Landscape Assessment

WHAT MATTERS MOST IN OUR  COUNTRYSIDE.
 Landscape Assessment and Footpaths report


In 2003 the Parish Council commissioned a most comprehensive questionnaire which resulted in the publications in 2005 of TWO beautifully presented new documents  The Village Design Statement and the Parish Plan which are available to view on the Parish Council website.  For the Landscape Assessment the Group has relied heavily on the Village Design Statement which is still completely relevant, apart from the fact that Stoke no longer has a Settlement Policy Boundary, this was removed in 2006 as the hamlet was deemed to not have an facilities and was therefore in effect subject to Open Countryside regulations. 

St Mary Bourne Village Design Statement 2005

Landscape Assessment – A Summary.

Together with the more dominant  village of St.Mary Bourne the parish consists of the smaller village of Stoke and the hamlets of Binley, Egbury, Upper,Middle and Lower Wyke and Wadwick. The old hamlet of Swampton, close by the village school, has been incorporated into St Mary Bourne as has the area known as ‘The Link’ stretching out to the south and bordering Hurstbourne Priors.

The Bourne Rivulet physically divides the Parish running north west to south east. It is a winter bourne, fed by natural springs, and is a tributary to The Test.

The landscape of the area is influenced by centuries of farming activity. For the purposes of the Landscape Assessment, four circular walks were chosen as a fair representation of the countryside, the vistas and outdoor access that the Parish has to offer. Well attended by villagers, these exploratory walks took place at various times and days during the month of October (2013). On all four walks the weather was fine. On these walks  flora, fauna and wildlife were noted . From open countryside to wooded areas particular attention was taken to the quality of sightlines and landscape.

FOUR WALKS AND SOME CONCLUSIONS.

It was acknowledged, by all who participated in these walks, that we were indeed fortunate to have such beautiful countryside on our doorstep.  Countryside that can be accessed with minimal effort.  by casual strollers, serious walkers, runners, hashers, cyclists, horse riders, bird watchers or anyone who enjoys the natural environment. Those with mobility difficulties can also, with our network of country lanes, drive and park to enjoy the serenity and panoramic views over the valley.

Preserving scenic views and sightlines was a major consideration regarding future planning development.

Even the less tangible ‘sensual values’  that mark out the countryside ‘difference’, such as smells and sounds were noted.

Mention was made of how easy it is to observe starry night skies in St Mary Bourne, thanks to the lack of unnecessary light pollution. It is not unusual in the village to hear owls hooting at night (owl boxes have been established in and around St Mary Bourne) and it was assumed that a serious dark skies policy added to this enrichment of the rural environment.

What was clearly evident in our walks was the value of hedges for wildlife and pollinating insects. It is vital that hedging care and new or replacement hedging should be actively encouraged. The planting of woody species for hedges such as blackthorn, hawthorn or spindle is part of the natural

ecology of the area as is the encouragement of oak, ash, beech and hornbeam tree planting. Trees and hedges on hill ridges have been found to assist the problems of rainfall erosion and the high water table that affects valleys like ours.

In all, what we have observed on these walks are types of priority habitats identified under the UK Biodiversity Plan. Lowlands and mixed deciduous woodland, floodplain grazing (either side of the Bourne and North West of Stoke and south east of St Mary Bourne) and lowland dry acid grassland (Stoke Hill Farm, Stoke Down, Binley Bottom, Haven Hill and Juniper Rough).

THE YOUNG HAVE THEIR SAY.

Local children from the School together with its well supported and active School Eco Council were keen and vocal about what they liked, disliked and wanted in their St. Mary Bourne.

The School Eco Council children were receptive to preserving the environment and wildlife. They enjoyed seeing the wild birds in their gardens and many from the School Eco Council collected flowers and checked them into flower books.

They were ‘hedgehog aware’ and excited by seeing deer roaming free. Many wanted to do a survey of wild animals in the Parish countryside and know more about them.

Nettles and overgrown pathways were mentioned as was the presence of ‘dog poo’. Rabbits and the ragwort problem were also observed.

Access to the Lake and a weed free Bourne in which to play were requested – ‘just to sit there, feed the ducks or picnic’. The annual ‘duck race’ in support of the village shop, was a popular event with them.

The children ‘liked the village because it wasn’t too big’. It was quiet and they liked walking across the fields, walking their dogs, enjoying the views and playing amongst the trees.

In particular they liked the recreation ground because they felt it was safe. Although they liked the playground they felt there was not enough equipment. There was a lot of space but what was on offer was a bit ‘safe’ and not challenging enough, The tennis court was ‘boring’. Opinion was split 50/50 on a skate park as many thought it might be dominated by older children and destroy the atmosphere. Tyre swings on trees would be a good idea.

The older children had their likes and dislikes. They liked the countryside views (especially from the top of Baptist Hill) as well as the lake and the Bourne Rivulet. One requested a ‘watch tower or tree house’ from which to admire the surrounding countryside.

As for paths and access there was a suggestion of ‘nice wide footpaths for BMX and smaller paths for elderly people’. Some believed there were enough paths, others wanted more (‘where you can ride your horse’). Cycling was a major consideration for a number of the younger people.

There was a call for increasing the wildlife with the provision of more ‘habitats’. One respondent was worried by ‘horse poo’ on the roads. Another favoured more ‘working farms’.

‘We used to play at the Ford and under the little bridge there – pooh sticks’ said one young person.

More lakes, clean lakes and an open air pool were amongst the comments. The lack of fishing opportunities was also mentioned.

There was an objection to tree felling and a suggestion for every tree cut down two should be planted. More conker trees, more trees to climb were required. Blackberrying was favoured.

‘I think we should be more aware of the history of the village’ said one young person. ‘I don’t know much about the history but the church is amazing’ said another. Although they appreciated ‘old buildings and old footpaths’ they admitted not knowing much detailed history of the locality but thought it important. ‘Need SMB to be famous throughout the world!’

Asked about dark skies there were plenty of views expressed.  ‘I think we should have some more street lights in Egbury Road’. ‘If we have too many lights it will stop us from seeing the stars which are lovely!’ ‘The rec’ (recreation ground) to have flood lights with day light (?) sensors’. ‘No light pollution, no street lights, clear sky’

When asked ‘what they valued the most?’  Many agreed that ‘the village shop is very child friendly’.

The friendliness of people scored high with a large number of the younger people,’ people know each other’. High on the list was open spaces and the countryside. The absence of traffic jams, the rec’ (recreation ground) and the Cricket Club also received a mention.

As for what wasn’t liked opinion varied widely from the ‘smell’ at muck spreading time to ‘so many lorries and speeding cars’ to ‘the lack of a bus service for going to visit friends’. A repeated dislike of stinging nettles was balanced by an appeal for more leisure activities, more things to do and more opportunities to meet people.

Actively caring for their countryside.

One of the outcomes of this Landscape Assessment was to experience at first hand the enthusiasm of both young and old for the rural environment, ecology and wildlife surrounding them. These are people who sincerely care to cherish the natural habitat and heritage of the village. They are also realists and flexible enough to embrace change  and integrate those things that will safeguard and sustain the character and uniqueness of this living, thriving rural Parish of St Mary Bourne  into the future.

Discovering Our Lost Ways and  The PATHH Project

A Report by Caroline Hoyes

            There are many ancient and often well used paths that are not recorded on our

Ordnance Survey maps. We may be walking some of them now blissfully ignorant of

the fact they are not actually legal rights of way. The present landowners may be

very happy to let us continue, but future landowners may feel differently.

            As the law stands at the moment paths that have been used by the public for more than 20 years can be formalised using historical evidence only. This will no longer be possible after 2026 and these ancient paths could be closed, ploughed over or built on unless claimed by the public and recorded officially.

           This may sound a long time away, but each path claimed could be opposed by the landowner and end up in a court case taking years to resolve.

              PATHH stands for Providing Access To Hampshires Heritage. It is a project started in 2011 under the auspices of  the Hampshire Countryside Access Forum. They based their choice of routes to investigate on the ones found in the Countryside  Access Plan (CAP)which were routes proven to have a modern need.

               

        St Marybourne had four relevant requested routes:

1.             Rope Yarn Lane,Stoke This is a named and obvious track which years ago was the main road to Newbury. It is locally believed to be a white road so safe but it was not actually recorded as a public highway or right of way of any description in 2008 when a query came from a local landowner so it has somehow slipped through the net. There is very good evidence for this to be recorded as a right of way. It has also been privately claimed by Pauline Wood as a restricted byway.

2.                  Egbury to Dunley A beautiful ancient sunken track going from the road to Newbury north of Egbury to the next village. This was going through a long standing legal process to make it a byway. As all the research had already been done it was decided not to spend valuable time duplicating this. It has since been designated a restricted byway and can be seen as such on the Hantsweb site, but sadly it still has padlocked gates at both ends so is so far unusable. A few days ago the restricted byway sign was put up by the rights of way team at Hampshire County Council and a notice served on the landowner to remove the obstruction within one month.

3.                 Derrydown to Chapmansford The official footpath below Derrydown Farm used to go right into the corner of the field before turning left to cross the Bourne and a field to rejoin the valley road below the Bourne Valley Inn. It used to also have a footpath on the 1910 OS map straight on from this corner which went through the little wood over the fields beside the back of the watercress beds to join a track over the railway which brings one directly into the development at Chapmansford and would connect to other CAP routes requested in Hurstbourne Priors Parish. For some reason this public footpath was extinguished.

4.                 Jamaica Farm  A continuation of the footpath from lower link cottages just north of the watercress beds up the hill to the top road into St.Marybourne. This would be a direct connection to the wonderful network of paths around Cooper's in the Wood Farm, EgburyCastle Farm, Bradley Wood and Down Farm. This was never an obvious road, but it follows the Parish boundary in a direct line north east on a wide grassy track which has been fairly recently gated.

        1, 3 and 4 are now being examined to see if they can enter the next stage of research and go on to be established paths in the fullness of time.

           It is a great shame the original Countryside access scheme request for suggestions for new public paths was not more widely disseminated or understood as local Ordnance Survey Maps are full of obvious tracks which may have enough history to be designated.

          Only a member of the public can do this and it is very frustrating for the County Rights of Way Department as they are aware which ones could be reasonably claimed, but are unable to initiate the process themselves.

5.       The Drove this is the local name for the grassy track which comes off the road from Stoke to Binley and goes at a right angle to join the footpath which connects to the road to Lye Farm. This has also been claimed as a restricted byway as it has been used regularly by riders and walkers as long as anyone living locally can remember.

         

            So have a look on the ground and on the map and see what you can find. The process to claim a path either because of its historical value or because of a modern need is fully set out at  www3.hants.gov.uk/row/making-changes/claims-guidance.htm.  The easiest way may be to find  as many long standing residents as possible who have used the path over the last 20 years and to ask them to fill in a form.

          

           Help and advice is available from the Rights of Way Office. 0845 603 5636.

            Another possible way to get involved in phase two of the research would be to contact Sue Coles who is the current PATHH leader.   Her email is Coles.sue@gmail.com. The PATHH website address is www.PATHH.hwtma.org.uk