Bickerton Hill remains a firm favourite at the southern end of the Cheshire Sandstone Ridge.

The National Trust is one of our partner organisations and our thanks to Sam Jones who enthusiastically guided us through the current conservation work being undertaken on the site; particularly the restoration of the lowland heath habitat.

A short history of the site reveals that a number of regenerating areas were once farmed grassland; requiring the acidity of the soil to be increased as a first stage.

We were informed of the balance of plant types, such as the heathland species of heather and bilberry; maintaining small stands of trees of various maturity and species make-up; and methods of controlling the invasive birch and bracken, whilst recognising that isolated thickets or birch are important shelters for wildlife.

Bickerton Hill, an SSSI reserve (site of special scientific interest), appears to be benefiting from this nature restoration programme with a number of key indicator species present such as woodcock, green hairstreak and lizards. Current work is also being undertaken to re-introduce adders.

Finally, we took a look at how successful heathland restoration can look and resplendent it was in the early autumn colours.

Funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund