A WALL protecting a “fragile mountain habitat” in Ennerdale has been vandalised in several places.

Wild Ennerdale has been re-building a dry stone wall to protect parts of the fells surrounding Ennerdale Water from grazing sheep.

Terance Hart, 56, from Egremont was out walking his dogs when he noticed the damage to the wall in several places.

He said: “There were signs dotted along the wall because there were big gaps where it had been damaged - the wall had been almost completely dismantled in some places leaving big gaps. The signs said the police were aware of what was happening and that CCTV was monitoring the wall.”

Wild Ennerdale confirmed the damage was caused to one of its walls, but did not know why the damage was being caused.

The project is a partnership involving Forestry Commission England, United Utilities, National Trust and Natural England which aims to allow Ennerdale’s landscape to evolve naturally.

A spokeswoman for Wild Ennerdale said: “There has been ongoing work recently to rebuild a boundary on the high fell southern ridge in Ennerdale. This is both a re-build of existing dry stone wall and new fencing.

“The boundary is required to help protect the fragile mountain habitat of the Pillar & Ennerdale Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) from sheep grazing and to reduce sheep movement from the neighbouring Common.

“The work is being carried out by contractors following previous site visits by landowners and farmers. We do not know why the boundary has been subject to vandalism. The police have been informed and we will continue to monitor to try to address the problem."

A spokesman for Cumbria Police said the force is “not aware” of the incidents.

For more about the Wild Ennerdale project visit http://www.wildennerdale.co.uk/