Image courtesy RSPB
It’s that time of the year and the Ravens are feeling frisky. The annual restrictions to help ensure successful breeding start on Wednesday 15th February and run until Wednesday 31st May. Details of all the restrictions can be found on The Fell & Rock Climbing Club website, https://www.frcc.co.uk/bird-restrictions/ 24, and on the BMC Regional Access Database (RAD). If you climb outdoors you should download and use the RAD App to ensure that you always have up to date access information on your phone!
Peregrine Falcons feel the urge a couple of weeks after the Ravens and the nesting restrictions to protect them start of 1st March and run through to 30th June. There are a few crags where both Ravens and Peregrines nest and the restrictions on these start on 15th February and run until 30th June.
A special plea: Over many years climbers in The Lakes have respected the bird restrictions and cases of disturbance have been extremely rare. However in each of the past two years there have been unfortunate Raven disturbance incidents at Raven Crag Walthwaite (Langdale). This is a very public location and the reputation climbers could be harmed by such incidents. A sign will be placed on the gate at the start of the walk-in but in the past signs have mysteriously vanished from a number of restricted crags. There are plenty of other low-level and sunny crags in Langdale and the routes at Raven Walthwaite will (hopefully!) still be there on 1st June.
We keep the main locations under review and if a nest site is unused or it fails for some reason, usually a late cold spell, then that restriction will be lifted with updates posted on both the RAD and the FRCC website. If a new nest site is identified then a restriction may be implemented. If you come across nesting birds on a crag where there is no restriction please leave as soon as it is possible to do so safely and report the site to the FRCC using the route comment system (https://www.frcc.co.uk/comment-on-a-route/ 1) and The BMC.
The Nesting Restriction Group. The Lakes is probably unique amongst UK climbing areas in that it has an organised group of interested parties who get together and agree the minimum of restrictions consistent with giving the birds the best chance of breeding successfully and allowing climbers the maximum access to the crags. The group currently comprises representatives of Natural England, The National Trust, Lake District National Park, The John Muir Trust, The Outdoor Centres, The BMC and The Fell & Rock Climbing Club of The English Lake District, please note that the BMC and FRCC reps aren’t the only climbers sitting round the table. Group members monitor nests on major crags such as Chapel Head Scar so that breeding success can be noted and restrictions can be lifted asap.
https://www.frcc.co.uk/bird-restrictions/ and on The BMC RAD https://www.thebmc.co.uk/modules/RAD/
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