Trust replies to 'vandalism' charge
AN Isles of Scilly conservation measure by the local Wildlife Trust, which manages untenanted land leased from the Duchy of Cornwall, has been called "outrageous" and dismissed as "vandalism".
But the Trust said without ministrations the landscape would become "degraded".
Electric fencing has been installed at a recognised St Mary's beauty spot, Peninnis Head, to allow grazing by recently-introduced cattle.
Chris Jones, the owner of the Bell Rock hotel, is incensed.
"When I went for a walk along King Edward's Road to Peninnis Lighthouse I was horrified," he said.
"I was alarmed at what I saw."
He said a once-attractive open space had been electric fenced "and a herd of large brown cows have been released".
Cow pats "the size of buckets" were everywhere.
Mr Jones said a path had been seriously damaged by hooves.
"It is nothing less than vandalism. It is outrageous."
The area was being destroyed ("it is not too strong a word") and it would be only a matter of time before a "spooked animal" led to an accident involving a member of the public. The situation was "totally wrong and avoidable".
Mr Jones said the grass on Peninnis had not needed to be mowed: "So why the need for destroying a main area of peace and quiet in an AONB? This is potentially very damaging to the tourist industry."
The criticism echoes a similar outcry a couple of years ago when cattle and fencing were introduced to the hitherto pristine Garrison area of St Mary's. A similar debate is raging in mainland West Cornwall.
The introduction of cattle (and on Bryher, ponies) by the Trust is part of a rolling habitat management/waves of heath scheme designed to control heathland scrub and growth.
The efficacy of the measure under fire was endorsed a few years ago when at Peninnis, adjacent to the allegedly "destroyed" area, David Bellamy, the internationally-acclaimed botanist, stressed the importance of grazing.
The Trust says heathland grazing cannot be imitated by machinery. It has to be done by animals.
Conservation warden David Mawer, pointing out Mr Jones' "herd" was, in fact, three cows, said they were aware some "are not in favour of with our conservation grazing but many are and continue to support us.
"Scilly's now internationally important heathlands were formed by millennia of use as a part of a farmed landscape, with grazing and harvesting of bracken and gorse. Peninnis Head was grazed as recently as 30 to 40 years ago. A cattle trough, grids and 'Cornish stiles' are still evident.
"A heathland without appropriate management quickly becomes degraded with a loss in quality of habitat, reduction of biodiversity and the landscape and archaeological features become obscured and damaged. A heathland without management is neglected."
The Trust endeavoured to place signs at all access points, he said. Signs were attached to the electric fence at both access points. The livestock fencing and signs were checked each day.
"In our experience the three red ruby cows at Peninnis take little, if any, notice of walkers and their dogs. Wherever possible we take care to avoid grazing where people become confined with livestock."
The open nature of Peninnis provided many routes whereby the three cows could usually be avoided. The sites were only being grazed on a temporary basis.
During the busier visitor season they aimed to confine grazing to smaller areas using electric fencing without crossing or including footpaths.
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by Robert Jenkins, Scilly
Thursday, March 04 2010, 4:51PM
“"the Trust said without ministrations the landscape would become "degraded" they are wrong! I have lived all my life on Scilly as did my ancestors, the heathland has never been grazed by cattle but ''sheep'' there are a couple of places around the islands where tenants would let their animals out but not in significant numbers as suggested by the WLT and they didn't use fencing, the animals never cleared the scrub land but tethered goats and horses would help clear some gorse mostly from the chains they dragged around usually with an old tyre attached which wouldn't be allowed these days, we did burn the hills off occasionally which I still think is good but not on the scale that the WLT do it, my main concern is that the WLT seem to be able to do what they like against the wishes of the people, this surely cant be right.”
by Mandy Andrews, Isles of scilly
Thursday, March 04 2010, 3:57PM
“assuming that this paper can get a response from the Wildlife trust, can you help us please? can you ask them what we can do to get all this fencing and animals removed?, they can then get on with the beach cleaning and reestablishing and maintaining the footpaths which is what they were originally set up to do.”
by Peter Gray, Sheffield
Thursday, March 04 2010, 8:37AM
“Like so many here we are regular visitors over many, many years also with some family local connection. The freedom to roam has always been a big attraction for us but recently the electric fences are spoiling previously beautiful areas of headland. We're back in July by which time I hope they've been outlawed.
A ridiculous way to treat such a beautiful place and I can't help thinking that big gun Mr Bellamy has been persuaded and might have got it a bit wrong this time.”
by david coles, west cornwall
Wednesday, March 03 2010, 10:35AM
“This scheme has nothing to do with conservation, it is all to do with obtaining the HLS payments that are only payable if there is grazing. A handful of landowners are scrounging taxpayers money to the detriment of those taxpayers. Check the Save Penwith Moors website, the same problem is blighting West Penwith.”
by Tessa, Sutton
Saturday, February 27 2010, 12:29PM
“I hope the WLT will listen to more of the people who live on Scilly and find a balance between conservation, the needs of the people who live there and the holiday makers who come and contribute to their incomes.”
by Linda Badcock, ISLES OF SCILLY
Saturday, February 27 2010, 10:11AM
“IT APPEARS FROM READING THE WLT COMMENTS THAT THEY ARE NOT TAKING ON BOARD THE VIEWS OF THE MANY THAT HAVE SIGNED AND COMMENTED ON THE PETITION CIRCULATING. THE MAJORITY AGREE LAND MANAGEMAENT IS REQUIRED BUT NOT TO THE EXTENT BEING APPLIED NOW AND IN THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS. ALL THE ISLANDS OF SCILLY ARE LOVED BY ISLANDERS AND VISITORS FOR THE OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY WHICH IS BEING SPOILT NOW BY THE WLT, IN APPARENTLY THE NEED TO PRESERVE FOR THE FUTURE. I ASK ONCE AGAIN, HOW ON THIS EARTH HAVE THE ISLANDS SURVIVED AND FLOURISHED OVER THE DECADES WITHOUT THE NEED FOR THE WILD LIFE TRUST. I EXPECT SO CALLED BIG NAMES WILL COME OUT TO SUPPORT WLT BUT DO NOT LET THEM DETER THE CAMPAIGNERS, THEY WILL ADVISE US THEY KNOW WHAT IS BEST FOR THE ISLANDS, WE KNOW WHAT WE SEE NOW AND THE BEAUTY ENJOYED FOR DECADES WITHOUT THEIR ASSISTANCE.”
by Martin web, Scilly isles
Friday, February 26 2010, 7:57PM
“This news papers website is very lucky to get any responce from the Wildlife Trust, we islanders have had none, they just show contempt towards us in our plea's to cease this madness, if you people on the mainland think we are over reacting then check out this blog from the well known Artist Richard Pearce. http://ilovebryher.blogspot.com/
and he's a supporter of wildlife etc.”
by Albert, Scilly
Friday, February 26 2010, 7:20AM
“A terrible mess, and they take no notice of public opinion, they are out of control and we need help to stop them from destroying the islands and our livelihoods, the trouble is that we are such a small population that no one will listen”
by j, Suffolk
Thursday, February 25 2010, 8:29PM
“Has David Mawer of the WLT on Scilly actually read the comments on the on-line petition opposing the grazing policy ? 'some people not in favour' is now numbering 335!Let alone the paper petitions on the islands. Listen to the voices!”
by Judith Page, Hampshire
Thursday, February 25 2010, 7:11PM
“Although I live in Hampshire now, I was born in Scilly, lived there for 33 years, and never in all my life have I heard such dribble from the WLT. Cordoning off the beautiful walks, letting cattle graze, and burning the Heather and Gorse etc.
Scilly is a beautiful place, and it does not need the likes of the WLT dictating as to what they want Scilly to look like. I've just two words to say to them....BUTT OUT!!!”