Clay valley
Location
The Clay Valley landscape type is found in two locations on the Isle of Purbeck; in the Corfe valley and in the sweeping landscapes of the Kimmeridge Coast. It is also found in the broad Bride Valley east of Burton Bradstock.
Key Characteristics
- varied landform from broad open valley, to more sweeping valley
and areas which are more secluded.
- enclosed and defined by dramatic steep chalk and limestone
escarpments and ridges.
- patchwork of small scale pasture, irregular dense hedges and
copses with larger arable fields, grassland and scrub on the steeper slopes.
- small, nucleated and scattered villages and farmsteads.
- distinctive church towers act as local landmarks.
- occasional small wet woods, springs and flushes on valley floors.
- larger scale woods on valley sides.
- winding rural lanes with mixed boundaries from stone walls to hedgebanks.
- distinctive coastal landmarks and features.
Each of the three areas of the Clay Valley landscape type has its own
unique identity. The surrounding dramatic escarpments and ridges
enclose and define these valley landscapes with the Purbeck chalk
ridge in particular forming an imposing backdrop to the Corfe valley.
The areas generally have a settled rural character with an intimate
secluded feel in places and nearer the coast a more windswept, remote
and exposed character. There are some dramatic and distinctive coastal
landmarks and features. The patchwork of generally small scale rolling
pastures, dense hedgerows, scattered woodlands and scrub on steeper
slopes, have been shaped by centuries of woodland clearance and
agricultural improvement. There are occasional small wet woods and
springs and flushes on the valley floors with larger woods on the
valley sides and from the elevated areas glimpses of the sea. The
winding rural lanes have mixed boundaries including old stonewalls and
hedgebanks with the stone walls more noticeable nearer the Purbeck
plateau. The small farmsteads and nucleated picturesque villages such
as at Swyre, Puncknowle, Litton Cheney and Burton Bradstock are often
hidden and dotted throughout the landscape. The church towers at
Steeple, Church Knowle and Kingston are particularly prominent
landscape features with the views over the valley to Corfe Castle from
Kingston being one of the distinctive panoramas in the area. The hard
western edges of Swanage and to a lesser extent the eastern edges of
Bridport, detract from the character of the area. The popular and
distinctive ruined castle and village at Corfe Castle, the historic
folly of Clavell’s Tower and the prominent landmarks of Swyre Head and
Worbarrow Tout are all key landmarks in the area. Several of the
planned parkland landscapes across the area are also key features.
Management Objectives
The overall management objective for the Clay Valley Landscape Type is
to conserve and restore the intimate patterns of grasslands, woodlands,
field boundaries and nucleated settlements.
Key land management guidance notes
- restore and enhance the condition of existing small broadleaved woodlands.
- consider extending wet woodland on the valley floor, particularly
around existing settlements and farmsteads.
- encourage low impact grazing and conservation of permanent
pastures including calcareous grassland and wet grasslands to
protect wildlife and historic features.
- encourage maintenance and restoration of boundaries, particularly
dense hedgerows and banks along the valley floors and stonewalls
towards the higher ground.
- the development of scrub may be encouraged as it provides
important habitat in areas where the establishment of trees is
affected by coastal climate
- encourage grazing on the chalk and limestone ridges to manage
scrub encroachment on important grasslands.
- maintain and enhance the sweeping views of the coast.
- seek opportunities to establish small-scale broadleaved native
planting around existing settlements and farmsteads to reduce the
visual impact of existing intrusive developments.
- conserve the pattern of tight knit nucleated villages and the use
of local limestone for new build and/or restoration work.
- conserve views of key landmarks such as church spires e.g. through
the careful control of building heights.
- conserve the intimate character of rural lanes and open character
towards the coast e.g. by the careful consideration of new
development design, positioning and height.
- reduce the impact of car parks and other visitor based development
e.g. through sensitive signage and improved management of built
features such as walls and other boundaries.
Landscape Character Assessment Map
View a map of all the Landscape Character Areas in Dorset, or view a list