Land Use
The Yorkshire Dales landscape has been shaped by farming and moorland management for centuries. It is a unique environment attracting over eight million visitors each year. The landscape comprises of green pastures and meadows separated by thousands of miles of dry stone walls in the valleys moving upwards to the moorlands that are managed as shooting estates. Coniferous forestry is also prevalent in a number of dales.
The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust works in the catchments of four of the main dales rivers, the Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe. Similarities of land use exist between the dales however differences do occur that reflect the local topography, soil depth and quality and the available resources and markets. For example the upper Nidd catchment contains three major reservoirs whilst the upper Ure catchment supports a number of dairy enterprises serving the Wensleydale creamery. All four catchments have a number of private grouse moors on the high ground.
Upland farming is a notoriously difficult enterprise that provides small financial returns relative to the hours worked. It is also essential that farming is maintained in the dales to ensure traditional forms of agriculture survive economic pressures but also to continue attracting the visiting tourists. In the Dales land use has also created conditions that provide habitat for numerous unique species. These include wading birds such as Curlews and Lapwings whilst in the upland areas Heather and Sphagnum moss habitats dominate.
Land use sometimes has serious knock on effects that impact natural resources including river quality. These negative effects are not inevitable and careful planning can reduce the impacts to negligible levels whilst ensuring farming remains viable. The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust works with landowners to discover the options that reduce diffuse pollution and the impacts from upland drainage channels (grips). Options can include contour planting of native trees, buffering rivers from the impacts of fertilisers, gill planting with native trees and blocking grips. It is important that up to date science coupled with local knowledge direct the Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust when identifying the locations that require attention.
The measures identified not only improve river health, that itself allows species such as Brown Trout and numerous species of macro-invertebrate to flourish, but also improves terrestrial biodiversity, improves ecosystem services and assists with carbon sequestration. Such improvements are highlighted at local levels but also help the UK meet internationally important targets. The Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust carries forward these measures in partnership with landowners and will not ask farmers to carry out works that have financial implications to themselves.
References
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/water/csf
http://www.defra.gov.uk/farm/environment/water/csf/
http://www.yorkshire.com/
http://www.yorkshiredales.org.uk/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yorkshire_Dales
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_use
Yorkshire Dales Rivers Trust, 2009.
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