Another away-day

Last week we had another of our days when we extend our experiences by visiting an area where we do not usually work.  This time it was to Whitehaven and Ennerdale in the west of the county.  Chris, the Trust’s ranger for that area, was running a volunteer day and a guided walk.  He took us walking around the Haig Pit area and the reclaimed land from the coal-mining industry that was centred there until 1988.  

Chris - National Trust Ranger

Reclaimed industrial land.

Natural vegetation is now colonising the area and you can see from the pictures that it is rich in species including bee orchids.  (Bee orchids are named for their distinctive bee-like appearance and are predominantly found on sunny, well-drained grasslands low in nutrients.)  

You can find out much more about this area at:

http://www.colourfulcoast.org.uk/

And you can download a walk guide here:

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/servlet/pdf/1/611242/Trail/Walking/Whitehaven_colourful_coastal_walk.pdf

We then moved on to Monks Bridge on Coldfell near Calderbridge. 

This is the oldest packhorse bridge in Cumbria.  It was built for the monks of Calder Abbey , originally Savigniac monks and then later on Cistercians from the larger Furness Abbey in the south of Cumbria.  It would have been an important part of the route for transporting iron ore from Ennerdale across Friar Gill to be smelted at the smithies on the fells.

Unfortunately a tree had taken root so near to the bridge that its roots were threatening to cause damage so we had to cut it down.  We dragged it away from the bridge for burning and took the opportunity to have a barbecue.  Once again, Chris had organised a great day – two great locations, some essential work carried out and the weather allowed us a barbecue!

Defying the rain and the midges.

The hunt for oak saplings

We have recently embarked on a big job with some of our volunteers hand weeding around oak saplings planted on a woodland expansion zone below Falcon Crag.  These were grown from acorns collected locally by the National Trust to be grown on.  The saplings were then planted out by school children.  For a few years, the bracken on the slope will outgrow the saplings and would deprive them of light so we need to clear the area surrounding each one for about a 1 metre radius.

Tools at the ready!

This is a laborious process of first finding them amongst a metre or more of bracken growth and then cutting that back using a sickle.

Heavy rain that the camera can't 'see'.

The weather was not particularly kind to us and we worked in a relentless downpour and were thoroughly soaked.  Conditions were just right for there to be enough midges to be troublesome.  We resorted to Avon’s Skin-so-Soft bath oil to give us some protection against them! 

Despite the aggravation of the rain and the midges, the volunteers completed an extraordinary amount of work and maintained their usual good humour.  

Riches on our doorsteps.

When I came to write this latest blog and reflected on what I had been doing, not for the first time, I realised what a fantastic place the UK is.  Here in the Lakes it would be easy to take it for granted but the visitors are a constant reminder of how lucky we are to live and work here.  We are part of a relatively small but accessible part of the globe where we can enjoy so many different experiences.

In a couple of weeks I have been climbing in snow on Skye and have also enjoyed walking Roman walls and the historic city of Chester in glorious sunshine – this with my Canadian friends Kirk & Jo who were keen to visit some ancient sites. 

We three also did some climbing in the Lake District. 

I then spent some time with a large number of our fantastic, ever-willing volunteers working on an access-for-all footpath with the Fix the Fells team.  That was followed by working with the Scouts, the Army Cadets and the Mountain Rescue Team to create the Jubilee Beacon on Catbells and the bonfire at Crowe Park on the lake shore.  Around 2000 people enjoyed the bonfire and about 80 made their way up to the beacon where there was a great atmosphere and we could see several beacons on other fell tops.

Soon after that, I was able to spend some time road-biking in Pitlochry, another fantastic area.  These islands are so compact that we can easily access an enormous range of experiences even if we have only one spare day.

It all led to thinking about the Trust’s project '50 things to do before you are 11¾'.  During the rest of the year we are all going to be building some of those into our visitor experiences so I’ll be reporting on those soon.  Meanwhile, why don’t you have a go at something near your home that you haven’t tried before?  You can tell us about it by writing a comment on the blog.

Skye in May

I’ve just had a few days climbing with some friends up in Skye.  When we arrived, we were surprised at how much snow there was.  There had been a recent fresh flurry of snow and it was looking good.  So, for the beginning of our trip, our fingers were quite cold when climbing which was a stark contrast with the last few days when it was absolutely scorching.

On our first day there, my climbing partner Steve and I climbed up to the Cioch by a relatively easy route and then carried on to the top of Coir Lagan – a cold-fingers day but really good climbing.  The following day we did Pinnacle Ridge on Sgurr nan Gillean.  Again, there was a lot more snow than we had initially hoped for but it was great to be back on big hills.

On the final day we took a boat into Loch Coruisk and we four stayed at the climbing hut – a beautiful, remote location with stunning views down the loch.  The next day we did the Dubhs Ridge and then down the other side to where we were camping. 

One of the things that always strikes me about Skye is that it is the only place in the UK in my experience where you can have a truly alpine climbing day.  The climbing is fantastic with grades from easy to extreme but you do need to be a competent and confident climber.  There is some easier walking or non-technical climbing but It would take too long to rope everything so sometimes you need the skills and confidence to move together and quickly. 

So on this trip, we did three good climbing routes and then had the added bonus of seeing lots of seals and even an otter.  We saw the otter just about half an hour walk from our camp where we sat very quietly for about an hour and it worked its way across the shoreline in front of us.  The vast majority of people on the camp-site didn’t see it purely and simply because they didn’t look for it.  Seeing otters is often a case of finding the right location and just sitting quietly, preferably without a dog because the smell or barking of a dog will scare away otters.

It was a good trip but now I am back in the Lakes preparing for a Jubilee Beacon on Catbells and hoping for dry, calm weather!

Cakes and maps.

Once again I have been working with a group of volunteers but this time it was with the National Trust’s regional volunteers.  These are people who commit to twelve volunteer work-meets per year.  They work with a number of rangers across the region including two sessions per year with me.  With that level of experience, they have built up an impressive array of skills which can be used on a wide range of projects.  Most of these people return year after year and it is always good to see them and catch up on all our news.

This time we were working at Braithwaite trimming back the vegetation along the side of the approach road to Force Crag mine.  En route to the start of the job they pointed out that a bridge we were crossing is one that they built in a previous year.  It’s always good if volunteers can revisit this type of project and see it in use.

An extra benefit to working with this group is that part of their routine is to bring cake – as you can see in the picture, they don’t ‘do things by halves’ and the lunch-time picnic is much enhanced with generous slices! 

Library picture

The other theme to the week/weekend was the Keswick Mountain Festival where I ran a ‘Map-reading made easy’ course.  This was fully-subscribed and was free – although we don’t refuse donations.  It was aimed at people who want to get to grips with basic map and compass work.  We started with learning to ‘read’ the contour lines and carried on to recognising other features on the map.  We then added taking bearings and back-bearings and also some micro-navigation.  We present the material in as many different learning-styles as we can and sooner or later everyone has that moment when the penny drops and they ‘get it’.  We have the reward of knowing that a new group of people can go out to enjoy the fells more safely. 

Library picture

Neolithic cross-roads?

Regular readers of the blog will know that I have mentioned Castlerigg Stone Circle a few times.  Any who have visited will know that it is in a stunning, elevated setting with glorious panoramic views of the surrounding fells.  It dates to somewhere around 4.5 thousand years ago and is one of the oldest Neolithic circles in Britain.  It became one of the earliest scheduled ancient monuments of Great Britain & Ireland in 1883 and was purchased and donated to the National Trust in 1913 when Canon Rawnsley organised a public subscription.

The stones are of a local metamorphic slate with the heaviest being estimated to weigh around 16 tons and the tallest stone measuring approximately 2.3m high. Some stones in the circle have been aligned with the midwinter sunrise and various lunar positions.  There is a tradition that attempts to count the stones will produce different answers and there may be some truth in this.  It all depends on which stones you count.  Some that are now visible are probably stones used merely to pack and stabilise the larger stones. 

There are many theories for the building of the circle but nobody really knows what Neolithic stone circles were used for.  Part of the charm of these sites is that we can each enjoy imagining their use.  Your theory might just be right. 

Current thinking links Castlerigg with the Langdale stone axe industry.  The site is situated at the junction between several valleys and the main intersection between the routes from the coast to the Eden Valley and to the Central Fells.  If you plotted the axe factory sites in central lakes, the obvious route from the coast would be to head for Castlerigg and follow the Armboth Ridge through to the Langdale fell and central Scafell Massif where the majority of the stone axe factory sites are to be found.  Langdale axes have been found in many ritual sites so it’s possible that trade and exchange of the axes would take place with ritual and ceremony at a site like Castlerigg.

Langdale was important for axe production because of the greenstone (Borrowdale volcanic series) to be found there.  When napped it fractures with a fish-hook-style fracture – a shape that lends itself to the production of good tools and axes.  These were of such quality that they were traded across Europe.

There is plenty of other evidence for Neolithic activity in the area.  Some years ago I helped to document burial mounds on Armboth Fell overlooking the circle.  We also have examples of cup & ring rock art in the Borrowdale valley.  So there is no doubt that this area was a hive of activity then.

All of which makes this a site with some special qualities.  You really need to visit to ‘feel’ the place and maybe even imagine your own stories.

Protecting 4000+ years of history and also introducing Fletch.

I was working this last weekend at Castlerigg stone circle (a Neolithic stone circle just outside Keswick that is 4 to 4.5 thousand years old) with a National Trust volunteer group from the Leeds area of Yorkshire.  Members of this group have been coming annually to spend a working weekend in the Lakes for the last 15 years.  Over those years they have done huge amounts of work. 

This year we were re-turfing around the Castlerigg stones.  It is a job we do every one or two years depending on the wear and tear caused by the combination of footfall and weather.  The heaviest wear of course is immediately around the stones so we replace worn sections with new turf to protect the site and to keep it looking good. 

We dig out the soil from a section to a depth of about 4 to 5 inches (10 to 12 cm).  

That is taken across to a strip along the side of the field where we have taken out turf to use for the repair.  The soil fills in the strip and is reseeded and the removed turf is laid around the stones in the circle.  This is an annual or biannual cycle.  We also trial new seed mixes in search of the most sustainable, hard-wearing option for this site.

Sunny had his last day with us on the Saturday as he returned to his family on the Sunday.  He’ll be able to show off his new swimming and ATV driving skills!  The Yorkshire crew carried on without him and, as they always do, completed a fantastic amount of work for the Trust.

I’ll close this post with a mention of Fletch the perch-crow and his new blog.  Fletch is a resident of the gardens at Wordsworth House in Cockermouth who believes that he is the world’s first ever blogging perch-crow.  He is going to be blogging about thieving birds, visiting armadillos, crocheted mice called Bubble and Squeak and his life in general.  He will also be talking about gardening (particularly heritage gardening) and what’s going on at Wordsworth House plus he’ll be giving useful tips.

Go to the following link and you can check out his blog – there’s even a photograph of him!

http://fletchtheperchcrow.wordpress.com/