geo snowdonia case study

• foot path erosion

  • wherever vegetation is damaged by people standing on it, the process of erosion begins
  • during trampling the soil compacts. water will tend to run overland rather than soak into the soil, so washes away soil particles
  • continued soil loss and trampling causes some vegetation to die away. there are now fewer roots to hold soil particles together, so that even more soil is washed away or blown away by wind
• foot path erosion 2

  • with further trampling all vegetation on the path died. a gulley forms which acts as a channel for water running off the mountain. this causes more soil to be washed away. underlying rocks become exposed
  • with high precipitation on snowdon of 4343mm a year, there’s enough running water to move the soil. especially on a steep slope
  • the gulley becomes deeper as water eroded yet more soil. as it becomes less pleasant to walk in the gulley, people trample the grass at the sides and further widen the path
• methods of prevention are used when paths are beginning to show signs of wear, they are carefully managed to prevent further erosion and help regeneration
• methods of prevention

  • path definition
  • drainage
  • pigeon holing
• methods of prevention

  • path definition;
  • any obstructing materials are removed from the path and placed at the sides to make the edges unattractive to walk on and direct people along the right track
• methods of prevention

  • drainage;
  • drains built into paths and once they are there. volunteers lead on “drain runs” where shovels and brushes are taken up the fells to clear the drains and ensure they remain effective
• methods of prevention

  • pigeon holing;
  • a line of circular bare patches can occur on grassy slopes when large numbers of walkers follow the same path. if ignored these pigeon holes become larger and join together to form a gully. the holes can easily be repaired using seed and turf and cloche netting (a willow frame covered with chicken wire) is used to protect the area while it regenerates
• methods of restoration:

  • soil inversion
  • stone pitching
  • sheep’s wool
• methods of restoration

  • soil inversion;
  • top few feet of soil turned over, material underneath then provides a firmer surface
  • material removed from sides of path creating a raised path with a ditch either side for drainage
  • uses machinery to turn soil
• methods of restoration

  • stone pitching;
  • surfacing paths with stone
  • needs minimal maintenance
  • looks natural
  • ideal for remote routes and popular paths
• methods of restoration

  sheep’s wool

  • used in peaty or boggy areas
  • sheep fleeces folded and rolled to create “floating path”
  • then layered with stones
  • fleece protects peat and soil but allowed water to drain more easily
• not in my back yard

  conflicts between locals and visitors
• snowdon is a honey pot site because it has

  • breathtaking views
  • highest mountain in wales
  • cafes
  • easy to get to with clear pathways and tram
  • natural history, extinct volcano
• carrying capacity of snow don

  • approx 400,000 walk up snowdon
  • approx 100,000 take the train
• carrying capacity is the max number of tourists an area is able to support
• footpath restoration relies on donations and volunteers labour

  • some areas are hard to assess especially with big bags of stones to go on a path
  • a helicopter or truck can be used to deliver them