The Thames Basin Heaths are a natural region in southern England in Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey, a slightly mottled east-west belt of ecologically recognised and protected land.
They are recognised as national character area 129 by Natural England, the government's advisor on the natural environment. They cover 118,529 hectares (457.64 sq mi) of countryside. Inset towns include Newbury, Camberley, Ascot and Woking, To the west sit the Berkshire Downs, across similar size, well-drained, and intensively farmed, sports-use or settled Thames floodplains to the north are the similarly protected Chilterns and to the near south are the Hampshire Downs.[1] Not protected as extensively but in significant part adding to the habitats of fauna are the Thames Valley (including Thames Basin lowlands) to the east and as described to the north.
The terrain of the heathland is characterized by flat or gently sloping plateaux with numerous watercourses incising broad or sometimes steep-sided valleys. Apart from these, the heaths are lower heading east (before the London Basin) and along the main river valleys to the low-lying areas of the Kennet floodplain and lower reaches of the Loddon and its largest tributary, the Blackwater. At the western edge is the chalk scarp of the Hampshire Downs. The highest elevation is 296 metres.[1]
^ abcdNCA 129: Thames Basin Heaths Key Facts & Data at www.naturalengland.org.uk. Accessed on 6 Apr 2013.
November 11, 2023
thames, basin, heaths, natural, region, southern, england, berkshire, hampshire, surrey, slightly, mottled, east, west, belt, ecologically, recognised, protected, land, chobham, common, looking, towards, sunningdale, golf, coursethey, recognised, national, cha. The Thames Basin Heaths are a natural region in southern England in Berkshire Hampshire and Surrey a slightly mottled east west belt of ecologically recognised and protected land Chobham Common looking towards Sunningdale Golf CourseThey are recognised as national character area 129 by Natural England the government s advisor on the natural environment They cover 118 529 hectares 457 64 sq mi of countryside Inset towns include Newbury Camberley Ascot and Woking To the west sit the Berkshire Downs across similar size well drained and intensively farmed sports use or settled Thames floodplains to the north are the similarly protected Chilterns and to the near south are the Hampshire Downs 1 Not protected as extensively but in significant part adding to the habitats of fauna are the Thames Valley including Thames Basin lowlands to the east and as described to the north Contents 1 Environment 2 Drainage 3 Protected areas 4 Incursionary barriers 5 See also 6 ReferencesEnvironment editThe terrain of the heathland is characterized by flat or gently sloping plateaux with numerous watercourses incising broad or sometimes steep sided valleys Apart from these the heaths are lower heading east before the London Basin and along the main river valleys to the low lying areas of the Kennet floodplain and lower reaches of the Loddon and its largest tributary the Blackwater At the western edge is the chalk scarp of the Hampshire Downs The highest elevation is 296 metres 1 Drainage editThe other main watercourses are the Basingstoke Canal the Kennet amp Avon Canal the Wey Whitewater Pang and Mole 1 Protected areas edit nbsp Track through the forestry plantation in the Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heaths SSIJust over 20 000 hectares 17 sits in the North Wessex Downs AONB The zone has Two Special Protection Areas Thames Basin Heaths SPA and South West London Waterbodies SPA Three Special Areas of Conservation Thursley Hankley and Frensham Commons Ash Pirbright and Chobham SAC Kennet Valley Alderwoods SAC and Kennet and Lambourn Floodplain SAC Three national nature reserves Chobham Common NNR Castle Bottom NNR Ashford Hill NNR 1 There are many Sites of Special Scientific Interest or SSSIs within one of the largest is the Broadmoor to Bagshot Woods and Heaths SSSI where rare types of birds and other species are professionally monitored and conserved Much of the east of the zone there can be easily traced a Roman Road the Devil s Highway Roman Britain The region has an Iron Age hillfort one of several so named in this case specifically Caesar s Camp Bracknell Forest Incursionary barriers editEcologically near sterile obstacles to migration coupled with longstanding biome and habitat loss are significant Chiefly these are the M3 motorway M4 motorwayTo a lesser extent the narrower main routes of rail and road The South West Main Line The Waterloo to Reading Line The Ascot to Guildford Line A30 A329No wildlife crossings to abate these obstacles have yet been made See also editThames ValleyReferences edit a b c d NCA 129 Thames Basin Heaths Key Facts amp Data at www naturalengland org uk Accessed on 6 Apr 2013 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thames Basin Heaths amp oldid 1083713263, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
