An interesting article on the current plight of the upland farmer and farms on the Guardian website...
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/07/conservation-endangered-habitats
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An interesting article on the current plight of the upland farmer and farms on the Guardian website...
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/07/conservation-endangered-habitats
If we stop farming the uplands wouldn't they eventually revert to scrub? Would this be a bad thing?
There was a piece on the local TV earlier in the year where a farmer was complaining about the plight of farmers, and the difficulties in maintaining the countryside in its current state. The final point he made was to say that if farmers stopped grazing then the land would just end up covered in (wait for it) trees! He sounded quite exasperated at the thought.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pudgy
Scrub isn't a bad habitat for lots of birds and wildlife, but the UK uplands are a fairly unique ecosystem, especially heather moor and peat bog. As such it would be better maintained as it is, with sensitive grazing, and not allowed to revert to scrub and ultimately forest. Overgrazing was more common in the past because of the old EU headage payments (more sheep = more subsidy), and can cause permanent damage too; it would be ironic if the problem in the future was to be undergrazing.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pudgy
It's strange to realise none of the English uplands are "natural", they're all the result of people clearing the trees and then farming or managing for grouse. But that doesn't stop them being unique and worth conserving.