Spring Madness

Preparations go on by Sheffield Wildlife Trust for more grazing. Sheep have now returned. The wall repair has been completed to keep their smelly cattle on the moor. There are now more gates in one small area than anyone's seen before outside a supplier's yard.

There are in fact six gates and no sign yet that the original ones are about to be removed.

Why on earth we have to have the pollution of cattle is beyond the understanding of intelligent humanity. Except that it pays them to designate the place as farmland. Corruption is too kind a word for it.

Meanwhile grazing is taking place all over the moor unmanaged. Why do we need more of it? There is simply no need for cattle here when places are complaining that lack of grazing will make the place revert to woodland. Those who are so minded are complaining that there are too many deer in Scotland preventing tree regeneration. Here this morning deer are everywhere yet the managers bring on cattle to stop the place becoming woodland. Only the mentally challenged could possibly have any faith in these people.

It's one of those mornings when deer are everywhere:
First, two hinds were sparring and dancing in the place where cattle usually favour later on.

When the cattle arrive the deer will go, put off by the signs of industrial-scale urination and defecation. On the top of Blacka Hill were a further group of hinds and young deer.

I'm fairly sure this is the calf I've been photographing since August, and it's confirmed now that he's a young stag from the burr on his head.

On the eastern side of the hill is a separate group of hinds. Notice the flatter area between the ears showing this is a hind.

Closer to the woods a group of mature stags ran off quickly more timid this morning than the females. Another one still antlered appeared a little way off keeping careful watch.

On the slopes on the opposite side of the gorge pale shapes in the heather drew the attention.

Probably two of the larger stags, new velvets showing, enjoying the sun.

On the edge of the woods beside the road there were two roe deer probably does.

With all this grazing who needs farm livestock apart from those who rely on agricultural grants? But don't expect any meaningful consultation on this if we get any at all. When management does stupid things and knows it's doing stupid things it doesn't like to be reminded of it by people who do not have the authority to speak the same brand of nonsense.