Iron Age's new golden age (From Gazette Series)

Iron Age's new golden age

WORK has been completed to restore the area around the Uley Bury Iron Age hill fort.

The DEFRA-backed project covers 38 acres on land above the village of Uley. The hill fort, which dates back around 2500 years, is encircled by a bridle path that gives wonderful views over the Severn Vale.

It is both a Scheduled Ancient Monument and, because of its species-rich grassland, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Before the conservation work was carried out, trees had been self-seeding and the top of the site was farmed for arable crops.

This had meant that the area of undergrass was shrinking and with it the valuable rare habitat of chalk/limestone grassland, home to species such as Common Rock-rose, Pyramidal Orchid and Marbled White butterflies.

Tree roots were damaging the monument's structure and the trees themselves were obscuring the landscape views in this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Geoff Newman, adviser for the Rural Development Service in the South West, said: "Uley Bury is a classic example of how DEFRA can support preservation and conservation of both the natural and historic landscape.

It is thanks to the support of our other partners and the hard work of the Cotswold Warden volunteers that this conservation work has been carried out."

The work includes reversion of the arable area on the hill fort to grass and the introduction of grazing by local cattle, together with fencing to ensure this is possible.

Rob Iles, speaking on behalf of English Heritage South West, said: "English Heritage provided advice on where to place the fencing and we are really pleased to see how the scheme has progressed so that the long term future of the monument has been secured.

"It means the public can enjoy some of the best views in Gloucestershire from the bridle paths around this fantastic hill fort."

Jenny Phelps, grassland officer with the Cotswolds Conservation Board, was the lead co-ordinator for the plan.

She said: "This is a high access site and many local people use the good network of bridle paths surrounding it.

"We had to make sure that the scheme would be successful and that the cattle, that are now grazing the site to keep scrub under control, would be managed in sympathy with it."