Anyone who has read the local press recently will be aware of the misfortune that has befallen the owners of Oxlow farm, evidenced by the lack of stock in the fields - a sad reflection on the plight of many hill farmers. Visiting cavers need to be especially tactful and make sure they call at the farm and pay the traditional trespass fee.
Oxlow
- Thread starter nigel n
- Start date
Madness said:Katie said:
I'm surprised he didn't drop the carcasses down an old mineshaft
I for one have no sympathy
Most cavers are (relatively) affluent and after a few hours playing underground get in their nice warm car and return speedily to a centrally heated susburban home. Many have no idea of the pressures faced by struggling upland farmers and would be wise to reserve judgement until they have experienced something of the lifestyle themselves. Katie has understated the level of punishment imposed and I for one feel it is a sad refelection on a society that imposes harsh penalties on those who are struggluing whilst offereing leniency to those who commit violent crime or crime against children.
I can understand how someone in this situation might wish to exclude visitors (eg cavers) from the land. Also, if a farmer cannot use land is is ofeten leased to someone else (who might be less welcoming to said cavers)
paul said:
http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/local/ban-for-farmer-who-left-dead-sheep-to-rot-1-6444673
http://www.farmersguardian.com/home/livestock/farmer-gets-decade-long-livestock-ban-and-%C2%A310000-fine/62386.article
http://www.matlockmercury.co.uk/news/local/peak-farmer-banned-from-keeping-animals-1-6451219
EwanCameron
New member
Of they can not farm the land they may rent/sell it!
We may see access issues then !
We may see access issues then !
Bottlebank
New member
It looks like a very sad story and there's probably more to it than we'll ever know.
Perhaps the best thing we could do is leave it be, rather than making light of it or worrying about a few quid entrance fee.
Perhaps the best thing we could do is leave it be, rather than making light of it or worrying about a few quid entrance fee.
martinm
New member
Katie said:
Mark said:
Did you know, it actually costs farmers money to get carcasses taken away and disposed of? I can't remember the exact figure, but I'm pretty sure it's around ?50 an animal. Hill farmers can't afford it!
That is why dozens of dead sheep got chucked in a cave entrance (I will not name) in my area (Manifold), along with bits of metal and broken glass and orange plastic twine.
I took on the lovely job of removing them all, a few years ago, bags and bags of 'stuff', :thumbsdown: which would have cost the farmers a fortune. The cave concerned is now clean and back to it's natural state. 8)
Anyone remember the rotting carcass(es) down down Cascade Cavern years ago? I certainly do, it/they stunk. Then there was the one dumped in the entrance of Boulder Pot years ago which a friend of mine had to remove to regain entrance to the cave.
Then the sheep carcasses dumped in Mam Tor Swallet back in the 80's. I think I still have a photo of that too.
Spare a thought for our hill farmers! If we help them, they will help us, end of.
Regards Mel. DCA Conservation Officer.
pwhole
Well-known member
Me and some other TSG cavers once spent a very unsettling 20 minutes at Oxlow entrance shaft watching an adult sheep slowly die of hypothermia - that cold winter 3 years ago. It was absolutely freezing, and the sheep was sat bolt upright, eyes open, just...chillin'. Not very pleasant - it had obviously got into the hollow to try and get out of the wind, and now didn't have the strength to get back into the sun. Stepped over plenty more corpses up there in various degrees of decomposition. So I can understand why it's happened, but, without knowledge of the back-story, I'm loath to criticise.
And they have always been wonderful to us as cavers - we've always got changed in the barn and parked in the yard for an extra quid - for the group, not each. Blissful, even with the cow-shit. Even the dog eventually stopped barking at us, which felt like a major success. The one at Rowter Farm hasn't yet, but it will...
Anyway, given they do so much for cavers, wouldn't it be possible for DCA-affiliated clubs (and connected individuals) to possibly organise a whip-round? We could collect quite a bit, and just give it to them as a token of our esteem for past use, and also as a quite naked (but well-meant) bribe to keep access open whilst they decide what they're doing. I'll raise it at the TSG monthly meeting tonight and see what folks think. And in the meantime, what does anyone else think?
And they have always been wonderful to us as cavers - we've always got changed in the barn and parked in the yard for an extra quid - for the group, not each. Blissful, even with the cow-shit. Even the dog eventually stopped barking at us, which felt like a major success. The one at Rowter Farm hasn't yet, but it will...
Anyway, given they do so much for cavers, wouldn't it be possible for DCA-affiliated clubs (and connected individuals) to possibly organise a whip-round? We could collect quite a bit, and just give it to them as a token of our esteem for past use, and also as a quite naked (but well-meant) bribe to keep access open whilst they decide what they're doing. I'll raise it at the TSG monthly meeting tonight and see what folks think. And in the meantime, what does anyone else think?
G. Hardwick
New member
A nice idea Phil. I can`t wait to read the contributions from the usual suspects (no Derbyshire cavers among them so far as I know).
