Fixing Cotton Dell

Cotton Dell is an 86-hectare nature reserve in the valley of the River Churnet, North Staffordshire. The nature reserve is a mix of ravine ancient woodland with a ravine stream and species-rich grassland. The main point of access is by crossing two historic stone bridges. The bridges date back to the late 1700’s when the Churnet Valley was one of the hotbeds of the Industrial Revolution. Constructed entirely of dry stone with no concrete or fixings they remain as the last evidence of Cotton Dells industrial past. This project is to carry out structural repairs to the two bridges and for tools to enable volunteers to clear vegetation around the bridges to protect against further deterioration.