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Map of the
Burbage Valley area
GeologyThe Burbage Valley is a basin partly surrounded by scarps or edges
of gritstone: Burbage Rocks on the east and Higger Tor and Carl Wark
on the west. The gritstone is resistant to erosion. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Prehistoric SettlementThe first evidence of human activity comes from flints left behind by groups of hunter-gatherers who travelled through the area. Early evidence of occupation occurs south of Carl Wark and dates from the Bronze Age (circa 1500 BC). It is marked by small clearance cairns formed out of stones cleared from the area by the early farmers. These cairns are now covered by vegetation which makes them difficult to find.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Carl WarkThe defended promontory fort of Carl Wark, which is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, probably dates from the Iron Age. It may have been used as a refuge when the local inhabitants were under threat. The earthen rampart and stone wall, built to defend the one acre site, can still be seen on the western side of the fort. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - The landscape in the burbage valleyBurbage BrookThe Burbage Brook rises in the moorland north of the
Burbage Valley and enters the valley under the Upper
Burbage Bridge. From here the height of the stream quickly drops
from just over 396m down to 335m in less than 1 km. The
Brook therefore provides a good area for hydrological
work. Hypotheses showing the different water velocities along
the Brook and the differences in the size of contents
of the stream bed, can easily be tested.
Forest AreasThe 83 acre plantation was planted between 1968 and
1971. The trees are mainly Scots Pine, Japanese Larch and Lodgepole
Pine. Some deciduous species were planted around the edges of the
plantation to soften its outline. EcologyThe Dark Peak moorland, such as that on Burbage Moor, is the nearest thing to wilderness in England. The moorland and blanket bog terrain found here are rare and valuable habitats which support a unique fauna. Burbage Moor lies around 400 metres above sea level and experiences low temperatures, high rainfall, is exposed and windy. Plants and animals need to be hardy and highly adapted to live on the moorland, because of the extreme climate and acid soils. High rainfall carries the few minerals downwards where many plants cannot reach them.
Heather, cowberry, bilberry and moorland grasses, are found on the gritstone areas. The shale and head deposits in the valley are more fertile, enabling more vigorous grasses and bracken to grow. Because of the lack of competition from other plants, bracken has started to dominate the vegetation in these areas. Efforts have been made to limit this domination by cutting back and controlling the bracken.
Moorland birds like wheatears and meadow pipits can be seen during spring to autumn. Skylarks can also be heard in spring. The elusive mountain hare and the red grouse are able to survive all winter on the moors. Burbage Brook is home to dippers and grey wagtails throughout the year - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - RoutewaysPackhorse RoutesRouteways through the Burbage area may have been
in existence for thousands of years. However, the hollow ways and
the pack horse bridge, which can be seen below Carl Wark, are mostly
from the Medieval Period. Turnpike RoadsThe roads which now surround Burbage Moor were first
built as turnpike roads, though many of the routes may have followed
existing trackways. The owners of these roads were able to charge
a toll to people using the route. This funding enabled the roads to
be maintained to a higher standard than the normal roads and therefore
movement of goods and people along them was quicker. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Land Use In The ValleyQuarrying and the Millstone IndustryQuarrying in the Burbage area probably started over 2000 years ago when millstone grit was used to make rotary querns. These were the hand-held equivalents of the later millstones.
During the 18th and 19th centuries Wild Moorstones Edge Quarry manufactured millstones,
grindstones (for the Sheffield edge-tool industry) and other stone products.
The sizes and shapes of the millstones varied through time. The earlier were
dome-shaped on top whilst the later ones were flat on both sides. The average
size was approximately 5 feet in diameter and over a ton in weight. Land OwnershipSince 1928 the Burbage Valley has been owned by Sheffield City
Council, who bought it from the Duke of Rutland, with the idea of building
a reservoir in the area. Due to local opposition to this proposed reservoir,
the project was cancelled but Sheffield Council continued to manage
the land, which is now tenanted out to a local sheep farmer. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Land Use TodayFarming
The area is classed by the Ministry of Agriculture as Grade 5 land which means
the land is very poor farming land. Grants are available from the Government
to help the farming community. Only a small number of sheep can be kept on the
moors, as overgrazing has a serious effect on the vegetation, which cannot regenerate
quickly due to the difficult growing conditions. Overgrazing also allows invasive
species like bracken to encroach onto the moors. RecreationThe closeness of the Burbage Valley to major towns
has led to its popularity with a wide range of people. The many tracks
and paths through the valley have encouraged walkers into the area
and rock climbers can be seen on many days throughout the year taking
advantage of the climbing routes available on Burbage Edge. Management of the MoorsWhen the moors had shooting rights
let out on them, they were specifically managed to encourage the grouse.
This involved the burning of small patches of heather in rotation during
the winter to encourage new growth. Recently, controlled burning has
taken place to encourage regrowth of heather, creating habitats for
wildlife and food for sheep. Uncontrolled summer fires can cause a
lot of damage to vegetation and to creatures. An area devastated by
fire in 1976 is still mainly bare peat and (where the peat has burnt
away) bare gritstone. |
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