What They Do and What They Don't

The sight of notices from SWT on Blacka is getting to be tiresome. They are scattered about on gateposts and waymarkers and do nothing for the appearance of the area. Invariably they consist of one sheet of A4 laminated and covered with so much small printing that only the most determined visitor will bother to read them. I've yet to see anybody doing so.

One of them is reproduced above and seeks to give a reason for the cattle being on the moor. It's interesting to see how the story has gradually changed following local scepticism. They are apparently here to:


Keep the spread of birch under control and conserve the open heathland character.

Help reduce bracken regrowth following other methods of control, by trampling the emerging bracken fronds & breaking up dense bracken litter.


The bracken story used to be much more of an assertion that cattle would deal with the problem. Now this has been adjusted implying that other people will have to get rid of it first. The 'breaking up dense bracken litter' is highly questionable as the cows will need to get into the dense bracken litter first which they show great reluctance to do unlike deer who spend much time there.



But one must not be unfair to the cows. They are very good at walking and standing on the paths.

Their hooves are much larger than those of deer and they use them to destroy the surface of them scattering peat everywhere and, especially along the Lee valley, into the stream below.