Southern Sandstone Climbs: HRMG

Harrison's Rocks Management Group

HRMG is a specialist sub-committee of the BMC (British Mountaineering Council), reporting to the Land Management Group. They are responsible for the management of Harrison’s Rocks and Stone Farm Rocks as both belong to the BMC.
Current Members are:

1. Adrian Paisey (Chair)

2. Sarah Cullen

3. Tim Skinner
4. Daimon Beail
5. Mark Brewster
6. Michael Phelan

Emma Harrington stood down on the 18.3.2024 after 10+ years.
Chris Stone Stood down on the 13th of November 2023.
Bob Moulton stood down as a core member in April 2022 but remains a paper member and reviewer.
Sarah Cullen Steped down as Chair on the 19.01.2021 of which Adrian Paisey took up the position.
Rik Payne (Ex-chair of London and South East Area) stepped down in Oct 2018.
Mick Canning stepped down in May 2016.
Both, long term members Nigel Head and Geoff Pearson stepped down from the group in January 2015.
Tim Skinner stepped down as Chair in 2015, but remains a member of the group.

The Management group were also sub-contracted to Sport England to manage the car park, campsite and toilets at Harrison’s, but the contract and lease ended in November 2014 leaving the Forestry Commission in charge of the facilities. From then on the HRMG focus was entirely devoted to the rocks and the land around them. Items such as access, rock maintenance, bolt maintenance, erosion control and woodland management but will also include things like signage and liaison with the Forestry Commission.

The group meet 3 times a year in January, May and October for 2-3 hours to discuss the matters mentioned above as well as regularly communicate on current issues at the rocks between these meetings. In addition the group undertake work with support of additional volunteers as well as make regular site inspections and help educate climbers regarding the code of practice when using the rocks.

Amongst many other items such as Isolated Buttress access decision making, there are a lot of other work which goes on. In addition to the Woodland Management program which is organised each year along with the recruiting volunteers using various channels, the day to day behind the scenes work also deals with general queries and general land management work. The list below is just a few highlighted works the Harrison's Rocks Management Group have been involved in over the past few years.