Reconstructing Palaeoenvironments of the White Peak Region of Derbyshire, Northern England
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
THE UNIVERSITY OF HULL Reconstructing Palaeoenvironments of the White Peak Region of Derbyshire, Northern England being a Thesis submitted for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the University of Hull by Simon John Kitcher MPhysGeog May 2014 Declaration I hereby declare that the work presented in this thesis is my own, except where otherwise stated, and that it has not been previously submitted in application for any other degree at any other educational institution in the United Kingdom or overseas. ii Abstract Sub-fossil pollen from Holocene tufa pool sediments is used to investigate middle – late Holocene environmental conditions in the White Peak region of the Derbyshire Peak District in northern England. The overall aim is to use pollen analysis to resolve the relative influence of climate and anthropogenic landscape disturbance on the cessation of tufa production at Lathkill Dale and Monsal Dale in the White Peak region of the Peak District using past vegetation cover as a proxy. Modern White Peak pollen – vegetation relationships are examined to aid semi- quantitative interpretation of sub-fossil pollen assemblages. Moss-polsters and vegetation surveys incorporating novel methodologies are used to produce new Relative Pollen Productivity Estimates (RPPE) for 6 tree taxa, and new association indices for 16 herb taxa. RPPE’s of Alnus, Fraxinus and Pinus were similar to those produced at other European sites; Betula values displaying similarity with other UK sites only. RPPE’s for Fagus and Corylus were significantly lower than at other European sites. Pollen taphonomy in woodland floor mosses in Derbyshire and East Yorkshire is investigated. Significant variations in tree pollen percentages within 1 metre quadrats of continuous moss cover are found, with micro-topography and aspect suggested as primary controls. Pollen taphonomy is investigated at the River Wye in Derbyshire to provide a context for the palaeoenvironmental study. The taphonomic model at the River Wye field site was found to be more similar to a small enclosed lake, contradicting the model proposed for open fluvial systems. Sub-fossil pollen evidence suggests that climatic change exacerbated by catchment- scale anthropogenic deforestation was the dominant mechanism influencing tufa cessation at both the White Peak field sites. The Monsal Dale field site is suggested as being in the early stages of degradation, and the Lathkill Dale field site suggested as representing the terminal stage of the tufa system shut-down. iii Acknowledgements This thesis has benefitted from the help of many people. First and foremost I would like to acknowledge and thank my supervisor, Dr Jane Bunting for her invaluable help, support and unwavering encouragement on all aspects of this research. My thanks also go to the remainder of my supervisory panel; Dr Martyn Pedley for all his assistance both in the department and in the field, and Dr Jane Reed for all her advice and support during the completion of this work. I am grateful to all members of the teaching staff and fellow postgraduates at Hull Geography Department for their support and encouragement during my research. Particular thanks go to Dr Graham Ferrier for assistance with Geographic Information software, and to Dr Michelle Farrell for constructive advice on many aspects of this work. I would also like to thank the technical staff in Hull Geography, including Mark Anderson, Marion Brazier, and Kim Roswell for their support with laboratory work, and Mike Dennett, Tim Bettley, and Paul McSherry for the help and advice regarding health and safety, computing and transport. I am indebted to Phillip Bowler and Audra Hurst of Natural England, Julia Gow of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, James Taylor of the East Riding of Yorkshire Council, and Stephen Moores of Chatsworth Estates for granting access to their land to carry out fieldwork. Particular thanks go to Stephen Moores for his help in allowing the use of private estate roads to access remote field sites and in locating suitable field sites. I would like to acknowledge the help, support, patience and encouragement of my whole family during the completion of this research, and would particularly thank my father and mother who never stopped believing in me or my goals. This thesis is therefore dedicated to the memory of my mother Sylvia Kitcher who, although unable to see the work completed, has remained a constant companion throughout this journey. iv Table of Contents Declaration.......................................................................................................................ii Abstract...........................................................................................................................iii Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................iv Table of contents..............................................................................................................v List of figures..................................................................................................................xiv List of tables...................................................................................................................xxi Chapter 1: Introduction.................................................................................................1 Chapter 2: Research Strategy........................................................................................6 2.1 Studying long-term vegetation dynamics......................................................6 2.2 Why choose palaeoecological methods.........................................................6 2.3 Challenges in Palaeoecology..........................................................................7 2.4 The approach used in this study....................................................................8 Chapter 3: Study Region and Study Sites....................................................................10 The White Peak..................................................................................................10 Millington Wood................................................................................................13 3.1 Study Field Sites...........................................................................................14 Introduction...............................................................................14 v Cressbrook Dale.........................................................................15 Chee Dale...................................................................................15 Millars Dale................................................................................15 Lathkill Dale................................................................................16 Bradford Dale.............................................................................16 Millington Wood.........................................................................16 Litton Mill...................................................................................17 Monsal Dale...............................................................................17 Conksbury Bridge.......................................................................17 3.2 Modern Climate...........................................................................................17 3.3 Geology........................................................................................................18 3.4 Soils..............................................................................................................21 3.5 Modern Vegetation......................................................................................22 The Peak District, Derbyshire..........................................................22 Millington Wood, East Yorkshire.....................................................27 Chapter 4: Climate, vegetation and human impact in the Peak District during the Holocene.......................................................................................................................29 4.1 Vegetation and Climate History.................................................................29 Introduction...............................................................................29 4.1.1. The Late Glacial...............................................................29 vi 4.1.2. The Holocene Development of the Forest (c.10, 000 – 7000BP)......................................................................................30 The White Peak..............................................................30 The Dark Peak................................................................30 Northern England...........................................................32 Summary........................................................................33 4.1.3. Maximum Forest Diversity (7000 – 5000 BP – Mid- Holocene)...................................................................................33 The White Peak..............................................................34 The Dark Peak.................................................................35 The Wider Region...........................................................37 4.1.4. Woodland Clearance and Decline....................................38 Forest Clearance Evidence from the White Peak...........39 Forest Clearance Evidence from the Dark Peak.............41 Forest Clearance Evidence from the Wider Region.......43 Summary........................................................................46