Howardian Hills
Howardian Hills | |
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Location | North Yorkshire, England |
Area | 79 sq mi (200 km2) |
Established | 1987 |
Website | www |
The Howardian Hills are an
Topography
The Howardian Hills form 79 square miles of well-wooded undulating countryside between the flat agricultural Vales of Pickering and York. The irregular 558 feet (170 m) high ridges of the Howardian Hills are a southern extension of the rocks of the Hambleton Hills in the North York Moors. Jurassic limestone, pastures, and extensive woodland overlook the agricultural plains below. On the eastern edge, the River Derwent cuts through the Hills in the Kirkham Gorge, a deep winding valley formed as an overflow channel from glacial Lake Pickering.[1][2]
Settlement
Although there are no towns within the AONB, the market towns of
Land use
High grade arable land, pasture, and managed woodland makes this rich farming country whose diversity contributes to its attractive rural character.[1][5]
Flora and fauna
The Howardian Hills
Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (November 2021) |
Designated
The Howardian Hills are designated an AONB because of the following Special Qualities:
- Unusual landform: The Howardian Hills are the only area of Jurassic limestone in Northern England with AONB designation. Kirkham Gorge on the River Derwent, Yorkshire is a unique glacial overflow channel of great scientific importance.
- A richly varied landscape: The landscape comprises a complex system of hills and valleys of woodland, arable fields, pasture, fens, hedgerows, stone walls, designed parklands, and scattered settlements.
- Landscape of high visual quality: Diverse landform and land use with contrasting scale, colour, texture and form alongside historic houses, extensive woodland, sweeping views, farming landscapes, and traditional building styles provide great aesthetic appeal.
- Remarkable heritage: A concentration of archaeological and historic features including Iron Age earthworks, medieval castles and monasteries, grand houses, and designed landscapes including Castle Howard, Newburgh Priory, Hovingham Hall, Gilling Castle, and Nunnington Hall contribute to the dramatic landscape.
- An important wildlife resource: The area boasts outstanding wild plants and animals within the unique River Derwent and has nationally important fens as well as relatively extensive remnants of Ancient Semi-Natural Woodland.
Each of these attributes is important in its own right, but it is their combination in a relatively small area that has produced a landscape of national significance.
References
- ^ a b "AONB Howardian Hills". Natural England. Archived from the original on 25 July 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
- ^ Carter, Ann; Air Photography Unit, Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (March 1995). Howardian Hills Mapping Project: A Report for the National Mapping Programme (Report). H.M.S.O. Retrieved 6 February 2015.
- ^ "Howardian Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". landscapesforlife.org.uk. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
- ISBN 978-1-86077-239-9.
- ^ "Facts" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 July 2011. Retrieved 21 May 2008.
- ^ "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". Howardian Hills. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
External links
- Bateman, J. (2006) 'Howardian Hills Field Collection Survey' John Bateman: York Archaeological Survey Report.
- Ampleforth Parish Council Village partly in the Howardian Hills AONB
- Howardian Hills AONB