Land Use Unit

1. Land Use: Identification & Suitability

2. Land Use: Benefits & Problems

3. Land Use: Conflicts & Solutions (National Parks)

Land Use

Learning Outcomes1.Identify different Land Use (from OS

Map).2.Explain why the Land Use is suitable

for that area.

Different Land UsesLand Use Description OS Map Symbol

Forestry Large amount of trees planted for commercial purpose. Often single species in rows, boundaries can be straight lines and corners.

Quarry Mining stone, gravel or sand from large open cast mines, and transporting this by road in large lorries.

HEP (Hydro-Electric Power) /Reservoir

Large Lochs created by damming rivers and using water to generate electricity, and storing drinking water.

Wind Power Large wind turbines generate electricity.

Farming Depending on physical factors can be livestock, arable or mixed farming.

Settlement New housing or hotel developments.

Communications Usually roads which are narrow and winding, also rail, sea, or air. Also TV & telephone links.

Different Land Uses (Tourism & Recreation)

Land Use Description OS Map Symbol

Nature Reserve Area to protect wildlife habitat.Caravan & Camp sites

Sites allowing people to park their own caravan or tent, or stay in static homes.

Hill Walking / Sight Seeing

Walking in areas of natural beauty, and looking at views.

Skiing / winter sports

Requires steep land and snow so on higher land

Mountain biking / horse riding

Cycling especially downhill and off road, also horse riding in countryside areas. Footpaths are better.

Sailing / water sports

Either on Sea or Lochs

Suitability of Land Use Land Use Physical & Human Factors

Forestry Trees can grow on steep, infertile soil. Trees survive cold, snowy winters. Farmers can access grants for growing trees.

Quarry When stone, gravel or sand is found in large quantities near to surface. Can be easily extracted and transported to nearby market.

HEP (Hydro-Electric Power) / Reservoir

Large area of high land can be flooded (allows for higher head of pressure) and used to store water. Near to large area of population which require drinking water and electricity.

Wind Power Land high up and away from shelter used for producing electricity from wind.

Farming Where land is fertile, and weather conditions good arable and livestock farming is used, where this is poor hill sheep farming takes place, as sheep can cope with cold wet weather and poor soils.

Settlement Large areas of flat land close to communications.

Communications Roads and railway built on flat land, TV masts on top of hills for good signal.

Suitability of Land Use Land Use Physical & Human Factors

Nature Reserve In area where nature habitats are under pressure or wildlife endangered.

Caravan & Camp sites

Flat land near to areas of interest, not liable to flooding and near roads.

Hill Walking / Sight Seeing

Walks which offer scenic views, through woodland or hill tops and along gentler slopes. Need car parks.

Skiing / winter sports

High & steep land so to get snow and ski downhill, near to roads and people. Area may have ski tows.

Mountain biking / horse riding

Tracks and paths for walkers, cyclists and horse riders often through woodland and open land with some slopes.

Sailing / water sports

Near to roads and area with facilities for water sports e.g. piers, docks etc.

Glacial Landscapes(Upland)

Steep sides and infertile soil allows for forestry and recreation and main land use.

Flat bottom of U-shaped valley used for some farming, settlement and communications.

Ribbon lakes and Corrie Lochs can be used for water storage and HEP.

Glacial Landscapes(Lowland)

Boulder Clay is flat and fertile allowing for arable farming.Terminal Moraine is hilly and infertile used for health or forestry.Outwash Plain is flat but infertile, however sands and gravels have been ‘sorted’ allowing for quarrying.

River Landscapes (Upper Course)

V – Shaped valleys are steep with infertile soils.

Land use is forestry and hill sheep farming. Some recreation such as water sports and hill walking.

River Landscapes(Middle & Lower Course)

Floodplains are flat containing fertile alluvium soil.

Land use is farming both arable and livestock, also settlement and communications.

Near river mouth may also use water for cooling for industry and deep water for ports / docks.

Credit 2006 Q1cPart of the disused

aluminium works at Kinlochleven (1861, 1862) has been converted into a training centre for outdoor sports.

Using map evidence to support your answer, state whether or not you think this is a good location for an outdoor sports centre.

(ES 6marks)

Credit 2006 Q1dQ1d Find

area X on the OS map extract.

Give reasons for the different land uses in this area

(KU 5marks)

Benefits & Problems of Land Use

Learning Outcomes:1. Explain the Benefits & Problems

different Land Users can create.

Benefits & ProblemsLand Use Benefits Problems

Forestry Land too steep and infertile for traditional farming, machinery can’t be used. Provides some jobs.

Large areas of single species trees closely planted in rectangular areas.

Quarry Provides jobs and brings money into area.

Large unsightly open cast mines, creates noise and dust. Lorries taking produce away can cause congestion.

HEP (Hydro-Electric Power) / Reservoir

Provides cheap ‘green’ electricity, can also be used for boating recreation. Some jobs also.

Large area flooded by new reservoir.

Wind Power Provides cheap ‘green’ electricity, and some jobs.

Tall turbines can be unsightly and also quite noisy.

Farming Some jobs provided and benefits to local economy. Diversification may create new recreational opportunities.

Farmers can restrict movement of walkers etc. Pollution from fertilisers and pesticides.

Benefits & ProblemsLand Use Benefits Problems

Settlement Housing bring in more money and some jobs. More people to support local economy.

Can destroy sense of community, especially if bought as second homes. More commuters on roads. House prices go up.

Communication Good road and rail network allows people to get to work and tourists to visit.

Roads can be to busy and dangerous. Causes pollution and congestion. Can be narrow and in poor state of repair.

Nature Reserve Can encourage visits by conservationist / bird watchers some income. Benefit to nature.

Can restrict growth of an area and prevent land being used for job creation.

Caravan & Camp sites

Large numbers of tourists can use and visit and spend money in area, provide employment, services improved.

Can create congestion, tourist might not respect local countryside, leaving litter, gates open, noise etc.

Benefits & ProblemsLand Use Benefits Problems

Hill Walking / Sight Seeing

Skiing / winter sports

Mountain biking / horse riding

Sailing / water sports / fishing

•For all land uses: •People come to remote areas and can spend money. •Jobs are created where there are few other jobs available•Local services and entertainment can be improved – eg. Better buses, restaurants

Footpath erosion and litter left. Cars block narrow roads. Road congestion.

Tow paths can be unsightly, causes damage to habitat .

Causes path erosion, can take up more space (motor bikes are noisy) conflict between footpath users.

Speed boats can cause pollution and waves erode shore. Other users require clam water.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of a particular site for a National Park?

• Need good road access so that people can come and enjoy the park

• Near large cities so that the NP will be used

• Need unspoilt scenery• Need a variety of types of

scenery eg. Forests, open moorland, mountains, lakes

• Need a honey-pot village to take pressure off other areas

• Roads encourage access and increase pressure on land such as footpath erosion

• Closer to cities means that more people will come and cause the roads to be congested

• Variety of landuses increases land use conflict