Secret Place

It's rare that council functionaries display enough sensitivity to satisfy all the public. Sensitivity is not a core part of their remit. Things that are precious to some of us don't figure in job specifications. At the moment there is a big outcry in Sheffield about the destruction of roadside trees to facilitate street and footpath maintenance. Trees are also part of our concerns on Blacka, even on a place reserved for nature.

Nothing on Blacka is perfectly idyllic, but often we come close with the compromise easier to forget.

Sometimes it is road noise that intrudes, sometimes it's evidence of intrusive human activity. But all life is compromise and we can live with some things - up to a point.

But our more secret and near tranquil areas must not be given up without a fight. If that fight never raises itself beyond a bitter and lonely complaint  that should tell us something that we may not wish to hear.

One delightful place is just where multiple threats have already begun.  This little known and very small section of the neighbouring land is a wonderful place to spend time in spring. Despite its proximity to the road, audible in this recording, the overwhelming sense is of naturalness.

https://soundcloud.com/pastandpresent/hidden-valley

While taking this short recording I saw the doe below, tongue out as she was drinking at the stream. She had not seen me. A secret and perfect place.

Just a few metres from here a little known informal path is being converted into a bridleway at the behest of the Public Rights of Way unit of the Council. Tranquillity will decline.

There are other threats: SRWT's species agenda with its dislike for 'non-native' species (except cows and sheep) has already put sycamores, beech and horse chestnut at risk of 'ethnic cleansing' measures.

The trees here are sycamore, horse chestnut ........

and lime.
 

None fits the 'native only' plan so can't be guaranteed a future in the new pure-race community of their brave new world. Non native trees may survive in the short term - some of them- but unlikely in the medium/long term plan dedicated to only oak/birch woodland. Yet who could complain that what we have here now is unsuitable?

Very close by is, for Blacka, a rare elm.