Prescription for Depredation

Below is the grazing agreement for the so-called "Heathland Mosaic" on Blacka, i.e. all the bits that are obviously not grassy sheep enclosure and that they've decided can't be called woodland.

Higher Level Stewardship

Upland Options Stocking Calendar

Agreement Form

1.       Maximum and minimum grazing livestock numbers

Sheep		Sheep	Cattle			Cattle
Ewes		Followers	Small breed cattle Over 24mths (includes suckler cows with followers) (please indicate type)			OR small breed cattle - young stock (6- 24 mths) (please indicate type

Max.	Min.	Max.	Min.	Max.		Min.			Max.		Min.
Jan					0			0		0			0
Feb					0			0		0			0
Mar					6			0		7			0
Apr					6			0		7			0
May				30			10		30			11
Jun				30			10		30			11
Jul				30			10		30			11
Aug				30			10		30			11
Sep				30			10		30			11
Oct				30			10		30			11
Nov					0			0		0			0
Dec					0			0		0			0

So up to 30 cows will be ravaging the land between May and October with a smaller number in March and April - though no signs of them yet. This is an increase on the previous numbers as I predicted.

A note at the bottom draws attention to the deer. It exemplifies the fact that Natural England is all over the place in its ideas. Clueless is rather kind.

"These figures rely on levels of deer grazing remaining relatively static. Deer numbers may fluctuate. If numbers increase significantly this will need to be factored into the grazing calculation. Cattle numbers may need to be reduced to prevent excessive grazing/trampling of moorland habitats. It is recommended that deer numbers are monitored and a base-line aquired as soon as this is possible - within the first year of the agreement."

First the deer and the cattle don't go on the same parts to any significant extent -I've even heard the NE officer say as much. Secondly the cattle certainly will trample and graze excessively where they go: it's just what they do. I'll be showing the evidence for this in coming posts, evidence that SWT did not want to be made part of the decision making which is why there was no consultation on the management plan before they signed the HLS agreement...... Dontcha just luv em