National Character Area 134 - Dorset Downs and Cranborne Chase : Key Characteristics

North-west to south-east transition through dramatic scarps, plateaux, rolling chalk upland, and a gentle but expansive dip slope – all dissected by often steep-sided, sheltered valleys and coombes.

Relict, species-rich calcareous grassland, meadows, water meadows, ancient woodland and parkland. Chalk streams and rivers play host to a thriving, distinctive community of plants, invertebrates and fish.

Semi-natural ancient woodlands, with large coups of hazel coppice, and the deer parks of Cranborne Chase, clothe the undulations of the dip slope. Prominent planted shelterbelts and hill-top clumps of beech, oak and ash emphasise and reinforce the simple but expansive geometry of the high downland.

Highly legible and coherent history of early human occupation, including a particularly well-preserved network of imposing hill forts, clusters of barrows, field systems, earthworks, ancient lanes and other prehistoric features, often delineating ritual landscapes.

Very large fields, resulting from the enclosure of downland for sheep and corn that took place between the 16th and 19th centuries. Changes during the 20th century have resulted in an intensively arable agricultural landscape.

An intimate and older (often medieval in origin) enclosed, mixed-farming landscape of smaller, often hedgerow-bounded fields is found in the valleys and combes, and around the formally landscaped estate parklands.

River valleys, dry in their upper sections, are often occupied by winterbournes, each with its own character, with thick hedgerows, flood meadows and linear villages in a variety of vernacular styles and materials.

The wide flood plain of the River Stour brings a lowland interlude to this downland NCA, and provides the location for the NCA’s second-largest town, Blandford Forum.

Isolated farmsteads punctuate the highest downland areas, contrasting with closely spaced, linear villages and hamlets close to water along the valley bottoms or at the foot of the combes and scarp, along the springline.

A suite of large houses and estates have played a key role in the formation of the character of the NCA.

The chalk plateau of Cranborne Chase itself, particularly the Inner Bounds and the Walks.