Some recent examples of initiatives involving climbers which illustrate the skills they can contribute towards conservation or land management projects.

 All ventures described stem from a willingness by climbers to assist and contribute to the environment which they enjoy for their recreation activity. In most cases the projects rely on a few locally based climbers with good knowledge of their area who have been involved with conservationists or land owners over a period of years. This has allowed both parties to build up an understanding and recognise the benefits of working together. For the conservationists and land owners, local volunteers can provide a skilled and rapid response that could not be obtained by working through specialist companies. Climbers provide this service in good will and without charge. This interaction also increases understanding and communication between parties to deal with other climbing related matters. 

The BMC has a role as a co-ordinating body in bringing together the needs of land owners and managers with the skills climbers can offer. Where there are concerns over insurance cover for volunteers carrying out potentially dangerous tasks the BMC can assist with a specially developed policy cover which landowners and managers would have difficulty in providing. NB This list does not include the large amount of volunteers hours provided by climbers as individuals, BMC Access reps, Club members or supervisors of groups to specifically address climbing-related access problems.

Conservation at the Roaches and Hen Cloud
A number of BMC volunteers recently put in a days graft thinning-out the woodland below Hen Cloud in Staffordshire. The woodland contains a mixture of deciduous and coniferous trees and unfortunately demonstrates many effects of neglect, including limited ground flora and canopy shading. In partnership, the BMC and the PDNPA forestry team identified measures to improve the local habitat for wildlife, and so set about thinning the dense conifers stands and felling other dead/dying trees. Much of the felled timber was organised into 'habitat piles' to provide a haven for invertebrates/mammals and a valuable food source for woodland birds. As it was not possible to complete all the work, we will be looking for more volunteers later in the year. Many thanks to those who gave their time, especially the lads with the chainsaws, even the legendary Doug 'King of the Roaches' Moller put in an appearance. For full details see here.

In addition, the BMC have also recently installed discrete diversionary wooden fencing to conserve an area of degrading footpath below the 'Mauds Garden' area of the Roaches Upper Tier. The BMC would also like to thank all the volunteers who turned out for the Staffordshire Grit Litterpick on 5th September. Approximately 30 people collected over 10 bags of rubbish from Ramshaw, the Clouds, and the Roaches. The weather was glorious, and it wasn't all hard work.

Action to Reduce Bouldering's Environmental Impact
The BMC has produced a new poster featuring '10 Commandments' for bouldering good practice. There seems no limit to the growth in popularity of bouldering, particularly among younger climbers - but this popularity has come at a price. Environmental pressure is increasing at established venues, a pattern no one wants repeated elsewhere.So, in conjunction with bouldering activist Simon Panton, and with funding from Sport England and support from the Association of British Climbing Walls, the BMC has published a poster encouraging climbers to think about and reduce their impact. The poster lists '10 Commandment' that offer tips on climbing sensitively, and has been distributed to climbing walls and popular climbing cafes.

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