Rural land resources Karst landscape The Yorkshire Dales

Introduction to the Dales The Yorkshire Dales is the 3 rd largest national park in England (1760 km 2 ). The area also contains stunning limestone landscapes which draw vast numbers of visitors to the area every year. The area has many opportunities such as tourism, but also has many limitations and consequences due to the number of people it attracts.

Opportunities Farming Quarrying Water Supply Conservation Recreation-Active/Passive Tourism-Jobs Military Training Forestry Business Opportunities-Equipment hire/crafts/guides.

Economic opportunities Quarrying- Swinden quarry The Yorkshire Dales provides massive exports of limestone for use in agriculture and industry as lime. Gritstone is also mined as it has the ability to resist skidding, this makes it useful on roads and runways. The quarry provides 7% of all jobs in the national park. It also generates £6 million to the local economy.

Farming Farming in the Yorkshire Dales is characterised by: 1. Sheep grazing on the uplands. 2. Cattle fed from hay meadows in the valley floors. 3. A landscape of dry stone walls and stone barns. However, the traditional system is under threat due to- falling meat prices and increased competition from more intensive units both in this country and abroad. Within a National park, it is important to maintain the traditional system, so local Governments offer a CSS’s (countryside stewardship scheme) which gives grants to farms to use traditional methods.

Economic opportunities Tourism Tourists to the Yorkshire Dales spend £45 million a year. Many take part in leisure activities or active ones but most people come to see the landscape

Recreation Visitors have been coming to the Yorkshire dales since the 18 th century, where writers and artists sought out the dramatic scenery. The growth of the rail network in the 19 th century brought increased numbers, but the most dramatic growth came in the late 20 th century as a result of the rise in car ownership. More than 90% of today’s visitors come by car.

Why tourists visit

Limitations Climate- A short growing season and a wet and windy climate make the area unpleasant. Seasonal jobs- With jobs only available during peak season many people may be without work Lack of Job opportunities- with tourism being the best money making service most people are employed in this area, few other services are provided. Relief- With poor soils and high steep land the area is bad for farming ect. Remoteness- Due to the remote area journeys are long and roads are poor Limitations Climate Seasonal jobs Lack of job opportunities ReliefRemoteness

Yorkshire Dales Malham Cove Honeypot Sites Yorkshire Dales Malham Cove

Honeypot Site – An area of attractive scenery to which tourists swarm in large numbers. The problems are how to preserve the honeypots natural beauty and its unspoilt quality, while providing facilities for the hordes who arrive at the peak summer periods.

Malham Area Honeypot site in the Yorkshire Dales The importance of the area has recently been recognised by English Nature which has designated it a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the area around Malham Tarn as a National Nature Reserve (NNR). Malham Cove is a natural limestone formation which was originally a large waterfall. The cove is a well known beauty spot 1km north of the village of Malham. Malham Cove is a large, curved limestone cliff at the head of a valley with limestone pavement at the top.

The Malham area has been popular with visitors for over 200 years and although Malham village had a population of only 134 at the last census, the huge numbers of visitors have helped to maintain local services, including hotels, shops, cafes and pubs which may have otherwise closed. However as 90% of all visitors to the area travel by car or van during the summer the levels of traffic and car parking can reduce the appeal of the village.

Benefits Honeypots are frequently used by cities or countries to manage their tourism industry The use of honeypots can protect fragile land away from major cities (e.g the construction of parks to prevent tourists from damaging more valuable ecosystems) Honeypots have the added benefit of concentrating a large number of income generating visitors in one place, thus developing that area and in turn making the area more appealing to tourists Tourists visit the area for walking, camping, climbing and for the scenery. Over 9 million visitors to the Yorkshire Dales National Park provide employment and an important boost to the local economy

Problems Due to the large numbers of tourists arriving in cars during the summer there are great levels of traffic congestion, pollution and parking problems Ramblers can cause conflict with farmers when they drop litter and leave gates open Damage to plants and trees Severe footpath erosion on the walk to the cove Increased commercialisation of traditional villages Disturbance to farm livestock and wildlife Overcrowding

Pressure for new developments to provide for and to attract visitors (e.g 1974 National Park Centre opened) Increase in crime Strain on facilities and transport networks Some tourists buy second homes which can push property prices up, therefore the outward migration of young people has increased General encroachment on the lifestyle of local people is becoming commonplace, through increasing noise, disturbance and loss of privacy

Solutions Due to the severe footpath erosion many of the paths leading to the cove have had to be re- surfaced. To try and prevent the litter problems there is now a policy not to provide litter bins in the area to encourage visitors to remove their own litter. In the early 1990s an experimental traffic management scheme was introduced however it was soon abandoned due to pressure from local people.

Environmental problems Over 35% of the Dales are areas of special scientific interest (SSSIs). Because of this the area also suffers from great pressures such as Modern agriculture, quarrying and recreation.

Quarrying In Swinden Quarry there are rich and valuable sources of raw materials. But due to the area being a national park quarrying is hard to do. The problems associated with quarrying in this area are plentiful. -Modern sites create a visual intrusion -They threaten surrounding landscapes and wildlife -Transport of materials causes noise and pollution In 1996 planning permission was given for the quarry to continue until After 2020 it will close and be turned into a nature reserve.

Solutions to the quarries problems Landscape problems- The majority of the aesthetically displeasing qualities of the plant have been overcome by moving the plant within the quarry itself. Materials can now be extracted and processed onsite. This means that transport of the materials has decreased by 23% (173 less lorries a day) reducing road pressures, noise and air pollution.

Environmental concerns Tourism- Severe footpath erosion Disturbance to farms and livestock Disturbance to wildlife Parking problems lead to off-road damage Public pressure on roads Increases commercialisation of traditional villages Pressure for new development to provide for and attract visitors.

Solutions Disturbance to wildlife- use of gates and fences to protect specific wildlife Instalment of litter bins on walk routes Visitor education on the damage they can cause Disturbance to farms- use of ‘keep out’ signs Livestock being moved to more isolated fields Employment of park watchers