Limestone Pavement Partnership
The Limestone Pavement Partnership aims to preserve limestone pavements by providing evidence to support their management and conservation. We work with practitioners across the sector to share knowledge.
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What are limestone pavements?
Limestone pavements cover approximately 28 km2 in Great Britain. The majority of limestone pavements are found in the north of England on Carboniferous and Cambrian limestones. There are smaller areas of pavement located on the Carboniferous limestones of north and south Wales and Carboniferous and Cambrian limestones of central and north-west Scotland. Limestone pavements formed over 350 million years ago by the movement of ice sheet. Since then water, has slowly created the pattern of deep fissures (grikes or grykes) and stone slabs (clints) that we see today.
Grikes
Grikes provide a sheltered habitat for plants to grow, they are sheltered, dark and can provide some protection from grazing animals. This leads to a unique mix of plants with species that are typical of woodlands found growing alongside species that are more typical of grassland and heathland. Ferns are common in limestone pavement and they also support a number of plant species which are scarce in Great Britain.
Threats to limestone pavements
However, there are a number of threats to limestone pavements. Historically stone removal has been a considerable threat to limestone pavements. Stone removal from pavements has occurred over many hundreds of years the stones can be seen in many of the walls and buildings in the vicinity of limestone pavements. However, particular damage came from the stone removal for decorative features such as rockeries and wall tops causing irreversible damage to pavements. Most limestone pavements are now protected as sites of special scientific interest and national nature reserves.
Land Management
Land management can also be a threat to limestone pavements with under-grazing and over-grazing both potential threats to the plants and animals that live in them. However, there is little research in the UK about the best approach to limestone pavement management. That is where the limestone pavement partnership has a role, we are working to ensure that people who are responsible for managing limestone pavements have the opportunity to share best practices and ensure that when research is conducted, it reaches the right people.