Today a group of 7 stalwarts from the NCVs joined Yvonne Luke, Heritage at Risk Projects Officer from the York office of
English Heritage, to bash bracken on and around a series of Scheduled Monuments
in Guisecliffe Woods, Bewerley. These
monuments are prehistoric carved rocks – natural rocks and boulders carved with
small neat circular hollows and occasionally rings and grooves in ever varying
patterns. They are known as ‘cup and ring marked rocks’, and can be found all
over the north of England, almost exclusively on sandstone and gritstones.
They are difficult to date, but from examples discovered in prehistoric cairns (which contain material which can be dated) it is known they were made up to 4-5000 years ago and their creation and use probably continued for many hundreds of years. Bracken is not good news for archaeology – its thuggish rhizomes can destroy archaeological deposits, and although the carved rocks themselves may not be in danger (except from invisibility in a sea of bracken) it is known from excavations in Scotland and elsewhere that these rocks may be surrounded by the traces of more ephemeral yet important prehistoric structures. For this reason these monuments were deemed to be at High risk, and prioritised for conservation work by English Heritage through Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme.
Sometimes it is possible to eradicate bracken through chemical treatment, but as Guisecliffe Wood is a SSSI this avenue is not open to us. Hence the strong sticks and brute force! Many thanks to all the volunteers who cheerfully helped – and promised to return each year for seven years! Apparently this magical number seven may be what it takes to eradicate the beast. There will be a return NCV visit this September to bash down the summer’s growth.
Yvonne
A photographic record of the day....
The stones as photographed in 2013 when the bracken was lying low.
They are difficult to date, but from examples discovered in prehistoric cairns (which contain material which can be dated) it is known they were made up to 4-5000 years ago and their creation and use probably continued for many hundreds of years. Bracken is not good news for archaeology – its thuggish rhizomes can destroy archaeological deposits, and although the carved rocks themselves may not be in danger (except from invisibility in a sea of bracken) it is known from excavations in Scotland and elsewhere that these rocks may be surrounded by the traces of more ephemeral yet important prehistoric structures. For this reason these monuments were deemed to be at High risk, and prioritised for conservation work by English Heritage through Natural England’s Higher Level Stewardship scheme.
Sometimes it is possible to eradicate bracken through chemical treatment, but as Guisecliffe Wood is a SSSI this avenue is not open to us. Hence the strong sticks and brute force! Many thanks to all the volunteers who cheerfully helped – and promised to return each year for seven years! Apparently this magical number seven may be what it takes to eradicate the beast. There will be a return NCV visit this September to bash down the summer’s growth.
Yvonne
A photographic record of the day....
The bracken bashers set off with a bounce in their step and a song in their hearts.
Jan and Graham have a good old chin wag as they go.
The enormity of the task became clear as the group reached their destination.....
OK folks - let's string out and make a nice straight line.
A systematic approach always works best.
A journey of a million bashes starts with a single bash.
The NCVs were bashing up hill and down.
The integrity of the bashing line starts to break down.
Now the bracken is cleared the cup and ring marks are visible once again.
And here's some more!
The NCVs decide to go on strike - enough bashing for now thanks!
All bashed out, the NCVs make their way back to base.
Meanwhile, back at base, John and Will decide to do some housekeeping.
I suppose it may beat bracken bashing!
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