Fareham Borough Landscape Assessment

May 1996

Landscape Character Area 1

The Upper Hamble Valley

Summary description

The Upper Hamble Valley covers the upper, more enclosed reaches of the River Hamble and its wooded valley sides to the north of the M27 motorway crossing.

The character area extends eastwards from the river to include the mosaic of mixed farmland and woodland within which the buildings and grounds of the CAA complex have been integrated.

The essential characteristics of the Upper Hamble Valley are: * the strong landform of the Hamble Valley itself; * dense woodland cover which clothes the valley sides and surrounding farmland, providing a strong sense of enclosure and privacy; * the River Hamble, with its distinctive tidal creek character, semi-natural mudflats and saltings (part SSSI), and changing patterns of light and texture; * intimate mosaic of broad-leaved woodland and farmland, with strong enclosure and fields seemingly carved out of the woodland; * relative absence of human influence or activity and, apart from the CAA complex that is relatively well-absorbed within the woodland structure, no settlements and relatively few buildings; * peaceful, private and relatively undisturbed character.

Enhancement Priorities

This is an area of comparatively unspoilt landscape of high quality and the emphasis should be on the conservation and management of its important features to retain the area's quiet, rural character. Priorities for enhancement are: * to maintain a quiet, remote and rural character along the river and within the mosaic of wooded farmland; * to protect the semi-natural habitats associated with the river and its foreshore and maintain the natural tidal regime; * to protect and manage the extensive areas of broadleaved woodland to maintain their long-term presence in the landscape; * to enhance the M27 corridor on the southern edge of the area.