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Wednesday 28th January was a fierce day with strong cold winds and squally showers; this did not deter the South West Heritage Trust’s Hands on Heritage volunteers and they headed down to Natural England’s Shapwick Heath National Nature reserve to construct a replica section of the Meare Heath trackway.
The original trackway dates from the Bronze Age and linked the Polden Hills and the island of Meare. The line of its route just to the east of the path leading to Noah’s hide on Shapwick Heath. It was first seen by Arthur Bullied in 1890. It was investigated and recorded in the 1940s and 1970s and these records were used to “design” the replica.
The volunteers prepared the timbers during their regular Wednesday sessions. This is the second section of replica trackway they have built, the first being a section of the Sweet Track which was completed late last year.
Both sections of trackway can be seen at Shapwick Heath National Nature Reserve. Just walk along the Sweet Track Trail and you will be following the line of the Sweet Track. This will take you along the replica section of the Meare Heath track. Crossing a meadow you will the come to the replica section of the Sweet Track disappearing into the reeds as it would have dome all those years ago – sorry you cannot walk on the Sweet Track as you may disappear also!
