Landscape type: Character areas: Rolling Wooded Pasture Lulworth Wooded Pasture Rempstone Wooded Pasture The rolling wooded pasture landscape type is found around the margins of the Dorset Heaths. Although landcover varies, the areas are unified by remnant heathy patches within a well wooded landscape of pastures and dense hedgerows, shaping an intimate and rural landscape. Rempstone has a more agricultural character whilst towards Lulworth, the area has strong parkland character. Landscape change Policy driven farming changes over the last sixty years have resulted in the concentration of stock levels. This limits the availability of livestock to graze land of low agricultural, but high environmental value such as rough pastures. Some loss of hedgerow boundaries and particularly mature hedgerow trees. Loss of mature elms in 1970 s. Intensification in farming leading to drainage and improvement of permanent pastures. Historical planting of conifer plantations on heathland habitats. Traditional agricultural areas are likely to diversify, resulting in the conversion of agricultural buildings to residential or tourism uses and the establishment of secondary enterprises. Limited pressure for further expansion of settlement and new development threatening the character of the small villages and scattered farmsteads. Increasing road and military use could further diminish the rural tranquillity of the landscape. Pressure to upgrade roads through additional kerbing and signage to accommodate an increase in farm traffic size. Coppice management is economically unviable in many woodlands. Landscape Guidelines The overall objective is to conserve the diverse intimate wooded pastoral character. Conserve features such as woodland blocks, dense hedgerows and the presence of scattered trees. Enhancement of many key features, such as the hedgerows and characteristic rural winding lanes is also required to enhance the sense of continuity across the landscape. Planning guidelines Ensure pylons, masts and other vertical elements are carefully sited and the number restricted to avoid visual clutter and further interruption of the characteristic open views. Encourage the under-grounding of small powerlines in open, sensitive locations. Ensure new agricultural dwellings and barns enhance the local character and are sited away from open views and skylines. Encourage the restoration of traditional barns and farm buildings. Promote the use of locally sourced stone in new developments. Any planting should reflect local character, using appropriate native species. Conserve the dispersed settlement patterns and avoid further intrusive development in open locations. Conserve the character of rural lanes and features such as finger posts and street furniture. Remove excessive signage and seek alternatives to infrastructure associated with urban development and out of scale traffic management schemes. Protect important views of the surrounding open heathlands and views towards the Purbeck Ridge. Ensure farm diversification projects do not have a negative impact of local character. Management guidelines Replant species rich hedgerow sections where lost and avoid use of post and wire. Enhance woodland management, particularly restoration of coppice, with small scale planting to connect existing woodlands and plant further scattered trees. Further conifer planting is not an objective. Restore important patches of heathland through phased conifer felling and introduce grazing regimes to prevent further scrub encroachment. Conserve the pattern of enclosed woodlands and open pastures. Enhance management of permanent grassland to prevent loss to agricultural improvement and damage to wildlife and archaeological features. Enhance management of arable farmland to create a wildlife-rich habitat supporting farmland birds. This will include retaining areas of fallow land, maintaining an unploughed margin around fields and the introduction of conservation headlands. Reduce the intensity of farming practices around important sensitive habitats. Protect hedge banks and replant hedgerow trees.
The overall objective is to conserve the diverse intimate wooded pastoral character. The key features that unify the landscape must be conserved such as the woodland blocks, dense hedgerows and the presence of scattered trees. Enhancement of many key features, such as the hedgerows and characteristic rural winding lanes is also required to enhance the sense of continuity across the landscape. Enhance woodland management, particularly restoration of coppice, with small scale planting to connect existing woodlands and plant further scattered trees. Further conifer planting is not an objective. Restore important patches of heathland through phased conifer felling and introduce grazing regimes to prevent further scrub encroachment. Enhance management of arable farmland and reduce the intensity of farming practices around important sensitive habitats. Protect important views of the surrounding open heathlands and views towards the Purbeck Ridge. Replant species rich hedgerow sections where lost and prevent use of post and wire. 71 Rolling Wooded Pasture Conserve the dispersed settlement patterns and avoid further intrusive development in open locations. Protect hedge banks and replant hedgerow trees. Conserve the pattern of enclosed woodlands and open pastures. Enhance management of permanent grassland to prevent loss to agricultural improvement and damage to wildlife and archaeological features. Conserve the intimate character of rural lanes and features such as finger posts and street furniture.
Character Area: Lulworth Wooded Pasture Lulworth Park has a mixed character but is dominated by an intimate parkland landscape and castle set within low rolling hills. With many woodland blocks and fine stands of veteran trees, it has a sense of harmony and enclosure. Nucleated settlements are well situated within the pastoral landscape of woodlands and trees. The army ranges to the south also influence the landscape where it becomes more open in character. There is a gradual transition to the chalk landscapes to the east with a more abrupt transition to West Holme Heath. The western part has a more bleak appearance with the arable chalk landscapes and the unscreened Lulworth Camp. It is influenced by the chalk ridge to the south with a gradual transition to heathland and scrub towards the west. Isolated farmsteads are scattered within medium sized rectangular fields with narrow winding lanes. Key characteristics Mosaic of pastures, woodland blocks and dense hedgerows with trees Dense small oak, ash and birch woodlands and hazel coppice Small patches of unimproved neutral and acidic wet grasslands and heathy patches Low rolling hills with an intimate and enclosed character Several small villages with winding lanes Extensive sweeping parkland landscape and castle with veteran trees and parkland railings Occasional barrows and traces of prehistoric field patterns
Description Land shape & structure The landscape is set around a gently rolling terrain with soft London clay and Poole formations of sedimentary origin. This contrasts to the surrounding open heathlands, chalk uplands and the imposing Purbeck Ridge. Soils and vegetation In the west, deep loamy soils support neutral damp grassland habitats. Towards the east, the ground is light and shallow, with sandy and acid brown soils supporting occasional vegetation of dry acidic grassland and heath with gorse and bracken. Settlement and land cover The parkland landscape around Lulworth with MOD land use to the west dominates the landcover of the area. It is a settled rural landscape with discreet settlements of small villages set within a mixed farmed landscape. It is a well wooded area with plantations, ancient woodlands and dense hedgerows with trees. Historic character The historic character is dominated by the landscaped park at Lulworth along with surrounding military use. The landscape is heavily influenced by large areas of recent coniferous plantation and modern planned clearance. Modern settlements in this area are at least Medieval in origin with traces of medieval open field systems. The earthwork remains of East Lulworth survive within the landscaped park around Lulworth Castle. Evidence of activity from earlier periods tends to be rather fragmentary and somewhat obscured by modern farming practices. However, a number of barrows, traces of extensive prehistoric field systems and settlements show that this area was as densely farmed as were other areas to the east. These features are best preserved in the military ranges in the southern part of this area. The extensive prehistoric field systems have been reduced in modern times to soil marks or very shallow or fragmented earthworks. We might expect to find them preserved within modern field banks (where these exist) or in areas of older woodland. Military archaeological remains are a dominant feature in the southern part of this area. Visual character & perceptions The diverse structure of vegetation shapes an enclosed landscape with an intimate character. The parkland landscape around Lulworth has a grander scale with long views and vistas. The extensive military use in the west tends to have a bleak visual appearance. Evaluation Strength of character The landscape is judged to have a medium strength of character. The largely undeveloped character and parkland landcover has helped to conserve patterns of landscape features. The gently rolling landform with a farmed wooded character creates a variety of viewing experiences and an enclosed sense of place. The extensive parkland landscape around Lulworth ensures the survival and good management of landscape features. Although complex and varied, the area has a consistent pattern of rough pastures, dense hedgerows wooded hillsides, nucleated settlement patterns, and winding lanes. Recent conifer planting and military development does detract from the more inherent characteristics. Condition With occasional small nucleated villages, visual unity is afforded by the parkland estate character. Although this landscape is actively farmed, and therefore managed, the intensive farming methods mean that landscape features have declined. For example, hedgerows are sometimes fragmented, gappy or overmanaged with post and wire fencing often acting as infill where hedgerow sections have been lost. However, the intensively farmed nature of the landscape also means that there are few areas of under-used or derelict land. Towards the west, the area is in good condition due to parkland estate management whilst the impact of military activity affects the tranquillity of the area. Overall landscape condition is moderate and stable. 73 Lulworth Wooded Pasture
Character Area: Rempstone Wooded Pasture Although less wooded than Lulworth Park, the area is characterised by a strong pattern of pastures, small broadleaved woodlands and mature hedgerows with hedgerow trees on gently rolling terrain. It is heavily influenced by the imposing Purbeck Ridge to the south with a gradual transition of heathland scrub towards the conifer plantations of Newton and Rempstone Heath in the north. Isolated farmsteads are scattered within medium sized regular fields around narrow winding lanes. Structured vegetation and rolling pastures, occasional glimpses of Corfe Castle and heathlands to the north all add interest to this farmed landscape. Key characteristics Low rolling hills with an intimate mosaic of pastures, woodland and dense hedgerows with trees Dense small oak, ash and birch woodlands and hazel coppice Small patches of unimproved neutral and acidic marshy grasslands Small deciduous woodland blocks of oak and hazel coppice Occasional patches of heathy scrub and bracken Scattered farmsteads of local stone along winding lanes with hedgebanks
Description Land shape & structure The landscape is set around a gently rolling terrain with soft London clay and Poole formation of sedimentary origin. The area is dominated by the imposing Purbeck Ridge to the south opening to the flat heathlands in the north. Soils and vegetation In the east, deep loamy soils support neutral damp grassland habitats. Towards the south and west, the ground is light and shallow, with sandy and impoverished soils. Typical vegetation is dry acidic grassland and heath with associated habitats, gorse and bracken. Settlement and land cover It is a sparsely settled rural landscape characterised by occasional rural dwellings connected by winding lanes. Landcover is largely pastoral with small woodlands of oak and hazel. Historic character The area has a mixed character of planned regular and piecemeal enclosures. There is a prevailing heathland character as described elsewhere but with more pronounced Medieval farmsteads such as Brenscombe, Rollington and Kingswood. A massive Iron Age/Romano-British industrial complex has been recorded at Norden and a number of settlements and industrial sites on a smaller scale are recorded in this area. Visual character & perceptions With a rolling landform, the structured pattern of vegetation and enclosures provides an often intimate character when compared to the surrounding open heathlands and ridge. The small dark broadleaved woodlands contrast with heathy patches and rough pastures. Occasional glimpses of Corfe Castle and Poole Harbour add to the variety of viewing experience. Evaluation Strength of character This is a landscape judged to have a strong character. The area has a consistent pattern of rough pastures, dense hedgerows with trees and small woodland blocks with occasional settlement and farmsteads along rural winding lanes. Occasional tourism based development sometimes detracts from the rural character. Condition The landscape is actively farmed, and therefore managed, with few landscape features in decline and areas of under-used or derelict land. For example, dense hedgerows are mostly intact, connecting small patches of broadleaved woodland. However, due to the farmed nature of the landscape, few areas of semi natural habitat, particularly heathland, remain. Where this once existed, areas of conifer plantation have been planted with some negative visual impact. This landscape is largely agricultural with occasional small nucleated farmsteads offering a high quality built environment of local stone. Visual unity is afforded by a rolling patchwork of pastures. Overall landscape condition is good and stable. 75 Rempstone Wooded Pasture