Members' walk 2009
4 November 2009
On a showery day in early November, an eager group of members met in Buttermere, ready to find out what the Fix the Fells project has achieved in the valley this year. The walk was a thank you to all members of the Partnership, including those businesses that have helped raise more than £30,000 for the project over the last year.
Richard Fox of Fix the Fells led the group up Rannerdale Knotts, a low lying crag above Crummock Water. It’s a popular spot with fantastic views of the surrounding mountains, but over recent years increasing numbers of walkers have led erosion getting worse on several of the paths up from the lake’s east shore.
The group looked at a section of path repaired earlier this year using stone flown in by helicopter. Richard explained that using helicopters to get the materials to the work site was not only efficient in terms of time, but also cost, when compared with the previous method of using man power. The path had been stabilised using stone pitching, and the sides of the path were landscaped with stones placed strategically at the sides to discourage people from trampling sensitive vegetation. Areas repaired earlier in the year had already grassed over, thanks to a carefully developed seed mix. The seed mix grows quickly to stabilise loose soil, and then dies back after a couple of years as the slower growing natural vegetation returns.
After lunch back in Buttermere by the lake shore, Richard showed the group a stretch of path created by ‘inverting’ the soil. They had used a digger to set aside the turf, then created a drainage ditch beside the path and scooped out the tougher stone to use on the path surface. Despite using modern technology, this path building technique dates back to the Romans.
After completing the walk round the lake, the day was rounded off with delicious and very welcome tea, scones and chocolate cake at the Glaramara Outdoor Centre in Seatoller. Many thanks to Glaramara, who joined the Partnership in October, and to all who made the day so enjoyable.
Look out for a similar event next year.
