Land Use

Land Use Introduction

The physical (natural) landscape, the weather and the climate all affect the way we live. In
Scotland, the land is used for farms, forests, reservoirs, quarries and recreational facilities. Such
land uses bring advantages and disadvantages to the people living in an area.

Sometimes there are conflicts (arguments) as to the best way to use the land.

Physical Factors Relief

Higher land tends to be windier, wetter, colder, more remote; have poor, marshy and thin soils in
short, it is not very good for most land uses. The higher lands in the U.K. have very few people and
are not used intensively for farming.

Steeper land also is more difficult to use. Soils creep down steep slopes, machines such as
tractors can topple over and water runs quickly off the land. Slopes can be stabilised by planting
trees and in other parts of the world steps or terraces are cut in hillsides so that crops can be grown.

Land Use Introduction 1

 Land Use

The lowest land offers the most opportunities for a variety of uses. It is the warmest, calmest,
driest and is the easiest to build houses, industry and communications on.

The aspect of the land is the way the slope faces. In the northern hemisphere land that slopes
down to the south is the best for farming as it gets more direct rays from the sun and is therefore
hotter. The sunnyside of valleys tends to have more settlements.

Physical Factors Weather

Weather affects everyone. What we do at work, in our spare time and when travelling can be
controlled by what the weather is like. We will look at the different weather conditions that are
commonly found in Britain and the good and bad effects they can cause.

Weather
Advantages Disadvantages
type

High Dry, calm and sunny weather benefits people

Can cause droughts and forest
Pressure who work in tourism (such as hotel owners),
fires; crops may grow badly
in soft drink manufacturers, and farmers when
without rain
Summer they are harvesting crops

Low
Depressing for holiday makers;
Pressure Sufficient rainfall for grass and crops to grow;
interrupts summer sports; strong
in low risk of water shortage
winds may flatten crops
Summer

Physical Factors Weather 2

 Land Use

High Ice and winter fogs make driving

Cold and clear condition can be excellent for
Pressure hazardous; frozen football
skiers and winter sports enthusiasts
in Winter pitches; burst water pipes

Storms can cause damage to

Low buildings; flooding risk to
No shortage of water supplies; low risk of frost
Pressure farmland; heavy rain and strong
for farmers
in Winter winds also make driving
hazardous

Weather
Advantages Disadvantages
type

Land Use Conflicts

People often disagree as to the best way that areas should be used. There will usually be
advantages and disadvantages to each way of using the land. You need to be able to argue for one
kind of land use over another, giving valid reasons for your choice.

Settlements

Advantages Disadvantages

Housing uses up the most fertile, lower

New housing can be needed in rural
land
areas
The spread of towns and cities can
Building the houses creates jobs
damage wildlife and increase pollution

Forestry

Advantages Disadvantages

Creates jobs Some people believe it spoils the look

Britain will not need to import so much of the landscape
timber It damages the habitat of the local
It can stabilise soil and reduce erosion fauna and flora

Land Use Conflicts 3

 Land Use
Quarries
Advantages
Creates jobs, both in the quarry and in
related work e.g. lorry drivers
Rock is needed in many industries e.g.
road building
Caravan and Camp Sites
Advantages
Creates jobs and the tourists will spend
money in the local area
Encourages people to look after their
local area as this will attract more
tourists
Winter Sports Resorts
Advantages
Creates jobs and the tourists will spend
money in the local area
Provides healthy exercise outdoors
Land Use Conflicts
Disadvantages
Quarries can be noisy and dusty
Quarries can look ugly and be an
eyesore
Noise and traffic problems can be
caused by the heavy lorries
Disadvantages
Tourists can disturb the local people
The jobs provided are often seasonal
(summer)
Large numbers of tourists can damage
the countryside
Disadvantages
Tourists can disturb the local people
The jobs provided are often seasonal
(winter)
Large numbers of skiers and
snowboarders can damage the fragile
mountain environment and disturb the
plants and animals
4