Over 500 tonnes of Stone Flags airlifted by Helicopter on Ilkley Moor

Over 500 tonnes of Stone Flags airlifted by Helicopter on Ilkley Moor

Over 500 tonnes of stone flags have been airlifted into place by helicopter on Ilkley Moor. They have been for part two of thefootpath improvement/erosion restoration work on the Moor.

Danny Jackson, Countryside & Rights of Way Manager for Bradford Council, said “Following on from last year’s work when some 300 tonnes of flag stones were airlifted onto Ilkley Moor, and again part of the Watershed Landscape Heritage Lottery Funded project (overseen by Pennine Prospects) and supported by The Friends of Ilkley Moor. The aim is to lay the flags on strategic routes on Ilkley Moor and prevent further damage to sensitive habitats.

The stone flags have been weighed, banded into pallets, transported onto the edge of the moor and airlifted into place by helicopter. About 500 tonnes have been lifted – one load going to the trig point and eastwards to the Dick Hudsons path near the Twelve Apostles, the other west to Crawshaw Moss near Rivock Edge conifer plantation. We plan to get the flags laid by the end of October. We may also fly in some of the stones to one or two areas identified by The Friends of Ilkley Moor and for the construction of a seat at the ruined lodge at the top of Backstone Beck.”

From Barry Wilkinson, Press Officer, The Friends of Ilkley Moor – Mobile 07831-505051.

For more information contact Danny Jackson Mobile 07582-102103.

The following sketch illustrates in red the approximate extents of the recently flagged paths:-