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.

Related items

  1. An older man with a walking stick is sitting on a sofa having his temperature taken with a thermometer in his ear by a female nurse in uniform

    This time must be different: Overcoming barriers to social care reform

    Adult social care services across England are struggling to keep up with increased demand, let alone improve. But failure is not an option.
  2. Queen Square Bus Station on Hood Street in Liverpool city centre

    En route to renewal: Delivering better, greener buses

    Good buses drive a strong economy, healthy environment and thriving society. 
  3. Townhouses beside the railway on the viaduct with a running train in Durham, UK

    On track to prosperity: Great Northern Rail

    It’s time the North saw real change for better transport, delivering prosperity and better lives: a long-term plan for Great Northern Rail