Wild Isles

This is worth watching, Iolo explaining how much of our uplands, moorland and some of the montane habitats have become, in his words, ‘Green Deserts’ devoid of species rich habitats. He also explains the solutions he believes will make a difference. 👍

https://youtu.be/8RUvWkrupjA

I was specifically talking about the Heather moorlands.

That’s interesting, are these ‘Heather Moorlands’ managed? If so what and who  is the primary driver of this management? Those around us are managed for game and sport and certainly are ‘Green Deserts’ with a much reduced natural eco system existing as a result. The only species rich ones I’ve seen are managed very differently, and all are encouraging a whole host of species back to what essentially is the proper habitat and landscape. There are huge tracts of upland moorlands in Britain which fits Iolo’s description sadly and still much to do to help.

When folk say ‘the natural world & nature’ they mean the natural balance. If there isn’t prey then those that prey(Fox & mustelids) die off. It is you & your mates falsely being propped up that is the cause of the imbalance. If you can’t survive without grants then hobby farming may not be for you. As quaint as your lifestyle is you are goofing up the natural balance of this country🤷🏻‍♂️, just saying.

BTW-your idea that running hounds actually help ground nesting birds is a bad call. Hounds attack sheep & ground nesting birds I’m surprised at your statement.

Anyone who drives across much of the Peak District and NY Moors knows how desolate and treeless they are. Primarily privately owned and managed, to drag in huge income for the very rich to blast birds out of the sky. Guardians of the Countryside? When pigs start to fly……..😡

If they are that sterile where do you think the extra 120 curlew eggs come from. Its only because foxes and crows  are controlled ( Yes it needs shooting income to cover the costs) that they manage to raise young. So the theory ,  you let the predators run free until they have killed all the other species is a good ecological method is it. That is basically what is happening now and has been whilst the pen pusher environmentalists have ignored feet on the ground people. Best example is Abernethy Estate. RSPB took it over when there were Capercaille there. Got rid of the gamekeepers and employed wet behind the rear rangers- result Capercaille extinct in a few years.

120 curlew eggs. Am I supposed to be impressed by such efforts🤨 You can see 120 dead young pheasants on a single mile of road when young birds are let out with no sense of road danger around here.🤷‍♀️ And they will have been paid for by Joe Public via subsidies. 

Goodness' me country folk doing something practical. Those 120 curlews will repopulate an area in Southern England where you have allowed them to become extinct. Did you even know that Red Grouse cannot be artificially reared. They dont teach those things on canned TV programmes so probably not.

You never see just how little your logic works but so badly. If the natural world didn’t actually work there’d be no Curlews or eggs for you to save(sic) it does not nor ever needed saving other than from Humans. Badgers wouldn’t need killing because they hurt profits or foxes hunted. Mr Fox don’t kill the wildlife to survive that’s our job to kill for fun. There. . .Right there is where your individual little world of how you & your mates saved the eco system fails miserably. Greed for more land that belonged to the animals originally, running water that originates in the weather systems before falling now belongs to fishermen-running water by the time you’ve ‘shouted get off my river’ it’s moved along. 

Nothing like a touch of annoyance in a reply to let you know that you have hit a nerve🤣

My BIL is a beater and shooter. His BIL is a keeper. My OH’s best workmate friend is a stalker on a big deer estate. My Grandfather worked for Earl Fitzwilliam on the Wentworth Fitzwilliam Estates. We kept our horse (a big hunter) on a farm that held pheasant shoots and the lady of the house was in a relationship with the Whipper In for the Grove and Rufford Hunt. Our farrier hunted with the Badsworth, is farrier for our local police force and various Racecourses, and our vet is the same used by John Whittaker the show jumper. I was in a past life on our local BHS committee and secretary of our local Riding Society, Chief Steward for a big Horse Show. Plus Of course I can pick the BS out of the case for blood sports🤣