Ashes to Ashes?

We could be looking at a large scale wiping out of our ash trees following on from  the calamity that befell the elm. Blacka Moor does not have large numbers of ash but there are some fine examples down near Shorts Lane. What is so puzzling is why the authorities and their advisers are so slow to act on such threats. Banning the import of ash from abroad could have happened a couple of years ago. But the government's doctrinaire reluctance to put any restriction on any kind of business decision could now mean that it's all too late. Contributing to this reluctance may be the supine nature of the conservation industry charities who sometimes appear as if their eyes are only on the ball of grants and subsidies that keep their jobs in place. An interesting comment from the article in today's newspaper.

The Woodland/Wildlife trusts and Natural England have all suffered the exact same fate as most of the Charity Industry as it should rightly be called now. Those that cared were replaced by those that careered. When positions like these are filled by people who value their job more than they value what their job should involve,little politics and big Politics will castrate even the most powerful organisations. There was a time when even rather stately organisations like these would openly criticise Government policy and mobilise their members for a fight. Sadly not any more. 

Rather apt that line : those that cared were replaced by those that careered. Blacka Moor's regulars will easily recognise what is meant by that.