Swaledale
Area Ranger James Lamb - pictured right - is based at Hudson House community office in Reeth.
His area of responsibility is the Swaledale and Arkengarthdale areas of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.
James works closely with local organisations throughout the northern Dales of the National Park on a range of rights of way and access projects.
Ian Broadwith is the Access Ranger for Swaledale and Arkengarthdale.
His main duties are to monitor condition of, plan and carry out practical works to public rights of way in the area. He works closely with volunteers and other rangers. Here he is - see photo left - carrying out repairs on a bridleway.
Access
Open Access
Swaledale and Arkengarthdale have some of the largest areas of open access within the National Park, with just over 75% of the two dales available for the public to explore and enjoy.
Please remember, however, that much of this area is grouse moorland, and nationally important for ground nesting birds such as Curlew, Lapwing and Oystercatcher. For this reason, many of the access areas are covered by a restriction which means that dogs are not allowed except on public rights of way. If you have a dog, please help to protect these birds by only using public rights of way and areas of access land not covered by a dog restriction. Further information and advice is available on the Open Access section of our website.
Projects
Bridleway Repairs, West Stonesdale
A group of volunteers from the John Muir Trust recently spent a weekend in Swaledale assisting Rangers to carry out repairs to a bridleway in West Stonesdale, near Keld. The group carried out essential drainage improvements to prevent damage to the surface of the route and also helped to rebuild approximately 20m of retaining wall which had collapsed following a land slide. The JMT group are regular visitors to the Dales and have worked on a range of projects within the National Park. The John Muir Trust is a charity set up to encourage others to explore and conserve Britain's wild places. Further information about the Trust can be obtained from their website.
Repairs to Reeth Suspension Bridge
Essential repairs have now been completed on Reeth Suspension Bridge. The bridge, which was replaced in 2002 after the original was destroyed in a flood, needed work to underpin the southern pier and prevent the stucture from being weakened. Large stone blocks and concrete have been used to provide extra strength and prevent further undermining of the pier.
Reeth Suspension Bridge under construction in 2002
Footpath Closures
Slei Gill Footbridge
A short section of public footpath has been closed near to Storethwaite Hall Farm, Arkengarthdale following flood damage to the footbridge crossing Slei Gill. The closure is for six months until 1 June 2010 and is necessary in order to protect members of the public and to allow for essential repairs to be carried out.
An alternative route is in place, details of which are posted at either end of the closed section.
Contact details
James Lamb
Swaledale Area Ranger
Hudson House
Reeth
Richmond
North Yorkshire
DL11 6TB
01748 884060
