is in the north, where in places the chalk is overlain by deposits of clay with flint. The lowest land, at , is in the south. Cranborne Chase is a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Other protected areas nearby include Garston Wood, a hazel coppice and RSPB reserve,. and Martin Down, an area of chalk downland and a national nature reserve. Demography In the 2011 census Sixpenny Handley parish—which includes the settlements of Gussage St Andrew, Woodcutts and Deanland—had 554 dwellings, 532 households and a population of 1,233. The historic population of Sixpenny Handley parish from the censuses between 1921 and 2001 is shown in the table below. Dorset County Council's 2013 mid-year estimate of the population of Sixpenny Handley parish is 1,210. Governance Sixpenny Handley falls within the electoral ward called 'Handley Vale'. The ward's most northerly parish is Pentridge, it then goes south as far as Witchampton. The total population of the ward at the 2011 Census was 2,491. Handley Vale is in the North Dorset Parliamentary Constituency. Economy Business units are provided at Town Farm Workshops and also at Manor Farm just outside the village. The village has a NISA convenience store and a butchers shop. There is a workshop garage which has no fuel pumps. There is a restaurant, two cafés, a pub which closed in 2019 and brewery. Tourism Sixpenny Handley is located on the B3081 road which has been described as providing "a magical driving experience", and the village is a popular stop-over for touring. Cranborne Chase hosts a number of festivals including The Great Dorset Steam Fair, Larmer Tree Festival and the Cranborne Chase AONB Woodfair; the village is always busy at these times. The village's isolated position makes it popular with both walkers and star gazers. Religion The parish church of St Mary dates from the 14th century. It has been designated a Grade II* listed building. St Marys is a Church of England Church. It is in the parish of St Mary's, Sixpenny Handley, Gussage St Andrew and St Rumbold's, Pentridge. The Church yard is managed according to the Living Churchyards project. Sport and recreation The village recreation field area includes a car park, sports pavilion, cricket pitch, football field, tennis court, bowling green, skate park, play park and the village hall. There is a play park for toddlers in Keats Meadow. The village has two allotment sites; both are