©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
Linear north/south river valley and tributaries with undulating side slopes between confluence with the Lea at Hollycross Road (Amwell Magna) and Mardocks Mill/Wareside within the valley to the north.
©Crown
Copyright. All rights reserved. Hertfordshire County Council, LA 076678, 2001
Narrow flat river valley floor with steep, undulating wooded slopes on either side. Distinctive wetland vegetation and historic settlement with traditional dairy and sheep farming create a picturesque rural setting. The impact of settlement is absorbed and contained by topography. There is a clear distinction between the Ash and the Lea valleys, with the Ash valley concealed by extensive vegetation around its mouth. Within this area, Easneye stands out as a distinctive sub area for its topography and vegetation cover.
Pasture in Ash Valley (P. Shears)
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Geology and soils. The lower end of the river valley consists of stoneless, mainly calcareous clayey soils over river alluvium (Thames series), as far north as Wareside, with deep, well-drained fine loams and clays over chalky tills on the valley slopes (Melford series).
Topography. The river meanders through a narrow floodplain with strongly undulating side slopes and spurs, the most prominent of which is on the southern bank at Easneye.
Degree of slope. 1 in 6 on the slopes, with a river gradient of 1 in 275.
Altitude range. 31m to 70m.
Hydrology. The Ash supports a low fish population except in its lower reaches. It is predominantly natural in form, although affected by impoundment, and is quite species-rich and of high invertebrate value.
Land cover and land use. This area is predominantly treed pastoral farmland, with woodland on the steepest slopes, especially on the southern promontory occupied by Easneye. There is some arable on the shallower slopes.
Vegetation and wildlife. Woodland cover tends to be linear along the steeper slopes. Easneye is characterised by acidic oak/hornbeam woodland on gravel hangers over chalk, with dog's mercury, bluebells and acid grassland below and in open rides, changing to neutral grassland on the valley floor. There is also some remant floodplain ash/willow woodland, with spring-fed pools adjoining the river Ash and a number of old native black poplar, in one of their few remaining natural sites in Hertfordshire. Boundary hedgerows consist of thorn, elder, weeping willow and poplar. Most grasslands, formerly species-rich with a mix of calcareous and acid conditions on the slopes, are now 'improved'. The river Ash is one of the best rivers in east Hertfordshire, with relic native crayfish and water vole populations. It is characterised throughout by variable floodplain grasslands and wetlands, overhung by oak/hornbeam woods on gravel terraces, with native colonies of wood forget-me-not.
This area appears to be of a character that has altered little over the centuries. The dominance of pastoral production means that there has been little loss of field boundaries and most of the dwellings are 19th-century or earlier. There is a bowl barrow (SAM) in Easneye Wood. Easneye, now a college, is a mid-Victorian redbrick mansion with much diapering, stepped gabling and tracery details, and much use of red terracotta. It is set amid extensive woodland on the southern slopes of the river just above its confluence with the Lea. There is a record of a deer park here in 1322.
Field pattern. The field pattern is irregular and organic, following the base of slopes and the meandering river. Field boundaries are a mix of tree rows, fences, medium hedgerows and wet ditches, with the tree rows making a significant contribution to the local vegetation. Field sizes are small to medium, variable.
Transport pattern. In this area the B1004 clings to the plateau edge on the northern valley side, while Hollycross Road marks the divide between the Lea and the Ash. The dismantled railway occupies a direct route through the valley while the river meanders to either side.
Settlements and built form. Buildings in this area are isolated houses or farms with clusters of farm buildings, usually in the vernacular tradition. Materials are red and yellow brick with clay tile roofs, or weatherboard, with bargeboards, dentil courses, etc., generally dating from the 18th century and before. Watersplace Farm and Hall is a collection of various dwellings and farm buildings in the valley north of Easneye Wood. There are also disused railway bridges and Mardocks Mill, hinting at former industrial uses within the valley.
Pevsner, N., rev. Cherry, B., Hertfordshire, Penguin (2000).
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at the southern end. The landform is very obvious from the road and footpaths which run parallel to the valley and offer views in and across. Views within the area are generally framed by vegetation and landform, being extensive along the valley and up the valley slopes, but contained by the plateau edge. The scale of landscape elements is small to medium and there is a general sense of containment. It is unified, tranquil and coherent.
Rarity and distinctiveness. While the promontory of Easneye is quite distinctive, the lower reaches of the Ash valley are possibly the most typical representation in Hertfordshire of pastoral farming within the floodplain.
housing) is pronounced and positive in this area. There are scattered but extensive farm units and isolated houses nestling in the valley, which contribute to its settled and productive character. There has been some change from pastoral to arable production but, especially at the southern end, the pastoral tradition is very evident.
Noted recreational land uses: walking/riding.
Frequency/density of footpaths, bridleways and waymarked routes - localised but clearly marked.
Good access. Condition: good; wide
Surface: dirt/road planings; variable
This area is of significant regard for its distinctiveness (C).
Landscape Conservation Area.
SAM: Easneye Wood bowl barrow.
The Ash Valley is recognised as a High Biodiversity Areas (HBA) for its woodlands and wetlands.
| CONDITION | |
|---|---|
| Land cover change: | insignificant |
| Age structure of tree cover: | mature |
| Extent of semi-natural habitat survival: | extensive |
| Management of semi-natural habitat: | good |
| Survival of cultural pattern: | intact |
| Impact of built development: | good |
| Impact of land-use change: | low |
| ROBUSTNESS | |
| Impact of landform: | prominent |
| Impact of land cover: | prominent |
| Impact of historic pattern: | continuous |
| Visibility from outside: | widely visible |
| Sense of enclosure: | partial |
| Visual unity: | unified |
| Distinctiveness/rarity: | rare |
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