Interesting walk today trying to avoid the crowds in the dales. After a rough walk I came to a gate with a private sign. I knew I was on right to roam so I took the sign down. Through the gate a track came up from the left. Railway type sleepers the width of the road was followed for about half a mile. Easy going but what about the habitat? ......I couldn’t descend the stream anymore without leaving the right to roam. I decided to Trespass crossIng 2 rough grazing pastures via gates to reach the road. Thus trespassing over 2 fields.I suppose I broke the law here, but only in one specific and limited way. So it’s okay
In England trespass is not a criminal offence in itself, but it is associated with offences that involve trespass - generally refusing to leave when asked by police or court order. You can be sued for damage. If you do it a lot and cause problems you can get court orders against you. All of this is so tiresome and expensive that it is rare. Walking across fields is a zero consequence action that I have indulged in my whole life. The most someone can do is ask you to leave, and to be honest there is bugger all they can do if you take your time about it. Waving a gun will get them arrested. Fiddling with peoples stuff is escalating the situation for sure however. Messing with stock can lead to bad things, they take it personally. Up to you, people can lose it. If no-one knew you were there they might feed you to the pigs. I would think twice in Grisedale and Uldale for instance.
See also https://ukcaving.com/board/index.php?topic=26761.msg327599#msg327599
England has only 15% of the total landmass of Britain devoted to grouse shooting
Maths needs some work - grouse have 550000 acres of England's 32 million, so about 1.7% of land use. About 10% of Scotland is.
Moors can’t just be left. If you want to rewild them then someone is going to have to pay to reestablish a diverse ecosystem, it won’t happen on it’s own as has been shown in a few cases.
Unfortunately the moors will probably require more in the way of subsidies to improve them, if they don't have the income from shoots.
Quote from: mikem on September 23, 2020, 10:57:18 amUnfortunately the moors will probably require more in the way of subsidies to improve them, if they don't have the income from shoots.I don't quite understand that - what would happen if the moors were just abandoned to nature. No management plan, no tinkering, just left alone?Chris.
Quote from: ChrisJC on September 23, 2020, 04:59:13 pmQuote from: mikem on September 23, 2020, 10:57:18 amUnfortunately the moors will probably require more in the way of subsidies to improve them, if they don't have the income from shoots.I don't quite understand that - what would happen if the moors were just abandoned to nature. No management plan, no tinkering, just left alone?Chris.They're likely to end up as huge sources of carbon to the fluvial system and the atmosphere and huge risks for wildfire. Leaving them is similar to leaving toxic waste instead of clearing it up. In my professional opinion many of them are beyond the point of being able to repair themselves
They're likely to end up as huge sources of carbon to the fluvial system and the atmosphere and huge risks for wildfire. Leaving them is similar to leaving toxic waste instead of clearing it up. In my professional opinion many of them are beyond the point of being able to repair themselves
Main Menu