The upper reaches of Strawberry Lee Lane push up towards Moss Road on the south eastern edge of Blacka. This should be a delightful area and some us remember that it once was. The track here was informal a bit like the country lanes of the past before the era of the motor car got going. (aside..can you believe that we are now going to be paid to buy more of the blessed things! as if there aren't enough already!)
The track eroded and became muddy under pressure from trail riders amongst others. Sheffield's solution to this is now being revealed. Tarmac and crushed brick. 
It should not really surprise those of us who are convinced we live in a philistine age. But it does. Once again we are seeing the pattern. Do nothing when things gradually get worse year after year. Then pile in with urban industrialised solutions.
What should we do, those of us who don't know whether to be heartbroken or infuriated? There is one thing. That's to make a complete and utter nuisance of oneself to the desk dwellers who make these decisions. The unforseen consequences of this have already been seen by some of us. Walking up the track yesterday we were nearly mown down by two swearing mountain bikers moving at speed and enjoying the clear staright run. Then we had to skip neatly to one side when two more trail riders arrived. None of these were over 17 I estimate.
The clue to what should have been happening is in the picture below.
This is the house on the site of the old house occupied by the gamekeeper responsible for Blacka a century ago and then by the parks department's warden. On Blacka those responsible are now in offices five miles away.
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