Wooded Plateau Farmlands

Towards Shut Up Fool Studios From near Bumby Hall (© Essex CC)

View from Blackley Lane towards new Racecourse (© Essex CC)

Wooded Plateau Farmlands + Looking W from Red Willow, Harlow, Essex (2004) (© HCC Landscape)

Wooded Plateau Farmlands + Gaddesden Row (2004) (© HCC Landscape)

Wooded Plateau Farmlands + Gaddesden Row (1999) (© HCC Landscape)

B651 near Hitch Wood, Herts (© HCC Landscape)

Summary

Overall description:

For the most part this is a settled, early enclosed landscape with frequent ancient woods, associated with a rolling, in places undulating glacial plateau, dissected by numerous shallow valleys.

Location:

Located mainly in the Chilterns, east Hertfordshire and much of north Essex and southwest Suffolk. There is a second smaller area in east Suffolk, while a third and separate area lies to the north and west of Bedford.

Physical environment

Landform:

A rolling landscape on a dissected glacial plateau, in places deeply dissected, especially in the south west.

Natural / water features:

This upland area is drained by numerous small watercourses which dissect the plateau, creating a series of shallow valleys. Field ponds are a feature in places.

Vegetation and land use

Ecological character:

Frequent small to medium-sized ancient woods, with some notably larger woods in places, connected by a network of ancient hedgerows. A relatively high survival of primary habitats (> 7%), although relatively little is specifically protected (< 1%).

Primary land use :

Most of the land is in arable production.

Tree cover:

A wooded landscape with many ancient woods, copses and occasional smaller plantations.

Cultural pattern

Historic features:

For the most part an early enclosed landscape, with late enclosures only occurring to a limited extent, in certain places. Around Bedford, however, there are extensive areas of common fields which were subject to parliamentary enclosure.

Enclosure pattern:

An irregular pattern of medium to large sized fields. There has been much modification as a result of reorganisation/ boundary removal in the 20th century.

Settlement pattern:

A settled character comprising a mixture of scattered farmsteads, hamlets and occasional larger villages, the latter often linear in form where they have grown along roads. Late 20th century development impinges in the southern part of the area.

The core part of this landscape, between Hertfordshire and Suffolk, has a strong vernacular tradition of timber farmed buildings with tiled roofs. Some 19th/20th century brick buildings also occur in linear hamlets and around enclosed greens.

Historic development :

Sinuous pattern of roads and lanes with small to medium-sized greens that are often triangular, or linear. These greens are often described as tyes in Suffolk and Essex.

Perceptions

Tranquility:

Despite its settled character this landscape is deeply rural and tranquil often affording a sense of remoteness and continuity. This is lost in some locations close to larger settlements and roads, or where there are pylons.

Views:

The network of winding, hedged lanes and paths coupled with the rolling countryside give a feeling of intimacy. In places field amalgamation has resulted in longer views over rolling, lightly wooded countryside.