[b1narys010]

Firstly hi, I've been lurking a while but this is my first post.

Living in the midlands I'm struggling for local outdoor bouldering. The best I have is an abandoned via duct, so technically buildering?

Anyway I know of an area that has a couple of small sandstone boulders and a little wall. Thing is It's pretty over grown and will need some work to clean it up. It's on MOD land with unrestricted public access (except when the shooting range is being used).

Have any of you guys cleaned up a potential crag? All it really needs is brambles cutting back, and the boulder perhaps a good scrub to get the moss off.

What do you think?


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[tomtom]

Go for it. Plenty of folk here have done similar. Just make sure you use a soft nylon brush (not wire) on the rock..

[JackAus]

Just make sure you use a soft nylon brush (not wire) on the rock..

This. 100% this.

[Will Hunt]

A couple of things to consider are thus:

Who is the landowner? - In this case it sound like you should crack on.
Is it right next to a path? Would the cleaning detract from the locality? I only say this because I walked past a few very minor boulders in a wood today. Beautiful stream running next to them, draped in moss, carpets of wild garlic - you know the drill. It wouldn't have been worthwhile cleaning them.
Are you in a SSSI or an otherwise designated site - you don't want to fall foul of the law.

If you've had a think about it and all is good then crack on!

[r-man]

Brambles. Don't be shy of cutting them, they'll grow back pretty fast next year. Just make sure you've got thick trousers and gloves for the job - getting tangled up in them is easy to do, and quite annoying!

Good luck with the developing.

[steveri]

If you decide to go for it, proper thick builder's gloves, decent secateurs, maybe a pruning saw for anything bigger. Play nice. It'll probably take longer than you think

[b1narys010]

Cheers for the replies. It is on a path, but is a popular spot for local kids to drink and set fire to things so it's no beauty spot.

I had a little go at clearing some ivy off it this afternoon to see what the Rock was like underneath. Most of it looks solid and relatively easy so should be fine for where I am at right now (v2/3)

A day of graft and I should have reasonable bit of local bouldering.



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[b1narys010]

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[SA Chris]

Hmm, could go either way. Some rock will clean up nicely, some will just rveal loads of sharp snappy edges and just get minging again every time it rains. Workth a shot just cleaning a patch and seeing what it does. Make sure there aren't any unusual plants about that you are going to destroy if it's a rare bit of rock.

[Offwidth]

Brambles. Don't be shy of cutting them, they'll grow back pretty fast next year.

At Woodhouse Scar I got bored with endless pruning under the crag, so started pulling them out (after rain softened the ground), roots and all... its been much better since.

[tomtom]

Roundup.

[WilliCrater]

Why a duck?