Fencing at Ilam

The Estate Team travelled down from our normal work area of the mountainous Dark Peak, to the more gentle rolling countryside of our White Peak friends; driving through picturesque rolling limestone grasslands and scenic wooded valleys.



Before



Our task was to take down a parkland metal fence situated in Ilam Park and move it to a new location alongside the river Manifold, the fence was situated along the footpath called paradise walk, aptly named as it takes you through the bottom end of the beautiful Manifold Valley.

About 20 metres upstream from the boil holes which cause a constant relaxing gurgling and slurping as the water bubbles up from its underground lair. The sound of water moving is so therapeutic and calming, added to by the gentle fall of summer raindrops onto the surface of the river adding a another musical accompaniment to an already idyllic place.

The triangular area of grass enclosed within the fence was adjacent to the ha ha wall, situated at the end of target meadow; so named because it was the site of a shooting range and also used for archery which is now gently grazed by contented sheep.



During



The reason the National Trust wanted to change the fence line was to open up the vista as people walked along the path and to restore the 19^th century scene. This was also the reason the ha ha wall was built, so only nature’s artistry is visible.

The team first had the difficult task of taking out the cemented posts from the original site.

The 6 metre rods were held in place by allen key grub screws which were removed and then the rods slid out and were placed carefully on the ground to be re-used later on. The posts were removed using 6 foot bars which are used to break up the concrete, before pulling them out. When the full length of fencing had been taken down the pieces were carried across to the bank of the river.

The team then had to dig new holes every metre along the fence line. The supporting posts through which the 6 metre rods were secured then had to be set in concrete. Concrete was used so that the posts were secure and anyone leaning or climbing on the rods would otherwise end up in the river. Each post had to be set in perfect alignment and at the same height or else the rods would not slide through the holes. Getting each post level and set was very time consuming.



After



The rods were then slid through the holes on the posts and tightened in place. The hole around the support posts was filled in by soil and grass turfs to hide the concrete because of the new position of the fence. Extra materials were needed and the new sections we installed were galvanised but not painted so the silver rods shimmer in the sun but will be painted black in the coming weeks.

The open grass space can also now be accessed by the public and gives additional picnic space for visitors to this wonderful place.

Also, thank you to HF Holidays local committee who gave us a grant to purchase the new fencing and made it all possible.

Steven Lindop

Estate Team Supervisor

Murder in Winnats Pass

Would you like to hear about the ill-fated lives of lovers Alan and Clara at Winnat's Pass in Castleton? Join us for a spooky walk and hear all about the murder on 21 August at 7pm. Call 01433 670368 for more info and to book

Kitchen Garden Open Day at Longshaw

The Kitchen Garden volunteers at the Longshaw Estate are opening the garden up for an afternoon of hands-on family activities, on Thursday 26th July from 12.00 to 4.00 pm.

Visitors of all ages are welcome to come and explore the garden, join in some fun hands-on activities, such as making bird feeders and vegetable heads, sowing seeds or having a go at the garden quiz. There will be plenty for everyone to do, and the event is a drop-in event with activities costing just £2.

Longshaw’s Kitchen Garden was set up as a project run by a team of volunteers, and has grown in abundance, producing fantastic crops of healthy and tasty fruit and vegetables. Lots of the seasonal produce is served in the Longshaw Visitor Centre as a part of the daily menu, and this year visitors to the event will also be able to enjoy a special dish on the day. Plants grown at Longshaw will also be on sale.

The Kitchen Garden Open Day gives people a chance to have a look at how fruit and vegetables grow, and may inspire people to grow their own food at home or on an allotment. The friendly team of volunteers have lined up an excellent range of activities so why not come to Longshaw and pop in to the kitchen garden to see what’s on offer?

The Kitchen Garden Open Day is on Thursday 26th July from 12.00 to 4.00pm, and is a drop-in event. The Kitchen Garden is just behind the Longshaw Visitor Centre. It costs just £2 to take part in all of the activities, and is free just to have a look around. For more information please contact the National Trust in the Peak District on peakdistrict@nationaltrust.org.uk.

Jenny Gerrans
Community & Learning Officer

Your Moors Your Ideas - Workshop Update

Clickable links to follow: 
http://www.high-peak-moors.co.uk/public-consultation/
peakdistrict@nationaltrust.org.uk

Vegetation

The National Trust have been involved in restoring the damaged moorlands of Kinder Scout and Bleaklow for over 30 years. The internationally recognised habitats are home to many unusual plant species and we are beginning to discover many more. In the last few years plants which have not been seen before are beginning to colonise the restored areas. These plants include the following:

• Labrador Tea
• Fir Club Moss
• Alpine Club Moss
• Royal Fern

We are also seeing an increase in Sphagnum Mosses which play a vital role in formation and maintenance of the peat bogs and along with the other species suggest an improvement in general environmental conditions.

Shane Bates

Area Ranger, Kinder/Edale

Goodbye to our new volunteers, for now....

We recently said goodbye to our latest volunteers, some lovely ponies that are helping with our conservation management at Alsop Moor. 

The plantation hides a rare Limestone Heath in its midst which would revert to woodland if left to its own devices.

The ponies which have called Alsop Moor home for a few months have been busy eating tree seedlings, brambles and grasses which can all get out of control and smother the rarer heathland plants like heather and bilberry.

Look at the difference they have made to this area that is usualy overgrown with brambles and willowherbs

The ponies have now left the area so that the bilberry and heather can flower and set seed, but we hope to see them again next year.

Mark Cunningham, Ranger

...and two makes seven!

Another morning trip to Dovedale to pick up litter and check on the river level and the stepping-stones!
The road was flooded and the wave produced by the wheels of the vehicle sent a Mallard mum and her youngsters out from the cover of the bank and into the middle of the fast-flowing river. The youngsters being big enough now to take care of themselves, I wasn't unduly worried for their safety but, nonetheless, watched their progress: 1..2..3..4..5 young Mallards - well done mum! Then I suddenly remembered; the pale female, in this area for the past few weeks, and her seven youngsters...
Now, Mallards are not uncommon in Dovedale but every year when the new broods arrive it is impossible not to follow their progress. With each female occupying a territory so that, in addition to her markings, it is fairly easy to monitor the progress of individual families, it is always interesting to see how many of the original brood make it through. And no matter how common they may be, it always a little saddening to realise that not all the chicks from a particular family have made it to adulthood.  So here was my 'Thorpe Cloud Family' down in number by two.  Oh well, that's life. And the remaining five seemed to be coping well with what nature had to throw at them thus far.
Slightly saddened, I have to admit, I put the vehicle back in gear and started off down the road. Which immediately sent two young Mallards rushing out from the shelter of the bank to join their mother and siblings in the torrent!! Having made it expertly to the other side of the river, the family cruised smoothly under Thorpe Cloud. I felt the need to double-check: 1.. 2.. 3.. 4.. 5.. 6.. 7!  Well done little guys and well done mum! I do like a happy ending!

Simon, Dovedale Ranger.

Tales & Tunes at the Penny Pot Cafe