16th November 2025 – follow link for what3words location
Unusual task this time around which highlights how some conservation activities aren’t actual conservation but are still necessary to looking after a site. By this I mean making the site safe for visitors, and in this case the danger comes from a sheer drop of the edge of a cliff.
Some years ago a fence had been put up to stop people inadvertently walking off the edge of the quarry, the edge of the quarry being next to the car park. Over the years the wooden fence posts have rotted and the fence had fallen over; Bolton Council asked us to if we could do something to fix it.
Our solution was to use some of the naturally occurring features present. We cut down the rhododendron that had grown up near the cliff edge and created a deadhedge set back from the cliff edge. Second we began restoration of a hedge that had been planted previously, partly by laying the hedge but also planting new hawthorn/blackthorn to fill in the gaps and extend the hedge line where needed. And finally replacing the fence posts, and recovering and reusing the metal sheep fencing that had become buried under years of fallen leaves.
It’s not a job that can be finished in a single day, but we have made a significant start. Thanks to everyone involved.
More posts about Ousels nest here and here
