Eco Revamp Plan for Hadrian's Wall

Submitted by bija on Thu, 10/29/2009 - 14:33

A management plan has been published that maps out how the World Heritage Site of Hadrian's Wall will be conserved, researched and made accessible to visitors and local communities over the next five years.

The wall was built in the 120s AD during the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian as the northern frontier of Roman-occupied Britannia. The site today is one of Britain's most outstanding historical monuments; it recently came second in a list of favourite British sites as voted by the UK's children - beaten only by Stonehenge.

It's also of educational, environmental and economic value to many different groups of people, including archaeological researchers, conservationists, visitors and local businesses. The five-year plan sets out to provide care for the heritage site, while also providing access and opportunities for different members of the community.

One of the priorities will be the conservation of archaeological sites along the wall. Further excavation and research are also important – only 0.13 per cent of the length of the wall has so far been investigated by modern experts, while just 9 per cent of the original wall is visible above ground today. Of the original 80 Mileforts dotted along the wall, the locations of just 22 of them are known.

The five-year plan also includes identifying and realising social and economic benefits that the site can bring to the local communities. According to Dr Nigel Mills, director of World Heritage and Access for Hadrian’s Wall Heritage Ltd, over 50 organisations, 700 private landowners and 980,000 people live or work within Hadrian’s Wall Country, which includes a 10-mile buffer zone on either side of the Wall.

There are many organisations and people who have an interest in the World Heritage Site but no single interest can be allowed to dominate, or the Wall’s unique qualities could be lost.

As part of plans to regenerate certain areas and improve environmental conservation, fuel-efficient buses could be introduced to connect sites with local bus and railway stations. There will be a focus on improving the Hadrian’s Wall Country Bus, the National Trail and the Hadrian’s Cycleway, which will provide better access to the site.

Tyneside and Carlisle have been earmarked as future 'gateways' to the World Heritage Site, and will benefit from investment and economic regeneration, while other market towns in the area could also benefit.

Professor Peter Stone, the Chairman of the Management Plan Committee, emphasises that there are many diverse groups of people with vested interests in Hadrian's Wall Heritage Site. He said: “There are many organisations and people who have an interest in the World Heritage Site but no single interest can be allowed to dominate, or the Wall’s unique qualities could be lost. Sometimes, you find everyone has to give a little bit of ground in order to move forward, but that’s the best way to get something we can all live with.”

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About The Author

Bija Knowles (follow me: e-mail or

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Last three pieces by this author:

300 Looted Antiquities Displayed in the Colosseum | Hoard of 52,500 Roman Coins Discovered Near Frome by Metal Detectorist | Roman Villa Discovered Near Tewkesbury

Bija Knowles is a freelance journalist based outside Rome, Italy. She graduated in Italian and English Literature from the University of Birmingham, UK, and her main areas of interest are art, travel and history in Italy.

Comments

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"“Eco<a href='http://www.dominateseo.net/customer/index.php?linkwheel-link-wheel-service&cid=236'>-</a>Ski Lodge at Hadrian's Wall”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 June 2011

I stayed at Saughy Rigg with 3 chums and we were cycling the Hadrian’s Wall Cycle Route from Coast to Coast. The ethos of the hotel seems to be one of being an environmentally friendly hotel that is half ski lodge and half youth hostel for oldies. Heating energy is provided by solar panels and underground collector coils. There is a massive wood burning boiler in an outhouse that provides further heating and the sweet and slightly insidious odour of burning of seasoned wood pervades the whole site both inside and out. The buildings were uncomfortably warm although I can imagine that there are times when that warmth is very much welcomed by walkers that have struggled through the elements up the exposed hillsides.

Other cyclists should be aware that the hotel is 5 miles from Hadrian’s Cycleway and nearly all uphill. After pedalling those miles I have never been so happy to arrive at a destination. Our initial impression on arrival however was of the junk that is left lying around the site. The wood piles are acceptable but in just about every nook, cranny and corner some piece rubbish of has been left to accumulate including kids bikes, boards, oil cans, paint tins, guttering and other assorted detritus. This is a shame and detracts from the otherwise spectacular setting and charming duck pond to the front (bizarrely populated entirely by drakes)."

Fri, 14-10-2011 07:22

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"“Eco<a href='http://www.dominateseo.net/customer/index.php?linkwheel-link-wheel-service&cid=236'>-</a>Ski Lodge at Hadrian's Wall”
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 17 June 2011

Fri, 14-10-2011 07:22

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