Fringe

Valleys with a distinctive U-shape, generally occurring on the fringes of the ESA. Similar in landform to broad valley corridors but lying in the upstream section of rivers on plateau edges. Generally straight valleys up to 4 km long with a smooth flat bottom of 200-500 m wide, enclosed by valley sides rising steeply by 150 m or more. These valleys form the largest single landscape type in the ESA and although they are all similar in form, they vary considerably in land cover. Typically, U-shaped valleys are bleak and open with riverside trees and inbye land on the valley floor, giving way to dry grassland, bracken and rocks on the valley sides. The valley heads typically form distinctive moorland bowls rising up to the plateau edge, although sometimes these bowls are now covered by substantially improved grassland. In some cases broadleaved woodland remains on the lower and middle valley slopes. In many cases, however, conifers have been planted over the valley head bowls or in blocks along the valley sides. These plantations tend to be harsh geometric shapes, often detracting from the valley form and running up over ridge lines, intruding into adjacent plateau areas.