A Major Grouse at the Grouse...

Usually a pint in the Grouse Inn follows a stomp with Theo dog, and today was no exception - however we were greeted by the sad news that our four legged friend is no longer allowed, nay accepted in the bar. 

An outcast in his own local we left in disgust, as a long time local and supporter of the Grouse I find this most destroying - the foodies have complained about dogs in the pub.

Well I'm sorry but he was a paying customer that you have inadvertently discriminated against and lost a few few fellow customers in the process... a pub of traditional dog lovers - I hope little Bo dog in the annex doesn't get too upset by this decision as we are...

Four Legs good, Four Wheels bad...

I once got into very hot water, scalding in fact, on the issue of 4x4 use in the Peak District, when my name appeared in the national press, via a newspaper supporting a letter of harrumph towards a local authority.

The ramifications have never quite blown over, yet since, I have kept my red faced head down, when it come to all matters motorised vehicles on green lanes and byways, despite my seething utter disgust and loathing of the 4X4's belching over our National Parks.

Time and tide and all that, and this year I was invited by a fellow outdoor enthusiast and leading member of the Friends of the Peak District to attend a March against 4x4 use, up to Stanage Pole on the behalf of the British Mountaineering Council as an Access representative.

I seem to remember going quite pale at the request and I fobbed like one has never fobbed before, blustering and flustering a response of polite thanks, but no thanks. Attempts to encourage, included the fact that it would be filmed for both a BBC documentary and the Regional TV station Look North (or Look Leeds as we call it in Sheffield).

This only provided my alabaster, ashen face to turn a shade of pale that Procal Harum could never have envisaged, before my head fell off. Now the geezer that approached me is a good egg, a stout fellow and a kindred spirit when it comes to matters in the Peak District, yet I had to again say for reasons of politics, blahdy blah and my mangled, grossly deformed half chewed ear…no...

The world turned a few times and I was lobbied further, this time as an official photographer for the day, no badges or logo’s, organisations or politics, just a freelance snapper doing a gig for the love of it all.

The strings of my heart had been finely tuned and played like a good Fender Stratocaster, I had swallowed the sinker along with the hook and the line. However I needed tread carefully up the hill from Redmires Reservoirs up to Stanage as I shot frame after frame of rally supporters against the 4x4’s. A hand full of the latter of which decided to follow us up to the pole. If I could have worn a Groucho Marks disguise type mask, I surely would.

The Rally went well and pretty much without incident and I made it down from Stanage with the Peak district area Ranger discussing the problems that he faces with the 4x4’s using the long causeway at Stanage.

The local press did their thing and the BBC documentary was shown in October. A toothless affair caught up in red tape and committees with little or no substance I thought and the issue was parked as far as I was concerned.

Now I often get urges, like we all do and last weekend I had an urge to walk the Houndkirk byway through sheer curiosity. Not really for any reason but for to walk Theo dog and to see how the walkers, mountain bikers and the motorised folk are playing up there.

To be proactive is better than being reactive and I thought it prudent to get a view of the current state of play on Houndkirk before I entered into any hyperbole with interested parties moving forward for access issues.

Mountain bikes whizzed past as Theo and I tramped over the moor, past the area where the decoy city lights were deployed during the 2^nd World War. The dog walkers were out in force and a few motorbikes chugged by as we journeyed towards Ringinglow with the sun dipping down over the crest of Burbage Valley.

Crap from motorised vehicles was strewn about the road, the gritstone walls decimated from stone taken for the road to help stuck vehicles and the fence flattened for the enjoyment of some utterly vile petrol (shit) heads.

I finished the walk into Sheffield down the pleasant Limb Valley, thankfully free from man made detritus pondering on the state of things.

I tend to pick my battles that I want to win, but sometimes, they choose me instead and I then have to assess how the land literally lies. The conclusion is neither earth shattering, or of major consequence on core values and opinion. I detest 4X4’s and I still think they have no place in a National Park. I think I will hold this opinion no matter what, however much I am allowed to voice it.

I will stop short of some of the expletives that some of my colleagues choose to label the 4x4 fraternity, however one memorable exchange between a climber and a petrol head went something like this:

“Isn’t what your doing illegal?”

“No”

“Well it f*****g well ought to be…”

 Quite...

Eastern Moors crag plan underway

The new BMC crag management plan for the Eastern Moors Estate is underway, with woodland management starting next month.

On 22nd September, BMC Peak Area Access Representatives Adam Long and Simon Jacques met with Danny Udall, Site Manager, Kim Strawbridge, Warden and Andrew Carson, Warden, for a site visit on the Curbar/Froggatt escarpment.

The meeting was to commence the implementation of the BMC’s Crag Management Plan for the area and detailed woodland surveillance in line with the Eastern Moors Partnership’s woodland management document.

The crag management plan was prepared by the BMC Eastern Moors sub Group. The plan had been submitted to the Eastern Moors Partnership and the Stakeholder forum and following its agreement, is now being successfully rolled out on the eastern moors and the gritstone edges.

Starting the day at Warren Lodge at Curbar the team went through the plans of the woodland management from Curbar to Froggatt and the details of the woodland grant that has been approved to carry out the work of preserving and managing the woodland beneath and above the crags.

The team visited the Trackside boulder at Curbar and agreed that although the carpet of wood chippings beneath the boulder were initially a good idea, a longer-term erosion plan needed to be implemented. This will involve the chippings being scraped out and gritstone hardcore being placed down as per the plantation at Stanage, with volunteers being asked to help.

During the site visit, the team walked over the edges and discussed areas on the crags where there would be a case for the thinning of the higher line of trees and the sympathetic management of silver birch removal, with a promotion of Oakland woodland regen.

The crags are to be opened up for better views from both the Derwent valley and from the edges themselves. Areas such as Rumble Wall at Curbar and Froggatt in the woods will be thinned at buttress sites and on the top of the edge.

The team also noted a marked change, following the removal of sheep grazing on the edges, of bell heather regeneration around the crags along with small oak and rowan saplings with gorse making a welcome come back and many signs of deer tracks throughout the walk.

Following an invite, Danny and his team are happy to attend the BMC Peak Area meeting in February, to touch base and take questions from the attendees and canvass any volunteers that are willing to help on the estate.

The woodland management work is due to start in November 2011 until February 2012 in it’s first year of five. The BMC will be closely working with the Eastern Moors partnership during this time.

Horseshoe Conservation Day

Saturday 15th October saw the inaugural Horseshoe Crag Care Day. A motley band of volunteers descended on Stoney Middleton quarry, armed with a pretty comprehensive list of tasks.

To give a bit of background, the BMC acquired Horseshoe Quarry, for use as a recreation and conservation site, in 2004. The BMC's ownership of the crag sought to ensure long-term access to this important bolted limestone venue in the Peak.

Ownership and management of this SSSI means that everything done on site has to be consented by Natural England. Key features of the BMC’s management plan are to retain and enhance the character of a site which offers every habitat, from bare areas to climax vegetation. This involves shrub clearance, woodland management and improving wetland areas.

Peak Area Access Co-ordinator Henry Folkard invited a team of Access volunteers from Sheffield University to help with the work. Together with Access Representative Simon Jacques, he co-ordinated a large team spread throughout the quarry.
As BMC members also came on the day to volunteer their services, work began on the little-known upper land to the right of the quarry, raking a large area of cut grass, digging up tuft grass, trimming sloe bushes and dismantling the ‘Ray Mears’ shelter that had been built in the summer, and tidying up the hacked trees that were sacrificed for this.

Other teams cut back trees around the pond and removed pondweed, whilst important bramble removal work on top of the zigzags took place, helping encourage the wild orchid population. Sapling and bramble removal took place round the base of the crag and climbs, and litter and broken glass was removed, all six bags of it. Lots of flammable stuff was burnt and the day was finished off with a huge picnic for the volunteers, consisting all you could want in an outdoor feed.
The BMC would again like to thank Lucy Graham and the Sheffield University Access Team for some sterling work.

Want to volunteer?
The BMC is always on the look out for volunteers to help at Horseshoe with the ongoing conservation of the site. If you are interested please get in touch with the office.

 

 

 

Reaching frontiers on a crag nothing like any other... a new route is pioneered by a member of the BMC guide team on Ashop Edge - Kinder North Edges.

 

The lonely world of Kinder Scout is a wild and wonderous place. You feel at your most vunerable tackling these test peices which loom over the clough. 

 

The Northern edges of Kinder spark magic in your soul and the challenges are there to be taken. Its a world away from the cresche of Froggatt & Stanage - wild art taking you to a fulfillment that lingers.

 

The BMC guide team have hit the crag with gusto - and after many lessons - returned with new climbs and a respect for these barrren edges that slowly kick your derriere...

 

Life in Kinder is an experience in itself - seek it out & live it - its life affirming and shows you yourself for who you are - enjoy the silence...

 

Look out for the new BMC Guide book "Over the Moors" in 2012...

Get off the beaten track... & feel the freedom...

Si