3.1 Scarp Footslopes

Key characteristic features

• Rolling, sometimes undulating relief, dominated by the chalk scarp to the south.
• Numerous streams flow northwards from springs at the foot of the chalk escarpment.
• Varied patchwork of farmland and woodland interlaced with hedgerows.
• Both pastures and arable land; fields have irregular shapes and sizes.
• Numerous villages clustered at regular intervals beside springs and mill ponds.
• Dense twisting network of narrow lanes connects villages.
• Lanes are often sunken between high, steep hedgebanks.

Landform and context

The scarp footslopes landscape lies immediately to the north of the chalk escarpment. Variations in geological structure are closely reflected in landscape character and landforms in this area are derived from two different types of rock: the Upper Greensand bench at the foot of the chalk escarpment and Gault, a heavy silty clay which outcrops further to the north.

The width of the Upper Greensand bench varies from approximately 1 km, near the western boundary of the AONB, to a much narrower band to the east of the Arun Valley. Eastwards from the Adur valley it has no visual influence and the shallow lowlands of the Gault abut the chalk escarpment slopes. The relief of the scarp footslopes landscape therefore becomes less complex and generally flatter towards the east.

From the west AONB boundary near Harting to the village of Bury on the west slope of the Arun valley, the Upper Greensand bench is incised by numerous streams flowing northwards from the spring line near the foot of the escarpment. These streams usually flow in steep, narrow valleys, such as that to the south-west of Bignor Mill, and springs, artificially dammed mill ponds and ornamental ponds are recurring features. The edge of the Upper Greensand bench is marked by an indented low ridge with fairly steep slopes overlooking the Gault vale to the north. This ridge is prominent to the north of the village of Harting, but becomes shallower further to the east.

To the north of the Upper Greensand bench the Gault forms a shallow, gently rolling lowland clay vale. Here the streams flow in shallow valleys with many side branches. Those originating at the foot of the chalk escarpment are joined by others arising from springs along the boundary between the Upper Greensand and the Gault. All these minor watercourses flow broadly northwards towards the West Sussex Rother.

To the east of Arun valley, the low ridge marking the edge of the Upper Greensand bench is still significant but narrows and continues in parallel with the escarpment. The relief in the vicinity of Parham House, immediately to the east of the Amberley Wild Brooks, is particularly varied: generally undulating and in places hummocky. This is a reflection of the more complex geology in this area, where the Gault Clay is reduced to a relatively narrow band and outcrops of both the Sandgate and the Folkestone Beds occur sequentially to the north.

To the east of Washington the landform of the Upper Greensand bench ceases to have significant visual influence and from here to the Lewes area, the landscape of the scarp footslopes is characterised by undulating relief and drained by numerous small north flowing streams. The scale of the topography varies from the steeply undulating, closely divided landform near Ditchling to the relatively flat lowland plain near Polegate.

Throughout the scarp footslopes landscape, the chalk escarpment forms a dominant commanding ridge enclosing the lowlands along their southern margin. The strong contrast between the two landscapes inevitably makes the lowlands seem diminished and intricate in scale when set against the bold, cliff-like ridge.

Land use and landscape pattern

Panoramic views to the north from the escarpment ridge at Harting Down reveal a fairly small-scale, complex agricultural landscape with a regular patchwork of medium sized, straight-edged fields enclosed by hedgerows. This pattern is broken at regular intervals by sinuous linear woodlands and, further to the north, small blocks of woodlands. Villages, hamlets and farms form small clusters throughout.

This is a simplified picture but it is typical of the landscape pattern throughout the scarp footslopes. The Upper Greensand and clay vale landscapes become increasingly merged towards the east as the Upper Greensand bench narrows in width. To the east of the Arun valley the clay vale also narrows and patches of the more sandy, heathy soils of the Folkestone and Sandgate Beds have an influence on the landscape and land use pattern near Parham Park and Wiston Park (ref. heathland mosaic). Further east the pattern is much simplified as the clay vale landscape extends right up to the foot of the escarpment.

The western Upper Greensand landscape consists of fairly large, straight-edged arable fields, but with a smaller-scale, more angular pattern of mixed farming and narrow, linear woodlands near the many villages and streams. There are sudden transitions from the relatively open farmland to the more enclosed, intimate landscape of the stream valleys. The farmland throughout is fully enclosed by well-developed hedgerows with many hedgerow trees. The hedgerows link closely with the woodlands, forming an interlocking network which gives the landscape a strongly structured framework.

Narrow, twisting lanes - which may in places be deeply sunken between steep hedgebanks -link the many scattered farms and clustered villages. An 'underhill lane', the remnant of the historic coaching routes, runs along the foot of the escarpment. It is sometimes a road or a lane, but often occurs as a track or bridleway. The sunken lanes, like the narrow stream valleys, are a hidden, secretive landscape, in strong contrast to the medium-scaled, regular patchwork of farmland they cross.

To the north of the Upper Greensand bench, the pattern of the field patchwork within the clay vale remains largely unchanged, although numerous streams tend to interrupt the layout, making the fields seem less regular in shape but usually still straight-edged. Again the scale of the farmland varies, in particular becoming smaller and less regular around the villages. Arable fields still predominate overall, but there is an increase in the proportion of pasture. The hedgerow network continues across the geological boundary and ensures that the transitions are subtle, and in many places, blurred.

However, the woodland pattern varies distinctly between the Upper Greensand and clay vale landscapes. On the former the woodlands are generally confined to the steep slopes of the narrow stream valleys, whereas on the clay vale they occur in larger blocks, usually of a similar size and shape to the fields. The woodlands tend to increase in size towards the north, and there is a gentle transition from the relatively open, predominantly arable fields abutting the escarpment to a more wooded landscape to the north. The heathy woodlands to the north of the clay vale are on a low ridge so they have a fairly strong enclosing presence and form the northern boundary of the scarp footslopes landscape type.

Hedgerow trees, in particular individual mature oaks, become visually more distinctive in the clay vale. The lanes seem more open here, with verges, ditches and glimpsed views to farmland through field gates. There is a general increase in tree cover towards the edges of settlements where hedgerow trees link visually with small copses, streamside woodlands and garden trees.

Springs, field corner ponds and streams are recurring features. In many instances streams have been dammed to create mill ponds and the artificial lakes associated with designed parkland landscapes. The most impressive example is Burton Mill Pond at Burton Park, but there are smaller lakes at Parham Park, Wiston Park, Firle Place and Glyndebourne, to name but a few.

Historic parkland landscapes form an important element within the scarp footslopes than in any other part of the AONB. They impose another layer of complexity on the landscape pattern, adding to its diversity and character wherever they occur. Each is an individually designed landscape but they share the characteristic features of the 19th century fashion for the picturesque: sculpted, undulating landform, carefully sited groups of specimen trees, lakes, follies and designed 'prospects'. In addition to these larger parklands there are numerous smaller manor houses, farms and mills, all with a contrived, generally secluded landscape setting and a distinctive character.

Settlement

This is a well populated landscape with numerous villages, farms and hamlets reflecting the widespread availability of water from local wells. Most of the settlements are small, but those to the east of the Arun tend to have more suburban influences.

The villages vary in form. Some, such as Bignor and Poynings, are fairly clustered while others, such as Graffham and Fulking, have developed in a linear pattern. Most contain farms and display a strongly hierarchical collection of buildings centred on a manor house, church and often a mill. The influence of the larger country houses and their estates is strong in some settlements.

Building materials are very varied: a mixture of flint, brick, sandstone, rendering and half timber. Local rock, known as ‘clunch’, with a washed out, whitish colour is widely used as a building material. The varied use of materials gives these villages a lively, unpretentious character.

Subjective response

The scarp footslopes seem relatively small-scaled and domestic as this farmland landscape is juxtaposed directly against the dominant, steep chalk escarpment slopes to the south. The numerous villages, scattered farms and designed parklands give the area a welcoming lively character, with a wealth of detail and interest. Views are fairly contained and many of these features are partially hidden, making this seem quite a secretive landscape which invites exploration and which has many surprises. It is only from the escarpment that the overall pattern of the landscape is fully revealed.

Sensitivity to change

This farmland landscape is relatively well wooded and much of the area seems enclosed, and in places, almost hidden. However, the dominant presence of the chalk escarpment provides an additional dimension and the entire landscape is revealed in the panoramic views from the escarpment ridge top to the south.

These panoramic views make the landscape of the scarp footslopes highly sensitive to landscape change and, in particular, to any form of large-scale development. Small-scale, relatively scattered changes to the landscape pattern would be most easily absorbed, but the cumulative effect of many piecemeal changes can result in a degraded landscape, where the overall integrity of the visual structure is lost. In some areas subdivision of farmland into small holdings and horse paddocks has led to the erosion of the historic field pattern and the development of a less distinctive farmland landscape which does little to complement that of the escarpment. Any changes in this landscape should be carefully monitored and assessed in relation to views from the escarpment ridge.

The visual relationship between the farmland patchwork of the scarp footslopes and the lower edges of the steep escarpment slopes is particularly sensitive and any changes in the landscape pattern in these areas should seek to strengthen the visual structure and identity of the landscape. The relatively secretive, small-scale character of the ‘underhill lanes’ and tracks should be conserved. It is vulnerable to pressures from informal recreation, particularly pull-off parking on verges and along tracks. The small-scale, irregular field patterns in some parts of the scarp footslopes are also likely to be vulnerable to changes in land use and should be carefully conserved to ensure that important variations in scale and character within the area are retained.

Key issues for landscape management

Farmland mosaic

• Management strategies should aim to emphasise the large and small-scale sub-zones of this landscape, since even minor variations in scale, for instance between the narrow stream valleys, and the surrounding farmland, make an important contribution to its visual character.
• Irregular, small-scale field patterns should be a priority for conservation wherever they occur. It would be beneficial to maintain traditional pasture grazing in those associated with streams, particularly in the clay vale, so as to retain the nature conservation value associated with damp conditions and unimproved grasslands.
• Ensure that there is an attractive, strong relationship between the scarp footslopes and that of the chalk escarpment to the south. The character of this transition should vary but it is important that the bold contrasts are conserved and enhanced while retaining an overall visual balance. In some situations, where the existing visual structure of the farmland is degraded or weak, there may be scope for large-scale planting, with 'fingers' of woodland extending like buttresses along escarpment bluffs into the lowlands, giving wider emphasis to the undulating landform of the escarpment and enhancing its dominant scale.

Hedgerows

• There is some evidence that hedgerows have been removed, particularly in areas where arable farmland predominates. Replanting should be encouraged to strengthen the hedgerow network, defining lane and field boundaries in areas where it has been depleted. Sympathetic management of hedgerows should be encouraged and mechanical over-flailing avoided.
• A variety of hedgerow tree patterns is appropriate. In general terms, new planting should be designed to strengthen the existing visual structure of the farmland patchwork, with increased tree cover near settlements and along lanes. However, in areas where hedgerow oaks are characteristic (particularly in the Gault clay vales), individually-spaced oak trees should be planted sporadically within hedgerows along lanes, and occasionally within pastures, to replace existing over-mature specimens.
• There is scope for new hedgerow tree planting to help screen new development on the edges of villages, particularly to soften views to the rear elevation of properties. Such planting should be designed to tie in with existing small woodlands and copses so as to improve the overall setting of villages while still retaining a partially enclosed character.
• The important hedgebanks should be managed to retain their distinctive character.

Trees and woodlands

• Diverse patterns of tree cover should be strengthened and retained by the conservation and management of all existing hedgerows, hedgerow trees, woodlands and copses. New planting should be designed to screen or soften the visual impact of built development and reinforce the existing visual structure of the landscape, with an emphasis on creating a range of bold variations in scale, from extensive woodlands to copses, belts of hedgerow trees and isolated, individual specimens.
• New woodland planting should ideally favour native species. Wherever possible woodland edges should have organic shapes which connect into the existing patchwork of fields and hedgerows, with some belts of trees extending out from the woodlands along the alignment of the hedgerows.
• Give priority to the conservation of sinuous, linear stream-side woodlands.

Watercourses

• Encourage traditional management of the complete network of watercourses, particularly those in the vicinity of settlements where piecemeal changes tend to damage the quality, character and overall effectiveness of the drainage network.
• Stream-side planting of appropriate wetland species should be encouraged to protect and enhance the important visual influence of small streams in the wider landscape. Such planting should reinforce the existing pattern, with dense woodlands on the steep narrow valley slopes of the greensand bench, and a more open, varied pattern beside streams in the clay vale. Here trees could be planted in small groups and sinuous lines, marking bends in the streams or, at a broader scale, the outer edges of their associated damp grasslands.
• Conserve existing vegetation associated with the springs, marshes and ponds at the foot of the escarpment.

Roads and tracks

• Conserve the small-scale secretive character of roads, lanes and tracks. Control informal car parking on verges and laybys and farm entrances.
• Encourage native grassland and wildflower species on verges and banks alongside roads, lanes and tracks.

Parkland

• Encourage conversion of arable land to permanent pasture in areas of parkland trees.
• Identify the finest views of landscape features such as lakes, follies and specimen trees and ensure that these are conserved. There is considerable scope to reveal new special features and views by sensitive thinning and felling in areas where they are totally obscured. Care should be taken not to lose the important element of surprise: in the vicinity of parklands, ensure that trees frame views and provide visual balance without excessive screening.

Priorities for action

• Emphasise variations in scale within landscape mosaic and, in particular, give priority to the conservation and enhancement of small, irregular landscape forms
• Conserve, and in places restore, the network of hedgerows and hedgerow trees
• Conserve and enhance the landscape character of all streams and wetlands

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