Landscape Character Supplementary Planning Document ...

City of Bradford Metropolitan District CouncilLocal Development Framework For Bradford9.2 GRITSTONE MOORLANDSummary9.2.1 The moorland landscape is typified by its wild open character; its uninterrupted views; itsapparent, if not actual, naturalness; and by its extent and uniformity; as well as itssubtlety of colour and texture.Distribution9.2.2 The underlying geology of the Millstone grit has created high level plateaux through thenorth and west of the District. (Baildon Moor is different in that it rests on the coalmeasures geology). The landform is flat to gently rolling, with dramatic features ofexposed gritstone in the form of crag outcrops and prominent groups of large bounders.Landscape Elements9.2.3 This landscape type is unique in the Bradford District because of the very limited rangeof landscape elements that are present, and in particular because of the lack of subdivisioninto fields or other units of land. It is the vegetation of these moorland areas thatgives them so much of their character; with varying proportions of heather, moorlandgrasses, bilberry, and bracken. The contrast in colour between the dark heather, greengrasslands, and bright green flashes of bilberry is particularly characteristic. There arealso striking seasonal changes, notably the carpet of purple when the heather flowers;Landscape Character Supplementary Planning DocumentOctober 2008 Page 44