A Landscape Strategy for Lancashire - Landscape Character Assessment

3.Lancashires Landscape Character

Since the Industrial Revolution, Lancashire has been a county of contrasts; large urban centres with a legacy of historic industrial buildings are juxtaposed with the exposed uplands of the West Pennine Moors and the expansive, wild mudflats of Morecambe Bay. The countys agricultural landscapes include marginal upland pastures, the extensive grasslands and wooded river corridors of the Ribble Valley, the arable fields of the Fylde and the drained horticultural landscape of the mosslands.

Lancashire is also characterised by long views; the inter-visibility between the distinctive landscape types adds to the countys appeal. On a clear day there are views across the whole county from the high Bowland massif: north and west to the drumlins which border the North Yorkshire hills; southwards across undulating farmland to the industrial foothills which surround the conurbations of Blackburn and Burnley; and westwards to the coastal plains and mosslands which fringe the Irish Sea. Similarly, from the flat coastal mosslands, the agricultural plain or the cities of Preston and Lancaster, views eastwards to the moorland hills are a constant reminder of the contrasting landscapes which can be accessed in a thirty minute drive.

In north Lancashire, Coastal Drumlins, Drumlin Fields, Rolling Upland Farmland and the Floodplain Valley of the Lune are the predominant landscape types. These are rural areas where clipped hedges divide the landscape into a neat tapestry of grazed fields, although in the rolling upland farmland landscapes, stone walls, beech stands, knolls and rock outcrops vary the texture of the wider landscape considerably. Views of Lancaster, Morecambe and Heysham are reminders of the proximity of these landscapes to urban populations. On the coast, north of Lancaster, there is a transition from Open Coastal Marsh to the Wooded Limestone Hills and Pavements of Arnside and Silverdale, where dramatic cliffs, limestone pavements, and numerous archaeological sites combine to create a rare and unique landscape. On the northern fringes of Lancashire, Leck Fell, part of the Limestone Fells which extend northwards and westwards into Yorkshire, is the highest point in the county.

The centre of Lancashire is dominated by the dramatic Bowland massif, where the remote and exposed Moorland Plateaux are surrounded by gentler Moorland Hills of heather moor, blanket bog and acid grassland. Here uninterrupted views across vast areas of surrounding countryside are punctuated by glacial erratics, woodland blocks, ruined farmsteads and stone walls. These also act as a reminder of the geological and human forces which have shaped what appears on the surface to be a wild and untamed landscape. The lower slopes of the Moorland Fringes show a gradual transition to the verdant grasslands of the Undulating Lowland Farmland, where there is a rich tapestry of hedged fields, farm woodlands, copses and picturesque stone villages. The Floodplain Valley of the Ribble weaves its way through these landscapes and contributes significantly to the aesthetic appeal of the area; the presence of numerous archaeological sites indicates its prolonged importance as a major communication route and ancient territorial boundary.

To the south of the Ribble lowlands, the urban areas of Accrington, Blackburn, Burnley, Nelson and Colne are surrounded by the small scale, complex landscape of the Industrial Foothills and Valleys, where remnants of mills and mill cottage terraces are a tangible reminder of the areas past. There are also large country houses and landscaped estates, which reflect the great wealth generated by entrepreneurs and patrons during the period. In south east Lancashire, the Settled Valleys of Rawtenstall and Bacup dissect the high plateau of the Enclosed Uplands and provide one of the most distinctive landscape types in the county. Along the valley floor, the dense urban development contains many clues to the areas rich industrial heritage. In the nearby Reservoir Valleys Victorian engineering was put to work to supply clean water to the rapidly expanding towns close by. The reservoirs and their surrounding valleys represent a valuable recreational resource. To the south east of the county, there is a steep transition to the Moorland Hills and Moorland Plateaux of the Pennines.

The landscape of west Lancashire is characterised by the flat or gently undulating farmland of the Coastal Plain. Here the large arable fields are punctuated by small deciduous woodlands and shelterbelts. These open landscapes offer a dramatic contrast to the undulating and more intimate countryside to the east. Settlement character consists of clusters of 18th and 19th century red brick farm buildings, rural villages and towns which have been heavily influenced by 20th century modernisation and development. Towards the coast, ancient peat deposits, which have been drained since the medieval period are typical. These Mossland areas are criss-crossed with drainage ditches and straight narrow roads which link modern farms and glasshouses. Beyond this reclaimed farmland, the Enclosed Coastal Marshes are defined by man-made earth bunds protecting large square fields dedicated to improved pasture. The estuaries of the Ribble, Lune and Wyre are fringed by Open Coastal Marsh and intertidal flats. The fine sward, etched by a maze of creeks and channels, is an attractive and much valued landscape, with a prolific birdlife.

This landscape character assessment provides a detailed review of Lancashires landscapes. The landscape has been described and classified into landscape units of similar character. There are two types of landscape classification. Particular landform and landcover elements may combine to produce distinctive landscape character types. These are landscapes with a range of distinctive but generic characteristics that can recur in different areas, for example a particular type of landuse or historic field pattern. Landscape character areasare units of landscape which are geographically specific and have their own individual character or sense of place. Whilst the current strategies relate to the landscape character types, the character areas will prove particularly useful in planning and management and in the generation of policies or actions can be applied at a local level.

The Landscape Character Assessment records the specific character of 21 landscape types and 81 landscape character areas, focusing on familiar local landscape patterns.

The landscape classification is shown in Figure 8. A glance back at Figures [4], [5], [6] and [7] will highlight the relationships between landscape character and the landform, underlying geology, habitat types and the historic development of the landscape. Together the landscape character types and landscape character areas provide a new descriptive map of the study area which draws attention to the contrasts in landscape character which we so often take for granted.

Following this introduction, each of the generic landscape character types is described in turn. The physical (geological, geomorphological and ecological) influences and human influences which have shaped the character of the landscape are also noted and the specific landscape character areas found in each landscape character type are described.

These landscape descriptions and notes on the evolution of landscape character form the basis for an analysis of landscape sensitivity and vulnerability to change. This, together with strategic recommendations for each landscape type, is found in the Landscape Strategy document.

The built environment of the major urban areas in Lancashire has also been characterised into three generic urban landscape character types. The historic processes which shaped these urban types and their appearance today are described in detail in the section following the landscape character types. The urban landscape character types are illustrated in Figure 9.