The day job....

CALL TO PROTECT FUTURE OF HISTORIC LANDMARK

From Lichfield Mercury (Cannock Edition) website.

This will interest my Cannock Wood bloggettes!
By MARK ALLEN

10:30 - 22 June 2006
Residents, the police, Cannock Chase Council and the Forestry Commission have joined forces to stop people on motorised vehicles churning up a historic landmark.

Adults on motorised skateboards are eroding the top of Castle Ring, Cannock Wood's Iron Age hill fort, one of the country's last remaining landmarks of its type. A resident, who did not want to be named, said the people had no respect for history.

"This fortress has been there for thousands of years, " he said.

"These people are destroying a bit of history for a few minutes fun - which they could quite easily have elsewhere.

"It is also unfair to all the people who bide by the rules and respect the area."

Information boards around Castle Ring ask for the public to phone the police immediately if they see anyone damaging the ring.

Residents took the vehicle number and descriptions of the men to the police and also informed Cannock Chase Council and the Forestry Commission.

The offence of riding on the ring is a police matter, which the council could prosecute under environmental health legislation, because of noise pollution.

Authorities are warning that any repeats of the incident could result in prosecution.

The problem was discussed by Cannock Wood Parish Council last week after being raised by a member of the public at the meeting.

Settlements on Castle Ring date back about 500BC It is estimated to have taken about ten years to complete.

In June 1915 surveyors from Ordnance Survey constructed a wooden platform within Castle Ring to record the physical features of the ancient hill fort.

They were able to see ships sailing on The Mersey reinforcing the fact ancient Britons knew well the site provided the most advantageous look-out in the whole Midlands.

They could easily see hundred of miles to detect possible invaders.

The 12 counties of Staffordshire, Lancashire, Cheshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Clwyd, Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire were all visible.

Castle Ring is still the best preserved of the seven ancient Staffordshire hill forts commanding the highest position on Cannock Chase, standing 800 feet above sea