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.

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