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Woodland:
This area was planted in 1994 as a continuation of the neighbouring shelter
belt. Species include: ash, hawthorn, sycamore and alder. The trees were only
18” (60cm) high when planted. The plastic collars both protect from winter grazing
hares and encourage early spring growth. Under the trees the land is reverting
back to its natural state, wildflowers are coming and eventually there will
be a rich and diverse woodland undergrowth.
View:
To North see Alstonefield, Wetton Hill, Hall Dale and the distant Dovedale gorge.
Stone
Hole: Dotted around the area are stone holes, apparently used
to quarry walling stone. Even though much of the stone used for
walls seems to have been brought in from larger quarries.
Honey
bee hives were placed here in spring 2003. Mark Dennison from Daisybank
Apiaries, a local bee farmer, produces the honey that is sold at
Beechenhill farm house. If only the frames are here, the hives have
gone to stay on the nearby heather moorlands for a while.
Scheduled
Ancient Monument:
A rare bowl barrow, an unexcavated oval earthen mound, dating from between 2400-1500
BC. It will contain undisturbed archaeological deposits within the mound and
upon the old land surface underneath.
Gibbet
Meadow: This field name appears on ancient maps, we can only imagine why.....In
ancient times Ilam Moor was a wild and frightening place, only journeyed across
in company, because wolves and other wild animals ranged across the isolated
moorlands. Imagine the wind howling and the gibbet rope creaking.....
Recently
sown clover: As part of the conversion to organic farming the farm has been
sown with clover. It is just starting to get established here.
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