Studies in the Flandrian Vegetational History of the Craven District of Yorkshire: The Lowlands

Pollen diagrams are presented for five sites in lowland Craven in north-west Yorshire, an area (about 200 km 2 ) of varied relief and soils. Associated radio-carbon dates show that the vegetational history extends from the end of the Devensian late-glacial to the present day. The early immigration and spread of Pinus and Alnus are discussed in relation to changes in climate, soil and human interference. It is suggested that up to the Ulmus decline human interference, although probably present, was not a major influence on the vegetation of this lowland area. After the Ulmus decline human interference was of prime importance in determining vegetation history, but with greatly differing intensity and progress on different soils. On high-quality limestone soils, major clearance occurred in the Bronze Age, but on the heavy clay soils in the western part of the region, intensive clearance did not take place until Anglo-Saxon times