Lincoln Cathedral

This morning produced the best conditions for sighting Lincoln Cathedral from Blacka Moor. Fine clear skies to the east and dark clouds overhead allow the silhouette to stand out.


It's easy to see why it was so important as a landmark for aircraft in the second world war. Originally the building was taller with a spire. I wonder if we would have been able to see that from 42 miles away.


Lovers of power stations can also enjoy the view and bore everyone by naming each one, from north to south.

Click on the picture for a better view.

Is Access Being Restricted?

I suspect that the letter writer in today's Telegraph has somewhat misunderstood the situation. This is not surprising. SWT will say that there has been no restriction on access to Blacka Moor. And to an extent they will be right. Our position is that the changes made by SWT have damaged the site in other ways. It is no longer the same free and easy wild place once farmification management is introduced. The presence of a grazing regime with fences and livestock makes an impact on the character of the place out of proportion with the conjectured gains, even if these were realised.

It would not be untypical of SWT and their allies to use this misunderstanding to attack us for 'misleading' people. They of course are professionals in the field of misrepresentation.

Livestock Diseases and Farmification

The opposition to cattle on Blacka Moor began in 2001, the year of the big Foot and Mouth outbreak. The countryside was closed down, appalling scenes of livestock slaughter and pyres of carcasses sent evil smoke all over the country. In Sheffield like much of the countryside you couldn't use any footpaths for ages. Even the large area of Blacka Moor with no livestock could not be used by walkers - because, according to the Public Rights of Way office sometimes sheep got out from the pasture land!!

Once you bring farming practices to an area of land it changes it for ever. Partly it's the fences (barbed wire!!!), partly the animals themselves but more even than those it's the priorities. These immediately become industrial priorities and people and nature itself are well behind in the consideration. Some innocence is lost.



Now we have the threat of Blue Tongue, now in Holland, spread by midges from warmer climes and much more likely with climate change. The midges prefer cattle but will attack sheep if no cows are present. The movement controls and exclusion zones are more serious than with F&M.

Conservationists like SWT and English Nature quite like exclusions and closing down of footpaths although they are getting more careful about admitting it. Sheffield's Ecology Officer once enthused in my presence about the closing down of Stanage Edge in 2001 because the quietness allowed another pair of ring ouzels to nest undisturbed.

Oh, The Berries of Blacka

Blacka could do with its own Robert Burns to sing the praises of the wild fruit on offer for all who relish the extra taste that cannot be found in cultivated varieties in the supermarket.

We know that some fruit pickers are not coming up onto the site because of cows but the small number on site this year (God knows what it will be like next year) mean you're unlikey to come across them if you keep to the open areas.

Statement

Blacka Blogger has made it clear that, despite his great affection for SWT, he is no lover of these signs. But he draws the line at vandalism. The person who has been practising his sawing technique here gets no support from this blog. Putting up one or two notices of one's own may be one thing but wilful damage is another.

Yes, it would be better if SWT were to take the things down themselves, ....and yes, SWT have disgracefully already removed (and stolen) excellent notice boards installed by Friends of Blacka Moor .....and yes, some of the other things done on the site by SWT could legitimately be described as vandalism..... but damage is damage and it's not right, whoever does it.

What is more such action puts ammunition in the hands of small-minded people with a sanctimonious streak who wish to justify unacceptable and draconian action. But Blacka Blogger is naming no names.

Thistle Down

Thistle Hill lived up to its (new) name this bank holiday, filling the air with floating seeds each supended inside its ingenious flying machine. Not all escaped to colonise far territory. Gorse trapped some just a few yards from take-off.

Yarrow

Is this there a finer wild flower than yarrow? Its form is elegant, a lovely flowerhead, delicate foliage, it is common but not invasive, it has a good name, some useful herbal properties and a host of fascinating folklore associations.