National Character Area 20 - Morecambe Bay Limestones : Key Characteristics

A flat lowland landscape, dominated by conspicuous, often steep-sided, hills of Lower Carboniferous Limestone, many of which include exposures of limestone pavement. Between the hills the landform is geologically recent, including areas of drumlin field, fluvial and estuarine sediment and peat bogs.

Wide expanses of shifting intertidal sand flats and expanses of salt marsh arcing round the head of Morecambe Bay, backed by low cliffs with windswept trees, or grassed embankments defending reclaimed grazing marshes.

The rivers Kent and Leven enter Morecambe Bay via dynamic estuary systems. The smaller rivers Winster, Bela and Keer lie predominantly within this NCA and have relatively extensive flood plain areas before flowing into the channel of the River Kent as they enter Morecambe Bay.

The limestones support a mixed pastoral farming and woodland landscape, often in tight mosaics, with orchards surrounding the farmsteads and fields bounded by limestone drystone walls.

A winter climate ameliorated sea which, as well as the exposed south facing slopes of the limestone outcrops allows a number of temperature sensitive species to make this the northernmost fringe of their range.

Strong contrasts between the rectilinear enclosures of reclaimed valley bottoms and coastal fringes, and the older enclosures associated with farmsteads and ancient woodland, bounded by limestone drystone walls, on the limestone escarpments.

Extensive areas of native broadleaved woodland on limestone areas, particularly on the steeper slopes and thinnest soils.

An abundance of high-quality semi-natural habitats of national and international importance, including limestone pavements, herb-rich grasslands with juniper, species-rich scrub, ancient limestone woodlands, peaty fenlands, marl tarns, reedbeds, lowland raised bogs, salt marshes and intertidal mud and sand flats.

An exceptional range of species associated with the diverse range of seminatural habitats, many with populations of national importance, including a suite of limestone butterflies, bittern, marsh tit and lady’s-slipper orchid.

Within the drumlin field to the south of Kendal, a gently undulating farmland of pastures and arable, divided by drystone walls made of field stone, with a limited cover of broadleaved woodland.

Sheep and cattle graze the pastures and salt marshes, with rough grazing a feature of the higher grounds on unimproved limestone grassland.

Extensive areas of reclaimed land on the coastal fringe and in the Lyth Valley have large fields bounded by ditch-flanked hedgerows. Lowland raised mires surrounding the limestone outcrops have been reclaimed for agriculture.

Several stately homes set in parkland landscapes with well maintained gardens.

A vernacular building style common to all settlements and farmsteads based on the use of local limestone for walls and Lake District slate.

Settlements are generally dispersed and rural in character, having usually grown around large farmsteads. Larger centres include Grange-over-Sands, Arnside, Silverdale and Milnthorpe, some of which have a seaside resort character, reflecting the growth in the use of the area for recreation from the 18th century onwards.

A range of visible heritage features including burial mounds, stone circles, prehistoric settlements and enclosures, medieval field patterns, the Lancaster Canal and Second World War airfields.

An extensive rights of way network, particularly on areas of limestone geology, integrated with areas of permissive access land.