What we’ve been doing: 

July 2010 

Open Access on the coastal strip

Old grazing field fencing is being removed to allow open access over a larger section of the coast. The stables are due to be moved as soon as the Swallows have finished nesting in them. 

Haig Colliery, Bloomin’ marvelous

Wildflowers add a splash of colour to the Basket road improvement works. This colourful bank has proved popular with people on the coast over the past few months and we watch with interest to see how it develops. Seeds supplied by Scott’s wildflowers and locally sourced.

June 2010

Festival season

Whitehaven festival, bigger and better than last year with thousands enjoying a glorious weekend.

  

Red arrows show                Harbourside funfair        Carlisle Spedding

Are you afraid of deep water?  

You might be after seeing the giant sea creatures all the way from Barcellona which terrorised the Harbourside at the Lakes Alive performing arts festival.

 

Branding the coast  

Whitehaven to St Bees, a coastline of stunning beauty, hidden gems and above all colour. As such this much loved west coast treasure has been called the Colourful coast by a group of organisations committed to ensuring it continues being a place of beauty and intreague. Where human history is intertwinned with the wildlife all around and where anyone can enjoy the best in the west. Welcome to the ���

As part of the Colourful coast project, RSPB, Cumbria County Council, Natural England, National Trust, Land Trust and Copeland have been looking at ways to improve the visitor experience, after surveying site users we found better paths and waymarking to be a priority and so we have been improving these in some instances using special markers to give the coast a recognisable character but appropriate to the urban and rugged zones.

  

A shocking start to the summer season. The shootings this week were a shock to us all as we try to come to terms with the needless loss of life. A volunteer workday was disrupted as we painted sign posts and litter picked the beach, golden sands. We were approached by concerned holiday makers seeking advice on the harbourside. We passed on the police advise to avoid Whitehaven and stay in doors, as such we packed up our tools and headed home until we heard the news that the suspect was dead.

Our greatest condolances to the families and freinds of those killed, injured or caught up in the incident in anyway and the community as a whole. This horrific act will hopefully never be repeated. 

May 2010

Win a weekend on the Colourful Coast

 

Tell us about a trip you made to the Colourful Coast between Whitehaven and St Bees and you could win a weekend in the best room at the Glenfield Guest House in Whitehaven’s historic conservation area.

The coast is full of colourful stories with hidden gems like Fleswick bay, Barrowmouth and Saltom as well as the better known highlights like the Coast to Coast walk and the lighthouse at St Bees head. We want to hear about your visit, email us a description of a memorable visit you made to the coast along with a photo or two and you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a Friday and Saturday night’s bed and breakfast stay in the luxurious surroundings of the Glenfield Guest House. What better after a days walking than to curl up by an open fire?

Margret and Andrew Davies who run the guest house say, “we often get people staying with us who are doing the Coast to Coast walk and we have suggested some other walks on our website for people who want to explore this area some more”. See more about the guesthouse at www.glenfield-whitehaven.co.uk

Whitehaven remembers

100 years later and the people of Whitehaven pay tribute to the 136 miners of West Cumberland who lost their lives one day on May 11th. Men and boys alike were consumed by the earth in the dangerous undersea coal mine of Wellington pit. The explosive firedamp now known as methane was an ever present threat making pit disasters familiar to generations of Whitehaven inhabitants.

Hundreds of people came to respect the human cost of extracting coal in West Cumbria. Over 1200 people died in the mines despite the many technological advancements in early industrialisation, Haig colliery mining museum tells the story.

In remembrance of the lives lost at Wellington pit a memorial stone was unveiled and placed on Wellington Terrace, an area once busy with coal trucks supplying the Harbour. The National Trust created a memorial garden, brightening yet another corner of the Whitehaven coast. Songs were sung, prayers said, wreaths laid, banners and books created so that their memory may live on.   

April 2010

 

Splashes of colour here and there,

Daffodils, Chinodaxa everywhere,

Grape Hyacinth and Fritillary too

Tulips and Narcissi flowering for you.

Rabbits all over the coast

This years Easter trail saw some better weather than last, over 100 people visited Haig mining museum to do the National Trust, Cadbury's Easter egg trail. Fun was had by all with face painting, egg decorating, felt flower and rabbit ear making as well as story telling being some of the activities on offer, 88% rated the event very enjoyable. A big thank you to all the volunteers and staff who helped make the day such a success.

On a similar note, rabbit hunters have been on site with dogs. This activity is not permitted or legal and if they are seen then you are within your rights to report them.

Also motorbikes are using the wagon way illegally, this is a public footpath, not a road and though efforts to hinder them have been made we are unable to police the site all the time.

Flytipping and graffetti also went hand in hand with the Easter holidays and the fine weather, if you see antisocial behaviour on the coast call Whitehaven police on  0845 3300 247  0845 3300 247 .

Work begins on Wellington Pit memorial

The footpath from the harbour to south shore along Wellington Terrace is currently closed as work goes on to prepare the site for a commemorative stone to be placed to mark 100 years since the pit disaster when 136 men and boys lost their lives. The ceremony will be on weekend of 8th and 9th of May.

Copeland council destroy fairy rocks

   This well known landmark is no more, part of a slow moving land slip and covered in cracks and fissures the rocks could have caused serious injury for those who ignored the obvious hazards. However the many cracks and crevises made good habitat for plants and animals. People should still be cautious when walking this coast, look out for loose rocks overhead, unstable ground and overhangs and cracks which could appear almost anywhere along this rugged western coastline.

March 2010

Horse, donkey and pony set to move

These three loveable characters are moving fields from the cliff edges into the field besides Solway road which has been fenced off leaving a path all the way around the edge. They are being moved to allow people to wander where they like along the coastal strip. This is the vision of the Colourful coast project to remove barriers and create an open access corridor from Whitehaven to St Bees (where possible)       The new grass path around the fenced field on Solway Road  

Many people like to stroke and feed these animals but a word of caution, they may bite, always keep your fingers out of their mouths, feed using an open palm and beware of traffic along Solway Road.

Many hands make light work

From this month the Whitehaven coast project has two pairs of hands to tackle the management. A government job creation scheme called Future Jobs Fund has enabled the project to provide work for a local lad from Cleator Moor. So far the duo have tackled the removal of 300metres of redundant fencing around the field on Solway road with the help of regular local volunteers.

The installation of a bike barrier at the top of Jonathan Swift house steps, this is to prevent bikes from accidentally riding down the steps as they approach the harbour.

There has also been plenty of grass to cut around the new grazing field beside Solway Road to keep access around the field.

More flowers

Lesser celendines and daisys are now also in bloom along the coast along with planted Snowdrops and daffodils.

February 2010

First flowers appear

Coltsfoot, easily mistaken for Dandelion,  just a flower braves the cold with leaves following months later. This plant was used medicinally for breathing troubles and likes distrubed ground, a handy apadtion to the benefit of miners. Coltsfoot rock can still be bough in Whitehaven at Kershaws health food shop.

More locally sourced, coastal wildflower seed has been sown on bare earth along the coast with the help of local volunteers. This is of benefit to our native wildlife much of which is threatened by damaging human activity.

Residents requests

A speed bump was installed on the Haig colliery access road in responce to requests from local residents and local councillor Wendy Skillicorn. The concern was for children playing on the road to the rugby pitch and the speed some drivers reached along the access road. Wendy said “its great how quickly the speed bump went in and that local people can see their concerns being addressed”

In addition to that more way markers were installed along the public right of way in the area and old sleeper on the coastal path were replaced. Keep your eye out for other improvements.

The replacement Saltom pit panel was also installed, hopefully this one may last a full year!

Copeland fencing and signs spoil the views. 

Copeland council took drastic action this month in an atempt to protect themselves from accident claims against them in the countryside. Over 150 metres of new fence was put up from Jonathan Swift house to King Pit with bold Yellow warning signs erected frequently along the coast as far as Saltom Pit. The reason is keep a 15 metre exclusion zone to the cliff edge and ensure no one could say they didn’t know of a danger. Coastal visitors have mxied views but generally feel that the council are stating the obvious, wasting money and spoiling the views. 

January 2010

Work continued on the Wagon way again this month ith lots of positive feedback from people using the track and those who live by it.

The area around the Candlestick was also cleaned up of late with a high power pressure washer removing the algae that had accumulated on the stone work and steps.  

December 2009

Waggon way workday Saturday 30th Jan

Years and years of grime and toil, burried this track in grass and soil.                         100 metres cleared each day by volunteers who get no pay.                                   Just satisfaction of a job that they were all once part of. 

Vegetation encroachment is one of several issues being tackled that was raised by people surveyed on site. Three workdays were planned with Whitehaven Harbour Youth Project and Cumbria County Council to clear the waggon way of encraoching vegetation. You can help too by joining in on Sat 30th January or by arrangement with the warden via our website.     

Addressing your issues

Clearing up the Former coal depot was high on the list of complaints from our summer survey. This land is classified as undeveloped coast which should prevent development in the future with local support. Planning permission was refused for the perimeter fence which must now be taken down. 

Dog mess, this coast is ideal for dogs however their mess spoils it for everyone, dogs too! This year Copeland council installed two extra dog bins and now they are all around the site at the Harbour, Rosemary lane, Basket road and Solway road. Please pick up your dogs mess, to leave it is an offence and there will be tougher enforcement this year with £80 fines.   

Policing antisocial behaviour, littering, fly tipping, underage drinking, vandalism, joy riding and drug taking are some of the obvious issues and any illegal or suspect activity can be reported to the police by you. The Warden makes random evening visits but only the police have powers to intervene. Volunteers and staff regularly clear up and have filled 4 skips this year.             

November 2009

Coastal paths

This year has seen a focus on coastal access. 4 main partners The National Trust, Natural England, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Cumbria County Council have worked with local volunteers to improve signage, path quality and establish open access fields between St Bees and Whitehaven. In addition to this, the footpath around Birkhams quarry was rerouted to allow quarry operations to expand inland. Below are some pictures courtesy of Alison Smith 

Diggers working to make a new path seaward side of the quarry, as you can see it offers stunning views to the north.

Wendy Sougnez writes’ Walkers between Haig and St Bees light house have had much to interest them this summer. A fox family continues to entertain its fans and barn owls can be seen on their daily hunting expeditions. The old quarries offer shelter for brown hares and the steep cliffs a haven for nesting sea birds. The BBC wildflife unit could film a whole series in this small area’

Large groups taking in the view and enjoying a rest on the boulders placed at the quarry entrance.

October 2009

The only way is up

Raising awareness about the Whitehaven coast will take time, signs need to be installed to highlight the various paths and points of interest. In the mean time there is always grArt to show people the way

Call that a bonfire? We don’t

This fly tip had childrens toys next to broken glass, rusty metal and thorny bushes. It was four seperate fly tips of plastic, aerosols and chemically treated wood, not a bonfire you’d want to be near. Fly tipping is illegal and carries up to £1000 fine, this pile was dangerous and spoilt the effort put into smartening Basket road.

In Out In Out, shake it all about

 

Fencing making the coast safer at Saltom pit and old fencing at the coal depot being removed making the coast smarter, thanks to local volunteers.

Marine Bill

The Marine bIll will be the governments tool for dealing with the coast. Currently there are two in our area, one for Scotland and one of the UK. The Solway firth partnership  is campaigning to have the Solway Firth regarded as one unit as it is one ecosystem. Attempting to reduce the risk of different policies either side of the border.

Further to this there is a coastal access element with the proposal of a coastal trail, now is the chance to show your support for both of these proposals to your local MP’s to raise their awareness of how important the coast is to people who live near to it.

http://findyourmp.parliment.uk/

September 2009

Tell us a tale, an appeal for your seaside stories

If you have a great story to tell about the clifftops, coves or beaches that link St Bees with Whitehaven, we’d like to hear from you. We know the coastline is rich in wildlife, scenery and industrial remenants but just as important are the colourful memories and tales you have about swimming in Saltom Bay, or taking jam butties to the pit head for your dad’s dinner, courting at Fleswick, falling from the cliffs in search of seagull eggs or sightings of Dolphins. Perhaps of hidden treasure, smugglers coves, victorian swimming baths etc.

  

Real stories are the best way to communicate the coasts qualities and we’d like to record them so they don’t get lost and our pride in this area can be shared with all those who visit here. For the first time visitor it’ll show there is more than meets the eye.   

If you can help contact us on   01946 816 940  01946 816 940    01946 816 940  01946 816 940 or email jessie.binns@nationaltrust.org.uk

Wind whips up a slick of sudds

Strong winds stir up the depths of the Cumbrian coast, most places shores are bound by dirty looking water stained with sediment, however Saltom Bay bucks the trend with its whiter than white strand of foam. Foam can be seen all around St Bees head to a lesser extent, could this be the lingering legacy of industry?  

Heavy rain causes rock fall

Soft, shale type rocks have come down onto the Saltom Track following heavy rain. Efforts have been made to make the location safe by ‘descaling’ the rock face of any other loose rocks. Despite successfully dislodging several large pieces there is a chance that more rock may fall so it is best not to linger in the area where the rocks have landed. 

 

The track has been cleared to allow the coast gaurd, vehicle access in an emergancy.

Just above the rock fall the track suffers from subsidence as a large swaith of material gradually creeps its way down slope towards the sea, in this area it is advised to keep to the path as it is possible for cracks and fissures to exist where land is moving as well as loose material all of which may be hidden from view by vegetaion.

S is for Survey

This month we prepare to continue our survey work, there are two types of survey, one devised to indicate the preferances of people questioned about the countryside, the second is aimed at showing the routes people take when walking on the coast and possible changes to signage that they may wish to see, as well as a chance to have their say about the coast.

Anyone interested in taking part as an interviewee will find us at the St Bee’s end of the Whitehaven coast on the bench over looking St Bee’s.

Early results highlight the strong feelings that local people have about the need for the former coal depot to be cleaned up in order to stop blighting this stunning coast line.

August 2009

Time for a cut

The long grass, golden brown and shedding its seed has been cut from the area around Haig colliery to Jonathan Swift house. This area is earmarked as a wildflower meadow, something of a rarity nowadays though as much part of our history as the Royal Family and even longer established.

When woodland was cleared and animals grazed for food the vegetation was constantly being removed. Dung would be collected for fuel or fertiliser and over all there was a loss of nutrients from the land. This low nutrient soil benefits wildflowers by allowing more competition without any one species dominating, thus creating a wealth of wildflowers and a huge variety of life living on them.

Recent farming trends have tended to lean the other way with artificial fertilisers added to enrich the soil and single species crops sown for maximum yeilds. These monocultures are lifeless deserts as a pest would destroy the entire crop so chemicals are used to kill them. All the energy needed to farm so intensively is unsustainable and damaging to mother earth. The result is that natures great variety of life is being steadily erradicated where for thousands of years it had flourished. This loss of life is so worrying that International agreements have been made to stop the loss of Biodiversity by 2010 in Europe.  

Commited to seeing diversity and life on the Whitehaven coast and enabling natural processes as well as allowing access for people to enjoy, the National Trust gets the meadow cut once a year after July, this allows plants to set seed for the following year and maximum nutrients can be removed from the soil when the long grass is taken away, helping next year be even more vibrant and colourful than the one before.

Local input

Volunteers have been back at work on a variety of tasks. Fencing has been taken down, footpaths repaired, drains stone lined, flower beds weeded and mulched, Ragwort pulled and litter picked and all with good humour. Many thanks for all of thier help in maintaining this site for everyone.

A weekend spectacular

Whitehaven festival rolled into town with three tall ships, tents and stages to line the quaysides and a giant fun fair on south shore there was plenty for all to enjoy and what better vantage point for a breif respite fro it all than the Whitehaven coast.

During the day hundred flocked to watch the aerial displays and by night a festival/holiday atmosphere could be found there in the glow of all the activity around it.

July 2009

Lets go fly a kite

Kite making is a big success, approximately 60 people attended the two kite making days held in Haig colliery’s Blacksmithys, a suitable location for construction. From those who took part over eighty percent rated the days very enjoyable after making Salmon kites and sigle sheet kites from a variety of materials.  

The Festival of the Wind, mass flying day for all of the kites made was a howler with strong winds and rain by the bucket load the Paragliders were pinned to the ground and we all took shelter from the elements.

June 2009

Schools out for summer

Kells infants school hop, skip and jump along the wagonway to the candlestick. Remenants of old industry providing the setting for an inspiring day out spotting the native wildlife and helping to ensure its survival in the future. 

In addition to the ongoing meadow management and habitat improvements that have already taken place this year the school have helped coastal heath to spread. 

Coastal Heath is a valueable habitat of low growing shrubs featuring heather and gorse, both of which are a great food source for pollinating insects and in turn larger animals such as small mammals, reptiles and birds which feed on the insects and make their homes there. As an Island Nation with an expansive coastline the United Kingdom supports much of the coastal heath habitat for the European continental area making it a habitat of international importance for its communities of plants and animals.

The children planted their own pots of heather they had potted up in November. The contrast can be seen between those heather plants which were planted directly out on site in Autumn and those which were grown on in pots.

Everyone involved had a great day spotting Bacon and Eggs, seen above (a plant so called after the pink/orange and yellow colour of its flowers, also known as birds foot trefoil), shells of bird eggs and snails, reptiles such as slow worms, giant mole hills (King pit) and Castles (Wellington lodge and the Candlestick).

Flower focus

 

This picture shows the multiple layers of vegetation typical of the coast at this time of year. From the bottom up is

Silver weed, its silvery leafs give it its name

Red clover, nectar rich wildflower, very important food source for pollinating insects, member of the pea family, its roots house bacteria which fix nitrogen in the soil, a natural soil enricher which benefits leafy growth of other plants.

Buttercup, the yellow flowers, supposedly the means by which butter eating tendancies can be reveiled. Its beautiful flowers are held high in the meadow, it speads by runners which produce roots and new plants, this plant is actually poisonous. 

Sorrel, a splash of red, high above the rest, good food source for birds when the seeds are set. This acidic plant tastes a bit like lemons and is used by the Lapps in scandinavia for curdling milk to make cheese.

Our meadow management techniques mean much of the coast looks very overgrown but by cutting certain areas after July this allows maximum growth and setting of seed. By removing all the cuttings nutrients are removed from the site which benefits wildflowers by reducing the dominance of grasses which in turn helps wildlife such as insects, birds, mammals etc which are higher up in the food chain. 

The more variety of plants, the more variety of animals and this is something the whole of Europe is trying to achieve. This is known as biodiversity which is currently in decline and needs to be halted before more species become extinct.  

Clean and tidy

Regular maintainance of fixtures and fitting continues along side regular grass cutting and litter picking.

These pictures show benches being oiled and the new railings in the bottom left hand corner as well as the cut grass

May 2009

Vandals strike

Despite the obvious efforts of local volunteers and staff to improve the appearance and visitor enjoyment of the Whitehaven coast the recent warm weather and school holidays resulted in senseless acts of destruction.

A sapling planted on Wellington Terrace was broken in two. After years of nurturing, careful transportaion and planting this was a horrible end for the tree, planted to brighten the terrace with its foliage and berries.

The Saltom interpretation panel was stoned causing holes, fracturing and bubbling of the protective covering, here it is after being repaired.

As always there were plenty of rude drawing scratched into the red sandstone this is the only decent image I could show.

A whole host of litter spread around the site too.

Damage caused by skaters along memory walk.

Saltom suffers

Saltom pit, a scheduled ancient monument, first undersea coal mine in England, gem of the Whitehaven coast, once the pride of Whitehaven. Recently consolidated for all to enjoy, now suffers at the hands of revellers who carelessly set fires within its walls, burning tents, go-carts etc and smashing countless bottles, spoiling the magic for all.

Safety railings guarding a learge drop from Saltoms sea walls have been ripped off and burned.

April 2009

Bloomin marvelous

As the weather warmed up the Whitehaven coast has burst into bloom with both planted and natural flowers. One of the first to show was Snowdrop, planted on Wellington Terrace, then Coltsfoot a yellow flower easily mistaken for a Dandelion but it appears without leaves, these come later. This vigorous weed thrives in mineral rich deposits such as those of old mine workings and was traditionally used as a cure for breathing problems. Next came the Lesser celendines, delicate starry yellow flowers. Then more yellow in the form of planted minature Daffodils.

     

Tulipa silvestris                                           Cowslip

Tulips and Fritilaries follwed, now plantains, daisies, buttercups bluebells, gorse, stitchwort and cookoo flower are all joining the party. Keep your eyes peeled to spot these lovely flowers.

Frililaries                                                     Tulips and Dafodils

      

Easter trail a cracking success

Despite the poor weather families still turned out to the Whitehaven coast on Good Friday to enjoy the Easter trail laid out by the National Trust. The trail drew attention to the sites historic and landscape features as well as natural history with multiple choice questions spelling out the final answer to win an Easter egg prize. We found people taking a closer look at what Whitehaven has to offer.

     

    

Those who attended were then able to explore Haig mining museum and do craft activities such as badge, mask and key ring making, as well as Easter cards and egg painting. 84% of those who came rated it very enjoyable. Many thanks to all those who volunteered to make this event such a sucess.

March 2009

New path opens around Birkhams Quarry offering stunning views North along the coast. Due to quarry operations expanding the public right of way has had to be diverted as it will soon be excavated for its fine red sandstone. As such the Quarry operators have created a new route which runs to the seaward side of the excavations. This opened on the 29th of March and will make another unique and interesting feature on the already fantastic coastal route from St Bee’s to Whitehaven.

Volunteers working to improve access.

   

Ravenhill track has recieved some much needed attention of late from a large group of enthusiastic local volunteers. They provided much of the hard labour needed to resurface the track, making it level, cleaner, wider and therefore accessable to all, however the track is a public footpath so cycling is not permitted.

It all began in February with the scraping of the old vegetation which had covered the hard surface restricting the width and resulting in a narrow muddy track, mired by dog fouling and litter.

Then came tha materials, some 32 tonnes of limestone chippings were delivered, followed by a top coating of limestone dust to bind the surface together.

Then the working party, some 20 volunteers from neighbouring estates mustered their strength to get the job done in glorious March weather.

The completion of this track offers a clean safe off road route to the coastal path network from Solway Road linking Kells to Whitehaven via a high quality path along this stunning coastline.

Keeping up apperances

Volunteers removing redundant fencing enclosing scrub opposite the Haig Enterprise buisness park. This fencing and posts will be reused and it is hoped that by opening access to this strip of vegetation there will be less incidents of fly tipping. This is yet another improvement to the image of the area surrounding Haig intended to encourage people to use and explore the coast and value the wildlife and beauty of the site.

February 2009

New seats, specially designed and built for the site have been installed against the curved sandstone walls along the coastal path. This part of a multistage commision of public art works from Scartworks including the metal works seen around Saltom pit and the keenly anticipated mosaic planned for the gravelled area near the candlestick.

Designer and engineer Stephen Charnwood said the curved design is intended to reflect the shapes found along the sea shore (as can be seen below). They are made from Galvanised steel and hardwood and these materials are intended to be representative of the sites industrial past.

January 2009

Cycletrack alterations have been ongoing since October 2008 with various sections being completed, gradients have been reduced, corners widened, drainage installed, all intended to make the track more user freindly. Pictured above is a new sleeper chicane to slow cyclists on their decent along the new course of the track, pictured below being rerouted.

December 2008

Saltom on the Telly

The Whitehaven News and Border TV talked to representatives from Copeland Borough Council, West Lakes Renaissance and The National Trust at Saltom Pit.

Everyone was pleased that Saltom is open to the public once more.  The buildings will always be ruined, and will eventually be engulfed by the Fairy Rock Landslip, but the access track makes it much easier for people to get down to Saltom bay, and the Sea Wall is repaired to last.

NT volunteer researcher Ted Reed was interviewed by border TV:  See the pages he and his fellow researcher Wendy have posted on this website.

Click this link to read the article on the Whitehaven News website:  www.whitehaven-news.co.uk/news/1.282887

 

Saltom Opens

The scaffolding is down and Saltom is open to the public again, thanks to generous funding from the European Regional Development Fund and English Heritage, who advised on the building work done to make this ancient scheduled monument safe to access again.

Pages of new research on Saltoms unique place in British History have been posted on this website.  It was Englands first under-sea coal mine, and its stones are full of stories. To dig deeper into Saltoms past click here

Now the contractors have left the next stage is to make the top more accessible.  We plan to level the ground to join the access track up to existing paths on the cliffs.  We will remove the fencing, although the gate will stay to prevent cars driving down to the bay.  We will also replace the intrusive safety signs with signs much more in keeping with the surrounding environment.

October 2008

Saltom Pit -  Scaffolding has gone up around the remains of the Engine House. The aim is to stabilise the remaining stonework to make it safe for people to explore. 

The Sea Wall - Preparations are being made for concrete to be poured in at the base of the wall.  The plan is for gabions to rest on top of this, with boulders to act as a breakwater before the sea gets to the wall.  Workers are all warned to watch out for the tide which comes in quickly at Saltom.

  

The Access Track - has been repaired.  At the moment it's extremely wide to ennable large machinery to get down to work on the sea wall.  Once work has finished, drainage will be put in to keep the track from being eroded, and vegetation will be allowed to grow back to narrow the trackway down and make it blend in with the cliff.  
 
When all the work is completed, the fencing can be taken away, and Saltom Bay will be free for Whitehaven residents and locals to use again.

 

 

July 2008

New signage has now been added to the improved pathway system along the coast, featuring some of the designs produced by local children, which can be viewed in full in the gallery section of the website.

        

Already the new features along the coastal path are beginning to enhance the appearance of the area. Seating has now been installed around the condlestick, and finishing touches are being made to pathways and paving. The contractors hope to have all works completed in the next few weeks, after which time the National Trust will begin management of the area and continue with the landscaping and day to day maintenance of the site. 

 

June 2008

The spell of dry weather has enabled the contractors to make excellent progress to the works on the coast. The sinuous sandstone walls have now been completed and topped with beautiful polished sandstone slabs.  Sandstone posts have also been positioned ready to accommodate signage.

The access road to Haig Colliery Mining museum is nearing completion.

The old paving slabs have been removed from the candlestick terrace and new paving is being laid. The overgrown circular planting area has been concreted over ready to house a specially designed mosaic.

 

May 2008

A series of small curved sandstone-clad walls now adorn the footpath leading up from the candlestick towards the Haig mining museum. Some of the walls will support bespoke seating, others will wrap around areas of planting.

 

Reconstruction and widening of the access road leading to the Haig Colliery Mining museum is now well underway.    

April 2008

The railings around the Candlestick terrace have now been removed, and a sandstone-clad wall is being built in their stead. The 'Memory Wall', which will follow the new wider path from the Candlestick down to South Shore car park is under construction.

Below: New steps now in place leading up to the Candlestick and sandstone cladding has been added to the memory wall. A new flight of steps has been added at the far end of the Candlestick terrace, leading up to the Jonathan Swift house, to create a circular route for people to follow.

    

 

March 2008

Mid March saw the start of works to improve drainage and access to the Haig Mining Museum. The Mining Museum has recently been succesful in its bid for Heritage Lottery Funding. Click here to visit the Mining Museum website and find out more.

 

 

February 2008

Building contractors Carillion have now established a site office at South Beach Car Park and have started work.  To date there has largely involved marking out and the use of plant to excavate and install new access. The position of the new flight of steps below the Candlestick terrace can clearly be seen in the photograph below. The pathway connecting the Candlestick terrace to South Beach is temporarily closed while work is undertaken in this area.

 

 Work has also begun to remove the render from the existing wall around the candlestick terrace. The iron railaings will be replaced with a new stone wall. The photo below shows two of the stone samples considered for the new wall.  After consultation with Copeland Borough Council the new construction will use St Bees sandstone, extracted from Birkhams Quarry near to St Bees Head.

The spell of fine weather through most of February has enabled work to continue apace. The existing path from South Beach to the Candlestick has had the surface removed and has been widened to accomodate the dual use footpath/cycle path.

 

A new path route has been dug at the junction of the Coastguard Station and the Candlestick and also around the perimeter of the Candlestick.  The existing set of wooden steps adjacent to the Jonathon Swift house have been removed which has resulted in a temporary closure of that footpath, an improved flight of steps will be built to replace these.   

 

December 2007

Emergency conservation work has begun to safeguard the historically important Saltom Pit building.

The fabric of the building, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, has deteriorated to the point that it's very future was in doubt. However with funding provided by Copeland Borough Council work has started to shore up and support the crumbling door and window lintels and restrict access into the building in the short term. 

It is hoped that further funding may be obtained to carry out repair work on the sea wall that protects the pit structure.