Scarcely a sound but birdsong in the disused ironworks
Our invitation to the world of disused quarries, ironworks and lime-kilns in the wooded gorges carved out of Mendip rock near Mells came from a direct descendant of Professor John Morris, one of the first archaeologists to visit the place. Back in 1868, he had particularly admired the rockface that was now our destination.
But first we had to pick our narrow way beside the stream, bending back overhanging branches, clambering up and down steep inclines, passing the overgrown ruins of iron workings and stepping over fragments of tram tracks. There was scarcely a sound but birdsong and the rush of water in this place that once rang with the clang and clamour of industrial toil. The thick woodland of ash, oak, lime and hazel is a rich wildlife habitat; crayfish live in the waters, and derelict tunnels and flues make homes for greater horseshoe bats. As we went, knowledgeable members of the group pointed out some of the flora and fauna (including the rare alternate-leaved golden saxifrage) that contribute to its status as an site of special scientific interest.
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