East Dorset Landscape Character Assessment - Dorsetforyou.com

appearance, it has more in common with the area of forest-heath to theeast beyond the river than with the areas of farmed heath or river terraceto the north. It is separated from the latter by the extensive West MoorsPetroleum Depot complex. An overhead powerline runs west to eastthrough the plantation.The character area is crossed by part of the Castleman Trailway thatfollows the disused railway line, the area to the north of the trailwayforms part of the Holt and West Moors Heaths SSSI which is also acomponent site in the Natura 2000 network of internationally importantand protected sites.20) Ferndown Forest – Stapehill Forest /Heath MosaicContextLandscape Character Type: Forest heath mosaicLandscape Description Unit Nos. 444; 473Key Characteristics• Flat land• Extensive areas of pine and birch woodland• Remnant heathland areas• Absence of fields and hedgerows• Ecological valueKey Features• Former railway line now trailway• O/h power lineFerndown Forest, bisected by the Ferndown By passDescriptionThis area lies on the Bagshot Beds where caps of Plateau Gravel markhigher ground particularly at Colehill, With the presence of Colehill andUddens Plantations in Ferndown Forest much of this character areareflects that of the larger areas of forested heaths noted to the north andeast. The elevated position of Colehill Plantation provides a significantbackdrop to the built up area of Colehill in the views from the StourEast Dorset District Council District Landscape Character Assessment 200854