Limestone Village Farmlands

Summary

Overall description:

An undulating agricultural landscape with a nucleated pattern of limestone villages, surrounded by a regular pattern of large fields defined by well trimmed hedgerows and stone walls.

Location:

Occurs in the north western corner of the East of England beyond Peterborough and the Upper Ouse valley in Bedfordshire.

Physical environment

Landform:

A dissected undulating landform often associated with larger river valleys.

Natural / water features:

Small feeder watercourses linking to larger rivers in valley bottoms.

Vegetation and land use

Ecological character:

Old Man’s Beard in hedgerows and occasional patches of calcareous grassland on steeper slopes, but generally limited semi-natural habitat remaining in this settled agricultural landscape.

Primary land use :

Predominance of arable land with areas of improved pasture.

Tree cover:

A fairly open landscape with discrete coverts and groups of trees around farmsteads. Patches of ancient woodland become more notable along the fringe of Yardley Chase and Rockingham Forest.

Cultural pattern

Historic features:

Historic, pale coloured stone villages and [no-glossary] churches[/no-glossary] with landmark spires.

Enclosure pattern:

Fields are frequently large in size and defined by well trimmed hedgerows, with limestone walls in some areas.

Settlement pattern:

Many nucleated historic limestone villages with distinctive square church towers, often on higher land overlooking river valleys. Settlement outside villages is uncommon and characterised by occasional farms.

Pale yellow, vernacular limestone dwellings, farms & isolated field barns.

Historic development :

This landscape includes two different areas. In the northern section fieldscapes are dominated by late enclosures, while in the south early enclosures are more prevalent. In both areas enclosure seems to have been from common fields.

Perceptions

Tranquility:

This is a peaceful, rural landscape, although there are occasional disruptive elements, such as major road corridors.

Views:

Long distance views, from higher ground, over surrounding plateau summits. Views from within the valleys, although open, are often framed by landform.