Upland Tracks

An interesting seminar took place in the North Pennines on 22 Apr 09 to discuss Upland Tracks. The seminar was organised by the North Pennines AONB Partnership, in collaboration with Natural England and the Moorland Association, and the presentations given at the seminar have just been made available here.

Although aimed at an English audience, the presentations included one from SNH to provide a Scottish perspective, and most of the issues are relevant throughout the UK uplands.

There is no doubt that there are some uncertainties surrounding upland tracks and their status and the need to obtain consent for repair, improvement or to create new ones. I think that there is a need for any guidance that is to come out of this initiative to have the full support of the uplands community. To impose it as a regulation based list of do's & don'ts would be a mistake. I cite the example of the Heather & Grass Burning Code 2007 which has been well accepted as it had a lot of input from the industry. With our links to all sectors throughout the UK uplands the Trust is well placed to at least assist this process, if not drive it. We are working on it.