Synthetic and Natural

Treeless Burbage with the merest flush of purple on the heather-a managed moorland.

The supposed reason for the huge area of upland around Blacka being managed in the way it is, refers to its status as a SSSI and a European Special Protection Area and a Special Area of Conservation. All this is enough to daunt the mere mortal who wants to enjoy the remoteness, the fresh air and what wildlife comes along. And that's what happens: We get ‘daunted’, just what they want. Not for us to ask questions and get out of our depth in all this regulation and top down judgement. After all, we assume, the ‘powers that be’ must know their stuff. Who are we to query or even challenge? The ‘experts’ must know best.

The more the entrenched bureaucracies pile on these designations the more disempowered become the local people who live nearby and use the areas. But the gist of it all is the apparent need to protect a ‘habitat’ that is scarce, the man-made heathland found on the high moors of northern parts characterised by treeless bleakness and managed for grouse shooting by burning and sheep grazing. This is the home of a few species of birds, several of whom adapted to it after previously living in the woodland before men changed the landscape. So it’s a largely synthetic landscape, not wild or natural at all. We have to be made to understand that managing it provides people with employment usually subsidised by public money of one kind or another. Those who inhabit the large and impenetrable bureaucracies are also beneficiaries of this system.

Vibrant purple heather on Blacka where the land has been left largely 'unmanaged' for 70 years.

The important thing to remember is that we must on no account allow this land to become ‘natural’. It must be controlled or there will be dreadful consequences. God, if that were to happen the next thing would be people eating real food and home grown vegetables instead of the man made and processed meals specially prepared for them. Or they’ll be getting rid of their TVs and making their own entertainment! Or leaving their cars at home and learning how to walk!