Over to the west of Blacka Moor between the main track and the Stony Ridge road is a section of Totley Moor. Like Blacka this area has been left to its own devices for many a year and is all the better for it. The only path going through is a desire line leading to a small car parking area on the roadside as an alternative to that near the woods. Now with the advent of managers from RSPB anxious to write management plans for here there and everywhere this place may come in for attention after enjoying itself for so long. What will the managers decide? Sheep? Cattle? This is what we've come to expect these days from management wishing to destroy any corner of paradise that has previously evaded its notice. And with that would be more fencing of course. We should never take anything for granted in these times of land-grab conservation. Just because a pleasant informal piece of land has thrived unhindered for many years does not mean that it will be allowed to continue in blissful perpetuity.
Forget not that umpteen score of conservationists graduate each year from university courses in vocational land management and they and their industry are keen eyed for any opportunity to annexe available space to try out their new chain-saw operating and barbed wire erecting skills.
And here on this happy plot are trees! Trees! The effrontery of it. And bracken! Bring on the power tools and the sprayers. Worry not that no vehicle has driven over here in living memory, the tractor and JCB will soon change all that. Then drive off and not return for 3 months.
The bracken bed incidentally has often been, as today, a favoured resting area for stags. One can just be discerned in the picture.
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