138 - Weymouth Lowlands : Analysis: Landscape Attributes & Opportunities

Analysis supporting Statements of Environmental Opportunity

The following analysis section focuses on the landscape attributes and opportunities for this NCA.

Further analysis on ecosytem services for this NCA is contained in the Analysis: Ecosytem Services section.

Landscape attributes

Geological interest of predominantly Jurassic limestones, chalk and clays with a complex and distinctive landform.

Justification for selection:

• A distinctive Jurassic geology bounded by chalk and a major geological fault to the north and by a varied sequence of limestone to the south, between which are gentle limestone hogs-back ridges with clay vales in between bringing a sense of unity to the complex landform and an intimate relationship between this and land use.
• Six geological SSSI, 5 SSSI with mixed biodiversity and geodiversity interest and 10 Local Geological Sites.
• Local vernacular architectural style reflecting local materials including Portland and Purbeck Stone, Corallian Limestone and Forest Marble, and a series of stone walls found in close association with these stone types, especially where they form the bedrock, that bring a sense of harmony to the landscape.

Distinctive coastal landscape dominated by the shingle ridge of Chesil Beach and a dynamic coastal cliff system.

Justification for selection:

• Internationally recognised geological record and geomorphological processes as reflected in inclusion of this coastal stretch in the East Devon and Dorset World Heritage Site (Jurassic Coast).
• Unique 28 km shingle ridge of Chesil Beach linking the Isle of Portland to the mainland and enclosing The Fleet lagoon recognised as the finest shingle barrier beach in Europe.
• Exceptionally well used educational resource for all levels of study.
• Obvious coastal erosion features and landslips at Burton Bradstock, and the East Weare landslips at Church Ope Cove.
• Extensive and almost unbroken maritime cliff and slope habitats along coastal strip, designated as a Special Area of Conservation extending from east of Weymouth to Studland in the adjoining South Purbeck NCA.
• Aesthetically outstanding and unspoilt coastline recognised as a Heritage Coast.

Uncluttered, windswept views from limestone ridges and coastal cliffs, austere views along Chesil Beach with a more intimate series of valley views further inland.

Justification for selection:

• Largely treeless landscape with open ridgetops with valley woodlands and plantations in the Bride Valley in the west and around Osmington in the east.
• Fields on the ridges are bounded by sparse hedgerows and often post-and-wire fencing giving unrestricted views across to the coast. Drystone walls are used on steeper land but are unobtrusive. It is only when in the valleys that views are more intimate, with glimpses of the coastline.
• Bounded by the chalk ridge of the Dorset Downs in the north, this landscape can feel hidden and removed from the rest of Dorset as it only reveals itself after descending from this ridge, which gives it an intimate quality.
• Chesil Beach when viewed at close quarters along its length is a dramatic austere landscape. The view from cliffs to the west encompassing St Catherine’s Chapel and along the length of Chesil Beach and The Fleet epitomises the timeless, windswept nature of this NCA.
• Sixty per cent of area falls into Dorset AONB.

Evidence of long-standing human occupation throughout NCA.

Justification for selection:

• Visible signs of human habitation, agriculture and industry from evidence of Mesolithic sites on the edge of The Fleet to present day. There is a Roman temple near Preston irregular fields in the north-west representing enclosure of medieval fields, remnants of the mediaeval abbey site at Abbotsbury and Second World War invasion landscape features where Chesil Beach meets Abbotsbury.
• The area contains 1 Registered Park and Garden covering 16 ha, and 78 Scheduled Monuments.
• The pattern of settlement throughout most of NCA is significantly unaffected by 20th-century development and expansion. There are 930 Listed Buildings highlighting the notable local vernacular.

Mixed farming pattern with predominantly large open arable fields on ridge tops and a more intimate pattern of mixed farming in the valleys.

Justification for selection:

• Unusually this area retains a strong sense of a mixed farming economy although at the fringes of Weymouth smaller land holdings and paddocks are in evidence.
• Arable dominates the higher ground of ridges and flatter valley sides and evidence suggests that the area of arable expanded in the 20th century.
• Pasture and grasslands are found on the steeper slopes, often biodiversity rich, especially around Osmington and at the coast. In valley bottoms there are flood plain grasslands.
• The predominant field pattern is of rectilinear fields with a distinct north south grain. Towards the west of the NCA, north of Abbotsbury, the fields are less regular and generally date from 17th-century or earlier enclosure.

Distinctive settlement pattern united by vernacular style.

Justification for selection:

• Settlement is relatively sparse across much of this area and includes a mixture of nucleated villages concentrated in valley bottoms and scattered farmsteads of medieval or earlier origin.
• Smaller manor houses and gentry houses are distinctive features.
• A strong vernacular architectural style is characterised by the use of limestone, brick, flint and stone slates. Thatch is frequent, obtained from the managed reedbeds at Abbotsbury. Weymouth is the exception in strong contrast with the rest of the area. However it too retains traces of its past including the incorporated settlement of Melcombe Regis. It displays a distinct grid pattern leading to the quay laid out in the 13th century. From the 1780s it became a popular seaside resort, with evident Georgian seafront architecture and it remains popular to this day.

A diverse network of habitats and associated species particularly evident at the coast.

Justification for selection:

• A rich and diverse biodiversity resource exemplified by 1,756 ha of BAP habitat and a number of designations within this area. There are 867 ha of SSSI (7 per cent of NCA) of which approximately 461 ha (3 per cent of NCA) are Special Areas for Conservation (SAC), Special Protection Areas (SPA) or Ramsar site, including Crookhill Brick Pit SAC for its great crested newts. The majority of the designations are contiguous providing a strong network of habitats particularly along the coast.
• Calcareous, species-rich grasslands on the Dorset ridge and along the coast support silver-studded blue, chalk-hill blue and Adonis blue butterflies and plants such as green winged orchid, pyramidal orchid, early gentian, early spider orchid, wild cabbage and Nottingham catchfly. The Isle of Portland to Studland Cliffs SAC extends along part of the NCA and highlights the quality of the grasslands found here.
• Wetlands reserves at the coast and springline flushes throughout the NCA are important. Radipole and Lodmoor nature reserves have large areas of reedbed and marshland extending up the Wey Valley.
• Chesil Beach shingle ridge with areas of vegetated shingle and the saline lagoons of The Fleet are extraordinarily rich in wildlife, with outstanding communities of aquatic plants and animals. This network of wetlands sites is important for overwintering and breeding birds. Chesil Beach and The Fleet are designated SAC, SPA and Ramsar site.
• Strong developing network of green infrastructure in Weymouth particularly through the Lorton valley and Radipole and Lodmoor reserves see strong links developing between urban and rural habitats.
• Work on the Weymouth Relief Road highlighted sympathetic measures that can be used to embed development in the landscape and make the most of opportunities to enhance biodiversity.
• The summer song of skylarks, climbing far into the sky and the cacophony of bumble bees, crickets and grasshoppers are most evocative sounds to be heard in the NCA, along the coastal grasslands and chalk ridge.
• Biodiversity interest extends into the marine environment with reefs found offshore and at the edge of the Portland SAC bordering this area.
• Migratory salmonids use the rivers Char, Brit, Bride and Wey. However, populations of salmon and sea trout are often limited by poor migration conditions in these rivers, largely as a result of artificial obstructions. The loss of habitat has resulted in the demise of priority species such as water vole, otter and kingfisher. Habitat loss adjacent to watercourses has had the greatest effect on confining the river into increasingly narrow corridors.

A good footpath network and other recreational features.

Justification for selection:

• Seventy km of the South West Coast Path extend through the area.
• There are 61 ha of common land.
• Water sports are popular at and closely associated with Weymouth.
• The Dorset and East Devon World Heritage Site (the Jurassic Coast) is the only natural World Heritage Site on mainland Britain and attracts many visitors.

Landscape opportunities

• Protect the visible relationship between exceptionally diverse geology, geological processes and varied landscape morphology and biodiversity and land use.
• Continue to encourage and appropriately manage the area’s diverse geology and in particular the dynamic cliff system at the coast, promoting its importance to landscape and biodiversity and as an educational resource and the access opportunities associated with the coastal strip.
• Continue to protect and enhance views and the contrasts between uncluttered, limestone ridges, enclosed clay valleys, the windswept coastline and the austere views along Chesil Beach that give the NCA a unique sense of place.
• Protect from damage and appropriately manage the area’s rich cultural heritage, both buried and exposed, most notably bronze- and iron-age remains, hilltop earthworks, Roman villas, medieval features and Second World War invasion defence lines, for the benefit of sense of place and cultural heritage, and of for benefits to biodiversity, geodiversity, recreation. Enhance the visibility and interpretation of, and access to features to raise awareness of the importance of features, and to provide opportunities for education and sustainable tourism.
• Ensure the matrix of habitats is retained and where possible extended including the maritime cliff and slope habitat strip, limestone and other species rich grasslands, fens and springline flushes and woodlands. Ensure species such as dark-bellied Brent goose, little tern, calcicole species and invertebrates are catered for and continue, or introduce, active interventions on habitats that depend upon ‘traditional’ management, principally grasslands and where present, woodland. Plan for the extension and linking of existing habitats in order to increase climate change resilience and strengthen landscape permeability and the benefits that these habitats bring to soil erosion, water quality, flood regulation and recreation.
• Conserve the undeveloped coastal strip, including rich biodiversity assets, significant geological and geomorphological elements, such as Chesil Beach, and unimpeded coastal processes.
• Manage the distinctive boundary features (hedgerows, hedgerow trees and drystone walls), the small field pattern and network of public rights of way which not only delineate patterns of occupation and provide excellent access but also provide an essential network of ecological connections across the wider countryside.
• Manage and reinforce settlement patterns, particularly Weymouth’s, to ensure that sense of place is maintained and any growth is sustainable and maintains or, preferably, enhances the character of this NCA. Plan for Weymouth’s continued protection from rising, stormier seas while allowing coastal processes to continue in as natural a state as possible.
• Manage and reinforce the local vernacular architecture ensuring new builds follow local styles, conversions are completed sympathetically and sense of place is strengthened and retained.
• Plan for changes in farming types, cropping patterns and crops in the face of climate change and the need to enhance biodiversity, retain landscape character and ensure water flow and drainage patterns that continue to provide good quality water to features such as The Fleet and the underlying aquifer.