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Northumberlandia damage will take years to repair

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is asking members of the public to keep to the paths around Northumberlandia rather than making their own paths to the summit.

Northumberland Wildlife Trust is asking members of the public to keep to the paths around Northumberlandia rather than making their own paths to the summit.

Instead of using the designated footpaths, visitors, many of them with buggies, have been clambering up the side of the sculpture top get to the top. In addition, families have been sliding down the steepest side of the sculpture as if it were a playground slide.

Needless to say, all this has resulted in massive amounts of damage to ground and has left the iconic landmark looking a bit worse for wear.

With over 100,000 visitors walking around the Cramlington landform sculpture, it’s always important for The Lady to look her best at all times, so now, staff and volunteers from the wildlife charity are tasked with repairing the considerable damage caused.

The repair work will take years to complete as the ground is so damaged which has led to the wildlife charity calling upon the public to help it speed up the repair process by keeping to the footpaths and off the mounds at all times in an attempt to help the ground recover.  If this doesn’t happen, the on-site team may have to fence off the sculpture which would be disappointing for the countless visitors who like climbing to the top to admire the view.

Image of Northumberlandia with grass worn away where people have been walking over it.

Damage to Northumberlandia. Image by Peter Ernst.

Image of Northumberlandia with grass worn away where people have been walking over it.

Damage to Northumberlandia. Image by Peter Ernst.

Image of Northumberlandia with grass worn away where people have been walking over it.

Damage to Northumberlandia. Image by Peter Ernst.

Image of Northumberlandia with grass worn away where people have been walking over it.

Damage to Northumberlandia. Image by Peter Ernst.

Image of Northumberlandia with grass worn away where people have been walking over it.

Damage to Northumberlandia. Image by Peter Ernst.

Image of Northumberlandia with grass worn away where people have been walking over it.

Damage to Northumberlandia. Image by Peter Ernst.

Peter Ernst, Northumberland Wildlife Trust Estates Officer says:

“I know it’s quicker for people to walk up the side of the sculpture rather using the paths which take longer, but they really are causing damage to its structure which wasn’t designed for people clambering up the side.

“We don’t want to have to fence the sculpture off from visitors, so we are repeating an earlier request for people to use the paths and to keep off the mounds - that way the land will have the chance to recover.”

At the wildlife charity’s nearby Weetslade Country Park reserve, Peter Ernst and his team of Weetslade volunteers have installed a 200 metre ditch to transfer the water from the hillside into the saltmarsh. It is hoped that parts of the saltmarsh will remain wetter for longer as part of efforts to attract more species into it.

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