Issue 9 • Summer 2019

A joint partnership publication for the Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve. LIFE Update As visitors to the Boston Park car park will have noticed over the past nine months, the NNR team and LIFE project As we move into the fi nal stages of the LIFE project, staff moved to a new custom-built building over the it’s time to take stock of the work we have delivered winter. This new offi ce, workshop and lab is a welcome and look forward to the future for the Moors now that development, funded through DEFRA, and means that the programme has provided such solid foundations. we are now situated on the Nature Reserve, allowing us One of the fi rst things you may notice is that the staffi ng to improve the visitor experience on the NNR, enhance of the project has changed since the last issue – David the value of the site for educational groups and provide Hargreaves has moved on to a new post with the National greater opportunities for volunteers. It also brings us in Trust, whereas Helen Laycock and Richard Smith have closer proximity to the midges, mosquitoes and horse- transferred to new jobs in Natural . Although new fl ies, but being able to step outside the back door and to the Project Manager role, I’m not new to the project, hear oystercatchers calling over the lake more than makes having been involved as a line manager for the last year up for it. The new facility will be known as the LIFE Lab and I’m pleased to welcome Lorraine Wakefi eld as the new in recognition of the part the programme has played in Administrative Offi cer for the last six months of improving the educational and volunteering opportunities the programme. on the site. In terms of changes to the site since the last issue, we have One of the benefi ts of managing the LIFE programme on continued with the last of the ground works, including the Humberhead Peatlands has been visiting other peat water control dams and bunding across Thorne, Hatfi eld restoration LIFE projects to see what work they’ve been and Crowle, and by the time you read this, the pumping doing and sharing experiences and techniques. In the last station on Thorne Moors will have been accepted by issue, David described his trip to Latvia, and in May this Natural England, greatly enhancing our year, I visited the Cumbria BogLIFE project for their ability to manage water levels across Thorne Moors. In terms of monitoring, Lucy Mitchell completed the nightjar monitoring work last autumn and her interpretation of the years of survey work will be published as an appendix to the fi nal report, due to be completed in the autumn. Richard is also putting fi nal touches to the vegetation and invertebrate monitoring data that we will make available also as part of the reporting process to the EU. Water level monitoring is particularly important in demonstrating the benefi ts of the work we have done, and volunteers Richard Freestone and Edward Hawes have put together the data collected from dip wells across the site. This information will be available in the autumn too.

View across the north of Hatfield Moors © Janet Canning two day conference. Unlike the Humberhead programme, Cumbria BogLIFE have been working on multiple sites Take care across Cumbria, from the South Solway mosses in the ✻ There are many old peat workings, drains and north to Roudsea Wood and Mosses in the south. I visited water courses. You are strongly advised to keep the restoration works on Wedholme Flow near Wigton with to way marked walks and existing tracks. site offi cer Emma Austin to look at the methods that they ✻ Please take responsibility for your own safety. have used to encourage the regeneration of damaged peat In hot weather you will need a sunhat, drinking using extensive mats of sphagnum and nursery plants they water and insect repellent. called ‘green carpets’. The Cumbria BogLIFE project fi nishes ✻ Dogs must be kept under effective control at all in December and we are talking to them about their plans times. You must keep your dog on a short lead once their project ends to see if there are opportunities between 1 March and 31 July and all year round to draw together our shared experiences across our two near farm animals. LIFE projects. ✻ Camping, fi shing, barbeques, motorcycles, As this is likely to be the last Moor Space (at least in its horses and cycles are not allowed. Cycles are permitted on the designated route only at current form) before the project ends, it would be remiss of Hatfi eld and horses by permit only at Hatfi eld. me not to offer a few thank-you’s to those so instrumental ✻ in delivering on this successful project. There are far too Do not leave valuables in your car. many to list individually, however to the staff on the NNR ✻ Danger deep water. No swimming. and on the LIFE programme, to the contractors who have ✻ Snakes live here. Do not touch them. delivered so much on the ground, to our partners on the ✻ Prepare for your visit by wearing suitable steering group who have helped guide and fund the work outdoor clothing – you will need to wear stout on Thorne, Hatfi eld and Crowle, to the volunteers who shoes or wellingtons. have been so active on this project, to our colleagues on Please follow the Countryside Code other LIFE programmes who have so generously shared ✻ Be safe, plan ahead and follow any signs. their expertise and experiences and to the educational ✻ Leave gates and property as you fi nd them. groups and visitors who have embraced what we have been ✻ Protect plants and animals and take your trying to do on the Moors, you have my thanks. No project litter home. operates in a vacuum and every one of the hundreds of ✻ people covered in the list above has played their part in Keep dogs under effective control. delivering a successful project. Finally, thanks to the EU ✻ Consider other people. – LIFE funding has built a foundation for a positive future for the Moors and opened up new opportunities for the Facilities future that would otherwise have been unavailable to us. ✻ There are toilets on Hatfi eld As to what these might be, watch this (Moor)space! Moors at the Boston Park car Neil Pike LIFE+ Project Manager park but none at Thorne Moors – the nearest being in the town. LIFE Lab – a new facility at Boston Park Visitors to the Boston Park car park on Hatfi eld Moors over the past 18 months will have noticed the building works next to the lake. This is an important new facility that will build on the legacy left by the LIFE project and provide a site management, education and volunteer resource unmatched by that on any other National Nature Reserve in England. It has been several years in the planning and construction, however it is now operational and will be the cornerstone in delivering important new research, educational and visitor opportunities on the site for years Front of new LIFE Lab building © Janet Canning to come.

The building has been funded through DEFRA’s capital it needed to be somewhere visitors to the site could easily works budget and planning in earnest began in 2016. access it. Groundworks began in the autumn of 2017 with The aim, aside from moving the NNR staff onto the reserve footings and foundations laid alongside the lake (which from their then offi ce base several miles away, was to wasn’t, as many assumed, to allow the NNR staff to bird construct a building that represented a real opportunity watch from the front of the building whilst enjoying a cup to greatly increase the research into peat restoration, of tea!) and the building itself, which is a modular design, carbon storage, climate change and bog hydrology. We also was delivered in parts. The equipment needed to do this wanted to provide an on-site classroom for educational was too big for the existing bridge and a new temporary visits, a base that volunteers and other community groups bridge needed to could use and that would provide a focus point for visitors be constructed. to the nature reserve. The location was selected to Once the modules were in place, the internal fi xtures and minimise impacts on the site and because Boston Park is fi ttings needed to be completed before we could move in. the main entry point to the reserve – we wanted to make The building contains offi ce space for the LIFE project team the facility a focal point of the Humberhead Peatlands, so and the NNR management staff, a workshop and meeting room. It also contains a classroom and facilities to support long-term academic and research in the form of two fl ats. These will be used by students and researchers undertaking extended study on the NNR and we are discussing opportunities with a number of institutions to get the best use of this facility.

Study at Ten Acre Lake Hatfield Moors © Janet Canning and Hatfi eld Chase Landscape Partnership I last gave an update on the Isle of Axholme and Hatfi eld Chase Landscape Partnership back in Moors Space Issue 6, which was over a year ago and lots has happened since then. We have a strong project team who have been delivering against their targets and a fantastic volunteer base who have been very committed to the events, training and activities that we have been running.

As you may have seen the two new viewing towers on Hatfi eld Moors have been installed and are now open for New viewing platform looking across old milled peat fields © Janet Canning use. We haven’t quite fi nished all the work at the towers, as they have yet to have their interpretation boards installed, this will likely be in late summer following some exciting On 20 July, we will be offi cially opening the reconstruction activities we have coming up on site (see below to fi nd out of the Lindholme Neolithic trackway and platform, what). The towers overlook the old peat milled fi elds and the event is free and open to all. On the day, you’ll be Packard’s Heath where nightjar’s breed each year. A visit to able to walk on and experience the trackway and enjoy the towers is highly recommended and the elevated view other aspects of Neolithic life. Volunteers have been really provides a different perspective of the surrounding committed to authentically reconstructing the trackway, landscape. using stone tools throughout the whole process. Laura our Archaeologist talks about the history of the trackway Elsewhere we’ve been working with the Peatland Railway elsewhere in this issue of Moor Space. on Crowle Moors, with the workshop up and running the volunteers are now laying track, we are planning to open Our activities across the Isle of Axholme and Hatfi eld Chase for visitors towards the end of the current year. The group are vast; we always keep our social media and website up now have four locomotives to restore, three Schoma’s that to date with events that are coming up and the great things will be restored on site and a Simplex that the volunteers we have done. Keep an eye out for us on are restoring with the help from students and tutors at @IoAHC via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and North Lindsey College. on IoAHC.net.

We’ve had school groups out on both Hatfi eld and Crowle Everything we do helps towards our aim of reconnecting Moors, undertaking various activities including pond local people with the landscape and heritage of the area. dipping and mini beast hunting. This has helped to give young students an opportunity to explore a unique and Paul Schofi eld local landscapes that can be often overlooked. Landscape Project Manager Isle of Axholme and Hatfi eld Chase Landscape Partnership Lindholme Neolithic visitors the chance to explore and appreciate the original monument (which is currently under a bank of peat) and trackway and platform to become acquainted with the community of builders The Lindholme Neolithic who built it. trackway and platform Laura Smith-Higgins was fi rst identifi ed in 2004 Archaeology and Heritage Offi cer and was investigated Isle of Axholme and Hatfi eld Chase archaeologically in Landscape Partnership 2004-2006. Radiocarbon dated the monument to 2900-2500 BC, making this a Late Neolithic structure. To date, it is the earliest corduroy trackway known ©Laura Smith-Higgins in Britain.

The trackway is about 45m long and constructed of Scots pine and silver Birch. The egg-shaped platform, truncated by peat extraction, would have measured 10m by 13m originally set at an angle of 45 degrees to the trackway.

The track surface poles were woven together (just like corduroy fabric) and are laid vertical to the direction of ©Laura Smith-Higgins travel. A pair of rails orientated with the trackway support the overlain surface poles. Randomly in places, the rails are held in place by pegs, also of Scots pine, displaying cut marks characteristic of tools from that time.

The trackway and platform displays architectural features that indicate it was something special and meaningful to the people using it. It has been suggested that it represents a form of ritual monument with characteristics similar to that of a henge.

Volunteers have spent many months felling, preparing and carrying trees ready for the reconstruction. Using stone tools, volunteers have created an impressive 20-meter plus trackway and platform. The reconstruction provides Walks and Events Coming Up For more information or to book where stated, call 07766 420290.

20 July 10.30am – 3.30pm – Hatfi eld Moors Open Day in partnership with the Isle of Axholme and Hatfi eld Chase Landscape Partnership – all events from Boston Park car park and along the Yellow route/on site at the Neolithic trackway reconstruction – an approx. 15 minute walk from car park. Free entry – refreshments available. Guided walks (approx. 1.30pm), peat coring demonstration 1pm, ancient crafts (all day), Stone Age replica items and activities with NNR staff (all day), Talking Trackways 12.30pm and 1.15pm, experimental woodworking 11.15am and 1.45pm, Stone Age food 10.30am and 2.45pm, Neolithic story telling 2pm and lots more. For more information contact the team on [email protected] Halloween fun at Hatfield Moors © Janet Canning or 01724 297536 or www.ioahc.net 22 August 11am to 3.30pm – Water Colour Sketching Day on Hatfi eld Moors – Lead by Ann Wildgust, BA Hons, an experienced School Holiday Family Events artist who will offer support to artists of all grades. All materials will 8 August 1-3pm – Pond Dipping and Mini-beast Hunt on Hatfi eld be provided. The focus of this day will be both sketching and water Moors including the Bug Olympics – along one of the trails using colour painting in the glorious outdoors of the Reserve/at the identifi cation charts and equipment provided. See what creatures are LIFE Lab National Nature Reserve offi ce. about on warm summer days. Booking essential. Places are limited so booking essential. 28 August 6.30pm – Evening walk on Hatfi eld Moors 21 August drop in from 11am to 2pm – Art and Craft Day at Hatfi eld – Approx. 4-5 miles at strider pace. No need to book. Moors – making masks, kites, fl ags and models of species found at the Moors. Bring old clothes or an apron. Inside facilities available. Picnic 13 October 10.30am – Fungus Identifi cation on Hatfi eld Moors area nearby for lunch. No need to book. – Approx. 2.5 miles with an expert to point out the many different and fascinating shapes, colours, myths and legends. Booking essential. 30 October 11am to 2.30pm – Bird Box and Feeder Making at Hatfi eld 13 November 10.30am – Autumn Colours on Thorne Moors Moors – come along and put bird boxes together for next spring – Approx. 5 miles to see the seasonal change as we head into winter and make some winter feeders for our feathered friends. on a brisk walk to the viewing platform via the Limestone Road No need to book. and with a chance to see deer. No need to book. Sumer Trail – Why not come along throughout the summer school holidays and complete the Yellow route summer holiday trail on All events are free but donations welcome. Unless stated Hatfi eld Moors. Starts at Boston Park car park with all you need to take otherwise, all Hatfi eld events are to meet at Boston Park part independently. car park, DN7 6BF and all Thorne events are to meet Halloween Trail – Will be out along the Yellow route from 28 October at Recreation Ground car park, Moorends – end of Grange Road DN8 4NA to 3 November. Starts at Boston Park car park with all you need to take part independently.

We have a number of activity rucksacks with all you need to go bug hunting or pond dipping as a family on Hatfi eld Moors. Hire is free with a deposit refundable upon return. All packs contain full instructions and a map of the reserve where activities can be applied Walking for Health Guided Walks Every fi rst and third Weds of the month 9.30am – Hatfi eld Health Walks – varying lengths meeting at the Boston Park car park. Budding artists show off their pictures at the 2018 event No need to book. How do I get to Humberhead A614 Peatlands Humberhead Peatlands NNR? River Don NNR The closest towns to the NNR are , Thorne, Moorends Thorne Doncaster, Scunthorpe, Crowle and Hatfi eld. Moors

New Junction Canal By public transport A161 Thorne Crowle Rail stations – Thorne North and South. Contact South Transport on Stainforth & Stainforth Canal 01709 515151. A18 M180 Moorends is served by bus from Thorne. Hatfield Contact Doncaster Tourist Information on 01302 734309. A18 A614 Hatfield

M18 e Moors A161 Crowle is served by rail and bus. n r

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T Contact Brigg Tourist Information on r Armthorpe ive 01652 657053. R Epworth 0 5km c Crown copyright and database right 2010. Hatfi eld Woodhouse and villages are served Natural England OS licence no. 100022021 by a limited bus service.

To receive future issues of Moor Space contact us at [email protected] How do I contribute to Moor Space? We’d like you to tell us what you think – your con- cerns and also what you enjoy about the Moors so we can focus on the right subjects in each issue and seek out the most useful information for you the reader. We welcome other points of view, providing they are

Facebook “f” Logo CMYK / .eps constructive and supported by facts. Follow the Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve on http://www.facebook.com/humberheadpeatlands Contact as above marking for the attention of the Moor Space Editor. www.humberheadpeatlands.org.uk Contacts Moor Space is produced and edited by a Steering Group who can be contacted at [email protected]

The Steering Group includes representatives of the following organisations:

North Lincolnshire Council – Own and manage land on Crowle Moors and maintain access to this and other land nearby. Contact: 01724 729000 ✻ [email protected]

Doncaster Metropolitan Borough Council – Publicises access to and around the Moors. Contact: 01302 736000 ✻ [email protected]

Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust – Owns land on Crowle Moors and manages it as a Nature Reserve. Contact: 01507 526667 ✻ [email protected]

Natural England – Natural England owns land on Thorne Moors, Goole Moors and Hatfield Moors. It is all part of the Humberhead Peatlands National Nature Reserve. Contact Senior Reserve Manager: 07827 280405. www.gov.uk/natural-england

Thorne & Hatfield Moors Conservation Forum – Prioritises science and publishes research, see website for list of publications. It also campaigns on issues affecting the conservation of the Moors. www.thmcf.org and see also thmcf.wordpress.com Contact: [email protected]

Restoring the Humberhead Peatlands – LIFE+ Project (LIFE13NAT/UK/000451) – Funding from the European Union’s Biodiversity and Nature Programme (EU LIFE+), Doncaster East Internal Drainage Board and Natural England is helping the restoration of lowland raised mires of Thorne and Hatfield Moors Contact: [email protected]

FRONT COVER IMAGES: Large heath butterfly © Steve Hiner Left – Dragonbacks Pond © Janet Canning, Right – Evening view across old milled peat fields at Hatfield Moors © Janet Canning