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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