Natural England

129. Thames Basin Heaths

• Particularly diverse landscape unified by the high incidence of heathland and coniferous forestry, the open unenclosed nature of which is unusual within the context of the south-east region. 

• Heavily populated and developed area characterised by large towns plus numerous smaller settlements along transport corridors interspersed by open land.

• Important occupation area from Mesolithic to modern times based on exploitation of the rivers with numerous Prehistoric, Roman and medieval settlements, the latter of which extended along valley bottoms.

• Fragmented but often connected blocks of largely neglected remnant heathland as a result of early agricultural clearances and widespread development, with most heath retained on large commons or as Ministry of Defence training areas.

• The western part of the area is fairly well-wooded with grazed pasture but retains a heathy character due to the dominance of oak/birch/bracken/pine and remnant heath on small unimproved pockets of land.

• Variety and contrast is given by the wide grazed floodplain, drainage ditches, restored gravel workings and lush wetland vegetation associated with the Kennet Valley.

• Cultivated farmland and pasture is typically enclosed within small and irregularly shaped fields divided by hedgerows with small areas of wood and heath heavily used for horse grazing.

• Large tracts of coniferous plantations or mixed wood with beech and birch are typical of much of the area, with significant areas of ancient woodland in the west.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.