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ECOLOGY
The Dark Peak moorland, such as that on Burbage Moor, is the nearest thing to wilderness in England. The moorland and blanket bog terrain found here are rare and valuable habitats which support a unique fauna.
Burbage Moor lies around 400 metres above sea level and experiences low temperatures, high rainfall, is exposed and windy. Plants and animals need to be hardy and highly adapted to live on the moorland, because of the extreme climate and acid soils. High rainfall carries the few minerals downwards where many plants cannot reach them.
Heather, cowberry, bilberry and moorland grasses, are found on the gritstone areas. The shale and head deposits in the valley are more fertile, enabling more vigorous grasses and bracken to grow. Because of the lack of competition from other plants, bracken has started to dominate the vegetation in these areas. Efforts have been made to limit this domination by cutting back and controlling the bracken.
Moorland birds like wheatears and meadow pipits can be seen during spring to autumn. Skylarks can also be heard in spring. The elusive mountain hare and the red grouse are able to survive all winter on the moors. Burbage Brook is home to dippers and grey wagtails throughout the year
Packhorse Routes
Routeways through the Burbage area may have been in existence for thousands of years. However, the hollow ways and the pack horse bridge, which can be seen below Carl Wark, are mostly from the Medieval Period.
One pack horse route crossed Millstone Edge and forded the Burbage Brook to the south of the more recent A625.
The pack horse trains could consist of up to 50 horses all carrying goods through the landscape.
Turnpike Roads
The roads which now surround Burbage Moor were first built as turnpike roads, though many of the routes may have followed existing trackways. The owners of these roads were able to charge a toll to people using the route. This funding enabled the roads to be maintained to a higher standard than the normal roads and therefore movement of goods and people along them was quicker.
The Houndkirk road was built in 1758 and was never surfaced with modern materials. It is therefore an exellent example of a turnpike road. Another road built at this time crosses over the Upper Burbage Bridge and continues into Ringinglow. Part of the main A625 road, which crosses the bottom of the valley area was built in 1781.
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