Natural England

Thames Basin Lowlands

• A small-scale lowland farmed landscape lying within a generally flat but gently undulating clay vale.

• Characterised by small mixed holdings with brick-built farms, a mosaic of small fields interspersed by oak/ash woods and shaws, field ponds, meadows, heathland and individual mature tree specimens. 

• Gentle lowland character reinforced by river tributaries which meander through flat farmed valley landscapes with large areas of estate land.

• Some of the essential farmland character has been fragmented by the expansion of settlements and the associated major roads that dissect this area.

• Edges of settlements characterised by an unkempt appearance of wire fences, sheds, derelict hedgerows and weed-infested fields associated with pony paddocks.

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.