East Dorset Landscape Character Assessment - Dorsetforyou.com

Farmland extends down as far as good drainage allows. Field sizes vary,but follow the pattern of the chalk landscape. Water meadowscharacterise the valley bottom. The area is of considerable natureconservation importance.The river flows through water meadows before entering the lower part ofWimborne St Giles. Bridging points at Bull Bridge and near French’sFarm provide a focus for the landscape influence of the river. Unspoiltviews of the water meadows can be obtained from the listed bridge nearFrench’s Farm.Set apart from the village of Wimborne St. Giles, there are a number ofmodest manor houses and traditional farmhouses fairly evenly dispersedthroughout the valley, which gives the area a lived-in character incontrast to the surrounding downland. The eighteenth-century tower ofthe Parish Church is just visible amongst the surrounding treescape.A narrow winding lane continues up the valley linking Wimborne St Gileswith Monkton Up Wimborne. Beyond this hamlet at the head of the valleythe lane straightens out and the downland influence is reasserted.Key Characteristics• Shallow valley• Farmland with relatively few trees, apart from St. Giles Park• Water meadows• Important chalk stream habitat• Dispersed dwellings and farmsteadsKey Features:• Church of St Giles• Old bridges over the AllenThe tower of the Church of St Giles viewed from the B3081 to the northEast Dorset District Council District Landscape Character Assessment 200821