National Character Area 43 - Lincolnshire Wolds : Key Characteristics

Rolling chalk hills and a predominantly agricultural landscape with a pronounced scarp edge to the north and west affording panoramic views across the surrounding land.

A diverse geology of chalk, sandy limestone, ironstone and clay gives rise to a combination of elevated plateau and deep-sided dales. Soils are generally shallow and lime rich with rich loamy soils associated with valley bottoms. Typically sandy loams dominate the Lymn Valley with permeable loams in the Bain Valley which are interspersed with clay soils associated with Kimmeridge Clay beds.

Predominantly arable, but some pasture fields with rectilinear patterns and clipped hawthorn hedgerows. Farmland habitats are found together with farmland birds including skylark, linnet, yellowhammer, reed bunting, corn bunting, yellow wagtail, curlew, tree sparrow, grey partridge, bullfinch and turtle dove.

Woodland is limited particularly to the north but there are occasional shelterbelts, hedgerow trees and scattered beech clumps. Important alder carr woodland is associated with some of the valleys in the south-west.

Isolated chalk and neutral grasslands typically on the steepest uncultivated slopes.

Valuable semi-natural acidic mires are found in the valley marshes of the Lymn and Bain. The broader south-west valleys of the rivers Lymn and Bain have tree-lined watercourses. The mixed farmed landscape of irregular medium-sized fields in the south-west valleys provides contrasts with the arable-dominated plateau.

Broad grass verges up to 20 m on some roads and historical tracks provide valuable species-rich linear habitats thought to be remnants of pre-enclosure pastures.

Chalk springs and flushes and chalk stream habitats supporting submerged plants such as water crowfoot, a rich invertebrate fauna and flagship species such as otter, water vole, kingfisher and brown trout.

A historically and archaeologically rich landscape of small parklands and modest country houses, ancient trackways, west–east salters’ roads, deserted or shrunken villages and prehistoric round and long barrows.

A sparse settlement pattern of small market towns and small nucleated villages (often in sheltered valleys) and scattered farmsteads. The settlements are predominantly linked by west–east A roads linking to coastal areas.

A diverse geology gives rise to a variety of building materials including brick, sandy limestone, sandstone and ironstone with churches built of local stone.

Development of wartime airfields including Kirmington (now operating as Humberside International Airport), Elsham Wolds, Binbrook, Ludford and Kelstern.