The key characheteristics of the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield are: 

38. Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield

The key characheteristics of the Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Yorkshire Coalfield are:

• Widespread evidence of industrial activity including mine buildings, former spoil tips, and iron and steel plants.

• Complex mix of built-up areas, industrial land, dereliction and farmed open country.

• Many areas affected by urban fringe pressures creating fragmented and downgraded landscapes.

• Substantial areas of intact agricultural land in both arable and pastoral use.

• Small, fragmented remnants of pre-industrail landscape and semi-natural vegetation, including many areas of woodland, river valley habitats, subsidence flashes and other relict habitats.

• Ever present urban influences from major cities, smaller industrial towns and mining villages.

• Widespread influence of transport routes, including canal, road (M1, M62) and rail, with ribbon developments emphasising the urban influence in the landscape.

• Rolling landforms with hills, escarpments and broad valleys.

• Local variation in landscape character reflecting variations in underlying geology.

• Strong cultural identity arising from history of coal mining and other heavy industry.

For further details on this character area and for an introduction to the region, please see the PDF documents in the box at the top right hand side of this page.