East Dorset Landscape Character Assessment - Dorsetforyou.com

22) Holt Heath Most of the heath is elevated above the surrounding landscape. Its open,largely tree-less character affords panoramic, long-distance views: thoseto the Isle of Wight and the coast being of particular note.ContextLandscape Character Type: Open rolling heathLandscape Description Unit Nos. 474; 475The landform slopes down fairly gently towards the east and south, buton the north and west sides the slopes are significantly steeper.The southern edge is defined by White Sheet Plantation. These arecomparatively recent coniferous plantations which today form a contrastagainst the open heathland.Holt HeathDescriptionIn common with the other heathland areas, Holt Heath lies on the sandyacidic soils of the Bagshot Beds. The north and western sides arecapped with deposits of Plateau Gravel, which coincide with the highestparts of the heath.Views across Holt Heath towards the Bournemouth conurbationHolt Heath has a wild character that belies its artificial management.Originally a wooded area, the heath was cleared during the Neolithicperiod and Bronze Age for stock grazing. The heathland once formed avast tract extending almost continuously eastwards to the River Avon. AsEast Dorset District Council District Landscape Character Assessment 200857