This wonderful section of Blacka is the only place I know within a city boundary where you can feel you are far away from human influence. Long may it remain like this.
It has that very rare quality, freedom from interference - in recent memory at least - giving it the sense of naturalness that surely must be protected. But we should be wary.
Native trees here have a mix of young and old. There are times when we can hear only the sound of water in the streams, wind in trees and birds singing. You may stand here for most of the day and see no human. To get here some effort and care is needed. Slow progress through bracken and among tree roots and mossy boulders should deter nobody who loves free nature. Deer tracks are your best guide.
New secrets are never far away. This is much closer to 'wild' than anything described as such in glossy publicity produced by the local conservation industry.
But please, we want no protection here apart from protection from the assorted interests of the managers and the access pressure groups. We already have access for all on foot if they choose to come. We know that protection (as with SSSI etc.) spawns and nourishes a bureaucracy and meddling officialdom anxious to show that they are moving forward.
Already the value of this area has diminished through the crass actions of SRWT and their idiotic decision to put their disastrous cows on the moor. A favourite deer track has been used by the bovine marauders looking for water: the ground has become lumpy and some wild flowers are knocked over and broken.
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