A RANGE of organisations are coming together to help nationally important ’Heritage at Risk’ sites on Birkrigg Common, near Ulverston.

The common, popular with walkers and cyclists, contains a rich and nationally important archaeological landscape, which is hidden from view under a dense canopy of vegetation.

Morecambe Bay Partnership is now planning to tackle this threat by undertaking targeted vegetation clearance to reduce further risk to these sites and improve their visibility for visitors.

This work is being undertaken in partnership with Historic England, the public body that champions and protects the historic environment, and volunteers from Cumbria Wildlife Trust.

It will also improve natural habitats, opening up grassland and encouraging grazing, allowing better feeding areas for birds and reducing further encroachment of bracken.

Three of the archaeological sites on Birkrigg Common are identified as highly vulnerable from vegetation growth and require immediate action to preserve and protect them for future generations.

The concentric stone circle or ‘Druid Circle’ is perhaps the most well know and visited site on the common.

However, the unique feature of this monument, the second ring of larger stones, is almost completely hidden within bracken and as such it is listed in the top 10 ‘Heritage at Risk’ sites in the North-West.

The works will involve cutting the bracken, to weaken the plant and restrict its growth over subsequent growing seasons.

Given the sensitivity of the archaeological sites, the vegetation will initially be cleared by hand by a group of dedicated volunteers, with some of the waste being removed by Ford Park Community Group who will compost it and use it in town-wide gardening initiatives

Sarah Howard, Heritage at Risk Officer for Historic England said: “Birkrigg is a special place, a unique place with a fascinating and very well preserved archaeological landscape.

“This landscape has become at risk in recent years due to the increase in vegetation but similar ‘bracken bashing’ programmes in Cumbria have proven to be an effective way of controlling vegetation and have led to a reduction in the number of sites on the North-West Heritage at Risk register.”

The vegetation clearance is due to take place in mid-July and August over the next four years, firstly targeting the area around the stone circle.