We always aim to restore and safeguard the aesthetic appeal of the upland landscape when repairing paths. Re-vegetation and natural landscaping should make the ground look as if it's never being touched. And the highest quality pathwork is worthless if users veer off the new path due to poor alignment.
Restoring paths should encourage the re-colonisation by native vegetation species. Using locally occurring stone, turf and spoil from the path construction helps with this. Sometimes erosion, altitude, nutrient poor soils and short growing seasons reduces the rate of recovery. In these cases we use imported seed, fertiliser and moisture retainers.
Assessing the site
We consider:
- Areas where path use and water damage have already caused erosion
- Areas which may erode, or deteriorate, if users do not keep to the managed sustainable path line
Methods used
- Moving rough loose stones off the intended path line and dispersing them alongside the path
- Placing blocking boulders and stones
- Stabilisation, in-filling and turfing of erosion scars, gullies, path edges and embankments
- Seeding and fertilising areas with no remaining vegetation cover
- Fertilising to encourage growth on trampled or stressed areas
Main problems to avoid
- Wrong position: Placing a feature to contain path use or stabilise banks in the wrong position doesn't control the problem and damage continues.
- Wrong style: Using features and materials that don't blend with the surrounding landscape creates unnatural landforms and formal lines.
- Poor methods: the work cannot cope with the level of use or extremes of weather; users do not use the managed route, features are trampled, or vegetation dies
Materials and use
Careful attention must be made to:
- Matching vegetation type
- Following topographical and geological characteristics
- Sensitive collection of materials
