A public consultation on the proposed conservation measures on Rosedale’s ironstone roasting kilns was held last night, 12 December, in the Coach House Inn. The session was very well attended by 28 local people and there was lively discussion on several topics after stimulating presentations by representatives from the project office and the archaeological and engineering agencies involved with the proposed works.

Details of how to volunteer to help out in the programme of works on the line in 2018 can be found at www.northyorkmoors.org.uk/landofiron 

A group of local volunteers, armed with buckets and spades on Saturday 28 October, dug down through the mud and discovered the original upstream entrance to the Reeking Gill culvert, with Shaun Doughty having used a digger to clear the site (see previous update on 4 October). Work will now continue to shift the rest of the debris from the entrance and expose more of the large stone archway. Muscle power and determination won the day and well done to all.

Work has also been done to clear some of the smaller culverts along the old railway line so that water no longer builds up and threatens the integrity of the track bed.

A fuller progress report will be given around the New Year, so that all can see how this marvellous project is progressing. Meanwhile please look at the NYMNPA call for volunteers poster and join in.

Work on the Land Of Iron project continues apace in Rosedale. The repair done to the track at Stone Kilns is greening up nicely and will be barely visible from a distance by this time next year:

New, bigger interpretation boards have been placed at the three kiln sites:

Work is currently ongoing to clear the upsteam entrance to the major culvert under Reeking Gill to prevent the dangerous build up of water behind the embankment:

The repair to the trackway at the stone kilns at East Mines is maturing nicely with the grass that was seeded in the sandbags now sprouting well.