Need something to do on Valentine's Day? Feeling left out of all the luvvy dovey narnar that's going on? Feel neglected no longer! The BMC has organized an event that will take your mind off all that nonsense.

The mighty Hoghton Quarry near Preston is home to one of the best quarried E2s in the world, and many other routes that are amongst the best of their type in the UK, if not the North West. With such a pedigree you've got to wonder why you've never been there. The answer is that the access arrangements are particularly tricky; if you add to that the encroaching vegetation, rapidly growing (big) trees and rare visits from climbers, you can perhaps being to see why the place is off most people's radars.

Restoring the quarry is going to be a difficult and time consuming job. It certainly isn't going to be achievable in one or two visits. However, you've gotta start somewhere, so Valentine's Day (14th February) seems as good as any other day. We have permission to go in and fell some of the larger trees that are close to the rock faces. The immediate effect of this will be to open up the routes on the best parts of the crag to sun and air, thereby keeping them drier for longer. We will be doing other work that day to restore this place to something approaching it's original glory.

Come along (from 1030 onwards) with any gardening tools you may have. If you don't have any, we have a supply we can lend out. Helmets, old clothes and abseiling/prussiking gear are all very useful things to bring. If you need to know more, just get in touch with me (0161 438 3336).

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