Enduring the Elements

Key Takeaways

• The Neath Abbey Quarry has undergone significant changes over the years, from being a plain old hill to a source of building blocks, and eventually, a popular spot for climbers.
• The quarry’s landscape has been reshaped by natural events, such as a winter downpour that caused a cliff to collapse, and human activities, like climbing and path-making.
• The quarry is home to a variety of flora and fauna, including mosses, lichens, and trees, which are slowly recolonizing the area.
• The author reflects on the dynamic nature of the quarry, where change is constant, and the landscape is always evolving.
• The quarry’s history and transformation serve as a reminder of the complex relationship between human activity and the natural environment.

Introduction to Neath Abbey Quarry
The way to Neath Abbey Quarry is a perfect stranger to me this morning. It’s been three years since my last visit, and the maze of the path has shifted; old tree trunks have turned to mulch and the brook carves a different channel. My companion and I shoulder big bouldering pads, poorly proportioned for tight manoeuvres, yet we bump, turn and pivot our way through. Thanks to the late sunrise, we’re gifted a lingering coda of the dawn chorus, coming from a holly thicket heavy with berries. A goldcrest fizzes around ahead of us, seeking bugs startled by our approach. The quarry’s unique landscape, shaped by human activity and natural events, is a testament to the dynamic nature of the environment.

A History of Change
Like every old quarry, this place has been host to much change. Once it was just a plain old hill, then a source of building blocks for monks and their abbey. Much later, it was extracted again for the terraced towns of the south Wales coalfield. Once that need had faded, climbers found the place, hacking paths through the tangle and stringing ropes up its face. The quarry’s history is a complex one, with each phase leaving its mark on the landscape. From the monks who quarried the stone to the climbers who scaled its walls, human activity has played a significant role in shaping the quarry’s environment.

The Quarry’s Transformation
Then, during a winter downpour some 20 years ago, down too poured the cliff. A rust-brown torrent shattered all beneath it to rubble and wood pulp, leaving great boulders far from the new cliff face, the landscape reshaped again. This event marked a significant turning point in the quarry’s history, as the cliff’s collapse altered the landscape and created new opportunities for flora and fauna to colonize the area. The quarry’s transformation is a reminder that the natural environment is constantly evolving, and that human activity can have a profound impact on the landscape.

Climbing and Exploration
The sky is blue, the crag serene. On each boulder, our feet are guided by dinky chips formed from iron nodules or strange fossils. Sharp edges in the rock’s patina grind down our fingertips and tear at our calluses. A rough scuffle to the top-out yields fist bumps and views of the expanse of Baglan Bay. Slightly alarmingly, you can still find rusty old bolts on broken blocks, once fixed to ropes. The quarry’s unique geology, with its iron nodules and fossils, provides a challenging and rewarding environment for climbers. The sense of accomplishment that comes with reaching the top of a difficult climb is a testament to the allure of the quarry as a destination for outdoor enthusiasts.

Recolonization and Renewal
Among the surrounding scree, young mosses, lichens, and leaf litter are filling gaps between rocks, blunting the jagged stones. A few war-torn oaks are pushing upward at curious angles, half-buried and mangled, and their scions are recolonising, their roots holding the fractured foundation together. How tall will they grow before some new upheaval throws their world upside down? The quarry’s flora and fauna are slowly recolonizing the area, taking advantage of the new opportunities created by the cliff’s collapse. This process of recolonization is a testament to the resilience of nature and the ability of the environment to heal and adapt in the face of change.

Conclusion and Reflection
Tired, we head home. When I next return, the quarry will be altered again in ways I can’t begin to predict. The quarry’s dynamic nature, where change is constant, is a reminder of the complex relationship between human activity and the natural environment. The quarry’s history and transformation serve as a testament to the power of nature and the impact of human activity on the landscape. As we reflect on our experience at the quarry, we are reminded of the importance of appreciating and respecting the natural environment, and the need to approach it with a sense of wonder and awe. The quarry’s story, as told through the Country Diary, is a powerful reminder of the beauty and complexity of the natural world, and the importance of preserving it for future generations.