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Landscape Character is defined as a distinct, recognisable and
consistent pattern of elements in the landscape that makes one
landscape different from another, rather than better or worse.
Landscape gives rise to a sense of place which defines people's
understanding and appreciation of these elements in the
landscape. Decisions about how to manage change
must have regard to the existing character of a place so that
future landscapes can be planned for in a way that does not disrupt
the attachment people have to their environment.
An assessment of the landscape of the AONB was made in 1992
and identified eight distinct landscape types:
- The Moorland Plateau is high, open and exposed,
and dominated by extensive tracts of dwarf-shrub vegetation such as
heather. This area contains the AONB's grouse moors and is
internationally important for nature conservation.
- The Grassland Plateau is also high and exposed and
predominantly agriculturally improved grassland and wet pastures
enclosed by dry stone walls.
- The Upper Valley landscape includes the valley
head basins extending into adjacent moorland. This landscape
contains several of the AONB's reservoirs notably Scar and
Angram.
- The Middle Valley occurs between the upland and
associated moorlands upstream and the broader, flatter Lower Valley
further downstream. The Middle Valley as at Pateley Bridge, for
example, is a more wooded landscape with many broadleaved ancient
woodlands alongside watercourses and on the valley
sides.
- In the Lower Valley (around Birstwith for
instance) drystone wall field boundaries are replaced by hedges and
where damp grasslands, studded with individual trees, frequently
occur.
- The Vale and Upland Fringe landscapes mark
distinct zones of transition between the arable area of the Vale of
York and the harsher, bleaker moorlands to the west.
- Wharfedale (northern side) is a
predominantly pastoral landscape ranging from grasslands and
woodlands bordering the river to 'in bye' nearer to the moor
edges.
In 2003 Harrogate Borough Council undertook a more detailed
assessment. This work identified 40 distinct
landscape character areas in the AONB. This more
detailed assessment is designed to provide guidance for local
planning authorities and other organisations to ensure that
landscape character is respected as the countryside changes in
response to new challenges.
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