Born to Deceive

Sheffield Wildlife Trust has deceived us. There can be no argument about that. They have said things that were not true and they have made commitments to the public that they have not honoured. They can't and won't deny that because the facts are what they are.  One likes to give people the benefit of any doubt, both individuals and groups and organizations composed of individuals. But what is one to make of the Trustees of Sheffield Wildlife Trust?

One of many reasons to have places in our countryside set aside that are predominantly outside human intervention is that humanity cannot avoid being flawed. Wilder, more natural places can feel more honest.  Mankind seems born to deceive. Cliches are often true (and that itself is another cliche). Men and women deceive others and also themselves.  Two books published in recent years that underline this are 'Born Liars' by Ian Leslie and 'Willful Blindness' by Margaret Heffernan. But with a modest amount of curiosity and observation and an open mind anyone can come to this conclusion without needing a guide book or access to behavioural research. You just have to set out to find out how and why decisions get made in areas of public interest and concern, and ask 'why'? - again and again.  The hard part is to avoid deceiving oneself and being willfully blind in turn. The best way of doing that is putting ones views into the public domain and allowing comments which is what I do here in common with others who blog. Those who disagree are able to comment and that hardly ever happens even though I know many readers are those I criticise. Does that say anything?

The Trustees of Sheffield Wildlife Trust were considering my complaints early this year. They claimed that they were taking them seriously and that there would be public consultations on a Blacka Management Plan this spring after previous promises that there would be consultations from 2011 on that never happened. Now there has been nothing. My assertions that staff had not been honest with us were immediately rejected, following which the manager who had dealt with the public for some ten years left SWT. Points made by various users with an interest in seeing sensitive management have not been addressed. Cattle have again been put on the moor this summer and have again trashed the main site of the special Bog Asphodel flowers. Nothing has been done to prevent this. That failure is itself a positive act of destruction and insensitivity. Shameful and unforgiveable.

Who are these trustees? Their potted biographies on SWT's website suggest they are fine upstanding and well qualified citizens. I suppose one has to ask whether anyone accepts CVs and self written biographies unquestioningly these days. It is everybody's own  choice whether to buy a second hand car from anyone.

________________________________________________________