Joy as cattle-grazing plans abandoned
NATURAL England has confirmed that plans to graze and fence the Nine Maidens common have been abandoned.
Jo Oliver, assistant project manager of the Heath Project, said Nine Maidens commoners had decided not to apply to the Secretary of State for permission to stockproof the common.
Commoner spokesman Michael Williams said: "The commoners were always against any fencing across the common.
"Because we had abandoned our proposals for two cattle grids on the road at Boskednan, this left us with no option but to look at an additional length of electric fencing. We felt using this much electric fencing across the common compromised our original proposals too much."
Jo Oliver said that while the Heath Project team was disappointed that the Nine Maidens grazing scheme will not go ahead it supported the commoners' decision.
Neil Cooke, coordinator of Save Penwith Moors action group, which is campaigning to stop grazing and fencing schemes in West Penwith, said he hoped the campaign had gone some way towards achieving this result.
"It's brilliant news but it remains to be seen what happens with the other areas," he said.
The proposed grazing scheme at Nine Maidens at Boskednan, near Madron, was to be funded under the Heath Project which is committed to restoring and protecting heathlands which promote biodiversity.
● St Just Town Council opposes Heath Project: Page 19.
5 Comments
by Dave, St Ives
Wednesday, October 15 2008, 8:24PM
“I have been following with interest the issues and debate surrounding the grazing of the moors across West Penwith and I also read another news article this week which I feel may be relevant.
This week that Dartmoor Hill Pony Association announced that a reduction in sales of Dartmoor Ponies may lead to many of them being slaughtered, which unfortunately has been threatened in the past. These beautiful animals are a visitor attraction in themselves and have been exposed to the harsh moorland environments of the south west for thousands of years. They are resilient and hardstanding yet gentle and well natured, and the areas where ponies currently are such as Dartmoor, Exmoor and Bodmin Moor benefit from their presence and the land is excellently grazed.
I note that it has recently been announced that the grazing of land on the moors has been abandoned. Some of the concerns by some locals included a fear "aggresive cows", excessive fencing and damage to historic sites. I personally feel that the moors do need grazing, but am confused why it hasn't been considered to have ponies instead of cattle on the moors. There may be little profit from this (other than improved moorland), but by having no grazing at all, there will definitely be no profit. The ponies pretty much look after themselves and I'm sure a new local pony association would soon swing in to help look after these animals, thereby encouraging a better relationship with the moor and its habitats, and give everyone a chance to actively work together.
Either way - we are "managing" the moor - by either not allowing cattle to graze or by allowing them to graze. The planet has looked after itself pretty well for the past 4 billion years without human intervention. Perhaps our concept of "land management" should be left to the animals that have more experience of it that our own.”
by Judith Summers, St Just
Sunday, October 05 2008, 5:29PM
“Congratulations to all the campaigners - now to save Kendijack!”
by a.steenmeyer, Utrecht, Holland
Thursday, October 02 2008, 11:57AM
“I never heard such a daft proposal before. Are these people really Cornish ?
Good thing it is now abandoned.”
by Donald Duck, Disneyland, Cornwall
Thursday, October 02 2008, 11:44AM
“Who the hell cares - this story is sooooo BORING.”
by Vincent Smith, Pendeen
Thursday, October 02 2008, 11:11AM
“COMMON sense prevails.”