Scott White and Hookins LLP Fountain House 26 St John’s Street Bradgate Park Bedford Bedfordshire Geological Heritage Protection Works MK42 0AQ Feasibility Study T +44 (0)1234 213111 F +44 (0)1234 213333 [email protected] February 2014 Prepared by: .............................................. Jason Daniels BEng(Hons) CEng MICE MIStructE Reviewed by: .............................................. Neil Dodds BA (Hons) MSc CEng MICE MIStructE London Bedford Winchester Contents 1.0 Introduction 2.0 Stakeholders 3.0 Existing Approaches 4.0 Options Considered 5.0 Concept Proposals 6.0 Access and Construction 7.0 Estimated Costs Appendix A – Preliminary Concept Plans and Visualisation Appendix B - Final Concept Plans and Visualisation Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Sco tt White and Hookins LLP were instructed by the Bradgate Trust to undertake a feasibility study relating to the protection of Memorial Crags located within Bradgate Park, Leicestershire. The outcome of the report is to review possible solutions to protect the Memorial Crags and from this develop two detailed design concepts. Location Plan Site Plan Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester 1.2 Bradgate Park is located approximately 6 miles from Leicester and has around 900,000 visitors per year. A plan showing the location of the site is provided in Fig xx. Photographs showing the exposed Memorial Crags are given in Fig xx. Aerial View of Memorial Crags Location Fig xx Aerial View of Memorial Crags Location Overview on Memorial Craigs 1.3 Within the park , nationally and internationally important geology is present , and this is exposed in a number of locations. The exposed geology is a notified Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). The Memorial Crags form one of the notified geological features. At this site the exposed flat bedding plane has suffered from vandalism in the form of inscribed incised graffiti and malicious damage by removal of geological specimens. Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester Damage to Crags 1.4 Historically, casual protection of the geology has relied on maintaining some level of secrecy about the site. However with the advent of modern forms of communication, information about the site and its relevance is easy to obtain and therefore increases the threat of removal of the geological specimens. More recently Bradgate Park trust has installed temporary fencing and signage in order to raise awareness and to deter casual vandalism. It is recognised that these are temporary measures and are unlikely to deter determined attempts to damage or deface the Crags. As a result of the damage and in order to protect the finite geology present a more robust measure of protection is deemed necessary. This report explores existing approaches used at other heritage sites, current technologies that could be employed and makes recommendations on possible solutions. The aims of this report are as follows: • Briefly review existing approaches used to protect heritage elsewhere and compare the applicability of these approaches to the Memorial Crags site. • Review options available for protecting the geology considering visual impact, access. • Develop concept proposals outlining benefits and limitations and provide images to allow third party approval. • Discuss implementation of proposals and costs. 1.5 This report is for the private and confidential use of the Bradgate Trust. This report cannot be copied in whole or in part without the written permission of Scott White and Hookins LLP. Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester 2.0 Stakehol ders 2.1 The Bradgate Park Trust The Bradgate Park Trust is a charitable organisation and is the main stakeholder responsible for the running and maintenance of the park. For this project they are the effective landowners and client for this project Bradgate Park Trust, Estate Office, Deer Barn Buildings, Bradgate Park, Newtown Linford, Leicestershire, LE6 0HE Contact: Peter Tyldesley Phone: 0116 236 2713 Email: [email protected] Natural England Natural England is the government’s advisor on the natural environment. Natural England are responsible for managing and notifying Sites of Special scientific Interest (SSSI). For this project Natural England will be the main approving authority. Natural England Unex House Bourges Boulevard Peterborough PE1 1NG Contact: Dr Jonathan Larwood, Phone: 0300 060 0326 Geological The key stakeholder with regards to the geological aspects are the Charnia Research Group. They have an advisory role in reviewing this project and its impact on the geology. Group Secretary: Chief Curator National Geological Repository British Geological Survey Keyworth, Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester Nottingham, NG12 5GG Contact: Dr Mike Howe Phone: 0115 9363105 Email: [email protected] Heritage The adjacent memorial is a Listed structure. English Heritage may have an input on the proposed works. English Heritage 44 Derngate Northampton | NN1 1UH Phone: 01604 735400 Local Authority The local authority will have an overseeing role in relation to planning. The Local Planning Authority is: Charnwood Borough Council Council Offices Southfield Road Loughborough LE11 2TX Phone: 01509 263151 The county council is: Leicestershire County Council County Hall, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RA Phone: 0116 232 3232 The Parish Council is: Newtown Linford Parish Council 34 Groby Lane Newtown Linford Leicester LE6 0HH Contact: Lydia Knott Phone: 01530 242522 Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester Email: [email protected] Societies and Groups Friends of Charnwood Forest 86 Forest Road, Markfield, LE67 9UN. Contact: Doug Maas Phone: 01530 242534 Email: [email protected] Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester 3.0 Existing approaches to insitu protection 3.1 In protecting historic and geological heritage a number of techniques have been used elsewhere. A brief summary of some of these approaches is given below. The applicability of these approaches with regard to the Bradgate Park Site is given in section 4.0 of this report. 3.1 The inauguration stone of The Kings of D ál Riata Dunadd Hill Fort, Scotland Just below Dunadd’s summit on an exposed rocky outcrop is the inauguration stone of the Kings of Dál Riata, a footprint carved into the bedrock. The site has around 50,000 visitors per year with many visitors literally following the footsteps of the kings and placing their feet on the footprint carving. In the 1980's protection to this stone was provided in the form of a fibreglass covering, painted to match the existing stone. The protection blends in well with its surroundings and the majority of visitors are unaware of its presence. Visitors are not made aware that they are seeing a replica and there has been some minor criticism of the approach adopted with some visitors feeling 'hoodwinked' that they are not experiencing the real thing. Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester 3.2 Geological Reserve in Alpes de Haute Provence, France La Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence is located in the foothills of the Western Alps. Thisarea has a significant amount of important geology and the entire site is covered by specific laws to protect the heritage. Raising awareness of the importance of the geology has been an important aspect of the preservation works with information points, tours and trails being a part of the overall philosophy. A number of the more significant geological features of the park are protected in situ with protective screens. A feature has been made of the screens to provide a focal point highlighting the protected geology. On this basis they do not necessarily blend in with the immediate surroundings, however given the massive scale of the setting this is considered to be less sensitive. 3.3 Fossil Grove in Victoria Park Glasgow Fossil Grove is located in Victoria Park in the Glasgow. The geological heritage comprises fossilized tree stumps which were discovered in 1887. Protection is afforded by a building covering the site. The building itself is one of the first examples of the use of a building to preserve fossilized remains. The use of a building is in keeping with the urban nature of the site and provides an Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester extremely robust form of protection. 3.4 Dinosaur Ridge, Colorado Dinosaur Ridge, Morrison, Colorado has a large number of significant geological features including fossilized riverbeds, dinosaur trackways and footprints. In some areas protection is provided by simple wire fences. The form of the fences varies and attempts to create a feature to highlight the geology but the result is considered to be fairly obtrusiv. In the example below dinosaur trackways are protected behind a fence and elevated viewing platform. Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester Structural and Civil Engineering Services JD/sj/B00680 Bradgate Park London Bedford Winchester 4.0 Options Considered 4.1 A brief review of suitable options for safeguarding the geol ogy. These are considered in the table below. Option Benefits Limitations Suitability and implementation Adopt in Considered proposals Increase Relatively low Do es not provide This approach has, in part, already Yes awareness of cost. Raises physical been adopted. This could be in public to the the profile of protection to the the form of information on sensitivity of the site. site and unlikely websites, physical signs or tours. the site to deter malicious vandalism. CCTV Constant Does not provide The site is remote and CCTV may No monitoring. a physical be costly to install due to the May be low deterrent. Long location.