The Trees Have It

This blog speaks for the trees. They need defenders when under attack from the institutionalised bashers, fellers and poisoners in the wildlife conservation world here represented by Unnatural England and their servants in the wildlife trust industry. The relish with which these warped characters invite the public to join them in an assault on our largest and most noble native plants appalls me more than the hearty "tally ho" of those who hunt foxes and deer. At least those rural sportsmen are motivated by an interest in food production. But Unnatural England in their anti-tree position simply wants to maintain an open, but utterly artificial landscape. For me, large areas of treeless heather are an abomination which should never have been imposed on our landscape. It's with a sense of incredulity that I see people patting themselves on the back every time they introduce a chain saw to a bit of natural regeneration - in the form of a birch or scots pine that refuses to understand it's not allowed to grow just where it wants - it must first submit its wishes to the management planning process.

So its no surprise that I prefer views where trees have a significant part to play. Snow glamourises most views, but it's the trees that are enhanced on Blacka Moor whereas the grouse moor elements are always disappointing. It's the heather that looks 'scrubby' to me, to use a term often used in a derogatory way when wildlife trusts try to justify a war on young trees.

Getting up onto Blacka has not been easy this last few days. First you have to get out of your own street. Then, assuming the way ahead is clear on the main routes you need to find somewhere to leave your vehicle. That's a problem when snow ploughs push the surplus snow into the lay-byes. But when we did get there we were rewarded this morning with a view of Chesterfield's crooked spire in the bright sunlight

Our small birds who daily visit the bird feeding station have been neglected -not a good time to leave them to their own devices. The food left hanging from branches was completely gone by this morning and the robin appeared immediately we arrived. We will have to get one of the 4X4 people to help out with the feeding at such times as this.