Project Programmes
| Dry stone walls are a crumbling legacy in the fragile limestone landscape of the AONB. They are a direct link to the past agrarian economy when much of the AONB was pasture, and woodland extended over only a fraction of its present day area. Dry stone walls were essential then for stock keeping, for protecting coppice managed woodland from grazing animals and for defining local boundaries. Dry stone walls are today most valued as a unifying feature in the landscape, they are the linking feature in the intricate mosaic of landscape elements and habitat that constitutes the AONB. |
A derelict enclosure award
wall in fields |
You can download a programme report
about The
Dry Stone Walls of the Arnside/Silverdale AONB
(63
pages - 1,178kB in pdf format)
Dry Stone walls - A unifying feature in the landscape
|
In visual terms the walls contrast strongly with the predominant green backdrop in form, texture and colour. Any loss of walls from the landscape serves to reduce landscape quality in the perceptions of many people. A comprehensive survey by the Countryside Management Service in the winter of 1999 found the heritage of dry stone walls to be seriously under threat. Some 16.5 km of walls were confirmed as collapsed. At the ongoing rate of repair by landowners, tenants and the AONB Management Service, it would take approximately 38 years to put this right, not allowing for further deterioration. |
The Walling Target
The AONB Limestone Heritage Project hoped to restore to good condition 53 of the walls, which were assessed to be of highest priority for restoration. Priorities for restoration have been assessed via a thorough methodology which factored in the benefits of restoring individual lengths of wall by their historical, landscape, nature conservation and economic value.
This methodology initially identified 23 projects of the highest priority totalling approximately 5.6 km in wall length together with another 30 or so walls regarded as a secondary priority for restoration. A restoration target total of approximately 12 km of wall was set over the 5 years of the project. Whilst this ambitious target was not reached the final length of wall restored by the Project totalled more than 9.5 kilometres(almost 6 miles)
"Andrew Kirkwood, getting to grips |
Training Programmes The Project also provided a number of opportunities to provide training in the construction of drystone walls. Links were established with Myerscough College, and students from Myerscough worked on several of the Project walls over the first few years as part of their countryside management courses. Over the later years of the Project the training opportunities were opened up to members of the public. Work was carried out on several wall schemes by the "trainees" under the supervision of professional walling trainers. |
The initial involvement with the Colleges was aimed at setting up a scheme for students that would lead to a nationally recognised qualification being available through the Project. This ambition never materialised, mainly because of an inability of the Colleges to commit sufficient amounts of the academic timetable towards practical walling training.
Although the Project has ended, it is hoped that over the next few years, we will be able to promote other walling training opportunities with a variety of interested parties. Future co-operation between the AONB Service and the Dry Stone Walling Association may also be able to provide opportunities for individuals and groups to access training and qualifications in walling.
Report on the Conservation value of the walls of the AONB
The conservation and wildlife value of the walls has been the subject of a report by Pamela Hill, specifically focused on the Mollusc fauna. The report is now available as a pdf document to download from the publications "Downloads" link on the homepage. The report's aims, results and conclusions are briefly outlined below.
Aims
To survey Heritage dry stone walls identified by the AONB Management service for their molluscan fauna. In particular to report on the presence of the whorl snails Vertigo alpestris (Mountain Whorl Snail) and Vertigo pusilla (Wall Whorl Snail) and produce a list of species found at each location
Results
The target species Vertigo alpestris, Vertigo pusilla and Clausilia dubia were all found in the survey. Vertigo pusilla was found to occur in 11 out of 22 walls surveyed (50%) while Vertigo alpestris was found in only three walls (14%). Clausilia dubia was found in only one wall.
A total of 33 snail species were found in leaf litter taken from walls in the study area. The most species rich walls were at Occupation Lane and Thrang Brow, both of which yeilded 22 species. The average number of species per wall was 13.
Conclusions
The surveyed walls contain a rich snail fauna that includes several uncommon species that contribute significantly to the rich biodiversity of the Arnside/Silverdale AONB.
- Vertigo alpestris and Vertigo pusilla are both 'Nationally scarce' species, which means that they occur in between only sixteen to one hundred 10km squares of the national grid.
- Clausilia dubia (Craven Door Snail) is confined mainly to upland limestone areas and has suffered contraction in its range in recent decades.
- Spermodea lamellata (Plated Snail) is at its southern limit in England within the AONB. It is regarded as an indicator species of old deciduous woodland and has declined in recent years due to loss of habitat.
- Pyramidula rupestris (Rock Snail) is characteristic of limestone walls and has disappeared from some strongholds in eastern England partly due to loss of walls and their inappropriate repair.
For more information on the Whorl snails (Vertigo alpestris
and Vertigo pusilla) visit
Local Biodiversity Action Plan
