Reservoir Valleys

Reservoir Valleys Character Areas 9a   Rivington 9b   Turton-Jumbles 9c   Haslingden Grane 9d   Belmont 9e   Roddlesworth

Key Environmental Features

      Open valley profile with gently sloping sides, influenced by glacial activity.

      Dominated by numerous large reservoirs with characteristic ornate Victorian detailing. The reservoirs provide water resources and support important populations of wintering wildfowl and waders; they are also a focus for recreation.

      A well-wooded landscape with broadleaved and coniferous plantations bordering and linking reservoirs. The extensive woodland creates a relatively robust landscape, able to accommodate large numbers of people.

      Important semi-natural habitats, including wetlands, marginal plant communities (particularly in the draw-down zone), species-rich grasslands and hay meadows.

      Remains of abandoned settlement, including farms, roads and quarries, for instance at Haslingden Grane, and general absence of modern settlement.

      Evidence of historical mineral extraction in the form of mines and quarries, usually for sandstone. Many have been reclaimed and provide an important nature conservation and/or recreation resource as well as prominent landscape features.

      A designed landscape at Lever Park of national historic importance.

Local Forces for Change and their Landscape Implications

      Pressures for recreation and the inevitable conflicting interests that can arise, for instance between active noisy pursuits, such as water sports, and passive informal activities, such as walking and cycling.

      The ongoing restructuring of the larger woodlands owned by North West Water should create a more robust woodland structure with a diverse tree canopy and an increase in the proportion of broadleaved trees. Woodland management plans can help to ensure that the valleys have the capacity to absorb large numbers of visitors and recreation activities. However, there is a risk that woodland management (especially under-planting and planting up of clearings) will lead to the loss of nesting sites (eg for redstarts) and a decline in habitats suitable for species such as tree pipits.

      Continuing decline of pre-reservoir farm buildings and boundaries following abandonment and demolition.

Landscape Strategy for the Reservoir Valleys

Strategy	Recommendations
Conserve the distinctive built character of the Reservoir Valleys	conserve and repair distinctive 19th century features, such as crenellated dressed stone walls and towers        conserve the historic pattern of pre-reservoir settlement and farmland on some valley slopes (eg 9c)
Conserve and manage all existing woodlands	encourage the re-structuring of conifer plantations via the Forest Plan process (particularly in 9b)        actively manage woodlands, replanting as appropriate to maintain well structured, diverse native woodlands        remove non-native invasive species        encourage natural regeneration as well as new planting, particularly in the vicinity of semi-natural ancient woodland, maintaining woodland glades where appropriate
Conserve the important historic designed landscape at Lever Park	ensure new planting reflects and enhances the historic design of the park        give priority to the conservation, repair and management of key landscape and architectural features, such as avenues, rides, views, bridges, cascades and embankments
Enhance valuable wildlife habitats	conserve the species-rich hay meadows and pastures which are an important element alongside some reservoirs in the West Pennine Moors - management of reservoir embankments should also take account of existing or potential nature conservation interest        conserve former quarries as valuable habitats - restrict planting in these areas        investigate scope for manipulating water levels to maintain and create shoreline habitats - many of the reservoirs in the West Pennine Moors support important draw-down zone vegetation, including nationally important species        provide artificial nesting habitats as appropriate        remove non-native invasive species from key wildlife sites        limit recreational disturbance at key locations for wildlife        avoid creating new engineered banks, culverts and other constructed forms of water management as part of new schemes
Enhance opportunities for informal recreation	maintain and repair footpaths and all visitor facilities        extend footpaths along river corridors and to adjacent settlements, aiming to provide a variety of routes with access for the disabled, passive recreation and those interested in more active pursuits        visitor facilities should be designed to minimise landscape impacts - they should be well screened by woodland planting
Restore broadleaved woodlands in areas where woodland cover has become denuded or highly fragmented	establish new semi-natural woodland in formerly wooded cloughs/gullies        extend and link existing woodlands, giving priority to linking areas of ancient woodland and developing links between areas of semi-natural habitat        restoration should aim at natural regeneration where appropriate        encourage woodland restoration around existing buildings, campsites, picnic facilities and car parks

Potential Local Indicators for Monitoring Landscape Change in the Reservoir Valleys