Natural Assets North: Valuing our northern uplands

Article

Natural Assets North is a new IPPR North project which investigates the natural potential of the north of England, including the quality of its landscape, water and coastlines. The natural capital of the North is immense, but its full potential is not yet being realised. This work is part of IPPR North's work on a Great North Plan.

In the first of a series of briefings on Natural Assets North, IPPR North explores the importance of the North’s uplands. The briefing is based on IPPR North’s Natural Assets walking tour of Smithills in Greater Manchester, which took place a few days before the Winter Hill fire broke out in July.

The geography of the North is dominated by its magnificent uplands. Taken together, the North’s uplands feature heathland, blanket bog, and other forms of wetland such as fens and swamps, and include some of the region’s most well-known and loved natural environments, including Northumberland National Park, the North Pennines, the Forest of Bowland, Nidderdale, Yorkshire Dales National Park, the Lake District, and the Peak District.

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