Public Access to Arbor Low is far from secure

Submitted by paul on Thursday, 25 October 2001 Page Views: 1362

Many visitors to the circle-henge of Arbor Low in Derbyshire are not aware that an uncomfortable triangle of interests has left a question mark over public access to the site for a couple of years now.

To reach the ‘megalithic clock face’ the visitor uses a road, farmyard, adjoining fields and finally the circle field itself – these are in the hands of three different owners. The honesty box is controlled by two of the parties.

In early June 2000 I wrote to English Heritage to complain about the erosion caused by grazing cows and the pats they left behind. In reply EH agreed that the grass management of the site was not ideal and that they were in negotiation with the many interests to secure access and the long-term appropriate management of the monument.

More than a year later I was minded to write to EH again following a visit where the cows had clearly been causing further erosion. The reply this time was positive, but there is still a long way to go.

A draft access agreement has been drawn up but as yet this has not been formally accepted. Satisfactory terms for EH to rent the relevant field, and thus be able to control grazing methods, have not been agreed.

Should agreement on access and the leasing of the henge field be reached, EH have indicated that they propose to record and repair the damage caused by inappropriate grazing (however grazing is the cornerstone of the future management plan for the site).

So access to Arbor Low cannot be taken for granted. It is not inconceivable that the ‘closed’ sign may once again hang from the English Heritage marker post.

Finally, as a precautionary note EH say ‘The stone circle is scheduled and protected but other past cases have shown us that proving damage to the satisfaction of a court is very difficult (even where owners have ploughed!).

Contributor Bio for paul: Based in London, contributing since 2007. Favourite site: Avebury.

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