©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 runs from the Lea Valley east of Wheathampstead, southwards to St Albans.
©Crown
Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council, LA 076678, 2001
An undulating north/south ridge with dominant arable land cover. To the north and east both extensive ancient and discrete plantation woodlands create a contained and coherent landscape. To the west and south the landscape is much more open with extensive and distant views to and from the area. There is a quiet and detached feel .The sparse farmsteads, narrow twisting lanes with hedgebanks and the wooded enclosure of Coleman Green add to the relaxed character.
Devil's Dyke (J. Billingsley)
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Geology and soils. The local geology is a chalky till, with deep fine loamy over clayey and clayey soils with slowly permeable subsoils and slight seasonal waterlogging (Hornbeam 3 series). Calcareous subsoils exist in places.
Topography. The area comprises a moderate ridge 4km in length from north to south and 2km from east to west. The landform gently undulates with some stronger valley features to the north. There are a number of chalk pits, e.g. Chalk Dell Farm.
Degree of slope. 1 in 25 to 1 in 40 on the slopes and less than 1 in 100 along the ridge.
Altitude range. 81-96m on the perimeter and 111-119m on the ridgeline.
Hydrology. A few springs rise on the slopes, e.g. Dogsheart Spring and Pearman's Spring. Local woods also suggest springs rising, eg. Long Spring Grove and Wet Grove. To the south east of the 'Belgic Oppidum' a series of linear ponds follow a shallow valley to the north and then part of the manmade earthworks at 'The Slad'. There are some ponds and wells associated with farmsteads.
Land cover and land use. The primary land use is arable farming on both the slopes and the narrow plateau. Woodland is the major secondary land use to the eastern and northern slopes. Small areas of pasture for cattle and horses remain in association with farmsteads, e.g. Fairfold's Farm and Symondshyde Farm. Poor hedges have often been replaced by fencing, which gives a temporary feel.
Vegetation and wildlife. Extensive woods include Symondshyde, Furze Field, Chalk Dell and Titnol's Woods, many of them ancient with a natural acidic oak/hornbeam/birch mix. Sessile oak is also a feature of the woods, planted by the Gascoigne-Cecil Estate. Ash and oak form wood banks to the edges. Coppice is a feature to the north west of the area. At Symondshyde areas of botanically rich remnant heath survive in the rides. Plantations have also been added to either connect with the ancient woods or as discrete areas, e.g. David's Dingle. There is a large proportion of softwoods (both larch and pine) throughout and these are actively managed. The fine mature lime avenue from Brocket Hall terminates at Benstead's Wood.
At Coleman Green there are areas of heathy grassland, but much of the area has reverted to semi-natural woodland.
The hedges are variable, being locally prominent on hedgebanks with the underlying gravels often visible in some of the lanes. In contrast there has been extensive hedge removal in the fields, and those that do exist are relic and in a state of decline. Hedgerow species are mixed and include hornbeam, field maple, holly, elm and some bracken to the small plateau area. Hedgerow trees include oak, ash and holly.
Just outside Wheathampstead are massive late Iron Age ditches including Devils Dyke. Symondshyde derives its name in part from a 'hyde', a 120-acre Saxon free tenement. John Bunyan is recorded to have visited a cottage at Coleman Green.
Field pattern. The historic field pattern varies. To the north and east the mainly pre-18th century organic enclosure pattern is largely intact, although hedgerow loss makes the area seem more open. Field units are generally irregular in shape and medium to large in size. There has been some limited enlargement to prairie fields. To the south and east there is an historic pattern of parliamentary enclosure, which has subsequently been extensively altered by both 20th-century enclosure and a loss of former boundaries from post-1950 enlargements.
Transport pattern. The transport pattern comprises narrow winding lanes twisting slowly across the landform.
Settlements and built form. The settlement pattern is sparse and scattered. There is one small hamlet at Coleman's Green which with its now regenerated wooded common has a secluded feel. There is a mix of building materials, including red and gault brick, timber frame and clay tile. There are no notable large houses and most are well integrated into the wooded arable landscape.
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This moderately elevated area is visible from the surrounding landscape with the woods forming a key feature from the east. The more open farmland to the south is particularly visible from the edge of St.Albans. Within the area the views are framed and generally contained by hedgerows, woodland and the undulating landform. From the south of the area near Nashe's Farm there are distant views across the Vale of St Albans and as far as the Shenley Ridge.
Rarity and distinctiveness. This landscape type is frequent. Its most distinctive feature is the quiet relaxed character
There has been a widespread shift from pasture to arable, but there are very few detracting elements in the landscape. The exceptions are the radio masts to the south, temporary earth bunding at Sutton's Farm and the built edge of St Albans to the south. Areas of fly-tipping at Symondshyde detract from the woods. Chalk Dell Fruit Farm off Marford Road has a strong visual impact with its ordered narrow plots contrasting with the surrounding arable areas.
There is a moderate network of rights of way, particularly to the east. The Hertfordshire Way passes through the area. Symondshyde Woods, run by Countryside Management Services provide informal recreation opportunities including parking and picnic facilities.
This area generally appears not to be valued for its distinctiveness, except for the wooded landscapes around Symonshyde (C).
Landscape Conservation Area (part).
SAM: Wheathampstead earthwork (including Devil's Dyke and The Slad).
| CONDITION | |
|---|---|
| Land cover change: | widespread |
| Age structure of tree cover: | mature or young |
| Extent of semi-natural habitat survival: | fragmented |
| Management of semi-natural habitat: | good |
| Survival of cultural pattern: | declining |
| Impact of built development: | moderate |
| Impact of land-use change: | high |
| 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: | frequent |
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Lane near Coleman Green (HCC Landscape Unit)
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