A Tale of Two Years

Last year, 2010

















Second, this year, 2011















Clicking on the images will give a better view. I'm aware that the small number of images could be seen as selected to display a certain point of view, (not something that local conservation officers would ever dream of doing of course). I'm doing the best I can to correct that temptation by uploading a more varied collection of photos, with each image larger, which can be accessed via the links below .

2010, when the moor was not grazed with farm cattle.

2011, during a period of cattle grazing.

In The Extra Hour

Going Soon

We've resented it all those years it's been here. Will we miss it when it's gone? It would be perverse but not unusual. Some time in the coming months the gangs will arrive to take it all away. Apparently some form of collaboration wth Natural England will accompany the removal. I somehow doubt that there will be much sensitivity about the operation.
One older regular on Blacka said he thought it all a waste of money. But when pressed he said he never walked along the path above the gorge or near Lenny Hill. Nor had he seen the teams of tree fellers who come periodically to maintain the power line route. That didn't prevent him expressing his opinion.

Alone

It's the young stags that one feels sympathy for at this time of year. In scattered herds older males gather a group of hinds around them and the young calves seem to be able to stay with the group. And in spring and summer the groups of stags are of various ages so they're not short of companionship. Autumn is a time when the unattached stags can be seen wandering solitary around the hills and woods thinking about what they are missing.

Icarus Sunk

Any doubts as to the future management intentions of Sheffield Wildlife Trust will have been dispelled by observing this week’s RAG meeting. They wish to have no proper discussion between FoBM and other non SWT users of Blacka about the fundamental strategy. They wish to continue doing just what they have been up to so far. If anyone had hopes that we would see a turning back from farm management with farm livestock and an emphasis on a more natural landscape they will be sorely disappointed. The scepticism of FoBM will be confirmed but not with any sense of satisfaction.

2006’s Icarus outcome had appeared to be that SWT would manage with cattle grazing for 5 years with the clear assumption that the alternative would happen afterwards. Now SWT has abandoned its original assurance that a consultation would happen on what comes next. They now claim that Sheffield Moors Partnership are to produce a Master Plan and that it would be no use SWT consulting until that’s agreed. This means that alongside their own private negotiations with NE over Higher Level agri environment grants, input from local people will be emasculated. At the RAG this week the advisory role of the Reserve Advisory Group was interpreted as “We SWT will advise you what we are going to do on a strictly timed agenda. There may be time for the odd question” Discussion was strictly ruled out even to the extent of going down the post-it note route to avoid unwelcome debate and scrutiny. There you have a new definition of an Advisory Group. While most people would have no doubts that an advisory group would have a role in advising an organisation, SWT intend words and phrases to mean what they want. The advisory group here is a group of people brought together so that managers can have an opportunity to advise some of the public as to what they intend to do.

So many surprises.

Repose

The best mornings are still when clear autumn skies come with patches of mist. Deer have been active out on the moor overnight while the cattle were at rest. Seven hinds and calves were with the stag. Before sunrise three of them had decided to lie down in the thick shrubbery, later to be disturbed as the cows roused themselves and made their way across the moor. Other stags were around and also a hind and calf on their own well away from the main group enjoying the warmth of the new day.

Contrasts

Weather conditions, time of day, give different colour perspectives to life on the moor. Mornings can be dazzling and colourful but just as likely be drab and washed out. Midday has fewer extremes and more chance of an even light.