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Worlebury Camp is an Iron Age hillfort that occupies 10 hectares of land on Worlebury Hill in Weston-super-Mare. Designated as a scheduled monument since 1915, it is a nationally important archaeological site due to its rare coastal location, size and considerable defences.
Visitors to the popular walking and horseriding spot are being warned to expect restricted access and diversions to footpaths and bridleways next to the hillfort between Monday 22 and Friday 26 September*.
Due to the nature of the work and the machinery involved, no-one will be allowed to pass in either direction between 8am and 5pm every day that work is being carried out. People are being asked to strictly adhere to signage, barrier tape and fencing in place for health and safety reasons.
Worlebury Camp Hillfort is currently listed on Historic England’s Heritage at Risk register. North Somerset Council’s Heritage and Design team is able to carry out this work, and additional activities, thanks to a £32,000 grant from the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), facilitated by the Rural Payments Agency. This follows the council’s work, in partnership with Historic England, to enrol the hillfort into the Countryside Stewardship Scheme.
Councillor John Crockford-Hawley, North Somerset Council’s Heritage Champion and local ward member, said: “An element of the work taking place will be to remove logs and brash on the hillfort. Some of this is there partly due to previous management of the woodland, including essential Ash Dieback works. We hope to see more grassland on the hillfort and an increase in biodiversity as a result, with the ultimate goal being the removal of the hillfort from the Heritage at Risk register.
“The material will be stacked neatly elsewhere in the woods, outside the boundary of the scheduled monument, to create habitat piles. Some of the smaller material will be chipped and removed from site. Grass and bramble on the summit of the hillfort will be cut back, allowing a specialist geophysical survey of the monument to take place. The results of this survey will help to inform an updated management plan.
“Throughout next week, access to the hillfort will be prevented to ensure safety due to the machinery being used. However, the work will take place on weekdays meaning unrestricted access will remain at weekends. There will be signs in place so people know where they can and can’t go, and I urge people visiting the woods to read and follow the signage.
“We don’t take Public Rights of Way closures lightly as we realise the inconvenience and disruption that it inevitably causes. I’m pleased that teams from across the council are working together – the council’s principal archaeologist, tree officers and the Public Rights of Way team – to limit disruption to the local environment, local residents and everyone who enjoys using the woods for recreation. Every effort is being made to carry out the works on time."
More information about Worlebury Camp Hillfort, including the management plan, can be found on the council's website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/hillfort.
*The temporary closures include footpath AX31/71/20. An interactive Public Rights of Way map is available on the council's website at www.n-somerset.gov.uk/prow.