Fareham Borough Landscape Assessment

May 1996

Landscape Character Area 3

The Hook Valley

Summary Description

The Hook Valley lies to the south of Warsash and Locks Heath and forms a tributary of the Hamble, unified by its valley form and its heavily wooded and 'natural' character. The character area covers the valley floor and sides upstream of where the road crosses the valley below the School of Nautical Studies. The more open valley mouth is contained within the Lower Hamble Valley character area.

The essential characteristics of the Hook Valley are: * strong valley form with dense woodland clothing the valley sides, increasing the sense of enclosure and naturalness; enclosed valley floor containing dense carr woodland and the open water and reed beds of Hook Lake, of high nature conservation value (SSSI/SINC) and with unspoilt, natural qualities; * dominance of mature semi-natural woodland (partly Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland) forming a mosaic with small areas of grassland on upper slopes and higher ground, marking the remnants of former heathland and characterised by presence of oak, birch, pine, gorse, bracken etc.; * remnant parkland at Hook Park, with a neglected parkland character, old parkland trees and horse-grazed, rough pasture; * relatively sparsely settled with a few isolated dwellings and the attractive estate hamlet of Hook (a Conservation Area) with its well-treed character, and limited intrusion from urban development or influences.

Enhancement Priorities

This is an area of generally unspoilt landscape of high visual quality and ecological value. The emphasis should be to conserve and manage its key features and to maintain its generally quiet, unspoilt character.

Priorities for enhancement are: * to protect and manage the important wetland and woodland habitats of Hook Lake and the valley sides; * to resist encroachment into the valley, especially where this could affect woodland cover or sensitive wetland habitats; * to encourage appropriate management of Hook Park to restore its former parkland character and features; * to maintain the character of the fringing areas of farmland, including a strong hedgerow structure and remnants of rough pasture and heath; * to protect the attractive townscape qualities of Hook Village and the well-treed character of its immediate surroundings; * to conserve the rural character of the minor lanes and tracks.