Natural Beauty

Mark's new article refers to the concept of natural beauty and what has happened to it since the phrase was fundamental to the setting up of the National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Since then there has been a failure at the highest levels to deal with the issues of exploitation of the land through farming and other activities and consequent slippage in conservation industry vocabulary. Anyone wishing to ponder seriously on this and related issues would get food for thought around the gate to the the moor where the cows spend some of their time.

Meanwhile on another part of the moor which I will not specify exactly, an early morning outing for some youngsters brings a taste of natural beauty for the observer.


Apologies for the poor quality of the picture. But that could be seen as an attribute of the wild character. It is very difficult to see deer calves on Blacka unless you get out early and often and have some means of magnification. There looked to be two hinds each with a calf. Zooming the picture just allows a glimpse of the flecks of white which are lost after 10 weeks or so.

A cuckoo was still trying this morning. Two weeks ago was the last heard. Perhaps on his way down from northern parts.