Archaeology volunteers go bracken bashing

During the months of May and June, our archaeology volunteers are hard at work clearing bracken from some of our scheduled monuments around the National Park. This incredibly important work has assisted us in removing nearly 80% of the high risk monuments from the Heritage at Risk register over the last 10 years.

What is bracken bashing?

A conservation technique, bracken bashing, helps to control the invasive spread of bracken. Volunteers use tools to break the stems of the bracken which weakens the plant and manage the spread. And in this case, help protect some of our schedulued monuments.

Easdale Fulling Mill

This week our volunteers have been working across the park returning to some of our most important sites. On Monday, we visited Easdale Fulling Mill; one of the best preserved fulling mills left in the Lake District. Although not scheduled, this site is significant to the rich history of milling within the National Park with surviving remains of the former watercourse, wheelpit and launder. After 10 years of work, the volunteers returned this year to find the bracken significantly reduced around the structures, though there is always more work to do. With nine volunteers, the remaining bracken was cleared within three hours revealing the remains of the mill in its full glory.

Scales Beck, Crummock Water

On Thursday, our volunteers also visited the Scales Beck settlement on the edge of Crummock Water. This medieval sheiling settlement is an important example of the agro-pastoral traditions of the Lake District World Heritage Site and reflects the seasonal movement of livestock and people during the medieval period to graze the upland fells. Removed from the Heritage at Risk register in 2014, this site requires annual attention to prevent the regrowth of bracken across the site and at other nearby features such a Bronze age cairns and early medieval longhouses. Their focused efforts on the surviving structures has significantly reduced the regrowth each year. However, the sheer scale of the monument means their continued perseverance and dedication is integral to the sites long term preservation.

Volunteer with us

Our volunteers have several sites still to clear across the National Park. Their dedication and endurance in the face of wind, rain, and resilient bracken significantly contributes to the future of these monuments and is a testament to the hard work all our volunteers do.

If you would like to know more about volunteering to help record and preserve the history and archaeology of the National Park visit our volunteering page on our website: Archaeology Volunteering : Lake District National Park