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Landscape and Surroundings
Views into and out of the village
Most of the approach roads to the village are narrow county lanes, often flanked by hedgerows, trees and shrubs. Whether one enters by road, or by one of the footpaths, the approach is rural and trees largely hide the settlement itself. Within built up areas the many trees limit views, and the sharp bends in the roads provide many visual surprises. Tall trees that surround the church tower also hide domestic buildings.From the majority of vantage points on the edge of the parish, little of the village can be seen as it lies in a hollow and is screened by mature trees (alder, ash, oak and chestnut for example) and ancient hedgerows (including hawthorn, blackthorn, elder dog rose and spindle). Apart from the odd rooftop, outlying buildings and the church tower, one would not know that there was a significant settlement within the surrounding countryside. From elevated points within the village, the high ground of the surrounding countryside, with its open farmland and wooded areas, presents a rural and tranquil view.
Natural assets of the village Abbotts Ann and the surrounding countryside are home to a number of species covered by the Hampshire Biodiversity Action Plan, including the skylark, Brown hare, water vole, and red hemp nettle. Past gardening of the stream banks has destroyed water vole habitat, and care should be taken to leave the banks of the Pillhill Brook as natural as possible. The Pillhill Brook is one of the last managed habitats in the River Test system for the wild brown trout. |