Appleby Fells facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Appleby Fells |
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Part of the SSSI - looking from Burton Fell towards Roman Fell
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 Appleby Fells
Location in Eden
Appleby Fells
Location in Cumbria
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| Location | Eden, Cumbria, North West England |
| Area | 10,634.7 ha (41.061 sq mi) |
| Designated | 1951 |
| Governing body | Natural England |
| Website | Map of site |
Appleby Fells is a very special natural area in Cumbria, England. It's located in the Eden area, close to the town of Appleby-in-Westmorland. This place is so important that it's been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). This means it's protected by law because of its unique wildlife, plants, and geology.
The area is shaped a bit like a triangle. It stretches from near Cow Green Reservoir in the northeast. From there, it goes west towards Knock and south towards Helbeck. Appleby Fells is also part of the wider North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB). This is another special title given to beautiful landscapes in England.
The fells (which are hills or mountains) here rise steeply from the Eden Valley. Many streams have carved deep paths into the slopes. Experts from Natural England say that the area is very important. It has a "rich variety of habitats" and many different "plant and animal species." They also note that the rocks here are special. You can see important parts of the Great Whin Sill, which is a famous rock formation.
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Protecting Appleby Fells
Most of Appleby Fells is currently in a state called "Unfavourable Recovering." This means that the area is getting better, but it's not yet in perfect condition. Less than 5% of the SSSI is in a "Favourable" state. This shows that ongoing efforts are needed to help this special place thrive.
Amazing Habitats and Wildlife
Appleby Fells is home to many different types of natural environments. These habitats support a wide range of plants and animals.
Blanket Bogs
High up, above about 540 meters (1,770 feet), you'll find blanket bog. This is a type of wetland covered in thick layers of peat. It's mostly covered by plants like hares-tail cotton grass and heather. You might also see small, peaty pools with Sphagnum mosses forming little humps. Other interesting plants here include bog asphodel and the insect-eating round-leaved sundew.
Limestone Areas
In some parts, there are rocky cliffs made of carboniferous limestone. The grasslands here are mainly covered by sheep's fescue. You can also spot crested hair-grass and blue moor-grass. Many pretty wildflowers grow on the limestone. These include wild thyme, mountain pansy, mossy saxifrage, moonwort, limestone bedstraw, alpine scurvy-grass, alpine forget-me-not, and the beautiful spring gentian.
Scree and Crags
The areas covered in loose rocks, called scree, have their own unique plants. On the hard-to-reach ledges of the cliffs and in cracks in the limestone pavement of Middle Fell and Musgrave Scar, you can find taller plants. Some of these include Pimpinella saxifraga, mountain St-John’s wort, vernal sandwort, alpine pennycress, hoary whitlow grass, lesser meadow rue, and the rare Pyrenean scurvy-grass.
Eastern Slopes
On the eastern slopes, the soil is more acidic. Here, you'll find heathland dominated by Vaccinium (like bilberry) and Empetrum (crowberry).
Water and Animals
The many pools and small lakes (tarns) in Appleby Fells are perfect homes for wading birds. You might see golden plovers, dunlins, snipes, oystercatchers, common sandpipers, and redshanks. The area is also a hunting ground for birds of prey. Look out for merlins, Peregrine falcons, ravens, and barn owls. Old mine shafts in the area provide safe places for bats to hibernate. Two types of bats found here are Brandt's bats and whiskered bats.
History of the Land
Appleby Fells isn't just important for nature; it also has a rich history. There are nine scheduled monuments within the area. These are important historical sites that are protected. They include ancient stone hut circles where people once lived, old field systems used for farming, and cairns (piles of stones often used as burial markers). You can also find shielings, which were temporary shelters used by shepherds. There's even a Romano-British farmstead, showing how people lived here long ago. The area also includes the historic Scordale Lead Mines.
