Today's Confrontation

SWT’s plan to put grazing cows on this public open space attracted a lot of adverse comment. For many people the point was as simple as this: everywhere they walked especially on higher land was populated with sheep or cattle. Blacka was ungrazed and was different and preferable for that reason. People wanted to feel there was somewhere – just one place- free from farm animals, farm practices, fences and the usual clutter that accompanies grazing. Those who walk dogs had particular fears and those who just don’t like cattle were also nervous.

In their stubborn refusal to alter their plans SWT made numerous statements to explain why it was ‘necessary’ to do this and several reassurances about the safety of the grazing plan. A number of these have been shown to be plain wrong - misleading through either calculation or ignorance.

For example we were told that cattle would control bracken by eating the young bracken shoots. We contacted an academic who is Chair of the International Bracken Group who told us in some alarm that this would not be a good idea because bracken is poisonous and would cause tumours in cows. Some people who complained about the hazard of barbed wire for humans pets and wild animals were told it was sited where it could be clearly seen while those who objected to its visual pollution were told that it would soon be hidden by plant growth.

In fact SWT have excelled themselves in finding an answer to every point raised, worrying not that some of the answers contradicted others or simply whether they were true. They probably would not have bothered to this extent had the public not annoyingly discovered that Blacka was officially designated a public open space and public pleasure ground. It was never in the plans of SWT or the City Council that this discovery should become public knowledge. They had thought they could get away with the fait accompli declaration of a nature reserve.

In a letter to RAG members dated 12th February is a section headed 6 “Concerns about cattle on the moor”. In it is the following sentence about feeding the cattle
So, no supplementary feeding of cattle so they don’t approach people looking for food.

This morning’s walk: Well what’s this orange feed container for? And what are all these truculent beasts doing standing around it and looking at me? Could they be waiting for something?

And when we walked past them what were these other beasts doing suddenly coming towards us down the path at a trot, the lead one bellowing? And would many other people have stood their ground?

After staring each other out for a few seconds the lead animal shied away suddenly – I know several people who would have had kittens at this point - and went round behind me to be replaced by a deputy.

The people who expressed reservations about the use of cattle on Blacka would not have been at all happy. I, however, will probably not be believed.

The point of this story lies in the following questions:

1. Does anyone seriously believe what SWT says about anything?
2. Does this mean that the numbers of those who have been regular users of Blacka will go down thus making the place more attractive for SWT’s beloved grouse?
3. What price recreation when farmification has become the priority?