A New Nature Blog by Miles King
https://anewnatureblog.wordpress.com/2016/01/04/nature-conservation-barking-up-the-wrong-tree/
Tuesday, 5 January 2016
On Its Way
It's to be hoped that there are people ready and able to deal with what happens when all this reaches lower levels. More often than not this is a gentle flow, even a trickle; and this is only one stream in the higher land surrounding the city.
The bog cannot contain it all and trees, essential as they are, won't solve every problem even though they will contribute a great deal.
Planting new trees will not have an immediate effect either, though the folly of destroying mature trees should be clear to all.
All this is on the move, most of it coming down from the bare land on Houndkirk Moor whence it has crossed Hathersage Road creating an aquaplaning risk for vehicles.
Monday, 4 January 2016
Soaking and Draining
Cowsick Bog was partially drained to improve its effectiveness as a grouse rearing site in the interests of the then landowner who was concerned only with what it offered for shooting game.The grips were dug to drain away the water. Blocking the grips in recent times was the right thing to do, though it was done with no care for appearance nor the convenience of the public. At the same time a perverse attempt was made to kill off trees near the bog by poisoning. This was only partly successful and also an ugly and insensitive operation leaving dead and half-dead trees standing. Now several of the surviving trees have been felled for no intelligent reason that can be detected beyond giving chain saw operators something to do.
Trees of course help the ground to retain some of the water that runs off towards Blacka Dyke.A lot of the water draining into Cowsick has come from over the road where there is a grassy sheep pasture on Houndkirk Moor. Recently SRWT arranged to have an area here made bare which had originally been covered with a mix of heather, bracken and scrub. This is now waterlogged, not helped by the even more recent tree felling; oak, beech and birch and one hundred year old larch have gone. The spoils of this operation are scattered around some times tidily others not.
Water has always run through here on its way to the dyke; this will not make the run-off any slower. It seems that in their minds a bog must be some kind of pure human construct which does not allow trees near it however much nature insists on placing them there.
A sudden drop takes it over a rocky ledge on its way to join the River Sheaf which in turn joins the Don.
Trees of course help the ground to retain some of the water that runs off towards Blacka Dyke.A lot of the water draining into Cowsick has come from over the road where there is a grassy sheep pasture on Houndkirk Moor. Recently SRWT arranged to have an area here made bare which had originally been covered with a mix of heather, bracken and scrub. This is now waterlogged, not helped by the even more recent tree felling; oak, beech and birch and one hundred year old larch have gone. The spoils of this operation are scattered around some times tidily others not.
Water has always run through here on its way to the dyke; this will not make the run-off any slower. It seems that in their minds a bog must be some kind of pure human construct which does not allow trees near it however much nature insists on placing them there.
A sudden drop takes it over a rocky ledge on its way to join the River Sheaf which in turn joins the Don.
Mixed Messages
Some recent words from the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts
Our thoughts go out to all affected by recent floods. Nature-based solutions in catchments & floodplains must be part of plans for future.
SRWT is one of these trusts. Here is another picture of one of SRWT's bare catchments.
Will things now change? Ah, "the future". No point in optimism. They calculated and manipulated to prevent any discussion of the issue and then tied themselves into 10 year agreements aimed to keep it all bare and compacted!! Most 'trust'worthy. Once again, it's all about money.
But messages are also coming from SRWT itself, another case of bandwagon jumping. Now we have a call for a tree strategy for Sheffield. I can hear the hollow laughter
http://theblackamoorsite.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/cut-down-in-their-prime.html
I like "the personal value to people" and "full consideration". Priceless.
I've heard the assertion before with scepticism - that Sheffield is one of the "most wooded cities in Britain"; now Europe is quoted. I've not seen any evidence that there has been any reliable evaluation to back up the statement. What is beyond dispute is that in percentage terms Britain is one of the least wooded countries in Europe and Sheffield has a high proportion of high land that should be wooded and is kept artificially treeless - and SRWT has some responsibility for that.
SRWT is one of these trusts. Here is another picture of one of SRWT's bare catchments.
Will things now change? Ah, "the future". No point in optimism. They calculated and manipulated to prevent any discussion of the issue and then tied themselves into 10 year agreements aimed to keep it all bare and compacted!! Most 'trust'worthy. Once again, it's all about money.
****
http://theblackamoorsite.blogspot.co.uk/2010/02/cut-down-in-their-prime.html
I like "the personal value to people" and "full consideration". Priceless.
I've heard the assertion before with scepticism - that Sheffield is one of the "most wooded cities in Britain"; now Europe is quoted. I've not seen any evidence that there has been any reliable evaluation to back up the statement. What is beyond dispute is that in percentage terms Britain is one of the least wooded countries in Europe and Sheffield has a high proportion of high land that should be wooded and is kept artificially treeless - and SRWT has some responsibility for that.
Sunday, 3 January 2016
What Does It Take?
.... and how long?
Friends of Blacka Moor, and a few others, have been calling for more trees in our hills for a long time. Now the debate has at last reached the media in the wake of the disastrous floods. Articles such as this one are merely stating the obvious. You really do mess with natural processes and natural succession at your peril. Or rather, at someone else's peril. Because the scandal in all this is that much of this land has been kept treeless for the benefit of highly privileged people who live somewhere else and don't have to suffer the effects.
The self interest of these people and the brainwashing of generations of local people who have been led to believe that open treeless uplands are desirable would be entertaining in a work of fiction. In reality it's just depressing.
But what's truly baffling if not perverse is the conservation industry on Blacka. They are cutting down trees. Native trees! And doing all in their power to prevent trees from growing.
Friends of Blacka Moor, and a few others, have been calling for more trees in our hills for a long time. Now the debate has at last reached the media in the wake of the disastrous floods. Articles such as this one are merely stating the obvious. You really do mess with natural processes and natural succession at your peril. Or rather, at someone else's peril. Because the scandal in all this is that much of this land has been kept treeless for the benefit of highly privileged people who live somewhere else and don't have to suffer the effects.
The self interest of these people and the brainwashing of generations of local people who have been led to believe that open treeless uplands are desirable would be entertaining in a work of fiction. In reality it's just depressing.
But what's truly baffling if not perverse is the conservation industry on Blacka. They are cutting down trees. Native trees! And doing all in their power to prevent trees from growing.
**
Friday, 1 January 2016
Culinary Update
Referring back to this easy-reading post of 19th September, three months on Blacka's contribution to the festive table was an outstanding success. Particularly alongside the main course of Chestnut and Blue Stilton Pie.
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