Shepherd's plea for fence is refused by park (From Gazette & Herald)

Shepherd's plea for fence is refused by park

A HALF mile of fence proved a difficult hurdle for members of the North York Moors National Park Authority this week.

Upland sheep farmer Brian Aconley had urged the authority to allow the fence to be erected between Esklets and Farndale to make it easier to shepherd flocks over the vast moorland area.

And although authority members stressed the importance of sheep flocks to maintain the moors, they decided to say no to the fence on the grounds that it would spoil the appearance of the landscape.

But it was not an easy decision. The refusal was made on the casting vote of the chairman, Coun Helen Schroeder.

The members were told that picture-postcard heather moors could become a thing of the past unless action is taken to safeguard the declining number of sheep flocks.

To maintain the heather moors, which also provide habitat for the grouse population, a balance must be maintained with sheep. In their grazing, they keep down scrub that might overwhelm the heather; but if there are too many sheep in one area, they start to eat the heather.

Michael Graham, the park's estate and moorland officer, in a joint report with the park's chief executive, Andy Wilson, said: "The number of flocks on the moors has been in slow decline for many years. There is less incentive for farmers to maintain moorland flocks as conditions are harsher and productivity poorer.

"The problem is exacerbated by the current low level of profitability of moorland sheep farming and the effects of foot and mouth disease."

The authority, though rejecting the one fence, did agree to allow another from High House to Esklets on condition that graziers agree to enclosing the river corridor and provision be made for public access.

Members agreed to set aside £16,000 for the installation of cattle grids and a further £20,000 to assist in shepherding flocks.

Mrs Catriona Cook, a DEFRA appointee member to the authority, suggested that an apprenticeship scheme should be set up to train shepherds. "Many of the present farmers and shepherds are getting on in years, and it is vital that a younger generation of shepherds is created."

Mr Graham said there had been increasing difficulty of shepherding the high moorland at Rosedale, Wheeldale, Egton, and Danby. Last year's FMD outbreak resulted in nine complete flocks being culled.

The grazing of the central moors, including Rosedale, was now left to four large flocks totalling 800-1,000 ewes and six small flocks totalling 100-350 ewes.

In addition, higher prices for breeding sheep have increased the incentive to sell, particularly for farmers looking to retirement.

The threat to the future of flocks and the moorland was now seen by all those involved as being significant, said Mr Graham.

"The removal of sheep grazing from the moor will affect not only the local economy but remove a key tool for conservation management, grouse moor management and increase the risk of damage by uncontrolled fires."

He added: "In addition, there would be a great loss to local cultural heritage and identity."

Coun Herbert Tindall, the authority's vice-chairman and himself a sheep farmer, said that if the sheep were to be lost to the moors, thousands of acres would become covered in scrub trees and he urged: "You must listen to the graziers and farmers."

However, Andy Wilson, the park's chief executive, said that to allow the fence would be against the authority's policy because of the impact on the landscape. He added that the authority spent more money aiding the farming industry than any other national park.

The removal of much of the grazing pressure would be likely to allow colonisation of moorland by tree species, since the alternative of manual control was costly and time consuming, said Peter Barfoot, the head of advisory services.

"It is clear that the authority must work hard in the short-term to find practical solutions to shepherding problems to prevent an unmanageable situation developing. A serious situation exists with regard to continued grazing of the moorland in the park."

Updated: 10:51 Thursday, June 27, 2002