ClimberMayJune2020

78 MAYJUN 2020 http://www.climber.co.uk

BMC launches The Climate Project

Make a real difference – to the local landscapes that you love

and the global climate crisis. We’ve teamed up with Moors for

the Future for an exciting new project.

As the realities of climate change build, we’re changing too.

This year, our mission is to reduce our impact on the environment

and do what we can to take action against climate change.

The Climate Project is a new BMC campaign to support the

work of Moors for the Future. Out on our wild moorlands grows an

amazing plant called sphagnum. When sphagnum is growing

healthily, this little plant powerhouse takes as much carbon out of

the atmosphere as a tropical rainforest.

Peat moorlands cover 15% of the UK, but many have been dug

up, drained or destroyed. The Peak District moorland landscape is

now the most degraded in Europe and damaged peat can be a

great carbon emitter.

Moors for the Future was founded in 2003 to fi ght back. So far

they’ve transformed over nearly 8,000 acres of peat moors across

the Peak District and South Pennines.

The Climate Project supports the work of Moors for the Future.

This will make a real difference, as healthy moorland will:

• Actively fi ght climate change


• Reduce wildfi re risk


• Reduce fl ooding risk


• Protect endangered wildlife

It costs £25 to plant one square metre of sphagnum moss and

create a healthy moor.

FIND OUT HOW TO HELP: http://www.theclimateproject.co.uk

BMC cancels and postpones

events due to coronavirus

At the moment, the BMC is closely monitoring the situation,

following government advice and, as this is a fast-moving situa-

tion, if we do postpone or cancel events then we’ll be in touch

via email or text. At the time of writing, our Manchester offi ce

is open as normal, so do get in touch if any questions.

As the BMC is a community organisation, we have taken the

decision to support the health of the outdoor and wider community

by withdrawing from several events. These include cancelling area

meetings, regional rounds of the Youth Climbing Series, the BMC

Sheffi eld Adventure Film Festival and the Emma Twyford Big Bang

Tour, and postponing events such as the Junior British Bouldering

Championships and the Youth Climbing Series Grand Final.

The BMC AGM in June is still currently going ahead as we go to

print. The status of all BMC events will be continually updated on

our website. Follow the link below to check.

FIND OUT THE CURRENT STATUS OF BMC EVENTS HERE:

http://www.thebmc.co.uk/bmc-event-status

Crags spruced up courtesy

of BMC volunteers

Volunteers in the Peak District, South East and South West

have been getting their hands dirty and helping to make

improvements at their local crags. Here’s a look at what they

have been up to and an opportunity for us to say a big thank

you to all involved!

Horseshoe Quarry

Over 30 keen BMC volunteers and Peak Park Conservation

Volunteers worked together to make some improvements to

the approach track on Saturday 18 January after Tarmac very

kindly delivered a truck load of limestone aggregate free of

charge to the car park.

The result is a much-improved access route into the quarry

that blends into its surroundings well and should mean that

wellies aren’t a mandatory rack item for anyone visiting in the

winter months. A great job and fantastic effort from all involved!

Harrison’s Rocks

The ever-proactive Sandstone Volunteers Group got stuck into

the next phase of the Harrison’s Rocks woodland management

plan. The aim of the plan is to thin out the canopy across

Harrison’s Rocks over a 13 year period, allowing the rocks to

dry more quickly and stay in good condition whilst also giving

space for new native species of tree to grow, hopefully resulting

in a more biodiverse and resilient woodland in years to come.

Once again it was a fantastic effort from these local volunteers,

all helping to look after one of the most popular Southern

Sandstone crags.

Avon Gorge

After being delayed a week due to Storm Dennis, 11 keen

volunteers turned out despite a poor forecast and set to work

removing invasive scrub around the base of Main Wall. This has

the dual benefi t of keeping access to the base of routes clear,

but also removing invasive shrubs which shade out important

rare native species under the watchful eye of Libby Houston to

protect any of these rare plants from being damaged.

BMC NEWS

THE BRITISH MOUNTAINEERING COUNCIL

More on news & events: http://www.thebmc.co.uk

BMC Elected Officers

President: Lynn Robinson

Chair of the Board of Directors:

Gareth Pierce

CEO: Dave Turnbull

The British

Mountaineering Council

177–179 Burton Road,

Manchester, M20 2BB

Tel: 0161 445 6111

Email: [email protected]

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