Fiery December

Winter warmth has brought a fresh red crop of mountain cranberries just when we might have thought the fruit picking season was well behind us. A reminder of that earlier pledge, not yet fulfilled, to make some preserve. The sun on the bracken once more delivering spectacular effects.

Customers

These are  just a few of the regulars at the Wall Caff.

Greater numbers than usual in attendance these days. The great tit above was very bald in the summer but has now recovered thanks in part to the good nourishment supplied here daily. He rewards us with being first in the queue and has been known to come on the hand.

Some would say -doubtless in a rich country accent- that this is a sign of hard weather to come. We shall see.

Using and Exploiting

Animals with simple needs get to know very early on how to satisfy them. The first need is survival. They get to use what’s in the landscape to help them. This is a long way from the complex systems of modern industry. Here is how to use what's in the landscape, seen this morning just around sunrise. The hind is using the trees to shelter from the cold north-west wind and is positioned on a south-east facing slope to catch the first warmth from the rising sun.

She has used the dry bracken to create a nest around her keeping much of her body heat from scattering into the cold air around.

Further off one of the young animals keeps some body warmth around him using his own coat, fluffed out. 

Now the cold nights are more common lots more growth of thick body hair bulks out the coats of these animals and they will increasingly lose that striking redness which characterises them in summer and autumn. Long necks are particularly vulnerable to the cold and extra layers appear there.

Wild animals use the landscape and what's in it; that's not the same as exploiting it. Farmers never tire of telling us that farming is a business and an industry. That's why we shouldn't have it in every corner of the countryside. The clashing narratives are too many to be counted that rise up when land managers, farmers, shooting apologists get to speak (far too often). Perhaps we should add to the list those academics who push for more management - presumably because they can run courses for young aspiring land managers. For example what is a 'cultural landscape' when you decide to promote it? What culture do you choose out of many and which elements do you leave in and which kick out?

All historical periods, their communities and cultures have used what's in the landscape. It's just that when man goes beyond living alongside nature and uses every way possible to drain it of its previous essential character then we're into industrial exploitation. When SWT decides that for them the character of the land on Blacka must reflect what it was, say, 150 years ago (if that's what they want – they’ve never made it clear) then that kind of cultural landscape must be their target. But it's highly questionable to re-impose it using the means available in the 21st century - heavy machinery and chemical sprays, top down management and (a particular favourite) laminated A4 notices stapled to posts. Far better to allow what wildlife there is to go its own way and influence what we have in a benign non- industrial way. 

So come on, let's hear from those who defend the refusal to allow a natural unexploited landscape to exist anywhere in this country.

Useless

Badger cull called off in Gloucestershire

Many of the celebrations around the calling off of the badger cull in Gloucestershire come from those who would cheer any minor success for wildlife against the human oppressors.

But the big lesson here is that we should never be surprised when confronted by the surpassing incompetence of the landowning and land-managing classes. It is truly a case of 'you couldn't make it up' except that we did, or at least predicted it. So many farmers' leaders and spokesmen just don't understand the need to show humility in the face of the natural world - to them they are 'the people who understand the countryside'. The evidence does not confirm that. They have learned to define themselves as a class born to exploit nature rather than live alongside it. The aristos and their new money allies in the shooting fraternity see themselves as having a god given right to shoot all that moves. Defra and Natural England have shown themselves to be institutionally useless, places where the wise heads have to stay quiet while the bungling top layers of bureaucracy flounder around trying to satisfy vested interests. Will they learn? Will my premium bond come up?

Volunteers

They trample the bracken and help create pathways through it. They eat the young birch saplings and are first to take advantage of the new rowan leaves in spring. Yet still the managers plan to bring on farm animals supposedly to do the same or similar things - although we know it's really to trouser lucrative farm subsidies.

They don't get anything, as far as I know, for the 'work' done by deer which is doubtless why the managers plan to manage (i.e.cull) the deer - perfectly crackers if you're also bringing on cows unless it's just to keep the cash rolling in.. So many things that are done by man are done copycat fashion, 'because it's what's done.' Rightness or reasonableness has got nothing to do with it.

Here the deer have volunteered to manage the bramble unpaid. While the oldest looks on, supervising, the youngsters are taking advantage of the remaining green leaves.

But his own appetite gets the better of him.

I've referred before to this stag as having 16 points and had previously counted 8 on one side and simply doubled the number. Now I'm wondering if we should say 15 points as I can only see 7 on his left side. Even examining photographs is not easy; there are some that just branch at the very end.

More pictures taken recently.

A Place to Pause

Another grand woodland area is this spot. You can never just walk through here. You have to stop and enjoy the woods with sculptural forms on all sides; fallen trees, young saplings, fungi of many kinds, autumn carpets of leaves.

 It is like a stage set but like none that could be designed by man. It's a special delight in the snow and around sunrise.

 Pictures here are taken of each angle from one point.

At dawn the deer sometimes move out from here but like to stay within reach of the trees. Young and old together.

Wood Wonders

Much of Blacka is woodland yet the obsession of the managers is with the blighted heathland elements that offer so much more opportunity for meddling. That's not to say they would not be looking to exploit these parts if and when they can. Perish the thought they will get public money to destroy everywhere as they are bent on destroying some parts.

This little visited area has excellent birch and oak along with holly and other trees making it fascinating for wildlife not to say humans who appreciate its value.

Down below is a stream that is similarly undisturbed.....

.... one of the quietest spots for miles. A clear track has formed from the feet of deer: no other prints were seen until my size 11s came along.

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