Guest blog – Gareth Dockerty

4 thoughts on “Guest blog – Gareth Dockerty”

  1. As a response, I am not attacking today’s forestry practices or the conservation planning that goes with all modern woodland management. Just suggesting that there would be less heathland (a rare and protected habitat) if grouse-shooting had not protected them.

  2. Dear Twitter, I thought I would intervene to capture some reactions within hours of this being posted – for the delectation of those not on 140 character social media – please do also add your own thoughts on Gareth’s guest blog.

    ‏@arcwoodlands In the spirit of openness how about losing the tired forestry descriptions

    @garethBASC Like all habitats we have some excellent wood/plantation but also some poor forestry blocks.

    @andyheald Except no-one has actually planted a “sterile blanket of forestry” for over 20 years

    ‏@garethBASC I agree, my point was there would have been more of them planted without grouse-shooting back then.

    @andyheald There’s a lot more “improved” grassland in our uplands than there is conifer plantation

    @GallowayGrouse Not all about acreage. I’d prefer neighbours with “imp” grass over conifers every time.

    @garethBASC All valid points, the argument was without grouse-shooting there would be less heathland

    And on another matter…..
    ‏@phhoward1 When the persecution stops you have my undivided attention.

    1. There are thousands of hectares of unmanaged “rank” heather moorland in Wales, the majority of which is SSSI and sparsely grazed.
      Bracken continues to invade.
      In the absence of gamekeeping management including predator control and selective ‘patch’ burning etc., they now, unlike in the past, make a minimal contribution to biodiversity.

  3. In response to a couple of comments on twitter….

    “Does one tree destroy a heathland”

    No, I’d actively encourage sections of the moor to undergo natural succession. Especially along water courses…let the birch and scrub develop in these areas, around the managed heathland and have a habitat balance, but the heathland is the rarer habitat and more highly designated in a ecological sense, and must receive the highest level of protection.

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