Weather Event

The sun does actually shine. There was real evidence for it. The wildlife here could have been just as surprised but they may have more faith. And they were prepared, knowing that clear and sunny is usually accompanied by cold and breezy just as mild goes mostly with cloudy and wet. So the carefully chosen spot was a wooded place backing to windward which fortunately involved facing the sun.

One of them was the large stag and very welcome.

The following morning before sunrise he was still here with a small group of hinds. Admiration is deserved for any beast carrying that weight on his head. This year one might suggest a sabbatical and a baseball cap? Not, though, what Sherlock Holmes wears.

"Shadowland"

From Trees for Life

Trees for Life ‏@treesforlifeuk  4h4 hours ago

"We live in a shadowland, a dim, flattened relic of what once was, of what there could be again"

55 retweets60 likes

Jaws

You leave the paths in the dark and mingle with the trees at your peril.

It's tempting when everywhere is soggy underfoot to wander off into the woods. It may be drier but nowhere is free from danger. They're out to get you.

............ and you thought the worst that could happen was being tripped over by bramble and breaking an ankle.

It's The Cows Wot Dun It

This is beyond entertainment. Another press release homes in on its intended audience.

There was a time before the routine self-serving press release, when charitable folk and do-gooders of various ilks just did what they felt was right without expecting any recognition. Then the managers/consultants/advisors came along telling us that it was no good being virtuous unless you let the world know about it. Get the message out was the message. The market is everything.  Before long the message became an end in itself, a weapon even in the war of self justification. The good deed, the wise move, the 'right decision' became only valuable if you could encapsulate it in a suitable press release especially if it distracted from less wholesome deeds that would not play well with the public - such as shooting wild animals which got no publicity at all. Did I miss the press release telling of the numbers of deer, and foxes shot?

I'm in no position to say this is all fiction though there's been enough of that over the years to recommend scepticism. My own subjective impression that I've seen fewer whinchats in recent years is not reliable, I admit. But I very much doubt this 'evidence' is independently verified.

The supporting 'twitterers' are mostly birders or fellow managers of one sort or another anxious to celebrate management, with the odd (very odd) malcontent intruding.

1. Kirsty Brannan ‏@Vanellus26  Jan 7

   Upland birds like their cows at @EasternMoors... http://www.birdwatch.co.uk/channel/newsitem.asp?c=11&cate=__16185 … Story by @BirdwatchExtra

   0 retweets0 likes
2. Neil Fitzmaurice ‏@Neil_T_F  Jan 9

   @Vanellus26 @EasternMoors @BirdwatchExtra Or they just hate sheep.

   10:36 AM - 9 Jan 2016 · Details

1. Ecotourism Today ‏@EcotourismToday  Jan 8

   Eastern moors offer haven for threatened birds http://www.rspb.org.uk/news/412144-eastern-moors-offers-haven-for-threatened-species-?utm_source=rss …
2. 
   
3. Neil Fitzmaurice ‏@Neil_T_F  Jan 9

   @EcotourismToday But do they for predators and deer?

Survivors

Those hoping to see deer on Blacka are not as fortunate as a few years ago. If we do see any it is more than likely to be this small group of three hinds and an immature stag. Before the managers, cullers and recreational killers got themselves organised  we might have hoped to come across a greater variety including larger stags.

***********

Postscript

This article in the press today tells us that the National Wildlife Crime Unit could fold up unless money is found to keep it going.

Some comments posted:

Cruelty to animals is a common precursor and reliable indicator of later violence towards defenceless humans. The authorities turn a blind eye at society's peril.... 

Lose respect for animals and respect for mankind diminishes

Yes it's just a roundabout way of bringing back hunting. If there's no police to investigate, there's no crime..

This is part of a much bigger problem. Whilst in theory it is illegal to kill and persecute birds of prey, to hunt Foxes, Deer and Hares with dogs, it not merely happens on a regular basis, but the police widely ignore it. In actual fact most police forces operate an unspoken policy of if possible never investigating wildlife crime perpetrated by wealthy landowners, or farmers.

The whole of the last comment quoted is interesting - see link:

http://discussion.theguardian.com/comment-permalink/66366615

Open Letter

To Sheffield Council Party Leaders and Deputy Leaders

The increased flood risk makes it imperative that we should take a new look at the way our uplands are managed on the fringe of Sheffield. While much focus in the Sheffield media has recently been on city trees there has been a remarkable silence on the vital role that trees should play on the moors. At the time of writing Sheffield has been lucky to escape the worst of the floods mainly because rainfall has so far not equalled that experienced further north, nor the levels of 2007 in Sheffield. But flood warnings have been issued and conditions can change very quickly. If things take a turn for the worse only emergency and desperate measures can deal with any incidents.

Surely it would be irresponsible to ignore those calls for important long term measures that are gathering strength nationally. A consensus is developing on the action that needs to be taken. The greatest rainfall comes in the higher land around the city and here that is managed by the conservation charities constituting the Sheffield Moors Partnership who are committed to maintaining extensive and artificially open landscapes that remain essentially characteristic of grouse shooting estates; grassy areas are also managed to discourage woodland through grazing with sheep and cattle. Trees are generally very few and, astonishingly, in places mature native trees are being felled adjacent to watercourses. These trees can help to moderate rainfall run-off and do much to mitigate the effects of flooding.

Environmental and wildlife commentators are increasingly claiming that a more wooded character to our local uplands can have many benefits that go well beyond flood mitigation, bringing a more natural aspect to landscape and a greater range of wildlife. This issue is at least as important as the proper management of flood plains.

Sheffield Moors Partnership gains financially from farm subsidies and grants from DEFRA and elsewhere encouraging open treeless landscapes and 'good agricultural condition'. They will not voluntarily turn away from this money so will only change if there is political pressure.

Sheffield's Waterways Strategy makes mention of “change management of mooorlands” and “management of the upland catchment …. to improve stormwater retention” but with no practical measures suggested.

Will you help by calling for an open debate and re-evaluation of current policies as laid out in Sheffield Moors Partnership's flawed Master Plan?

Neil Fitzmaurice

Friends of Blacka Moor

some links:

https://www.opendemocracy.net/uk/guy-shrubsole/here-s-what-david-cameron-s-flood-resilience-review-must-do

http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/letters-opinion/flash-flooding-1-7658319

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3382245/The-root-flood-crisis-mad-dash-EU-cash-writes-GEORGE-MONBIOT.html

Latest article.

Not Me Guv

"You can't blame me for what my predecessor did", is a sentiment that's encouraged in many organisations particularly those with multiple layers of management where those outside can't easily determine responsibility. Pass the Parcel and Musical Chairs are not just for kiddies' parties. They're useful tools for management.

Over the course of the 15 years of disastrous management of Blacka, we've seen numerous people coming and going. Decisions have been taken and post holders have walked away from them. New people have come in saying we can't hold them responsible for what occurred before they arrived. Just on Blacka we've seen several 'reserve managers' come and go and a Chief Executive. Part of the strategy designed to confuse is to change their job title and presumably job description periodically too. Controlled destabilisation is part of the game. Sheffield's Parks Department itself has gone through a number of changes of name and management, some of which has undoubtedly arisen from cutbacks and the need to amalgamate roles after job losses. Now a post is being advertised for a new Head of Environment and Countryside, salary about £65k, answerable to the Director, currently Paul Billington (not known how much longer). Chris Heeley, the departing Head, and Paul Billington were responsible for the Report to Cabinet I criticised in this post.

Anyone who thinks he/she may be a suitable candidate should read the following advertisement:

https://jobs.theguardian.com/job/6227443/head-of-parks-and-countryside/#success

Amid the supporting information for this ('probably the best parks job in the UK' - nice one P.B.) can be found this - presumably 'customers' is referring to the public. I can't find any reference to a commitment to transparency anywhere.

Customer Focus

• Undertake reviews of the service specification with key customers to ensure that service continues to meet business requirements
• Contribute to the continuous improvement of the service using available data and service intelligence, contributing also to whole service improvement as strategic lead for the Parks and Countryside Service and also in the wider context of the Culture and Environment Senior Management Team
• Review customer satisfaction and the strategic lead on service improvement
• Ensure that the function is flexible to customer demand and that when new requirements are identified the service can respond quickly to meet the needs

Elsewhere we are told that :

" We are looking for someone with great leadership skills, energy and drive, outstanding people skills, positivity and an ability to deliver major change in public services."

.......but also that   "Experience in parks management is not essential."