term’. A debate on the meaning of secluded/remote: ‘It is secluded’. ‘No, I don’t think it is, if I lived there I wouldn’t say I live in Mottisfont, it is remote.’ ‘It is secluded, it is not remote.’ ‘I wouldn’t say Mottisfont is secluded.’ ‘I would.’ ‘Parts of the Tytherley’s feel is very secluded.’ ‘It is a proper rural landscape.’ ‘Rural, yes, definitely, more rural than remote.’