SWT's Defamation

This is the text of the disgraceful email sent out by SWT. You can only feel sorry for people who cannot tell truth from fiction.

Dear Councillors,

I'd like to bring your attention to a recent decision to exclude some individuals from Blacka Moor reserve advisory group meetings. I am informing you of this decision as the individuals may be in touch with you.

As you may know, there has been a certain amount of controversy surrounding the introduction of cattle to Blacka Moor. We have been running consultative meetings for the last 5 years. In the most recent 3 or so years, the meetings have been dominated by a vociferous few (calling themselves 'Friends of Blacka Moor') who have in general opposed the introduction of cattle to the moor (some preferring it all to revert to woodland). Their concerns have been taken on board and resolutions reached or further
research undertaken where reasonable or practical.

We are now management planning (for a 5 year management plan) in consultation with local users. In anticipation of further disruption, we asked Dave Aspinall (Area Co-ordinator for the South, who you'll know) to chair the meetings so as to ensure that the meetings are productive. However, despite his best efforts, the most recent meeting was dominated by the individuals in question being rude, aggressive and insulting to other participants (including SWT staff, the Chair and local people taking part in the meetings). This is unacceptable behaviour and therefore Sheffield Wildlife Trust has decided to exclude these 5 individuals (**********5 names removed to avoid repeating a libel*****) from the meetings for a period of 6 months. However, they are not excluded from the consultation process and can contribute verbally, via email or by letter as they'll continue to receive all letters, updates and consultation papers.

Their recent behaviour has run entirely contrary to what is considered to be acceptable, and it is becoming a serious handicap to the group fulfilling its intended purpose (the engagement of interested people in the management, maintenance and enhancement of Blacka Moor). A large number of other group participants have expressed distress and dissatisfaction at their disruptive and unhelpful behaviour and a number of individuals are known to have been driven away from this community participation mechanism by the constantly hostile, confrontational and unproductive atmosphere that they have succeeded in generating. We can no longer tolerate this kind of behaviour, as it is to the detriment of the process and causes considerable distress for the staff, volunteers and local people taking part in meetings.

The local police sergeant has been informed of the situation, and the potential for the individuals to disrupt meetings. They will be present if they can be, and will act in the interests of public order and preventing a breach of the peace.

If you would like further information on the matter then please do not hesitate to contact me.

Kind regards,


Reserves Manager

The story being told here is so far from what happened at the June meeting that one has to conclude that the writer lives in a parallel universe. Representatives of horse riders arrived at that meeting who were unknown to us. They caused something of a stir by insisting that the cattle be taken off the moor because children had felt threatened by them hanging around the gateways. They were pretty forthright, saying among other things that they had signed the petition against grazing 2 years ago so were amazed that it was going ahead. They would not accept SWT's explanations which as usual were on the feeble side. Then they said that SWT were not listening. This was the cue for some explanation from some of the Friends present who pointed out that SWT very rarely listened. We then explained some of the background to the newcomers, certainly my contribution was with the full approval of the chair.

The sinister thing here is the way that SWT staff manage to solicit from some of their members and supporters complaints about 'behaviour' which have no substance at all. This is manipulation of a kind that Joe Stalin would have recognised. They have of course been wanting to find an excuse for getting rid of us for some time. Next we will be banned from Blacka itself no doubt!