This ‘area’ encompasses all of Petersfield’s landscape setting.  It includes the ‘green fingers’ that link Petersfield to its surrounding countryside, the distant views of the town from its immediate hinterland, from the downs and hangers, from the approach roads and the views out of Petersfield from within its streets and buildings.

Important here is consideration of the effect of the surrounding landscape on the life of the town and, conversely, of the town on the surrounding landscape.

Physically, Petersfield lies in a shallow dish of land, traversed by streams and tracks, some very ancient.  The chalk high ground to the south and north gives way to gault clays and greensand on the lower slopes.  To the east, the Rother runs out through arable farmland into Sussex. (See topographical map).

(a)  North (B3070) to East (A272).  Photos: A

From the north-east segment of the Town there are scarcely any views outwards.  Rolling farmland slopes gently up towards Durford Wood.  Trees, some of which are large and ancient, screen the town almost completely from this sector (photo A).  The few buildings in the landscape are prominent.  Rooflines and careful lighting design are important for conserving character.

(b) East (A272) to South (A3).    Photos B, C, D, E, F, G

Flat farmland to the east of Petersfield runs in almost uninterrupted to the Heath.  The River Rother (photo C) with its species-rich marsh and woodland, skirts Penn’s Place (photo B) and gives it an astonishingly sylvan setting.  From the footpaths on the ridge at Nursted, the town is largely hidden by its own trees, notably along the south side of Sussex Road and by the copses on the ridges themselves.  Ashford Hangers form the backdrop to the town on its north-eastern side. (Photos D, E and F)

The Causeway (Area 23) extends the town in a ribbon southwards into the countryside.  It is bounded to east and west by two of Petersfield’s green fingers, which, with their footpaths, run almost to the mediaeval heart of the town.  The local plan Inspector stated that building on this land should not be countenanced.  Views out of this area to the Downs and Hangers give it a feeling of tranquillity (photo G)

(c)  South (A3) to West (A272).   Photos H, J, K

The elevated section of the A3 to the west of the town partly screens the industrial buildings in Bedford Road from the immediately surrounding low-lying farmland, though with correspondingly greater noise impact further afield.  From Weston (photo H) the town is seen as a scattering of buildings among the trees, while from the greater height of Butser Hill, it is clearer but distance diminishes the impact of all but the most flagrantly brightly-painted industrial units (photo J).  As the footpath rises out of Stroud, past Mustercombe, the town vanishes again, with only prominent church towers easily discernible (photo K).

(d)  West (A272) to North  (B3070)  Photos L and M

Despite the presence of the A3, the northern and western approaches to Petersfield give little clue of the presence of the town until one is in it.  The undulating land, with its trees, its green fingers extending towards the centre and the slightly steeper topography ensure this.  Only from Shoulder of Mutton in the Ashford Hangers is one really aware of the industrial estate (photo M).  The A3 is largely in its cutting and only shows briefly in the distance as it climbs into the downs.  The scattered settlements of Sheet and Steep blend with the topography.  They remain distinct from the main townscape, buffered by farm land.