UKH

A crag rescue is underway guided by a Friends of Irby Quarry facebook group, assisted by the BMC. A start has been made on putting in new belay stations above the popular areas and discussions are underway with the owners, Wirral Council, to facilitate gorse clearance. There is now a full low girdle traverse (some tricky f6a bits) though some brambles remain to be cleared. Two bouldering walls have been developed - Concave Wall Route 27 (f4 to f5) and the wall on the extreme R looking in just before the diagonal ramp with 5 boreholes (f3-f5). If you want to get involved in the rescue join the FB group!

Removal if large tracts if gorse would be bad news for birds and rare invetebrates who use the plant for food and cover. Its an untegral oart if any Heathland system.

What is an untegral oart?

It's a really bad time to start any actual work on the ground. By all means start talking to the right people so you are ready to go later in the year, but PLEASE don't start cutting things down until September. Aside from anything else, it might leave you open to a nesting birds prosecution

It's an important piece, which, if left disconnected, cause the wheels to fall off

What is different at Irby is knowing where to park. We usually cycle from Neston but would be useful to know if there are any other good spots or of the pub are happy for people to use their carpark? 

I’ve only been looking in from afar but they have been working with all the relevant bodies and not planning any removals over spring/summer as far as I know.

The best place to park is along Mill Hill Road in the large layby by the Irby cricket club. Cross the road to the footpath sign and walk diagonally through the woods to Sandy Lane, then past two sandstone cottages to the quarry. On the question of the gorse, this is a problem for many crags in the area. Ecologists prefer heather on heathland as this encourages reptiles. Huge areas of Runcorn Heath, for instance, have been recently cleared of gorse and birch trees by the Council to encourage heather. In any case, this issue is in the capable hands of the local BMC rep who is in discussions with Wirral Council and the rangers.

Agree. Irby can be a very pleasant place to climb climb but its charms are esoteric. It would be a real pity if it was transformed into a souless almost clinical venue like Pexhill.

Used to park at Irby Mill pub and have a beer afterwards but could always park on the road towards Greasby.