Moorland Conservation | November 10th

This event offers a unique opportunity to volunteer alongside fellow BMC members and help the National Trust with essential conservation tasks on the high moor tops of the Kinder and High Peak Estate. Tasks may include planting sphagnum moss, removing sitka spruce saplings, or maintaining clough woodland. National Trust will decide which task we will carry out nearer the time, depending on progress with their various work programmes in the mean time. This event will provide a valuable opportunity to give something back to our uplands and at the same time learn a little about moorland habitat, conservation and restoration from highly knowledgeable rangers.

Booking a place

You must contact BMC volunteer Peter Judd (via peak10roam-bmc@yahoo.co.uk) to let him know you’d like to take part, he will add you to the list and will then contact you much nearer the time with any last-minute details.]

Location

Birchen Clough lay-by parking, A57 Snake Pass, near Glossop, Derbyshire, S33 0BJ [View in Google maps https://goo.gl/maps/v2AqaxuLkHvh91hU7]

Please note: The precise meeting point for this event will be chosen by National Trust near the time depending on progress made with their work programmes in the meantime.  If it changes from that suggested below then it will likely be at another lay-by on the Snake Pass or in the Upper Derwent Valley alongside Ladybower Reservoir and participants will be informed in good time.

Why is the work necessary?

National Trust’s Kinder and High Peak Estate contains some of our highest and most appreciated Peak District moorland with their steep sided cloughs (ravines) on the margins.

These moors are home to some of the nation’s most significant blanket bog. Sphagnum moss is a key building block of peat and healthy blanket bog keeps the underlying peat banks safe. Sphagnum traps carbon dioxide (making such bogs some of our nation’s most important carbon stores) and due to its water retention properties it also helps reduce flooding and improves water quality. Restoring these bogs to health including strategic planting of more sphagnum is a key contributor to fighting climate change.

The associated cloughs have, in recent years, benefited from a programme of native broadleaf tree planting that provides new habitat for a wide variety of animals and plants, as well as helping to reduce erosion and delaying water run-off, hence contributing to flood management downstream. These now established young trees need releasing from no-longer-needed tree support tubes, ridding the landscape of these unsightly guards.

Substantial plantations of sitka spruce (belonging to others) exist on the fringes of these moors. These have resulted in sitka (itself a non-native, invasive species) self-seeding (carried by the wind) onto the moors beyond. The resulting saplings must go as they act against bog restoration’s aim of re-wetting the moor. The National Trust, who are working hard to restore these moors to health and vitality, need our help to tackle all of these important tasks.

What will the work involve?

Spending around 5-6 hours, working as part of a small team, supervised and directed by National Trust staff, walking up to and across the rough and boggy sometimes trackless moor to carry out one of the tasks listed above. There will likely be a short steep uphill walk at the beginning, to reach the conservation site, and the same in reverse at the end. Whilst working we will be moving across the same trackless, boggy, wet and rough moorland. The work will be moderately physically demanding, yet well within the capabilities of reasonably fit hill goers. Along the way there will be lots to see, learn and talk about plus plenty of laughs too we hope!

The uneven ground in this area, mainly consisting of tough grass tussocks, woody heather shrubs, bilberry and peaty wet areas, forms a significant hazard as such growth can hide holes, gullies, etc. This terrain poses a significant trip hazard that could result in sprained ankles and other leg injuries, though good supportive footwear will mitigate this risk.

Equipment and kit required

You will need to bring sturdy walking boots with soles offering good grip (gaiters also recommended), full waterproofs, plenty of warm layers including warm hat and gloves, a small first aid kit for personal use (+ any medication you need), and a hat (if significant sun forecast then a sun hat and sun screen too), i.e. all your usual kit for a full day out on the hill appropriate to the season. The moors can be inhospitable, so plenty of warm layers and spare gloves are advised. While we expect to be off the moors long before nightfall, carrying a small torch or headtorch may be wise.

You will also need a pair of heavy duty (gardening style) gloves (although if you forget them, NT will likely have spare pairs). All other tools and equipment (plus instruction in their use) will be supplied by the National Trust.

Food

No catering is provided so please be sure to bring along sufficient food and drink (including a flask with a hot drink in colder weather & plenty of water, especially in hot weather ) for a full day working out on the hill. There are no public toilets either, of course.

Where will the work take place?

PLEASE NOTE THE EXACT START POINT WILL BE CONFIRMED NEARER THE TIME AND SO MAY VARY FROM THAT DESCRIBED BELOW

Unless told otherwise nearer the time then we will meet at Birchen Clough Bridge lay-by (sometimes called Snake Woodlands lay-by) on the A57 Snake Pass, about one and a half miles east of the summit.

Google maps location: https://goo.gl/maps/v2AqaxuLkHvh91hU7

OS Grid Ref: SK 10935 91446; Lat/long: 53.4197,-1.8370; What3Words: thumps.jumbo.thrusters

When will the work take place?

The date is 13th October. You will need to arrive at the appointed car parking place well before the start time of 9.30 am to meet National Trust staff. The parking location fills up quickly at weekends so please arrive in plenty of time (suggest before 9am). We expect to be returning to our cars by 4pm.

Who can take part?

BMC members (and their friends) who are adults (those 18 and over) only. No dogs, sorry! This event is also being offered to Mountain Training Association members as a CPD event, if you’re a member of MTA please register instead via the MTA workshop system (to ensure you’ll get your CPD point!)

You MUST NOT attend this event if:

• you have any of the recognised key symptoms of Covid-19, or feel unwell
• you have been diagnosed with Covid-19 recently or have reason to suspect that you are presently suffering from Covid-19

CANCELLATION PROCEDURE

It's crucial that there are sufficient numbers on the day to make this, likely very popular, event worthwhile for the National Trust. So it is important anyone unable to come cancels their place and lets Peter Judd know, to free up their space for someone on the waiting list, straight away.

ACTIVITY PROVIDER CREDENTIALS

This event is being coordinated by BMC volunteer Peter Judd, a qualified Mountain Leader. The conservation activity itself will be supervised and directed on the day by National Trust High Peak professional rangers.  If you have any questions or require any further information you may contact Peter via peak10roam-bmc@yahoo.co.uk.