H2H, the Headlands to Headspace initiative, is being led by Morecambe Bay Partnership and their task is to help nationally important Heritage at Risk sites on Birkrigg Common, on the outskirts of Ulverston.
One of the three sites they have been working on is the stone circle.
Louise Martin, H2H cultural heritage officer, is leading the project.
She said: “We have been clearing bracken. This is to improve visibility for visitors and to ensure these sites don’t get damaged because people can’t properly see them.”
The common is a popular place to walk, cycle and appreciate the views across Morecambe Bay.
It also contains a rich and nationally important archaeological landscape, which is being hidden from view, under a dense canopy of bracken.
The work is being undertaken in partnership with Historic England and volunteers from Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Mrs Martin said: “Cumbria Wildlife Trust is involved to help protect and maintain the grassland. It has helped get this project up and running and I am very grateful to them for all their hard work.
“Birkrigg Stone Circle consists of two rings of stones, which makes it a concentric stone circle.
“It’s a nationally important site because there are only about 15 recorded concentric stone circles in the whole country so it’s important that it is protected.”
With the bracken cleared not only will it benefit visitors when they come to the area but it will also improve natural habitats because it will be opening up the grassland, encouraging grazing.
The other two archaeological sites on Birkrigg Common that are identified as highly vulnerable is a cairn, which is an old grave monument and a double enclosure.
Work will begin on them later in the year.
Mrs Martin said: “It’s such an iconic site in Morecambe Bay and it’s got fabulous views.
“At the moment these sites do not give the full visitor experience that they should be doing because of all the bracken.
“Now the bracken has been cleared from the stone circle it looks incredible.
“We are aspiring to establish an Adopt-a-Monument group to continue the bracken work and monitor the sites in the future.
“This group would ideally be made up of local people who use the common on a regular basis and can easily report any damage or issues seen back to the appropriate authorities.”
To volunteer please contact Morecambe Bay Partnership .
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