As reported earlier, work is well under way on the Bank Top kilns. Now work has started on the northerly of the two sets of kilns at East Mines to stabilise and preserve what is possible with these extensive remains.

Work to restore the trackway around Dale Head continues and the line remains closed until it is completed.

Natural England have announced the temporary removal of open access to the old railway line from Reeking Gill around Dale Head to Blakey Junction from 8 July to 30 September to allow essential work to be done restore the path as part of the Land of Iron project- see the flyer for details:

Signage has been put by NYMNP at 16 access points to the line around the dale.

As part of the Land of Iron Project, The National Park is running a series of wildlife events in and around Rosedale. The programme dates, times and locations are shown in an earlier post and there is time to book in to more of these fascinating events which reveal the rich diversity of nature within the dale – and by attending any of them there is the opportunity to win a 4kg/9lb chocolate egg! (see below).

In summary, the week was a great success with most of the varied events being well attended. A huge range of animal and plant species were spotted and studied, of which some of the many highlights were spotting the rare Arctic Starflower in Hartoft, the rarer Tachina Grossa, a fly with attitude, along with bird wing moths as well as hearing (with the aid of bat detectors) and then watching Daubenton’s bats hunting by night along the River Seven at Dunn Car bridge.

Huge thanks to Elspeth ingleby and Sam Newton from the National Park for organising a truly fascinating, entertaining and instructive week – more please next year!

The Rosedale branch of the Women’s Institute celebrated its 80 anniversary – it was formed on 6 July 1939 – with a guest tea in the Updale Reading Room on Monday 10 June 2019.

As reported previously, work continues to stabilise the ironstone roasting kilns at Bank Top. The contractors are currently strengthening and re-inforcing the back wall to prevent further stone falls and are also re-pointing the interior of the arches top and bottom to stop water ingress.

The work is progressing well, although no completion date is yet known for the work as more problems become evident in the structure. Further updates will be posted here soon.

Work has started today, Monday 13 May, on conserving and stabilising the ironstone roasting kilns at Bank Top, Rosedale. Initially, the area around the kilns will be fenced off and scaffolding erected to allow William Birch Ltd to carry out much needed conservation work on these impressive monuments to Rosedale’s ironstone ‘Klondike’ which started here at West Mines in 1856.

A lot of work has been done under the project on the ironstone workings and railway line at East Mines (see previous LoI updates) so it is good to see that West Mines, also known as Low Works, are now getting the same treatment.

Access to the lower car park at Bank Top will be restricted during the period of works so visitors are encouraged to use the upper car park.

On BBC Radio York at around 8.00pm on Wednesday 3 April on the programme ‘God’s Own Countyfile’ David Haddon-Reece and Linda Blackburne will be interviewed about our forthcoming Wedding Dress Festival which will take place in the church from Saturday 25 May to Sunday 2 June in order to raise more badly needed funds for the church repair project.

More details about the festival itself will be published shortly – watch this space!

The coffee morning held  on a cold and snowy morning in the Coach House Inn on Saturday 2 February 2019 raised a much needed £255 for the Save Rosedale Church appeal.

Thanks, as ever, to Dave and Ali in the Coach House Inn and to Margaret and Carol for masterminding the raffle.

The next coffee morning will be on Saturday 2 March from 10.00 to 12.00am in aid of Yorkshire Cancer Research – all are most welcome to come along for the coffee, cake sale and raffle.