Swamp

The path above was about one foot wide four years ago. It was a useful and enjoyable link created by walkers joining other formal and informal routes. The widening dates from the first year of the introduction of cattle. Cattle are not solely responsible for the widening and the desolate mud in the across much of its width. But they do sniff out every man made path and their presence has been significant. When they puddle the centre they then skirt the worst of the wet parts and go further onto the edges, crushing the heather stalks. People also do this. It can be seen clearly on the ground that the five foot width is now being spread further and dead heather stalks where people have walked are another two feet wider into the heather. The thought comes to mind that this could be what SWT want. After all they have shown that bogs are their major focus already on Cowsick. Action taken by SWT on Cowsick has led to the bog there being extended (and more problematic for visitors) yet they have notintroduced any discussion of this at the RAG meetings.

SWT have recently circulated a visitor survey in which people were asked to tick certain boxes against statements if they agreed. One said "There is too much birch" another "There is too much bracken". None said "There is too much bog" nor "There is too much barbed wire" nor "There are too many cattle", nor "There is too much farm management". I wonder why.