BMC volunteers support Dalehead Nature Recovery Project in the Peak District

Mynediad Newyddion
11 Gor
2 min read

This July, eight Get Stuck In volunteers, funded by the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust, removed 400m of barbed wire fence at Dalehead, near Edale, as part of the National Trust's Dalehead Nature Recovery Project.

BMC Hill Walking Rep, Steve Charles, says, "Eight BMC volunteers joined National Trust Rangers in Edale this week on the Dalehead Nature Recovery Project. About 400m of old fencing, barbed wire and posts were taken down, and moved off the hill. In future a low density of cattle will graze the land, rather than sheep, which will allow recovery of woodland and scrub, and increase biodiversity."

What's the Dalehead Nature Recovery Project?

Dalehead is a 123 hectare site at the very head of the Vale of Edale, below Lord's Seat and Brown Knoll, with superb views over to Mam Tor to the east and the Kinder Plateau to the north.

Here, as part of the Dalehead Nature Recovery Project, the National Trust are trying out alternative land management techniques to improve the condition of the moorland, woodland and grasslands. They've also introduced more native trees and shrubs through planting and natural regeneration.

All this work will increase habitat for wildlife, improve biodiversity, soil health, capture more carbon and decrease the flood and drought risks, which is hugely important as the climate changes rapidly.

Grazing animals play a part in this work. They help to break up the ground and add natural fertiliser as they eat, poop and move around, creating the right growing conditions for trees, flowers and grasses.

What the National Trust do at Dalehead will help them to understand more about different ways to manage the land in the Peak District for nature, climate and human visitors. They will share what they learn with others who want to do the same.

Find out more.

Will you Get Stuck In too?

QUICK! There are still a few spaces left for the next Get Stuck In event in Eryri (Snowdonia) 15-17 September 2025.

Get Stuck In events are single and multi-day volunteer events in the Peak District, Lake District and North Wales. Hill walking fitness and experience, plus a packed lunch is required, but durable waterproofs and steel-toe-capped boots can be borrowed. On the multi-day events like this, volunteers do two days hard labour with the National Trust rangers on the footpaths of Eryri (Snowdonia) or the Lake District, while the third day is reserved for a rewarding group hike, climb or pub/cafe outing. You stay free of charge for three nights in basic, bunkhouse-style accommodation and there is a communal meal one evening. Single day events in the Peak District involve planting sphagnum moss and clearing invasive species.

Get Stuck In events are funded by the BMC's Access & Conservation Trust as part of the Mend Our Mountains campaign. Please give generously here and check out the latest volunteering opportunities here.

Eight BMC volunteers and several National Trust rangers worked all day to remove 400m of barbed wire fencing and posts.
The area will now be used to graze cattle rather than close-cropping sheep, to allow recovery of woodland and scrub, and increase biodiversity

Will you help us repair more footpaths?

The BMC's Access & Conservation Trust is currently fundraising for an exciting, new Apprentice Ranger role with the National Trust Footpath Team in Eryri (Snowdonia). These ancient path-making techniques are exactly the type of skills and knowledge they will be learning. They will also be leading more Get Stuck In volunteer footpath repair events. We have so far raised £14,000 for this role and need to raise £49,000 more for this two-year role. Please give generously here if the footpaths in Eryri mean something to you.

BMC Hill Walking rep and founder of the BMC Get Stuck In volunteer footpath repair events, Steve Charles, says, "I've been going into the mountains all my life and it's great to be able to give back and to feel that you're helping to preserve this precious environment. We need to make our mountain footpaths more resilient to increased rainfall and increased use. Our mountains need to be nurtured, because if we don't do anything, the uplands will be in a much poorer state when we hand them over to future generations.

"During 2023 and 2024, BMC Get Stuck In volunteers clocked up almost 500 man-hours of work in Eryri. They repaired over 520m of footpath, laid 187 stepping stones across marshy ground, reprofiled 80m of bare, eroded peat hags and cleared five helicopter bags full of plastic tree guards. What's more, there are four more Eryri footpath repair events planned for 2025, starting this spring. That will have a huge impact in the mountain environment. We would welcome another ranger in Eryri to help run even more Get Stuck In events going forward."

NEW Eryri Apprentice Ranger

Give generously if you love hiking, climbing and mountaineering in Eryri and appreciate this National Park's unique beauty and incredible wildlife

Why donate?

With 10.5 million visitor nights spent in Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park in 2023/24, and over 600,000 people climbing Yr Wyddfa (Snowdon) every year, the 1,497 miles of footpaths within this 823 square mile park are seeing more footfall than ever before. This is compounded by an increase in extreme weather due to the climate crisis and quickly leads to the following horrors for hill walkers, climbers, mountaineers and outdoor-lovers alike:

  • Footpath erosion
  • Muddy and slippery routeways
  • Deep, ankle-turning gullies
  • Navigational difficulties
  • Trampled vegetation
  • Loss of habitat for wildlife
  • Decreasing biodiversity
  • Soil-wash into waterways
  • Increased flood risk
  • Nutrient imbalances downstream

So, wouldn't it be fantastic if you could do something really meaningful to combat this nightmarish downward spiral of footpath degradation in Eryri? Here's your chance to support a really worthwhile project to actively combat path erosion and educate more people to protect and preserve this stunning, irreplaceable National Park. Donate here.

BMC Hill Walking Rep volunteer Steve Charles (top left) organises the Get Stuck In events

Get Stuck In footpath repair events

Get Stuck In events are 1-3 day opportunities for BMC volunteers to give some love back to the landscapes we love to walk and climb in. There are a range of activities decided on nearer the time of the event according to the National Trust rangers who will be teaching you new skills, explaining more about their footpath repair and conservation activities and working alongside you.

Watch the video here

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