Legal Agreements and Compliance

About six weeks ago A4 laminated notices appeared at access points on Blacka telling us that cows were coming onto the moor in May. The notice referred to 'Conservation Grazing' a controversial practice by which you conserve something by getting hungry farm animals to trash it. On the notice was a picture of a small cuddly looking Highland Cow. A few weeks after that a number of large cows appeared in the sheep enclosure,- not the moor.They are not Highlands and look to me rather like Hereford and Friesian crosses or some similar breed, as usual attractively decorated with their own defecation.

May ends on Saturday and the cows are still not on the moor. Regular walkers are happy with that. And the notice at Stony Ridge has changed: the picture of the Highland Cow has been cut out. Is somebody worried about Trade Descriptions legislation?

Other notices have been posted too. A fortnight ago an unofficial notice was put up warning people that cattle can cause injuries. It was soon taken down presumably by SWT.

And there have been appearances of the 'no bullshit' notices seen in previous years.

SWT get agricultural grants for putting cows on the moor because they've chosen to define it as farm land. But they have to stick to the terms of the agreement.

The agreement** gives the maximum and minimum numbers of cows to qualify for the money. In May they must have at least 10 cows on the moor. I don't want cows on the moor. But should they get the money if they don't comply?

** documents obtained from a Freedom of Information request.