Physical and Human Processes & Landscape (Edexcel GCSE Geography: B (1GB0))

• The physical landscape of the UK is due to geological processes over time
• Processes involved are:
  • Weathering: breakdown of rock in their original place
  • Mass movement: weathered material moving down slopes under the influence of gravity
  • Erosion, transportation and deposition by rivers
• Geologically the UK is split in half, with an imaginary boundary line running from the Tees estuary in the north-east of England to the Exe estuary in Devon
• We can split the UK into two main features, uplands and lowlands

Uplands - north west

• • Glaciated during the last Ice Age, it is mainly igneous and metamorphic rocks
  • The uplands are found mostly in the north and west of the country: Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and north England (e.g. Lake District, Grampian Mountains and Snowdonia etc.)
  • Climate is wetter and less fluctuating

Map of upland and lowland UK showing glacial limit and major rivers

Lowlands - south east 

• Not glaciated, but heavily influenced by glacial deposition and dominated by sedimentary rocks
• The lowlands are in the south and east of the UK: Central and southern England (e.g. Cotswolds, Norfolk and South Downs)
• Most cities are in lowland areas and along main river courses such as Liverpool on the Mersey, Bristol on the Severn estuary and River Avon etc.
• Climate is drier with a greater temperature range

• The physical landscape of the UK has been heavily changed by human activity
• Settlements grew up where the landscape offered advantages such as:
  • Rivers - meanders in rivers provided good defence locations as well as transport links and fresh water
  • Natural harbours were sites for fishing and trading
  • Natural springs brought reliable freshwater
• Agriculture:
  • UK landscape has been changed through farming
    • Drainage ditches are built to drain water from low-lying land
    • Trees and hedges are cleared away to make room for large agricultural machinery
    • Small fields are combined to make it more profitable for farming but also to use large machinery
• Forestry:
  • Planting, managing and care of forest for conservation, natural windbreaks, landscaping, recreation and timber production
  • Many upland areas have been planted with trees, usually in straight lines, making it easier to manage