Drystone Wall training at Beacon Fell, Forest of Bowland

Tuesday 20th April, 4th & 11th May 2010. Images by Tarja Wilson & Paddy Greengrass.

Traditional boundaries within the Forest of Bowland AONB are a critical component that makes the landscape of the Forest of Bowland special and ‘outstanding’. Boundaries such as Drystone walls, hedges, boundary trees, ditches, metal railings, and earth banks all form an integral part of the historic landscape of the area.

Due in part to changes in agricultural practice, costs of labour and availability of alternative materials for boundary construction, there has been steady erosion and degradation of these traditional landscape features over the latter part of the last century.

The Forest of Bowland AONB has for over 10 years been carrying out a programme to restore in particular Hedgerows and Drystone Walls in conjunction with the landowners, farmers and members of the local community. Key to this is the training and up-skilling local people in particular in Drystone Walling and Hedgelaying.

Over the past 2 years Volunteer Rangers from Lancashire and Wyre Countryside Services and members of the local community including local contractors have been building up their skills in Drystone Walling with guidance provided by Master Craftsman Mike Rushton from Tamarack Outdoors Ltd.

The training is funded by the Forest of Bowland AONB with grant aid from Natural England.

The photos here show the rebuilding of some of the walls on Beacon Fell Country Park: the rebuilding of a 'sheepfold' as a picnic site plus the repairs to the walls surrounding the recently established 'Life for Life' tree planting scheme.