Footpath degradation of the Malvern Hills - Malvern Hills Conservators

Stephen Britnell
Footpath degradation of the Malvern Hills
Table 2 Location of studied footpaths.
Path No. Location Grid ref: Start point Grid ref: Finish point
1 Worcestershire Beacon 769443 769448
2 Perseverance Hill 769433 769427
3 Pinnacle Hill 769427 768424
4 Swinyard Hill 762382 762390
5 End Hill 769470 768464
6 North Hill 773464 772465
7 St Ann’s knoll 771458 767450
8 British camp reservoir 764400 761398
9 Clutters cave 762395 762390
10 Hangman’s Hill 762391 762395
11 Lady Howard de Walden drive 768465 767460
3. Materials and Methods
3.1 Classification of path quality
Each footpath was firstly walked along and general observations noted, such as, the
type of recreational use, erosional features, and types of vegetation cover. The paths were
numbered for reference, location including the OS grid reference starts and finish point were
noted, and the path length measured using a trundle wheel. The path was then subdivided
into 100metre sections. Measurements of the width of worn vegetation, width of scarring and
depth of scarring are then made using a 30metre tape measure at 20metre intervals along the
section. The presence of braiding, gulleying or pigeon holing was also recorded.
For each 100metre section the average result for each variable was calculated and
then graded 1, 2 or 3. 1 represents a high level of erosion, 2 medium and 3 a low level.
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