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
Coastal Plain
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Coastal Plain Character Areas 15a1a Ormskirk-Lathom-Rufford 15b1a Longton-Bretherton 15c1a Croston-Mawdesley 15d1a The Fylde 15e1a Forton-Garstang-Catterall 15f1a Knott End-Pilling |
Landscape Character
Generally below 50m, this landscape type is characterised by gently undulating or flat lowland farmland divided by ditches in West Lancashire and by low clipped hedges elsewhere. The Fylde landscape in particular is characterised by a high density of small marl pit field ponds. Many hedgerows have been removed to give very large fields, open road verges and long views. Although woodland cover is generally very low, these views are punctuated by small deciduous secondary woodlands, mostly in the form of shelter belts or estate plantations; they provide a backdrop to views. The history of the area as an arable landscape is reflected in the farm buildings, particularly the highly distinctive red brick barns with brickwork detailing. Settlement is relatively dense in this lowland landscape; clustered red brick farm buildings, hamlets, rural villages and historic towns are all present. Older farm sites and red brick barns are often surrounded by recent development and the many converted barns now provide characterful homes. There is a dense infrastructure network; meandering roads connect the farms and villages while major roads and motorways provide a fast route across the landscape, linking major towns.
Typical view photo 30:
Coastal Plain, Burscough
Physical Influences
Glacial and post-glacial deposits of clays, sands and marine alluvium have completely masked the solid geology of mudstones and sandstones. However, the drift is relatively thin between Scarisbrick and Skelmersdale, exposing a broad band of sandstone. The landscape is therefore strongly influenced by the surface drift which constitutes boulder clay, penetrated by pockets of glacial sand and gravel and deposits of post-glacial blown sand which form distinctive landscape features. The landscape is gently rolling, and, until recently, peat accumulated in low-lying areas within the glacial till to form mosses which have largely been reclaimed for agriculture.
The land is highly productive and has a very low proportion of semi natural vegetation. Wildlife habitats are therefore typically small scale and fragmented. Ancient woodland is rare, although estate plantations offer important refuges for many species of flora and fauna. Carr House Green Common near Inskip is a mosaic of semi natural grasslands and scrub and a Biological Heritage Site. It is a rare survival of a Fylde landscape little changed from the 19th century.
Species-rich meadow or pasture is almost entirely restricted to small areas of secondary colonisation along man made features such as roads and railways although arable weeds such as corn marigold and poppy still persist locally. The nationally rare purple ramping fumitory occurs in a few places. Flooded marl pits which are an integral part of the agricultural landscape together with more occasional brick clay workings and subsidence pools are often rich in species diversity, for example Longton Brick Pits.
In places, low boulder clay banks mark the edge of the coastal plain and represent the boundary with either inland marsh and mere as at Holmeswood near Rufford, or with former coastal marsh before reclamation. These banks often support remnant semi-natural vegetation such as relict ancient woodland, species-rich grassland and scrub.
Human Influences
Evidence of early inhabitants of the area has been found in areas which were at the fringes of the ice sheets. The best example is at Poulton-le-Fylde, a skeleton of an elk was discovered which displayed evidence of hunting.
Environmental remains, such as pollen evidence from the lake muds and peats of the Lancashire mosses, confirm that vegetation cover was extensively altered by the arrival of Neolithic farmers, with deliberate destruction of the forests to make way for farming and settlements. In the mosses of the Fylde and to the south of the Ribble, where conditions are right for the preservation of organic materials, there is evidence that people visited and utilized the landscape from a timber trackway and stone and bronze implements. There is likely to have been settlement on higher ground fringing the mosslands. There is evidence at Pilling of Neolithic and Bronze Age settlement and at Kirkham there is an early Roman fort.
Population increased during the 12th to 13th centuries, along with changes to agricultural systems. There was a rapid extension of pasture to supply wool for the growing English and Continental markets. The regularity of street plans in many settlements of the period suggests the planned rebuilding or extension of some villages as a result of population pressure. Elsewhere settlement remained as isolated hamlets and farmsteads. This traditional settlement pattern is still evident in the landscape today between Parbold and Mawdesley. Older settlements are generally located on higher, free draining deposits and are typically brick built.
However the plain remained largely unpopulated until the early 16th century, when pressures on available land forced further improvements and reclamation of mosslands. This occurred across the landscape and at Ormskirk and Burscough some of the best agricultural land in the country was created. Market gardening became important to the local economy. Improvement also occurred on sandy soils where marl was added to the soil.
The Leeds and Liverpool Canal is a feature and created important links to the cities for the export of produce and the import of manure and ash for fertilisers. The flat topography and strong prevailing winds have historically provided good conditions for wind power. Wind pumping mills aided the drainage of the landscape and windmills were used for grinding grain. These features still exist and can be found near Martin Mere and Pilling.
Important local industries from the early modern period include the widespread clay extraction for brick making and also the exploitation of salt from the brine wells to the west of Pilling. These have resulted in significant flooded quarries and subsidence pools respectively.
CHARACTER AREAS - COASTAL PLAIN
The Coastal Plain landscape type occurs in six distinct areas, all within the lowland landscapes of western Lancashire.
Local
|
Character Areas |
Description |
| 15a |
Ormskirk-Lathom-Rufford |
The undulating lowland farmland around Ormskirk is characterised by large fields and red brick built farms which reflect the arable agriculture typical of the area. Old red brick barns with diamond shaped detailing on the end walls are particularly characteristic of the area; many can be seen scattered amongst the residential streets of newer settlements. There are a number of designed landscapes associated with large houses, such as Rufford Old and New Halls, Scarisbrick Hall, Lathom Hall, Blythe Hall and Moor Hall, which provides some enclosure to an otherwise open landscape. This area is relatively elevated and there are some long views over the adjacent flat mosslands. The area has good conditions for wind power and wind powered corn mills, now disused or converted to private residences, are a feature of this landscape character area. |
| 15b |
Longton-Bretherton |
The Longton landscape character area lies close to the south-western urban fringes of Preston. The proximity to a large urban centre has influenced landscape character. The network of minor lanes is dominated by dense ribbon development and the A 59(T), now a dual carriageway, links the former villages of Hutton, Longton, Walmer Bridge and Much Hoole. Red brick is the dominant built material in these areas. The agricultural landscape is influenced by urban fringe elements such as schools, colleges, nurseries, glass houses, hotels, horse paddocks, communication masts and electricity pylons; the network of hedgerows and hedgerow oaks is gradually being eroded by these uses. The village of Bretherton has remained separate and therefore displays a more traditional character; a former windmill l lies on its western edge. |
| 15c |
Croston-Mawdesley |
The sandstone which underlies this character area exerts a strong influence over the landscape; it is a gently undulating agricultural landscape with steep sided shallow valleys and hedged fields which support rich pasture or arable crops. The landscape is relatively well wooded, with small farm woods and wooded valleys, for example at Yarrow Valley Park. Field hedges are notable for their hedgerow oaks and high proportion of holly. Country halls, moated farms and designed landscapes provide historic and cultural links. Red brick is used throughout the area; the subdued tones of the older brick houses and farmsteads are well integrated within the landscape. Villages are traditionally clustered, but show signs of rapid expansion with ribbon development. New housing on the outskirts of settlements, which is often built of imported bricks, creates a harsh edge to villages when viewed from the surrounding countryside. Where screen planting is attempted it often incorporates alien plant species, which further urbanises the attractive rural setting. In addition to its historic rural agricultural land use, the landscape has more recently been influenced by urban fringe activities such as nurseries, schools, camp sites, hotels, equestrian centres, golf courses, traffic and built development, which indicate its proximity to the western edge of Chorley. Urbanising influences such as kerbs and lighting are increasingly evident on major roads. |
| 15d |
The Fylde |
The gently undulating farmland of the Fylde occurs between Blackpool to the west and Preston and the M6 corridor to the east. It has been formed of boulder clay deposits which lie on soft Triassic sandstones and mudstones and is naturally poorly drained. Field ponds are a particularly characteristic feature of this area and provide important wildlife habitats. The predominant land use is dairy farming on improved pasture and lowland sheep farming with a small amount of arable on the freer draining soils. Red brick nineteenth century two storey farmsteads with slate roofs and red brick barns are dominant built features of this landscape character area; occasional windmills also reflect the historic importance of the area for corn milling. Other features of the area are the brine fields around Stalmine which have been reclaimed by ICI and form a rare and distinctive land use. Field size is large and field boundaries are low clipped hawthorn, although hedgerow loss is extensive. Blocks of woodland are characteristic, frequently planted for shelter and/or shooting and views of the Bowland fells are frequent between the blocks. There are many man-made elements; electricity pylons, communication masts and road traffic are all highly visible in the flat landscape. In addition, views of Blackpool Tower, the Pleasure Beach rides and industry outside Blackpool are visible on a clear day. |
| 15e |
Forton-Garstang-Caterall |
This area of lowland farmland forms a transition between the fringes of the Bowland Fells and the lowland raised bog of Winnmarleigh. A geological fault runs along the eastern boundary of the area and, although the motorway and railway broadly follow this line, the transition between the Millstone Grits to the east and the sandstones to the west is masked by glacial deposits and river alluvial fans which produce a gently undulating landscape. The area is a rural farmed landscape dominated by improved pasture and scattered with historic halls, farms and woodland. A network of lanes link the villages of Cockerham, Forton, Garstang and Caterall, although the A6 provides a fast route along the length of the character area. Garstang and Caterall have seen a particularly large amount of urban development and this area is affected by urban fringe activities such as golf courses, hotels and schools which have eroded the rural character of the landscape. The area forms a sudden edge with the mosslands at Winmarleigh; stone built houses on this higher land overlook the moss. |
| 15f |
Knott End-Pilling |
The coastal plain around Pilling is an intensely farmed, settled landscape with a post medieval enclosure pattern. There are many hedgerows, some ancient in origin, and trees shelter scattered farmsteads. The farmsteads and villages are linked by a network of raised lanes and stone bridges connect farms to roads. A large amount of infill development at Stake Pool, Pilling and Knott End-on-Sea contributes an array of more modern building styles and materials. Pumped drainage continues to allow the land to support some arable crops. |