Landscape Character Menu
List of Figures
List of Photographs
1 Introduction
1.1 The Scope and Context for this Study
1.2 Purpose of the Landscape Character Assessment
1.3 Approach and Methodology
1.4 Structure of the Report
2 The Evolution of Lancashire
2.1 Physical Influences
2.2 Human Influences
3 Lancashire's Landscape Character
3.1 Moorland Plateaux
3.2 Moorland Hills
3.3 Enclosed Uplands
3.4 Moorland Fringe
3.5 Undulating Lowland Farmland
3.6 Industrial Foothills and Valleys
3.7 Farmed Ridges
3.8 Settled Valleys
3.9 Reservoir Valleys
3.10 Wooded Rural Valleys
3.11 Valley Floodplains
3.12 Low Coastal Drumlins
3.13 Drumlin Field
3.14 Rolling Upland Farmland
3.15 Coastal Plain
3.16 Mosslands
3.17 Enclosed Coastal Marsh
3.18 Open Coastal Marsh
3.19 Coastal Dunes
3.20 Wooded Limestone Hills and Pavements
3.21 Limestone Fells
4 Lancashire's Urban Landscape Types
4.1 Historic Core (1100-1800)
4.2 Industrial Age (1800-1930)
4.3 Suburban (1930 onwards)
A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire - Landscape Character Assessment
Undulating Lowland Farmland
 |
Undulating Lowland Farmland Character Areas 5a Upper Hodder Valley 5b Lower Hodder and Loud Valley 5c Lower Ribble 5d Salmesbury-Withnell Fold 5e Lower Ribblesdale (Clitheroe to Gisburn) 5f Lower Ribblesdale (Gisburn to Hellifield) 5g South Bowland Fringes 5h Goosnargh-Whittingham 5i West Bowland Fringes 5j North Bowland Fringes 5k Cuerden-Euxton |
Landscape Character
Generally below 150m, the Undulating Lowland Farmland lies between the major valleys and the moorland fringes The underlying geology is largely masked by heavy boulder clays and hedgerows predominate over stone walls. This lowland landscape is traversed by deeply incised, wooded cloughs and gorges. There are also many mixed farm woodlands, copses and hedgerow trees, creating an impression of a well wooded landscape from ground level and a patchwork of wood and pasture from raised viewpoints on the fells. Some of the most picturesque stone villages of the county occur within this well settled landscape type. The towns of Longridge and Clitheroe also occur within this type, but are not typical of the settlement pattern. The area also has many country houses whose boundary walls and designed landscapes add to the species diversity and visual appeal. There is a high density of farms and scattered cottages outside the clustered settlements, linked by a network of minor roads.
Typical View Photo 19:
Slaidburn
Physical Influences
The Undulating Lowland Farmland forms a transitional zone between the low lying plains of soft glacial deposits and the high fells of Bowland, formed from Mill stone Grit. To the west of the Forest of Bowland, running along the line of the M6, a substantial fault separates the soft Triassic rock of the lowlands from the harder Carboniferous rocks of the fells. The Clitheroe Reef Knolls SSSI, located between Worston and Downham, comprise an important geological feature. This is one of several Reef Knolls which support species-rich calcareous grassland.
This landscape type, whether composed of limestone, grit, shale or sandstone, is of gentle topography when compared to the fells and hills. Glacial action has accentuated the differences by further tempering the relief of the low-lying areas by the deposition of glacial drift. Deep drift is conspicuous where hedges predominate over stone walls, as quarrying is only possible where the drift is sufficiently thin.
Many of the woodlands which survive on the steep slopes of the deep cloughs and valley sides are of ancient origin and represent a rich natural resource. They include alder and ash woods on the base-rich soils of the valley floors grading through to lowland oakwoods and upland oak woods on the upper valley sides. Red Scar and Tun Brook Woods, situated east of Preston between Ribbleton and Grimsargh are classified as SSSIs and are important for their extensive examples of ash- wych elm woodland and alder woods. Hedges and hedgerow trees are also important as habitats in an otherwise intensively managed landscape.
Standing bodies of water are important habitats within the area; especially for birds. Rough Hey Wood, located south east of Garstang is designated as a SSSI and contains one of Britains largest heronries.
Human Influences
The landscape proved more favourable to early settlers than the nearby uplands. At Portfield above Whalley, large earthworks of Iron Age date defend the neck of a steep-sided promontory whose flat top had been utilized since the Neolithic period. The presence of a large aisled barn of probably 18th century date points to an earlier, perhaps medieval, successful farmstead, attesting to the favourable nature of the site.
By the Roman period it is probable that much of this landscape type was already settled fairly densely and the fort established at Ribchester is known to have had some civilian government functions. Whilst Roman remains (besides roads) outside the immediate area of the forts are poorly represented in the record, the presence of Roman Kilns at Quernmore show that they exploited the natural resources of the area.
Medieval population pressures, which saw the utilisation of small areas of the mosslands elsewhere in Lancashire also led to the continuation of small woodland clearances along the Ribble and the Lune. This created a small scale intimate landscape of scattered farms linked by winding roads with irregular fields and patches of surviving woodland on stream and field edges, a landscape which has remained intact to this day.
The majority of enclosure dates from the medieval period and has created a landscape of small fields which are mostly hedged although stone walls are evident where geology lies close to the surface.
Country houses are a feature of the area and are often surrounded by parklands and well managed estates. They are evidence of the developing industrial enterprise and increasing wealth between the 16th and 19th centuries. Architecturally distinctive yeoman and gentry houses are also characteristic of this type and date from the 17th century onwards.
During the 17th century lime was used for land improvement in these lowland fringe areas and many small farm kilns remain in the landscape, along with the larger industrial kilns and quarries of the 19th and 20th century. The mining of Millstone Grit also proved to be important in this landscape type. Where suitable stone was available, querns and millstones could be quarried and manufactured to meet the needs of the population. Remains of 19th century millstone production near Quernmore can still be seen on the flanks of Clougha Pike. Lead and Silver were extracted in Rimington from the 17th century and mined and manufactured in places such as at Quernmore to meet the demands of the rapidly industrialising county.
CHARACTER AREAS - UNDULATING LOWLAND FARMLAND
Undulating Lowland Farmland occurs on the lower fringes of the uplands, below about 150m AOD, across the whole study area.
Local
|
Character Areas |
Description |
| 5a |
Upper Hodder Valley |
This is a unique hidden area of settled farmland enclosed by shale and limestone uplands and the grit moorland of the Bowland Fells. It is a lush oasis in the middle of a bleak landscape. The landscape is centred around the upper River Hodder and its tributaries and is well wooded. The underlying geology is largely overlain by boulder clays although the underlying limestone is evident as outcrops known as `Reef Knolls as well as in the white stone walls, bridges and limestone built villages, such as Slaidburn. The Reef Knolls are particularly characteristic of this area as are stands of beech which are often visible on hill tops. |
| 5b |
Lower Hodder |
This area forms part of the Undulating Lowland Farmland to the south of the Forest of Bowland and includes the deeply incised wooded course of the Hodder below Whitewell and its tributary, the River Loud, as far as its confluence with the Ribble. The underlying bedrock is limestone which is overlain by good soils, providing lush green pastures and good tree growth. The course of the Hodder is particularly well wooded and the pattern of incised minor wooded tributaries is distinctive to this character area. The area is little affected by modern development and the picturesque limestone villages of Chipping and Waddington have retained their vernacular character. |
| 5c |
Lower Ribble |
The Lower Ribble is an area of lowland gritstone farmland between Longridge Fell to the north and Mellor Ridge to the south. It has a distinctive broad valley landform; the north and south valley sides are separated by a flood plain which contains the meandering course of the River Ribble. There is a particularly distinctive pattern of wooded cloughs which descend the valley sides, their streams emptying into the Ribble. A complex pattern of hedges and woodland form links to these wooded cloughs, giving an overall impression of a well wooded landscape. Although a rural valley, the area is well settled; a dense network of winding country lanes and tracks link the large number of stone farm buildings. Other features of this area are the country houses and designed landscapes, for example Stonyhurst College, Huntingdon Hall and Showley Hall. The Roman settlement of Ribchester is sited at an historic crossing point of the Ribble, a tranquil village in the centre of the valley. |
| 5d |
Samlesbury-Withnell |
An area between the Ribble Valley to the north and the Industrial Foothills to the south. It is underlain by millstone grit and sandstone, but the landscape is influenced by the mantle of glacial till which covers the surface, producing a gently undulating landscape of large lush green pastures divided by low cut hedgerows and hedgerow trees. Dramatic steep sided wooded valleys wind their way through the landscape carrying the River Darwen and its tributaries. Designed landscapes and parkland associated with Samlesbury Hall, Woodfold Hall, Pleasington Old Hall and Hoghton Tower add to the overall woodland cover in this lowland landscape and Witton Country Park provides a countryside resource on the edge of Blackburn. It is also influenced by infrastructure (major road and rail routes), industrial works, the airfield at Samlesbury and built development on the edges of Preston. |
| 5e |
Lower Ribblesdale (Clitheroe to Gisburn) |
This area forms the southern valley side of the Ribble, between Copster Green and Gisburn, on the lowland fringes of Pendle Hill. It is a particularly well settled area and provides a corridor for communication routes along the Ribble Valley. The A59(T) runs the length of the area, linking the settlements of Copster Green, Whalley, Clitheroe, Chatburn and Gisburn. The railway links the valley to Blackburn and Yorkshire. This communication structure has encouraged built development and industry; the large cement works at Clitheroe is a prominent visual landmark for miles around. This character area is underlain by limestone and has some good examples of limestone reef knolls, particularly around Clitheroe; Clitheroe Castle is located on top of one of these knolls. |
| 5f |
Lower Ribblesdale (Gisburn to Hellifield) |
This character area follows the upper reaches of the River Ribble between Bolton-by-Bowland and Long Preston on limestone geology. It occurs on the fringes of the Slaidburn Rolling Upland Farmland between 100 and 150m AOD. It is a highly rural area which is dominated by lush green pastures divided by hedgerows with many hedgerow trees. The mixed plantation woodlands associated with estates of Bolton Hall and Halton Place and the ancient woodlands along the Ribble itself contribute to the wooded character of this landscape character area. |
| 5g |
South Bowland Fringes |
This character area forms the lowland fringes of Waddington Fell, to the south of the Forest of Bowland. It is a well wooded area whose limestone slopes are particularly notable for their pattern of wooded cloughs - the tributaries which descend the valley side before feeding into the Ribble. The villages of Waddington, West Bradford, Grindleton and Holdon are located at the foot of wooded cloughs. Browsholme Hall has an influence over landscape character; shelter belts and beech hedges are features of the area around Cow Ark. |
| 5h |
Goosnargh-Whittingham |
The undulating lowland farmland on the north-east fringes of Preston forms a transitional landscape between the upland landscape of the Bowland Fells to the north-east and the agricultural Amounderness Plain to the west. It is an historically interesting area on the fringe of the Forest of Bowland AONB. The landform gently descends from 150m at the moorland fringe of Beacon Fell to the 30m contour (approximately) which defines the edge of the sandstone agricultural plain of the Fylde. However, this is not a clear boundary and the visual transition from one to the other occurs across a broad area between the M6 and main Preston to Lancaster railway line. As a result of this gradual transition it demonstrates characteristics of both the Fydle and the Bowland fringes. It is a pastoral landscape which is relatively open and intensively farmed with much hedgerow loss and few trees or woodlands although hedgerows along the network of lanes are important landscape features. There are often clear views over the plain below. The area is under pressure from built development as a result of its proximity to Preston. Vernacular buildings are of local stone, although a number of incongruous materials are seen throughout the area. The area is rich in evidence for Roman occupation. |
| 5i |
West Bowland Fringes |
A transitional landscape between the gritstone scarps of the Bowland Fells and the coastal plain of Amounderness. A fault line provides a corridor along which the motorway, road and railway run and provides a transition to the agricultural plain. However, this transition is softened by glacial deposits, for example at Galgate where the lowland farmland merges imperceptibly with the low drumlin fields. However, at Quernmore, there is a dramatic wooded ridge (7c) which forms a definite boundary between the grit lowland fell edges and the adjacent glacial landscape to the west. The transition from fringe to fell is quite striking, particularly to the north-west below Claughton Moor where it occurs over a short distance. The valleys of the Brock, Calder and Wyre are also relatively dramatic, descending from the fells in deeply incised wooded valleys. There are exceptional views of the Amounderness Plain from the hillsides and the scarps of the Bowland fells are never far away. |
| 5j |
North Bowland Fringes |
The north-facing gritstone slopes, known as the Forest of Mewith, is an area of undulating marginal farmland on the northern edges of the Bowland Fells It is bordered by a drumlin field to the north which influences the landform of the lowland fringe; the broadly undulating landform contrasts with the steep scarps of west Bowland. This is a rural area which is crossed by a dense network of footpaths and farm tracks; a number of small stone farm holdings are found at the end of these dead-end farm tracks. |
| 5k |
Cuerden-Euxton |
The rural character of this landscape is largely obscured by built development which has taken place since the late 1970s. Motorways and motorway junctions dominate the northern sector. The principal landscape feature is Cuerden Valley Park, based upon the woodland and valley of the river Lostock. The park is managed for nature conservation and recreational use and is an important local resource. Pockets of farmland and vernacular buildings survive as a reminder of earlier land use and settlement pattern. |