Protecting Simonside for future generations
The Simonside Hills form one of the most unique and well known landscapes of North East England. A long list of designations recognises the quality of the landscape, the archaeology and the biodiversity of the area. This rich landscape now attracts visitors from far and wide and is a key asset for the tourism industry based around the market town of Rothbury in Coquetdale.
Outdoor recreation is an important aspect for tourism, but unfortunately the increased pressure this brings to fragile vegetation and archaeological sites resulted in erosion along the well-used route from the car park at Lordenshaws to the summit of Simonside via the Beacon and Dove crag.
The Simonside Hills are located on a sandstone-ridge and are particularly important for the extent of heather moorland which grades into blanket mire on the wetter, flatter ground. Both habitats are covered in National, regional, Northumberland county and Northumberland National Park Biodiversity Action Plans. Both are also priority habitats under the European Habitats Regulations. The North-east region is particularly important for the quality and quantity of blanket bog – 39,230 ha, 16% of English resource; Northumberland contains approximately 17,320 hectares, 8% of English resource. There is also a considerable amount of upland heathland in the region – 51,162 hectares, 21% of the English resource; in Northumberland
35,500 hectares, 16% of English resource (figures from UK BAP, NE Biodiversity strategy and Northumberland BAP). This project aims to restore 50 hectares to favourable (or unfavourable but improving) condition, 0.03% of the English total.
A ‘windfall’ received from Northumberland Strategic Partnership in December 2007 finally enabled some serious investment in conservation on Simonside. Working with small land management businesses, apprentices from the National Park’s Traditional Boundaries Project and the Voluntary Ranger service, National Park Rangers organised and undertook extensive work reinforcing sections of the ridge path from the Lordenshaws road over Dover Crag to Old Stell Crag during winter 2007-08, and used the opportunity to provide skills training to these groups.
The work involved creating a sandstone path that blended with the natural geology of the hills and was capable of coping with all weathers. It was an expensive and difficult job involving 450 tonnes of stone which had to be lifted by helicopter to the elevated and remote sites. Reclaimed flagstones were used along the level sections of the path, but large random blocks were needed to “pitch” the path on steep slopes.
While the works were going on, a film about how they were undertaken and the importance of the work in a Special Area of Conservation was made by a local firm, see the Protecting Simonside video.
