Rewilding

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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2022 #422

    Yes water companies have a big responsibility for poluteing rivers and until massive investment (higher bills for us all) to cope with the fast increasing population and biulding with the resultant pressure on all infrastructure 

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited June 2022 #423

    I tried to fill my mouth & blame farmers- no one could understand me🤷🏻‍♂️🙄

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited June 2022 #424

    My last comment may need a bit of explaining to some.When the cuckoo came in April the eco warriors who drove Government policy was all about Rewilding and covering the contryside in trees ( No one  knew what species)>Now by June the policy is Intensive farming, acres of Glass hoses etc.  No one asked the actual farmers and growers about this.As any gardner knows you plant is Spring and Harvest in Summer/Autumn. How doyou then suddenly change course in actuallity at the wrong season. Knock on effect, habitats that have been developed for nature are no longer important,plough them up. This is typical Government dictat,change policy before the ink has dried on the last one. Result Chaos and any good work undone.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited June 2022 #425

    I had no issue with understanding at all, in fact you are one of the easiest people on CT to understand Fish-‘you don’t discuss you Troll, you attack, you ignore anything that isn’t agreeing with your agenda. You are a hunting, shooting, fishing hobby farmer with a pet sheep who wishes he was back in the 1950’s when you could do as you like. Trolls just Troll. This is fact not made a made up fairytale. I’m sorry but when you return to Troll you’re on your own. Enjoy your day👍🏻

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited June 2022 #426

    I thought my last comment was sensible and showed  how fickle opinion is especially by those who actually pull the strings ( Government) but there you go,it soon gets personal here. By the way whast a troll. Never seen one of them round here.A new species perhaps reintruduced?

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #427

    No, rewilding is not all about covering the countryside in trees, it’s about habitat restoration, very different. It’s about ensuring complex natural ecosystem are given space in this land of ours and are reinstated where possible. There are many farmers who are actually spearheading this vital work however there are some who choose not to and continue to do the damage. To say no one knew the species best included in rewilding projects is not true either, but some did know which were going to be the most economically profitable and attribute false benefits to nature in order to make money. Many of us knew exactly what they were up to but government turned that blind eye to their chums. Just have to look at the flow country in Northern Scotland for the proof! 
    As far as those who have polluted our waterways, it matters not a jot if they were the farmers, the water authorities or big business, if it was done deliberately then they have managed to damage systems to such an extent that they are the worst in Europe. 

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited June 2022 #428

    Rocky.Have never been or participated in your Red coated Hunting.Never been or participated in Tame pheasant shooting -They are the action usually of rich city folk.Yes me and local farmers control the rampant fox and covid population.to an extent we have a thriving Red listed avian population here. Nothing to do with eliimination.

    Mick-Yes the mistakesof the 70=s with mass sortwood planting all over the country,particularly the flow country did untold damage.Eliminated prductive and good habiatts for dark wildernesses. The resulting wood is of little commercial use but hey it gave the elites excellent tax benefits.

    So just like today all this is driven by action groups influencing Government policy for some untested theory.Those at the sharp end are ignored because they dont have lobbying funds. Result short sighted action, changes of policy at whim, and a ruined countryside. Dont blame us the custodians

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2022 #429

    Is the NFU. not doing anything to help what in your opinions is detrimental to farmers? or as you post and a few may be "custodians of the countryside?"

     

    Ps just a bit of useless information this county has more horses per head of population than any other  County in the UK

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #430

    You are correct, it was not the rewilding advocates which did the damage it was, as you say, the elite. Those very corporate land owners and finance institutions, who’s gain was based on profits above habits and wildlife that caused this. Today, those involved in rewilding are campaigning against destruction and are proactively engaged in the restorative habitat agenda and complimentary methods of land use.

    As said before, we are small fish but some are barking, barking up the wrong tree. Many custodians are on board with the vital rewilding work being undertaken which can, and is, returning areas of land to its true richness and rightful diversity. We need nature on our side, we need to work with it, the consequences of ignoring it could be catastrophic.

     

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #431

    I'm sorry I haven't been following all of this thread, but I would suggest you look at the Nature Friendly Farming Network site. Real farmers/ Real solutions. Real world.

    https://www.nffn.org.uk/

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited June 2022 #432

    At it again today. City firms are buying up Farms to plant trees ( yu can bet the cheapest available, ie Sitka spruce) on fertile land.They are there to capture the grants. They say its to " Offset" their carbon footprint not reduce it. Crazy but again policy driven by Government and lobbyist not the people with knowledge.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2022 #433

    I take it you belong to the organisation that Goldie has posted?

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #434

    As this is a rewilding thread has anyone on here done something that improves their local natural habitat eg planted a tree for the Jubilee, allowed a patch of garden to do it's own thing or whatever they think helps?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2022 #435

    Our garden has normally done its own thing, as we have in the past  been on the road with our LV and hopefully in a couple of years the remaining oak tree saplings I have grown from acorns will be strong enough to be planted in our local ancient woodland with the advise from the Sherrard's wood wardens

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #436

    Sound interesting and informative, they even have a stance on Rewilding, which on the whole is positive and encouraging.

    https://www.nffn.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Rewilding.pdf

    Quite correctly and rightly in my opinion, they do mention their neutrality towards introductions of wolves.🤣

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited June 2022 #437

    Yes👍🏻, Oak, Maple, Hornbeam, Scots pine, Beech, Hazel, & Birch. All home grown(my garden). I’d like to add Elm but I can’t find any local to me🤷🏻‍♂️. I have a few in big tubs around my garden & one of my favourites(non native) Maritime Pine purely because they are beautiful with huge cones.

  • Fisherman
    Fisherman Forum Participant Posts: 2,367
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    edited June 2022 #438

    Been doing it quietly for year.( see my post on Acorns)Native trees, Bird Boxes, Wild Areas. Vermin Control. Gives a very diversified habitat and flora and fauna. I see Bzzards,Ospreys, Kites,Curlews, Lapwings, Crows, Magpies and a huge variety of small birds daily..What I  have noticed lacking over the last 5 years or so is African migrants, Swifts, Martins, Cuckoos. Dont think that is my fault.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #439

    When they are in Africa are they called UK migrants?🤣 I’m sure the lack of numbers returning of these birds you mention to their rightful home breeding areas is not down to you,  fish. There are some splendid rewilding projects which naturally include these in their plans. They need our help! These include, corncrake, nightjars, osprey, stork and many more. None of these recognise landownership or country borders! 
     

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
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    edited June 2022 #440

    The natural world does it’s own balancing beautifully as you know Mickey Boy, that is why we have naturally occurring Vole years. It’s when Humans intervene with culls that we have crashes in numbers of certain wildlife. Every wild creature plays it’s part in the natural ebb & flow creating harmony👍🏻

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #441

    Yes, but as you know that human intervention can help, hinder, stimulate, or even eradicate that fragile balance. Think ospreys and passenger pigeons at both ends of that spectrum. Which way the balance tips can often be up to us!

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,587 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #442

    Thought you might be heartened by this news Micky.

    https://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/news/five-years-beavers-bring-big-biodiversity-and-flooding-benefits

    Hope other flood prone places take note and do something if they are can and the area suitable for reintroducing Beavers.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #443

    Fabulous advantages now being witnessed.

    Also see https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/jun/21/rewinding-100-years-the-devon-neighbours-united-to-rewild-grand-scale-aoe

    Farmers and landowners encouraged to cluster up in their joint rewilding projects which will involve communities working together. 👍

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #444

    Micky, really ?! A Londoner arrives in Devon in 2020 and sets up explosive devices in trees and cannons in the undergrowth...has she considered the odd hand grenade too?! Just can't take this stuff seriously. frown

    (Have I spelt cannons right otherwise it's even funnier. wink)

     

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,587 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #445

    Not quite a full community Micky. Just 3 at the moment.

    Whatever happened to good old bat boxes? And why take it out on the trees? They've got enough problems without someone blowing bits out of them.

    I'm all for certain rewilding projects but not at the disadvantage of existing flora and fauna.

    There are easier ways to achieve her aim without recourse to explosives.

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #446

    🤣 I knew this would cause a bit of thought provoking and comment, wasn’t ‘phishing’ honestly. Seriously though, the concept needs some consideration. Destructive construction is not a new thing in ‘rewilding’ be that intended or unintended. Battle fields across the centuries and across the world have created opportunities for wildlife. This planned and very much controlled action at this venue is being suggested right at the beginning of the development program and so is no danger to people. Trees which are gale damaged are far more beneficial to wildlife and habitats than cut trees. The blasting is an attempt to replicate this. This was explained to me whilst on a recent hike in ‘Celtic Rainforest’ where a proportion of those severely damaged fallen trees are being left in situ. In the same way, small but controlled destructive conservation works. As was said, the Sitka pine bares little if any benefit to wildlife as does that scourge of the highlands, the rhododendron. Obviously, the dangers and the benefits of this action needs very careful consideration but don’t rule out without proper discussion and consideration. So blasting Sitkas may just be far more productive than felling or placing bat boxes in them. Probably both approaches may be helpful and then assessing and comparing the effectiveness.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #447

    We were up in the Borders recently and the scale of storm damage to the trees was enormous and the habitat loss was great. It's not just a case of leaving a few fallen trees around the actual loss will take years to replace. Unfortunately nature is at work all on it's own. The area we stayed in had lost all it's  communications for months so it was only just recovering. 

    I presume you mean the Cairngorms area when referring to the Celtic Rainforest? These new references seem to just reinvent the wheel. wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2022 #448

    As for rewilding there was a piece on the TV, about the loss of rare flowers in the hills of Wales caused by sheep farming, and the the efforts to try to.  reintroduce them

  • mickysf
    mickysf Forum Participant Posts: 6,474 ✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #449

    I think the issue though is one of repair, from our previous Ill thought out actions Brue. It would be brilliant if nature could repair quickly, effectively and in balance with all humans but it can’t. Sometimes it may just need a helping hand and a fair bit of cooperation. At times it can cause great inconvenience and occasionally serious threat to life and limb. We need a more of a ‘symbiotic’ approach to the whole of nature, what that looks like may be up for debate, after all, discussion is good.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited June 2022 #450

    With the predicted threat of global warming and the likely hood of more often severe "unusual "weather patterns ,nature is going to struggle to repair it self,

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited June 2022 #451

    Last year we stayed at Venn Farm CL in Devon. If anyone is interested in the reintroduction of Beavers they have a colony there. We're not totally convinced by this but it's well worth seeing  what Beavers actually get up to in reararring the habitat. smile