East Dorset Landscape Character Assessment - Dorsetforyou.com

1) Chase WoodsContextLandscape Type: Wooded chalk plateauLandscape Description Units Nos: 44 & 46throughout the downland area within East Dorset, although only theirsouthern extremities actually lie within the District boundary.Large areas such as Pribdean Wood, Hoe Coppice and Garston Wood,east of Deanland, and the various woods collectively referred to asChase Woods to the west comprise Ancient semi-natural woodlands.Brookes Coppice and Pollards Wood, to the west of Woodcutts Commonis also Ancient Woodland.View across the downland to Chase Woods on the horizonDescriptionA belt of woods extends across the higher chalk downs from VernditchLodge (near Woodyates) in the east, to West Lodge (Iwerne Minster) inthe west. The influence of these woods when seen together is feltHandley Common with the Coppices of Chase Woods forming a backdropWhilst some of the woods coincide with deposits of clay-with-flintsoverlying the chalk, the landscape type is generally similar to the opendownland; however its distinguishing feature is the woodland cover, nowmore extensive in the west. Visually, the woods complement the openEast Dorset District Council District Landscape Character Assessment 20088