Tuesday 5 April 2011

Moorland Management

Moorland (along with its lowland counterpart, heathland) is the most extensive natural vegetated habitat of the British Isles. In northern England, much of this moorland would once have been forest and it is still not clear whether the transition to moorland was caused by climate change, human activity or a combination of the two.

The moors offer a habitat for a number of species of bird and plant. Heather is predominant, with complete hillsides turning a gorgeous shade of deep purple in late summer. Larks nest in dips in the ground, protected by the screening of the thickness of the low heather bushes. Grouse are also common up here, though the black grouse we saw wouldn't ever stand still enough for a photo. ("Check your diary! It's only a camera!")


With walking as a growing leisure pursuit, erosion has become a big problem in the more popular areas. Sometimes, extreme measures have to be taken, such as here. These stone slabs were lifted in by helicopter and then manhandled into place to form a walkway along the ridge in a project agreed between Derbyshire County Council, The Forestry Commission, who own the land, English Nature and the Peak Park Authority. Such intrusive measures are taken only after much consultation, but are sometimes necessary to stop the high levels of erosion being caused by the passing of many booted feet. It is is an ongoing dichotomy; the tension between access and protection.

Of course, the creation of such paths leads to other problems, like the need to maintain drainage so that the whole area does not turn into a bog. Hence, these drainage gullies, built into the path at regular intervals to allow the water to run away as it would naturally.

Shining Tor will be the next path to be completed, with
work currently underway. The work on this project
has been agreed by Derbyshire County Council Rights
of Way, United Utilities and the Forestry Commission,
who own and lease the land, and English Nature.
Work restoring a stretch of the footpath which
runs along Curbar Edge is due to be completed in
December 2005.
Shining Tor will be the next path to be completed, with
work currently underway. The work on this project
has been agreed by Derbyshire County Council Rights
of Way, United Utilities and the Forestry Commission,
who own and lease the land, and English Nature.
Work restoring a stretch of the footpath which
runs along Curbar Edge is due to be completed in
December 2005.

Paths like these are a little hard on the feet, but much easier than slogging through ankle deep gloop, and at least they keep the area of damage contained to a single strip, rather than it becoming a motorway of eroded mud.

6 comments:

  1. The paths sound like a good solution to the conundrum.

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  2. All the Grouse knows is that humans carry things with which to "point and shoot".

    I've walked that ridge a few times in the "gloop" and, yes, the path is a great improvement :)

    Maybe we'll wander the other way to Shutlingsloe another time; and call at the Cat and Fiddle in passing.

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  3. I like the stone walkway, H! It looks very attractive and serves a useful purpose at the same time.

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  4. I remember someone from America once asking me "what exactly is moorland". I had trouble trying to explain properly, I wish I had your post to hand. The problem of erosion from too many people enjoying the moorland is a problem well worth having.

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  5. Your photos just make me want to lace up my shoes and get going! I LOVE hiking, it's a major family activity in our household, and with the Rocky Mountains 20 minutes away, so accessible. We plan to take the boys to Europe at some point, and a walk on the moor has been on my bucket list a long time. The Secret Garden was my favorite childhood book, and the descriptions of the lonely moors just made me want to get out there and explore. Thanks for sharing your world with us. And what Alan said, we should enjoy the beauty given to us by our Creator AND balance managing that land to preserve it for future generations. This project looks like it was the perfect solution, keeping the natural look and feel and keeping the moor from eroding at the same time.
    Tina @ Life is Good

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  6. I bet it's really pretty when the heather is in flower

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