Articles in ‘Landforms of Britain’
October 12th, 2009
The 1932 mass trespass at Kinder Scout has passed into rambling legend and is seen as a milestone in the fight for the right to roam. Located in the north of the Derbyshire Peak District, and very close to the Manchester conurbation, this moorland plateau is of outstanding beauty, with views of Snowdon on a clear day and a 30-foot waterfall that the winds blow into the sky.
But 70 years ago, Kinder Scout was a private moor reserved for grouse shooting. And the famous demonstration, organised by the British Workers Sport Federation, was very much part of the 1930s class war. The confrontation with police and game keepers on the one side and a mixed group of communists, students and ramblers on the other resulted in scuffles, arrests and prison sentences. In his statement at the dock, Bernard Rothman, one of the organisers, argued their case: Read the rest of this entry
England, History of the British landscape, Landforms of Britain, Outdoor activities, Peak District, Walking in Britain | Tags: access to countryside history, class struggle and the right to roam, Ewan MacColl and Kinder Scout, Kinder Scout declared National nature reserve, Kinder Scout mass trespass, Manchester Rambler and Kinder Scout, walking in the Derbyshire peak district|
October 4th, 2009
The landscape painters of the 18th century were among the first promoters of nature tourism in Britain. Their work inspired people to go on tours of wild places and admire the grandeur of nature. One popular destination, much sketched, painted and written about, was the Falls of the Clyde in Scotland.
Jacob More’s work is a romanticised view of the highest and largest of the Falls, the Corra Linn. Viewers of the painting could identify with the group of tourists in the corner, awe-struck by this “rude slope of furious foam”, as 18th century travel writer Thomas Pennant described them. They might even be galvanized to do a trip to the wilds of Scotland themselves. Read the rest of this entry
Landforms of Britain, Landscape paintings of Scotland, Nature in art and literature, Scotland | Tags: Falls of Clyde, Falls of Clyde by Jacob More, Falls of Clyde by Turner, growth of nature tourism, Jacob More landscapes, landscape painting in the 18th century, nature tourism in Britain, Turner landscapes, waterfalls in landscape painting, waterfalls in Scotland|
August 7th, 2009
The western tip of the Isle of Wight peters out in a series of three jagged rocks known as the Needles. You might think they owe their name to their sharp edges but it turns out there used to be a fourth, needle-shaped, rock called Lot’s wife, as shown in Isaac Taylor’s map of Hampshire published in 1759. Read the rest of this entry
Geography of Britain, History of the British landscape, Landforms of Britain, Nature trivia about Britain, Southern England | Tags: Chalk formation in south England, chalk rock formations in England, famous rocks of England, iconic landmarks of Britain, origen of the Needles, Things to do on the isle of Wight, things to see on the Isle of Wight|
July 28th, 2009
Britain’s smallest island lies off the south west coast at the western tip of the Scilly Isles. Bishop Rock is also classed in the Guinness Book of Records as the smallest built-on island in the world. In fact, the only building is a lighthouse, as there isn’t room for anything else. To the west of Bishop Rock, there’s no more land till the American coast, so it bears the full brunt of Atlantic gales. The lighthouse was built with great difficulty – the first one was washed away in 1850 before it could be used. An enormous wave once snatched away the 550lb fog bell. The island has not been inhabited since 1992 when the lighthouse became fully automated and the last keepers left.
The lighthouse features in the BBC’s Seven Man Made Wonders
Geography of Britain, Landforms of Britain, Nature trivia about Britain | Tags: Bishop Rock, Bishop Rock lighthouse, smallest island of Britain|
July 24th, 2009
The village of of Holme Fen, specifically Holme Posts as depicted above, is probably the lowest land point in England at nearly 3 metres (9.8 ft) below sea level. Wikipedia
See also
UK’s lowest spot getting lower
“Conservationists have raised concerns that the lowest land spot in the UK is sinking.Holme Fen, a national nature reserve near Peterborough in Cambridgeshire, has sunk by about four metres since draining work began in the 1850s, leaving it about 2.75 m below sea level. ” BBC
Holme Fen is a rare surviving relic of the vast fenlands that once covered the countryside in parts of East Anglia. Listen to BBC documentary about Holme Fen here.
Geography of Britain, Landforms of Britain, Nature trivia about Britain | Tags: Cambridgeshire, Holme Fen, Interesting facts about Cambridgeshire, Lowest altitude in England, Lowest point in the UK, Places in England below sea level, The Fens, The lowest land point in England, X The lowest place in Britain|
July 23rd, 2009
Photo: A. Kurata
The deepest lake in the UK is Loch Morar in the Scottish Highlands, which reaches a depth of 309 metres (754 ft). This steep-sided glacial lake – 19 km long –has its own monster, just like Loch Ness, which the locals call Morag. Read the rest of this entry
Geography of Britain, Landforms of Britain, The Highlands | Tags: Deepest lake in Scotland, lakes in Scotland, Loch Morar, monster of Loch Morar, Morag|
July 1st, 2009
Read the rest of this entry
Geography of Britain, Landforms of Britain, Scotland, The Highlands | Tags: Biggest waterfall in England, Biggest waterfall in Scotland, Biggest waterfall in Wales, British waterfalls, Cautley Spout, Eas a' Chual Aluinn waterfall, Glen Coul, Sutherland, Tallest waterfall in the UK|
The RSPB is gathering extensive information about exactly where swifts are nesting in the UK. It is suspected that their rapid decline in recent years is linked with a drop in suitable nesting sites, as buildings are modernised.
The first year’s survey reveals that of the houses where swifts are nesting:
A new generation of commoners will receive financial support to ensure animals continue to graze in the New Forest and so conserve its rich biodiversity.
The Co-op is further expanding its 
There are now some excellent landscape blogs covering Britain. Here are a few:
With more and more people wanting to grow their own fruit and vegetables, the National Society of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners have over 100,000 people on their waiting lists. The National Trust have responded to this demand by allocating land for “super allotments” or community farms. In return for a monthly fee, members will decide what should be grown, and have the opportunity to work on the farms, receiving a share of the produce. 
