AN ambitious project to survey some of the region’s most ‘at risk’ industrial heritage sites will bring together archaeology, geology and botany for the first time.

OREsome North Pennines will focus on eight old mining sites in the Durham Dales and Cumbria, with experts and volunteers joining forces to record evidence of their industrial past in a bid to preserve them for future generations.

The team will also study the plants that flourish in the heavily metal contaminated soils, along with the rocks that gave rise to the mining industry.

The aim is to develop a greater understanding of the sites, all of which have been designated as Scheduled Monuments by Historic England.

On Saturday (October 8), The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership launched its OREsome North Pennines project at St John’s Chapel Town Hall in Weardale.

Project officer Sarah Tooze explained the three main objectives of the two-year project, which has benefited from a £79,200 Heritage Lottery Fund grant.

The main focus will be a survey of the archaeology, ecology and geology of eight ‘at risk’ mining sites in the North Pennines, namely Whitesike and Bentyfield, Nenthead, Cashwell Hush and Upper Slatesike, Middle Greenlaws Level, Middlehope Shield and Low Slit, Brandon Walls, Pike Law and Coldberry.

Ms Tooze said: “We hope the results of this project will help to clarify the need and condition of these sites. The information gathered will help establish a co-ordinated effort towards their management into the future – not only taking into account the industrial archaeology but what is growing there, living there and the geology from which it all derives.”

The other objectives are to excavate two sites with evidence of early mining activities, and to increase engagement through guided walks, talks and new heritage trails.

Brian Young, honorary research fellow in the Department of Earth Sciences at Durham University, emphasised how rare it is for a project to bring together the three disciplines of geology, botany and archaeology.

“That is what makes this project so exciting and so important,” he said. “To conserve a site for one interest is not necessarily conserving it for all interests.”

Peter Jackson, chair of the Nenthead Mines Conservation Society, gave an overview of the work that has already been done to investigate the industrial heritage of the area and stressed the potential for more discoveries.

Ecologist Dr Janet Simkin, meanwhile, explained the importance of Calaminarian grassland and showed slides of the rare plants and lichens that can be found there.

To find out more, visit northpennines.org.uk or call Ms Tooze on 01388-528801.