Working together on the ground, volunteers transported over 8 tonnes of aggregate - more than 300 individual 25kg bags - by hand up steep terrain to reinforce worn and eroded climbing landings beneath popular gritstone routes.

The demanding, practical work forms part of ongoing efforts to protect heavily used areas from erosion, improve safety, and maintain sustainable access for the thousands of climbers and walkers who visit Stanage each year.

Stanage Plantation is a much‑loved location within the Peak District, but its popularity brings increasing pressure on the landscape. Restoration work like this plays a vital role in preserving the environment while enabling continued enjoyment of the outdoors.

This project highlights the importance of collaborative action, bringing together conservation expertise, community coordination, and hands-on volunteer support to deliver meaningful impact on the ground.

"This project is a great example of what can be achieved when organisations come together with a shared goal,” says Roisin Joyce, Director of the Peak District National Park Foundation. “By combining expertise and effort, we can protect these special places and ensure they remain accessible and resilient for the future.”

Paul Ratcliffe, CEO at BMC adds: “We’re proud to support this project, which shows what can be achieved when organisations and volunteers work together. Many of our members will have enjoyed days out at Stanage, and as the membership organisation for every climber, hill walker and mountaineer, it’s part of our role to help safeguard these environments so more people can continue to enjoy these routes and landscapes, now and into the future.”

Tim Fish, Product Director at Rab, concludes: “Places like Stanage are fundamental to both our community and our craft. As a brand built in the mountains, we have a responsibility to help protect the environments that shape our products and inspire our customers. Personally, I’ve been climbing at Stanage for over 30 years. As regular users, we’ve all got a role to play in looking after it, so it’s brilliant to be able to get involved with valued partners to support the places we love.”

Through partnerships like this, the British Mountaineering Council, Peak District National Park Foundation, and Rab continue to champion responsible outdoor participation and long-term landscape stewardship, working collectively to care for places that are central to the UK’s outdoor community. The organisations plan to continue working together to improve more landings and spaces for climbers in the future. Want to learn more?

Watch a short film about the project here.