Exposed roots shallow-rooted pine tree undermined by lateral erosion of glacial deposits by Marshaw Wyre, Trough of Bowland, UK
The Marshaw Wyre, a headwater stream of the River Wyre that enters the sea at Fleetwood, is incised into glacial deposits supporting shallow-rooted beech trees and conifers downstream of the exposed moortops where the stream starts. The stream, in dry weather, is reduced to a trickle. It responds rapidly to heavy rain, however. The steep slopes, thin soils and impermeable bedrock of the upland valley give rise to the rapid overland flow of rainwater. When in flood the river, eroding its banks, is capable of undermining riverside trees, This pine tree still stands, but its wide-spreading, shallow root system is being exposed and undercut. A view upstream from Tower Lodge, a small house at the side of the Lancaster-Dunsop Bridge road (out of sight left of shot), and originally built as a gate lodge to a shooting lodge on the moors above in the early 19th Century. With easy access from the road, the river is well-visited by both tourists and geography students.
Size: 5342px × 3405px
Location: Marshaw Wyre, upstream from Tower Lodge, Forest of Bowland, Lancashire, United Kingdom
Photo credit: © robert harrison / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: bank, bowland, conifer, deposit, erosion, fluvial, forest, glacial, grass, green, kingdom, lancashire, lateral, marshaw, pebbles, pine, reeds, river, riverbank, riverside, rocks, roots, rural, shallow, sunny, tree, trough, uk, undercutting, united, view, wyre
