Land Use Unit
1. Land Use: Identification &
Suitability
2. Land Use: Benefits & Problems
3. Land Use: Conflicts & Solutions
(National Parks)
Land Use
Learning Outcomes
1. Identify different Land Use (from OS
Map).
2.Explain why the Land Use is suitable for
that area.
Different Land Uses
Land Use
Description
Forestry
Large amount of trees planted for commercial
purpose. Often single species in rows,
boundaries can be straight lines and corners.
Quarry
Mining stone, gravel or sand from large open
cast mines, and transporting this by road in
large lorries.
HEP (Hydro-Electric Large Lochs created by damming rivers and
Power) /Reservoir using water to generate electricity, and storing
drinking water.
Wind Power
Large wind turbines generate electricity.
Farming
Depending on physical factors can be livestock,
arable or mixed farming.
Settlement
New housing or hotel developments.
Communications
Usually roads which are narrow and winding,
also rail, sea, or air. Also TV & telephone links.
OS Map Symbol
Different Land Uses (Tourism & Recreation)
Land Use
Nature Reserve
Caravan &
Camp sites
Hill Walking /
Sight Seeing
Skiing / winter
sports
Mountain biking
/ horse riding
Sailing / water
sports
Description
Area to protect wildlife habitat.
Sites allowing people to park
their own caravan or tent, or
stay in static homes.
Walking in areas of natural
beauty, and looking at views.
Requires steep land and snow
so on higher land
Cycling especially downhill and
off road, also horse riding in
countryside areas. Footpaths
are better.
Either on Sea or Lochs
OS Map Symbol
Suitability of Land Use
Land Use
Physical & Human Factors
Forestry
Trees can grow on steep, infertile soil. Trees survive cold,
snowy winters. Farmers can access grants for growing trees.
Quarry
When stone, gravel or sand is found in large quantities near to
surface. Can be easily extracted and transported to nearby
market.
HEP (HydroElectric Power) /
Reservoir
Large area of high land can be flooded (allows for higher head
of pressure) and used to store water. Near to large area of
population which require drinking water and electricity.
Wind Power
Land high up and away from shelter used for producing
electricity from wind.
Farming
Where land is fertile, and weather conditions good arable and
livestock farming is used, where this is poor hill sheep farming
takes place, as sheep can cope with cold wet weather and
poor soils.
Settlement
Large areas of flat land close to communications.
Communications
Roads and railway built on flat land, TV masts on top of hills for
good signal.
Suitability of Land Use
Land Use
Physical & Human Factors
Nature Reserve
In area where nature habitats are under pressure or
wildlife endangered.
Caravan & Camp
sites
Flat land near to areas of interest, not liable to flooding
and near roads.
Hill Walking /
Sight Seeing
Walks which offer scenic views, through woodland or hill
tops and along gentler slopes. Need car parks.
Skiing / winter
sports
High & steep land so to get snow and ski downhill, near to
roads and people. Area may have ski tows.
Mountain biking
/ horse riding
Tracks and paths for walkers, cyclists and horse riders
often through woodland and open land with some slopes.
Sailing / water
sports
Near to roads and area with facilities for water sports e.g.
piers, docks etc.
Glacial Landscapes
(Upland)
Steep sides and infertile
soil allows for forestry
and recreation and main
land use.
Flat bottom of U-shaped
valley used for some
farming, settlement and
communications.
Ribbon lakes and Corrie
Lochs can be used for
water storage and HEP.
Glacial Landscapes
(Lowland)
Boulder Clay is flat
and fertile allowing
for arable farming.
Terminal Moraine is
hilly and infertile
used for health or
forestry.
Outwash Plain is
flat but infertile,
however sands and
gravels have been
‘sorted’ allowing for
quarrying.
River Landscapes
(Upper Course)
V – Shaped valleys are
steep with infertile
soils.
Land use is forestry
and hill sheep
farming. Some
recreation such as
water sports and hill
walking.
River Landscapes
(Middle & Lower Course)
Floodplains are flat
containing fertile
alluvium soil.
Land use is farming both
arable and livestock,
also settlement and
communications.
Near river mouth may also
use water for cooling
for industry and deep
water for ports / docks.
Credit 2006 Q1c
Part of the disused
aluminium works at
Kinlochleven (1861,
1862) has been
converted into a
training centre for
outdoor sports.
Using map evidence to
support your answer,
state whether or not
you think this is a
good location for an
outdoor sports
centre.
(ES 6marks)
Credit 2006 Q1d
Q1d Find area
X on the
OS map
extract.
Give reasons
for the
different
land uses in
this area
(KU 5marks)
Benefits & Problems of Land
Use
Learning Outcomes:
1. Explain the Benefits & Problems
different Land Users can create.
Benefits & Problems
Land Use
Benefits
Problems
Forestry
Land too steep and infertile for
Large areas of single species trees
traditional farming, machinery can’t be closely planted in rectangular
used. Provides some jobs.
areas.
Quarry
Provides jobs and brings money into
area.
Large unsightly open cast mines,
creates noise and dust. Lorries
taking produce away can cause
congestion.
HEP (HydroElectric
Power) /
Reservoir
Provides cheap ‘green’ electricity, can
also be used for boating recreation.
Some jobs also.
Large area flooded by new
reservoir.
Wind Power
Provides cheap ‘green’ electricity, and
some jobs.
Tall turbines can be unsightly and
also quite noisy.
Farming
Some jobs provided and benefits to
local economy. Diversification may
create new recreational opportunities.
Farmers can restrict movement of
walkers etc. Pollution from
fertilisers and pesticides.
Benefits & Problems
Land Use
Benefits
Problems
Settlement
Housing bring in more money and
some jobs. More people to
support local economy.
Can destroy sense of community,
especially if bought as second
homes. More commuters on roads.
House prices go up.
Communication
Good road and rail network allows
people to get to work and tourists
to visit.
Roads can be to busy and
dangerous. Causes pollution and
congestion. Can be narrow and in
poor state of repair.
Nature Reserve
Can encourage visits by
conservationist / bird watchers
some income. Benefit to nature.
Can restrict growth of an area and
prevent land being used for job
creation.
Caravan & Camp
sites
Large numbers of tourists can use
and visit and spend money in area,
provide employment, services
improved.
Can create congestion, tourist
might not respect local
countryside, leaving litter, gates
open, noise etc.
Benefits & Problems
Land Use
Hill Walking /
Sight Seeing
Skiing / winter sports
Mountain biking /
horse riding
Sailing / water sports /
fishing
Benefits
•For all land uses:
•People come to remote
areas and can spend
money.
•Jobs are created where
there are few other jobs
available
•Local services and
entertainment can be
improved – eg. Better
buses, restaurants
Problems
Footpath erosion and litter
left. Cars block narrow
roads. Road congestion.
Tow paths can be unsightly,
causes damage to habitat .
Causes path erosion, can
take up more space (motor
bikes are noisy) conflict
between footpath users.
Speed boats can cause
pollution and waves erode
shore. Other users require
clam water.
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a
particular site for a National Park?
• Need good road access so that
people can come and enjoy
the park
• Near large cities so that the
NP will be used
• Need unspoilt scenery
• Need a variety of types of
scenery eg. Forests, open
moorland, mountains, lakes
• Need a honey-pot village to
take pressure off other areas
• Roads encourage access and
increase pressure on land such
as footpath erosion
• Closer to cities means that
more people will come and
cause the roads to be
congested
• Variety of landuses increases
land use conflict