It is fairly typical of much of the vegetation in this area subject to current discussion. If anyone knows of a more featureless and desolate sight then they will understand why few people bother to cross this space. But it does not need to look like this. It has been artificially kept free from trees by sheep grazing and burning of heather the classic management techniques for grouse moors, the better to provide suitable shooting for those wealthy corporate clients who can afford the £800 or so per day to shoot these days. There is now no shooting on these moors so should be no need for them to be managed as heather moors.
The view immediately above is particularly depressing because the moor stops at a straight line of a plantation, Lady Canning's Plantation, another depressing example of man's inept management and determination to change everything into something uglier.We should give the moors back to nature and see if they appeal more to people as wilder land rather than continue to manage them just to privilege a few species of birdlife that like moors over others that like woodland.
2 comments:
MAMBA = miles and miles of b*gger all
It was once broad leaf woodland cut down by our iron age ancestors. Leave it and it might regenerate but that's unlikely there are no sources of seeds nearby. The calluna will probably grow tall and impenertrable then some fool will set fire to it. It will be a savage blaze. The calluna and the peat will burn and we will be left with nothing but the mineral sub soil and bedrock, look at parts of Burbage moor burnt 50 years ago. It's a fact that moorlands are a man made environment wich we must manage to maintain. Moor burning has been a management practise since the 18th century around Sheffield. A well managed moor provides an ideal habitat for many bird species such as curlew now apparently in decline. Just enjoy the wide open spaces and reflect on the people who have lived and worked there.
Moorman
Post a Comment