The BMC's access and conservation work has been effectively governed by capable and expert volunteers on the Access, Conservation and Environment Committee for many years. In order to improve and further develop this work and give greater support to the full-time officers, a new group has been established to advise the BMC on climbing conservation issues.

The work of the expert volunteers on the BMC's Access, Conservation and Environment Group (ACEG) has become increasingly varied and complex as the BMC responds to an increasing number of technical and complex issues that affect our members enjoyment of the hills, crags, coasts and mountains.

The work includes a wide variety of topics ranging from green travel issues, occupiers' liability, coastal access legislation, crag management, upland path repairs, group use, open access reviews and a myriad of other topics.

However, amongst all of this is the key work of negotiating access for climbing to some potentially very sensitive and important conservation sites. Due to the increasing and varied workload of the main ACEG, we decided that a number of  focussed subgroups dealing with specific issues were needed.

One of these groups focuses specifically on the BMC's approach to managing and responding to nature conservation issues that could affect access to cliffs and mountains.

Coordinated by Dr Barbara Jones, previously Upland Ecologist with the Countryside Council for Wales and a keen climber and BMC volunteer for many years, the new group is made up of BMC access volunteers, experts from various conservation bodies such as Natural England, RSPB, National Trust, and the Countryside Council for Wales and includes ecologists, geologists, ornithologists, botanists, as well as some very capable climbers.

The BMC has an important role to play in managing and balancing the conflicts and impacts between climbers and the environment at sites across England and Wales.

The Conservation & Climbing Working Group  has the main aim of working with key conservation organisations across the country to ensure effective restrictions for the protection of birds, vegetation and geology are applied while ensuring the least restrictive option is adopted. 

The group will also promote good evidence based practice wherever possible and advise on appropriate educational materials to promote better understanding and reduce conflict.

« Back