What can people What can people do on glaciated do on glaciated

land?land?

What do we use glaciated highlands What do we use glaciated highlands for?for?

Highland glacial valleys, such as those found in Cairngorms in Scotland, the Pennines in England or Snowdonia in Wales provide opportunities for different activities, all with advantages and disadvantages for different human communities, and for the environment.

Upper glacial valleys: Upper glacial valleys: farmingfarming

Upland glaciated areas are not easy places to farm, with their steep slopes, high precipitation, low temperatures and relatively thin, poor soils. In the Alps some sheep/goat farming occurs. They used to use the methods of transhumance, which meant grazing the animals on the high mountain pastures during the warmer summer months, before bringing them down to lower valley areas in the winter.In Great Britain the glacial valley floor is very valuable farming land, as it is sheltered, flat and well irrigated. The soils are variable but can be very fertile in areas of glacial clay deposits. The farming is still mainly pastoral, although some areas can be used for arable farming

Upper glacial valleys: Upper glacial valleys: farmingfarmingAdvantages

Farming - especially sheep-farming - has been done in highland areas for centuries. It has shaped the landscape and local communities, and is an important part of local economies.DisadvantagesFarming may harm the environment. Over-grazing causes soil erosion which may squeeze out wildlife and pollute water sources.If the number of sheep is increased, with more of the upland being used, then trees and shrubs, which benefit the wildlife may be cut down.

The EU and how they influence The EU and how they influence thingsthings

Until about 15 years ago, the European Union (EU) wanted to encourage farmers to stay in low producing areas.Before this, farmers had been leaving the land in droves and parts of France and Germany were becoming ghost communities.So they paid the people to farm the poorest areas, in particular upland areas like the glaciated regions we are talking about.The way they did this was to give a subsidiary based on the number of sheep a farmer had.The idea worked and many villages now have a thriving population.

The EU and how they influence The EU and how they influence thingsthingsBut this also led to overstocking,

overgrazing, soil erosion, loss of habitat.So about 15 years ago, they realized the error of that particular plan!So now they subsidize the area a farmer works, not the number of sheep. They also get extra for looking after the environment, such as planting mixed hedges and leaving corridors around their plough fields for the wildlife.So the farmers have cut down on the number of sheep and the environment is recovering.

Forestry in the highlandsForestry in the highlandsAdvantagesConifer forests have been planted in many highland areas Forestry creates local jobs and provides timber. Where there was no forest previously, conifer forests can help prevent soil erosion and help counter the impact of deforestation elsewhere.DisadvantagesForestry may push out other vegetation, and force other activities such as farming into decline. For some wildlife the forest will provide a habitat, but other animals will lose theirs. Some people argue that conifer forests look unattractive - though others think they beautiful.

What happenedWhat happenedA lot of conifers, in particular imported varieties, were plant with grants from the government after WW2. This was because the wood was needed for industry – paper etc – and conifers were quick growers!As said this tends to push out a lot of the wildlife that would live happily in mixed woodland. If you look at the floor of a conifer wood you will hardly anything growing.This has 2 main causes:

Because all conifers except larch are evergreen, there is no time of the year when light reaches the floorPine needles are very acid, so not much will grown underneath them anyway

Few plants mean fewer invertebrates and so few birds and mammalsSo now the Forestry Commission are learning the lesson. As the conifers mature and are cut down, they are being replaced by mixed woodland, using native species.

Tourism in the highlandsTourism in the highlands

AdvantagesPeople are attracted by the beautiful lakes and mountains of glacial highland areas. British and international tourists visit the highlands for recreational activities such as skiing, climbing, mountain-biking, hiking and hang gliding. This gives people who live in towns an opportunity to enjoy the countryside, while bringing wealth to the local people who provide them with accommodation and other services.

Tourism in the Tourism in the highlandshighlands

DisadvantagesNot everyone in local communities welcome tourists, who might interfere with their livelihoods (eg farmers)Or tourists cause congestion and pollution by bringing their cars and leaving rubbish on hillsides. Some people believe that tourist developments like building ski lifts spoil the landscape for others. Too much recreational activity may damage fragile environments (eg soil erosion can interfere with flora and fauna).

Dealing with conflictsDealing with conflicts

Glacial valleys are very attractive to tourists, and so methods have to be put in place to protect the environment from damage. This includes trying to prevent soil erosion by introducing artificial paths or by diverting popular routes to allow the old paths time to recover. Some places have become 'honeypot' sites, which attract a huge number of tourists every year. By promoting other similar areas, the local authorities can try to alleviate the pressure on certain very popular places.

Dealing with conflictsDealing with conflicts

Conflicts can also occur between local farmers or residents and tourists. The increased traffic, footpath erosion and the problems of family dogs worrying sheep all have led to conflicts between the local people and the visitors. The main way to alleviate these conflicts is to educate people into the correct way to treat the countryside when they visit.

Dealing with conflictsDealing with conflicts

Speed limits for boats have been introduced in some of the most popular lakes, such as Windermere. These are aimed at protecting local wildlife and preventing too much disruption to those enjoying the tranquil nature of the area.Tourist facilities, such as visitor centres and parking areas have been introduced to try to cater for the influx of visitors, without taking over local villages and towns. These also provide a good base from which to try to educate people on how to treat the countryside when the visit.

Water works in the highlandsWater works in the highlands

As seen in many parts of the Alps, glaciated valleys provide a perfect opportunity for the production of hydroelectric power and for an easily trapped water supply for lowland cities. Their steep sides, high rainfall and low population density make them ideal places for dams to be built and reservoirs created (often by just increasing the area already filled by a ribbon lake).

Water works in the highlandsWater works in the highlandsAdvantagesThey creates local jobs and new opportunities for recreational sports and businesses, such as fish-farming. It also provides people in other parts of the country with water and renewable electricity.DisadvantagesDamming has a major impact on local environments. Flooding valleys and altering the course of rivers prevents the landscape being used by farmers, tourists and wildlife and affects the water cycle. Dams and electricity pylons are considered by some to be blots on the landscape.

Water works in the highlandsWater works in the highlands

Highland dams. Left: Lake Vyrnwy dam in Powys, Wales    Right: the Derwent Water dam in England's Peak District.

Lower glacial landscapesLower glacial landscapesThe lowland areas across Great Britain, where ancient glaciers have created plains and rolling landscapes and deposited fertile material transported from highland areas, provide an opportunity for different activities.

Lowland landscapes: livestock farming (left) and arable farming in lower glacial valleys

Farming in the glacial Farming in the glacial lowlandslowlands

AdvantagesThe more fertile lowlands offer much better opportunities for both arable and animal farming than the highlands. This creates jobs and helps feed and clothe people.DisadvantagesIntensive farming displaces vegetation and wildlife, damages the environment through the use of fertilisers, pesticides and weed killers, and may spread disease to animals and humans.

Tourism in the glacial Tourism in the glacial lowlandslowlands

AdvantagesLowland areas attract tourists for a wide range of reasons. Recreational activities include horse riding, walking, fishing, boating and many others. Fertile areas are also good for creating golf courses.DisadvantagesBadly-managed tourism can cause damage to the environment through soil erosion, pollution, over fishing etc. It can also interfere with local livelihoods (eg those of farmers). Golf courses take land out of agricultural use and remove variety from the landscape.

Settlement in the glacial Settlement in the glacial lowlandslowlands

AdvantagesLowland areas provide much more suitable locations than harsh highland areas for building villages, towns and cities. Edinburgh, for example, is situated on the site of an ancient glacier.DisadvantagesTowns - while providing humans with somewhere to live - displace vegetation and wildlife, transform landscapes and bring problems of pollution, and water and power consumption.