Next projects
RESTORATION CONTINUES
Restoration of Todmorden Moor to yield the full benefits of its Urban Common status is well under way, but it will take a long time to completely reclaim some of the badly damaged areas near the old mine and quarries.
We decided to make illegal tipping the priority up to 2007 (see Flower Scar Project), and this has worked well. The moorland recovers slowly but satisfactorily if given time (heather, crowberry and bilberry are returning). Our plans are now to look at helping nature to re-establish heather, and extend some of the peat bog areas to improve habitat, and increase the carbon fixing and water holding qualities of the moor.
We now have a Moorland Restoration Study for the old mining waste areas, produced for us by Penny Anderson Associates and funded by the Community Foundation for Calderdale. This will take us to the next stage, and judging by the project work so far it is certainly well worth doing. If we can encourage more biodiversity by improving wildlife habitat as the moor recovers, the unjust classification of “degraded land” can finally be lifted. We are well on the way to that.
Old mining wastes off Flower Scar Road
GEOLOGICAL DESIGNATION
| There are coal balls on Todmorden Moor which came out with the coal from the old mines on the Moor. We have discovered that these are quite rare. T.M.R.T. has contacted the West Yorkshire Geological Trust and given them the information we have. Will we get a Geological Designation for Todmorden Moor? We don’t know yet, but if we do it will prove again that Todmorden Moor is a very special place. |
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OFFROADING
Parts of the Moor continue to be attacked by offroaders – trails bikes, quadbikes, and 4 x 4s. We have been working with the West Yorkshire Police to try and contain the problem. The law allows vehicles to be confiscated and crushed after a second offence. This is the sort of publicity we need to get this destructive “hobby” finally stopped.
DAMAGE FROM SCRAMBLER BIKES
Vegetation is vital to preserve the soil structure on the moor. Tyre tracks from motor vehicles damage the vegetation and start a cycle of weather erosion by the that is difficult to stop. A major problem is the use of scrambler bikes, which, though illegal, is difficult to prevent. An aerial view taken in 2005 shows the extent of damage being caused.
On the ground, you can see how the peat is being eroded and is being washed away. Peat formation takes thousands of years, so once eroded is essentially lost forever.
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