Codes of Good Practice > Gill scrambling - Some simple guidelines

The following description is taken from Geoff Cooper (1998) Outdoors with Young People- A leader’s guide to outdoor activities, the environment and sustainability, Russell House Publishing.

The Lake District gills are a very special environment. They are the steep rocky valleys that descend from the mountains associated mainly with lines of weakness in the Borrowdale Volcanic series of rocks. In total they occupy just 10 hectares of land, a tiny portion of the uplands. Unlike other areas they have not suffered the effects of sheep grazing and represent a remnant of the former upland vegetation. The ecologist, Bob Bunce, who has studied the gills for many years, points out that they have a very rich flora but their uniqueness is the variety of plants from different habitats found in close proximity. As you ascend the gills you find a succession of woodland, meadow and arctic-alpine species. Nowhere else in Britain does such a mixture occur.

The nature of the gills, with their sheer sides, waterfalls and rock-strewn beds makes them dramatic environments to travel through. Gill scrambling is an exciting activity and one that has become popular over the last 20 years, especially with the publication of guidebooks and use by outdoor centre groups. Concern over this growing use led to the establishment of a Gill group who put forward a set of guidelines for outdoor leaders.

There are 5 simple rules:

1		Keep to the rocky bed of the gill.
2		Groups should keep in line.
3		Leave plants for others to enjoy.
4		Avoid crumbling rock.
5		Follow only established routes.

These rules have raised awareness amongst outdoor leaders and many have been keen to convey the uniqueness of these environments to their groups. The adventure experience is enriched by this understanding. A study by Fay Beasley (1997) concludes that "the efforts of groups of interested parties over the past 15 years to raise awareness of users to the ecological and conservational importance of Lakeland gills has generally been successful". This case study demonstrates how conservationists and outdoor enthusiasts can work together through mutual understanding and good communication.

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