News

MOORLANDS IN THE MIST

27th June 2006

Despite competition from the England v’s Ecuador football match, a group of forty
people set out in the mist on Sunday afternoon (25th June) to discover how the
moorlands above Danby are managed for birds and farming. Although the normally
magnificent views were hard to make out, the visitors were rewarded by the sights and sounds of Curlews and Lapwings which moorland owners and keepers do so much to look after.

By kind permission of the Dawnay Estates, the event was organised by the Countryside Alliance and the Moorland Association. At various points along the circular walk, Head Keeper, Peter Snaith and farmers David Tyreman and Martin Muir gave visitors a taste of every aspect of life on the moors including heather burning, grouse shooting, bracken control and sheep management and how gamekeepers and farmers work together to maintain the rare and beautiful heather of the North York Moors.

National Park ranger Bernie Maclinden spoke about the new rights and responsibilities of access to open country – especially with the North York Moors under extreme fire risk measures at present. Local ornithologist Wilf Norman gave a fascinating talk about the wading birds and merlins which thrive on moorlands managed for grouse shooting. The ancient history of the Estate, going back to the Norman Conquest, was explained by managing agent, Robert Sword

Working on the moors around the clock, all year, gamekeepers have a wealth of knowledge about important and rare ground nesting birds and interesting moorland plants.

Said Peter Snaith: “We were able to explain to visitors how we carefully burn small patches of heather to create new shoots for the grouse and sheep to feed on, and how this creates a patchwork of different habitats that suits other birds like curlew, lapwing, golden plover and merlin. Daily control of predators like foxes, crows, stoats and weasels gives all ground nesting birds a chance of survival.”

At the end of the afternoon, visitors were given a chance to taste the much sought after end product of all the careful management – the red grouse. Tenant farmers of Stonebeckgate Farm, Andrew and Jill Kelly - who have diversified into outside catering and run the tea room at the Danby Moors Centre – prepared grouse fillets and also a delicious potted grouse recipe from Clarissa Dickson-Wright’s latest cook book.

The moorland open day was the third in a series, organised so that moorland managers and the public, can get to know each other and discuss issues of mutual interest. David Loomes from Lealholm enjoyed the day and said that: “The day was very informative and it was very good to learn so much about the local environment” while Mr and Mrs Barlow from Glaizedale commented: “We live locally and have a strong interest in the countryside. It helps us to put the pieces of the jigsaw together and to see how managed moors contribute – there is no such thing as a natural landscape – leaving it alone is not an option!”

More open days will be organised in the future and anyone wishing to find out more should email enquiries@moorland-open-days.co.uk.





The North York Moors are under Extreme Fire Risk at the moment and the Moorland Visitor’s Code is essential reading for anyone planning a moorland walk and is available free from 0870 120 6466:

The Moorland Visitor’s Code.
• Check www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk to see what is open for you (and your dog) and follow any local signs
• Dogs must be on a short lead (less than 2 metres) during the breeding season – 1st March – 31st July.
• Never light fires on moorland, not even gas stoves or barbecues, and respect warning signs during periods of high fire risk in the spring and summer
• Protect plants and animals and take your litter home
• Leave gates and property as you find them
• Consider other people – moorland keepers and farmers play a crucial role in the well being of the moors

-Ends –




Picture Image © Moorland Association/Matthew Noble:

Caption: Head Keeper, Peter Snaith of Danby Moor explains the benefits of controlled winter burning of heather for sheep grazing, grouse and many other rare and important moorland birds at Danby Moor Open Day 25th June 2006