On the nature trail

摘要

Creswell crags in North Derbyshire, the most northerly place on earth to be visited by humans in the last ice age, is designated an Ancient Monument for its archaeological remains and is a Site of Special Scientific Interest for its unusual geology.Which all makes it rather special. The sheer drama of the scenery also sets it apart as an unusual spot where it's easy to imagine the ice-age people that hunted the bison, woolly rhinoceroses and mammoths, and left their bones in the caves that line the limestone gorge of the crags. But just a couple of years ago, Creswell was home to a sewage plant and a silted-up lake with a B road running right through the bottom of the gorge. Today there is no sign of the sewage plant and the soaring limestone cliffs of the gorge are reflected in the clear waters of the lake. The road is still there, but even that will be gone by spring 2004. The restoration of Creswell Crags is a testament to the hope, determination and partnership that can be achieved between agencies. "We had a clear vision of what we wanted to achieve from the start," says Creswell Heritage Trust manager Nigel Mills. "All interested parties need to share that vision, along with sharing the commitment and investment in terms of time, energy and funds."