The physical environment - Fundamentals of the Physical Environment - page 8

AD , but a major impact was the establishment of exten-
sive sheep farms on land held by the large Yorkshire
monasteries which flourished between the twelfth and
sixteenth centuries AD . For example, Fountains Abbey,
a Cistercian abbey situated 6 km west of the city of
Ripon, whose ruins and visitor centre are a World
Heritage site, owned extensive grazing pastures in Upper
Wharfedale to support its wool production. Fountains
Fell, whose name betrays its usage, is situated 40 km from
the abbey on the watershed between Littondale and
Ribblesdale. A comprehensive network of 'drove roads'
and confining walls was constructed to link the abbeys
with their widely scattered pastures. Many of these 'roads'
provide first-class hiking trails for today's visitors. The
agricultural improvements of Britain in the eighteenth
and nineteenth centuries AD had much less effect on this
remote dale.
Two land uses which have had significant impacts on
hydrology and soil stability since 1800 have been lead
mining and moorland improvement through drainage.
Coarse sediments in terraces and alluvial channels in
Wharfedale have been correlated with mining activities in

the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by analysing
their heavy metal content (Howard and Macklin 1998).
Moorland drainage for purposes of improving grazing or
afforestation since the mid-twentieth century is achieved
by 'gripping'. Upland peat bogs normally slow down the
release of precipitation by a 'sponge effect'. However,
although drainage of the moorland surface by 'gripping'
gives a better soil for grasses and trees, the drained soils
have lower interception capacity and depression storage.
The lag times of stream run-off peaks are reduced, and
flood peaks and the movement of sediment are enhanced
(Stewart and Lance 1983).
Upper Wharfedale is shown in the oblique air photo
taken in winter ( Plate 1.4 ). In the immediate foreground
is the ancient woodland of Grass Woods, a remnant of
the original deciduous woodland cover. The gorge
of Conistone Dib and the village of Conistone are in the
centre, and Kilnsey Crag is centre left. Prominent lime-
stone scars are seen in the centre right of the image.
The mouths of the glacial valleys of Littondale and
Langstrothdale are clearly visible in the upper left. (Upper
Wharfedale can also be seen on the centre-right margin

Plate 1.4 An oblique aerial view of Upper Wharfedale in January, looking north-north-west. Grass Woods in the foreground, and
Conistone Dib centre right, with Kilnsey Crag centre left. The mouths of Littondale and Langstrothdale visible in the clear winter
light.
Photo: National Monuments Record