Country Market & Sporting Sale

The Sale season is drawing to a close.  Thanks again to all our supporters: the donors of Lots and cash, the Bidders, the advertisers and the catalogue promoters.  A large team of people combine to make the Sale a success.

We have now removed details of the unsold Lots from the website, but some items may still be available in the Stop & Shop section of the website.

As the dust settles, Clara will be shifting her focus to the 2012 Sale.  We will be contacting many of you individually to give you a bit more detail about this year's Sale, and would welcome offers of assistance, in any form, with next year's Sale.

We will be reviewing how the Sale worked this year and looking for ways that we can improve the organisation.  Several times in the past, we have considered shifting to an on-line system but have resisted this largely due to the cost and the difficulty of combining an on-line auction with the circulation of information about the Trust in the catalogue.  We will be looking at this again in the next few weeks, and would welcome any comments.

Scotland: Code of practice on deer management - Consultation

A consultation on the draft Code has been launched and responses have been requested by 1 July 2011.  Public meetings are being held in Inverness, Perth & Moffat.  More details are available from the SNH Website.

Fair Game: Scotland's Sporting Estates

This TV programme was broadcast last week, and for anyone who missed it, like I did, it is currently available on the BBC iPlayer, but I am not sure how long for.  It is worth a look.

The programme highlights the problem of the raptor-grouse conflict and although I believe it had some errors, both sides of the argument are presented.  But it is not only the birds that lose out from this impasse; I think that the raptor grouse conflict is a blockage to investment in our uplands areas by both the private and the public sectors.  In spite of this, with the exception of Prof Steve Redpath, a former Trust Board member, no-one was proposing any solutions.

The problems highlighted in this programme are deep-seated and have so far proved to be intractable.  Sitting in silos hurling bricks across the divide is not going to provide a solution, and I doubt that increasing the screw of legislation will solve the problem.  We need to find compromise and bright ideas are welcome.    I suggest that Steve Redpath needs more support. 

International Wildland Fire Conference 2011

Wildland Fire Conference 

I am delighted to be in Sun City, South Africa attending this conference. It is hard work, but in delightful surroundings.  Today was the first full day of the conference and the highlight of the opening ceremony was the enthusiasm, pride and singing of the ~1000 young firefighters who are involved in the Working on Fire programme. There are an interesting range of presentations tomorrow, but Thursday will be spent in the nearby Pilansberg National Park seeing a practical demonstration of the South African way of prescribed burning and fire control.  It promises to be impressive.

'Working on Fire' project equipment

Pilansberg National Park

Asulam - the latest

My understanding of the story so far:  Asulam was due to be considered for re-registration on Annex 1 of the Sustainable Use Directive, which would allow us to continue using it for aerial application to control bracken.  Concerns were raised about a possible food safety issue linked to Asulam's use on other plants (e.g. spinach, sugar cane).  As a result, a recommendation was submitted to the EU's Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health for Asulam not be re-registered.  The Committee met on 11 March but due to a blocking minority of members on the Committee a discussion was postponed until the next meeting which took place yesterday and today.


The result from the Standing Committee meeting is a ‘no opinion’ on the proposed non-inclusion. The blocking minority appears to have grown in size (with thanks to those who have been lobbying hard).  The consequence is that this dossier becomes the first (apparently in the Commission) to be referred to the Appeal Committee, which must meet at least 14 days after notification by the Commission, and within six weeks.  Apparently this is a new procedure and it is not clear how it works or who attends.


I would like to think that today's news makes light at the end of the tunnel glow a bit brighter for Asulam, but time will tell.

Cost of wildfires damage mounting

See yesterday's STV report on the wildfire damage in Scotland.

West Highland landowners unite to fight devastating wild fires

It is good to see the report from the John Muir Trust that organisations are working well together to control the fires in Coigach & Assynt.

Come on rain!

Country Market & Sporting Sale

Bids for the fascinating range of Lots offered for this year's Sale are coming in thick and fast.  See the website for more details.

You still have two days to make sure you do not miss the chance to bid; we are open to receive Bids by any means until 12 noon on Friday, 6 May.

Tel: 01387 723201  e-mail: info@heathertrust.co.uk

Wildfire burns swathes of Balmoral estate

Willie Fraser,
National Trust for Scotland

See today's article in The Scotsman.  This provides a useful summary of the current state of play.

It is early to start drawing any conclusions from this spate of fires, but here are some initial thoughts:

• The excellent work of the Fire & Rescue Services (FRSs) is in support of the land managers from private and other estates, who are in the front line.  They are working alongside the FRSs using to the full their local knowledge, fire management experience and specialist equipment to help control these fires.
• The value of this mutual aid between the public and private sectors cannot be overstated.  It is hoped that this will come out in the wash-up to these fires.  We need more resources to develop fire groups across the whole of the UK to harness the abilities of land managers and their specialist equipment to work effectively alongside FRSs to tackle wildfires.
• Helicopters are invaluable tools for fighting large-scale fires on difficult terrain but it should be emphasised that they are usually provided by landowners, not by the Fire & Rescue Services.
• Many of the fires are being started by carelessness - have we done enough to raise public awareness of the risks? 
• Arsonists are a significant source of fire.
• Very few fires appear to have started from out of control heather burning / muirburn.
• Blame is often placed on smokers and discarded cigarettes.  I am not a smoker but I always feel that when the cause of a fire is not known someone blames the smoker, forgetting that fire is a natural phenomenon.

Wildfires in Northern Ireland

See the report from Northern Ireland - 376 incidents in 24 hours.  Note the statement: "..it is only a matter of time before someone loses their life."

Is that what it will take to start treating the wildfire threat seriously?

More on Wildfires

The post on 28 April has proved to be all too relevant.  The Fire & Rescue Services have had a very busy Bank Holiday weekend indeed.  A good source of information is the BBC website and the following two articles cover the latest situation:

Six People Airlifted from Torridon Wildfire
Crews continue battle with Highland Wildfires

The locations of the recent wildfires shown in the video report on the second link shows that the wildfire problem has been experienced across Northern England, Northern Ireland as well as Scotland.

These are serious incidents.  It is not just the 'harmless' burning of heather. There is a real risk to property and people - note that evacuation in Scotland has been considered and people had to be airlifted to safety or rescued by lifeboat.  In addition to the destruction of habitat that will adversely affect breeding birds at this time of year, there has been the economic loss associated with the destruction of recently planted woodland.

In these conditions, it is easy to get people to think about measures to reduce the risk of wildfire, but it is a shame that this enthusiasm appears to wane as soon as it rains.  I believe we need to take the risk of wildfire more seriously.  The indications are that climate change is going to produce hotter, drier summers that will serve to increase the risk of wildfires.

Against this background, it is very relevant that, with thanks to Northumberland Fire & Rescue Service for sponsoring my flight, I am attending the International Wildfire Conference in South Africa, next week.  I would be pleased to hear from anyone about wildfire issues either before or after the conference.  I will add key messages and a summary to this Blog during and after the conference.

In this country our wildfire threat is not as extreme as in other countries (see the recent photos from Texas) but we should not ignore the increasing risk.

Wildfire Risk is High

There have been several wildfires in different parts of the country and the current dry weather is increasing the risk of damage day by day.

the amount of damage that wildfires can do comes as no surprise and the effort, and associated cost, required by the Fire & Rescue Services to put these fires out is enormous.  For those who would like details of recent wildfires see the following links: West Yorkshire, the Highlands, and Inverness-shire.

I am sure that there have already been many more examples and I would like to be sent details.  I fear that if this dry spell continues there will be plenty of work for the Fire & Rescue Services.   To those out & about in the UK uplands, this weekend, I ask that they take care not to start fires.

Phytophthora Ramorum and Larch trees

The Forestry Commission has published a very useful summary of the spread of P. ramorum into larch trees and the measures that are being taken to control this spread.  It appears that the disease is targeting rhododendron and larch trees at present and that the report of its spread into sitka spruce has so far proved to be inconclusive.

The spread of the disease into heathland species has so far been restricted to a small area of blaeberry. Heather has been shown to be at risk in laboratory tests, but so far the disease has not been seen on heather in the wild.  This remains the nightmare option.

Climate care – not this carbon klondike

For an alternative view on the carbon : renewables : windfarm : landscape debate see the opinion piece by Dr Keith Dawson that has been published by Scottish Farmer.

The voices of the dissenters to the 'windfarm at any cost' approach demand to be heard.

Scotland: Manifesto Comparisons

The Scottish Countryside Alliance has prepared a comparison between the manifestos of the main parties ahead of the election on 5 May and published it as part of their Heather Routes service.

This comparison has been reproduced for your information here.

Scotland: Muirburn Season

Under the amendments introduced by Section 28 of the Wildlife & Natural Environment Bill, that received Royal Assent on 7 April 2011, the Muirburn season is now defined as follows:

• the standard muirburn season: 1 October – 15 April
• the extended muirburn season: 16 April – 30 April

Burning may only take place in the Muirburn Season.  The proprietor of the land may carry out muirburn in the extended season and other people may do so if authorised in writing by, or on behalf of, the proprietor.

The season is now the same at all altitudes and the possibility of burning until 15 May above 1,500 feet has been removed.

Therefore, for proprietors, and those who have the necessary permission from the proprietor, muirburn can be carried out until 30 April.

The Bill introduced the possibility of being able to burn out of season under licence, and as Chairman of the Muirburn Group of Scotland's Moorland Forum, I will be working with members of the Group, the Scottish Government and Scottish Natural Heritage to establish guidance on eligibility and to set up a process to handle applications.

England: Defra Uplands Policy Review

The key issues from this review can be summarised:

• A guarantee that 100% of hill farmers eligible to enter Uplands Entry Level Stewardship (UELS) - worth up to £6m
• Creation of an “Uplands Theme” to provide targeted support to upland areas
• A commitment to reduce the burden of unnecessary red tape
• A new Rural Community Broadband Fund - worth up to £20m
• consultation on whether the legislation for National Parks needs to better reflect their role in facilitating sustainable development

All good stuff but does it go far enough and will it make a difference to hill farm businesses?

The Uplands: Neglect them at our peril

If you would like to see an example of how I spend my quiet evenings at home, have a look at this article that has been published by the RICS as part of their Rural eNews service and sent to all Rural Chartered Surveyors.

As always, I would welcome any comments.  Do you think there is an adequate public awareness of the role played by the uplands in maintaining natural services and if not how can we improve matters?

England: Farming in the Uplands - EFRA Report

I mentioned the launch of the Select Committee report in my post on 17 February, but I would like to draw your attention to the extract below, taken from page 73, and the highlighted sentence.  Is this really what EFRA believes?  What about all the burning, or swaling, that takes place on the south west moors?   I would be very surprised if burning for agricultural purposes was so insignificant it could be dismissed.  I hope that this is an aberration and that our policy makers have a clear overview of how our moors are managed.  If not, I look forward to a call (and perhaps some consultancy work!).

Burning

32. Burning is used on heather moorland and acid grasslands and can be successful in promoting heather regeneration. However, if done on too wide a scale or too frequently it can negatively impact upon some species and other ecosystem services such as soil carbon storage and water quality. Burning can also favour some species to the detriment of others. It can also lead to an increase in water pollution through run-off of sediment. Burning on peatland13 has been used (mostly in Scotland) as a means of improving vegetation for sheep grazing. In England burning of peatland is almost exclusively limited to managing the moorland for grouse. Because of the complexity of burning, localised approaches drawing on sound evidence and expert advice are very important.

England: Grouse Moor Management Praised

Helen Phillips & Edward Bromet

I was pleased to attend a meeting on the Weardale Estate in Co Durham on 16 March, where the progress with the management of moorland, predominantly for grouse, in Northern England was publicly acknowledged.  It was great to hear some good news with Helen Phillips, the Chief Executive of Natural England, openly praising grouse moor management and the positive views being reciprocated by Edward Bromet, the Chairman of the Moorland Association (MA).  The MA's pivotal role in getting 98.8% of moorland in the North East Region of England into 'favourable' or 'unfavourable improving' was applauded and acknowledged.  

If you would like to know more:

• A video of interviews with John Barrett, Moorland Delivery Manager for Natural England, and Martin Gillibrand, Secretary for the Moorland Association can be viewed here. 
• The Moorland Association has published a press release with some quotes and photographs
• Some case studies have been made available to download: Bowes Moor, Howden & Derwent Moors, South Pennine Moors, Weardale Estate

This public acknowledgement of the value of grouse moor management in improving and maintaining moorland in good condition is welcome.  We need to keep reminding ourselves of the role of grouse moor management in keeping our moorlands in vibrant condition for the overall benefit from the services that well managed moorland provides.  Management for grouse is not the only way to achieve this result, but it is very significant and is self-financing.