©Crown Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council, LA 076678, 2001
| Landscape Character Assessment | HertsDirect | Environment | |||
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©Crown
Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council, LA 076678, 2001
This area follows the River Ver south from St Albans to its confluence with the River Colne and then into Watford past the M1.
©Crown
Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council, LA 076678, 2001
A narrow river valley corridor which skirts a mosiac of settlements, parkland, farmland and both active and restored mineral workings. The modest River Ver and upper Colne occupy a meandering floodplain which is grazed by livestock at a number of locations. Riparian willow plantations line the rivers along part of the course whilst south of Park Street restored wetland mineral workings provide recreational opportunities. A number of distinctive features punctuate the river landscape, including parkland, mills and fords. The valley is visually contained by side slopes and vegetation which generally conceal the presence of the adjoining settlements. The Ver-Colne Valley walk provides good pedestrian access.
Sopwell meadows (J. Billingsley)
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Geology and soils. The floodplain comprises river alluvium covered in stoneless clayey and poorly drained soils (Fladbury 1 series). These are locally calcareous. On the valley slopes the underlying geology is a combination of plateau and river-terrace drift. The soils are well-drained flinty coarse loamy and sandy over gravels (Sonning 1 association)
Topography. The contrast between the locally steep side slopes and river floodplain are a strong characteristic of the area, e.g. north of Park Street and along Drop Lane. Elsewhere the side slopes are less marked
Degree of slope. Valley floor falls at less than 1 in 500. Side slopes vary between 1 in 40 to 1 in 5
Altitude range. 53m-75m along the valley floor over a length of 12km. The side slopes are generally up to 15m above the floodplain
Hydrology. The Ver is a chalk stream which supports important grassland habitats. The Colne is more acidic with lower flows than the Ver. The river meanders within the floodplain and there are a number of threaded courses between Munden Hall and Bushey Mill. Associated wet areas within the floodplain are common and a number of tributary streams feed the watercourses from the slope. At Park Street restored wetlands create a contrasting character. Fish-spawning ponds have been created close to the M1.
Land cover and land use. The floodplain is characterised by a mix of pasture (with grazing cattle), arable conversion (between the M25 and the M1) and recreational areas. Land uses on the side slopes are a mix of arable cropping, golf courses, restored land and parkland. West of the M1 towards Watford there is a mix of pasture, semi-natural habitats and recreational uses, in significant contrast to the adjacent urban areas.
Vegetation and wildlife. The river corridor lies at the junction of the clay with flints and the London Clay natural regions and consequently provides a varied range of habitats. North of the confluence with the Colne are several important unimproved floodplain meadow grasslands, e.g. Sopwell Meadows. Sedge marsh or 'rich fen' is found with important species such as bogbean present. The natural woodland type is floodplain alder but very little remains. Small riverine plantations and linear belts are present for both cropping and amenity, with distinctive silvery-leaved willow, poplar and ash. There is a good mix in age structure of trees and most of the floodmeadows are actively managed. Hedgerows contain the wider valley along lanes or to higher ground. Hawthorn is the main species, but locally at Drop Lane this is replaced by beech, reflecting the underlying chalk. There are many mature specimen trees and copses, including beech, sycamore, sweet chestnut, cedar and oak in the parklands at Wall Hall and Munden Hall. Some parkland trees are over-mature and in decline.
Field pattern. The floodplain was historically largely open in character but has been contained by both 18th-century parliamentary enclosure and more widespread 20th-century enclosure. The field pattern is discontinuous but, where present, fields are irregular in shape and medium in size. Many boundaries are fenced, with few hedges. Some former pre-18th century sinuous field patterns on the valley slopes have now been broken down to create post-1950 prairie fields.
Transport pattern. The Roman Watling Street crosses the Ver at Frogmore/Park Street, where its straight alignment deviates around what was probably locally wet ground. Watling Street first brought pilgrims to St Albans and then many travellers over the centuries. There are few other historic routes, with only the narrow Drop Lane following the edge of the floodplain. The area is, however, crossed by a number of motorways and trunk roads, including the M1, M25 and A414. The A4008 link road into Watford from the M1 follows the river corridor. The St Pancras railway line follows to the west of the area at Park Street.
Settlements and built form. A number of mills were built along the river, e.g. at Sopwell and Park Street. These mills are now converted to offices and restaurants.
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There are limited views of the river corridor from outside the area. The section from Otterspool to Colney Street has a strong visual unity and sense of rural seclusion. Parklands overlooking the floodplain add a further degree of cohesion to the area. Other sections to the north and south are more influenced by adjacent urban uses, or comprise restored land. The noise from local roads provides the major detraction in downgrading what otherwise would be a very pleasant area.
Rarity and distinctiveness. One of a number of river valleys in the county. Certain lengths are important for the flood meadows.
The major roads which cross over the river corridor are significant detracting features by virtue of both the structures and the visual disturbance of the traffic. Pylons also disrupt the scenic value. West of the M1 the built edges of Watford and Bushey visually contain the area and the A4008 affects the otherwise relaxed riverine character.
There are few arterial routes along the valley apart from the Ver-Colne Valley Walk, for which there are two car parks, a picnic site and riverside walks near Drop Lane. Accessibility along the walk is generally good, but locally poorly signed and maintained. Opportunities for horse riding and cycling along the valley are limited. The river is crossed by a number of fords which are passable with difficulty during high water levels. Golf courses at St Albans and Aldenham occupy parts of the valley slopes. A 'Top Golf' centre is under construction west of the M1 close to Watford.
The western end of the Ver Colne valley is valued for some distinctive elements, including 'lovely walks by woodland and streams'. These appeal even to those who would not rank these as their preferred elements in the landscape (D).
Watling Chase Community Forest (most).
SAM: moated site at Bushey Hall Farm.
English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens: Wall Hall (Grade II).
| CONDITION | |
|---|---|
| Land cover change: | localised |
| Age structure of tree cover: | mixed |
| Extent of semi-natural habitat survival: | fragmented |
| Management of semi-natural habitat: | good |
| Survival of cultural pattern: | interrupted |
| Impact of built development: | moderate |
| Impact of land-use change: | moderate |
| ROBUSTNESS | |
| Impact of landform: | prominent |
| Impact of land cover: | prominent |
| Impact of historic pattern: | interrupted |
| Visibility from outside: | locally visible |
| Sense of enclosure: | partial |
| Visual unity: | coherent |
| Distinctiveness/rarity: | unusual |
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River crossing, Drop Lane (J. Billingsley)
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