Return of the Economy

Just as Spring reaches heights of musical and visual beauty dreamed of in the darkness of winter the Conservation Economy returns in the shape of farm subsidies. The idea that there could be places apart from the economy is not one that finds favour in the national park - a place dedicated to markets and vested interest, as good an example of the curse of natural capital as you might find as its very fabric, the earth itself is transported daily on huge vehicles alongside Blacka on the A625 towards the M1.

There must be a statistical breakdown somewhere of the economy of the Peak District. Should we find it I don't doubt that quarrying will be one of the top earners and another will be CAP farm subsidies. No wonder the Chief Executive is so against re-wilding. To him maybe its should be renamed a business park or an industrial park. Then he could market his air fresheners with no pretence at all*. And to think some countries have real national parks.

So today's newcomers are the cows making a preview appearance in the sheep enclosure before being released onto the moor to eat and defecate machine-like in their roles as bovine engines of the conservation economy.

I’ve been sent a photograph of a notice placed at Agden Bog to the west of Sheffield a nature reserve of Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. 

They have decided to put cattle on the land. The notice tells people to stay out while the cattle are there. It also helpfully says 'Welcome...'

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*"I want to explain one of the most unexpected developments in national parks to help understand the most exciting developments on climate change.  Just a few weeks ago, the family of national parks launched a new range of air fresheners with Global commercial consumer giant Airwick."

Jim Dixon March 2014