As somewhat of a side issue - here in the Peak, we have discovered over
the last few years, just how important the vegetation on mine sites is.
We have on many of our mine tips an array of metallophyte plants -
leadwort being the most obvious, together with pansies. However, this
collection of plants include grasses and other things, about which I
know nothing. However, these plants are rare, and the environment on
which they grow is rare - so rare that they are listed in European lists
of habitats that must be protected. We have discovered that the plants
have much more legal protection than the mine sites (in a lot of cases).
Those of you who have seen "The Lead Legacy" will know how seriously
this is taken - The Park has a Bio-Diversity Action Plan - and has
listed hundreds of sites, while bemoaning the shrinkage of the lead
affected landscape. They cannot now afford to lose anymore mining
landscape as it affects their attempts to keep up with EU plans and
targets. So - this provides another layer of protection for the heritage
that we are interested in.
>As most country folk would know that the Yew is poisonous - was it an
>attempt to discourage the unwary from getting to close to open
>workings? Likewise, Hawthorn's barbs tend to discourage people from
>pushing through them.
>
>Mike Gill
>
--
David Williams
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