Farmers and Shepherds are getting older, there isn't much reward in it, no one to take the flock on, pressure from DEFRA, flocks being reduced and so on. The list goes on.
Whatever the impact I feel will be huge.
The fells in places are becoming overgrown. Maybe not on the popular routes but the more outer parts of the District the bracken is getting higher and higher up the fellside. I'm not an expert but eventually the sheep that have virtually kept the fells neat and tidy may just not be there someday
Interesting topic Darren and I've heard both points of view. First and foremost, there is no doubt that sheep are "bad" for the fells because they selectively eat the best grasses and plants and leave that "neat and tidy" look which is in fact unnatural. On the other hand, I know that the decrease in sheep up here is very much being blamed for the increase in ticks attracted to humans - in the past, the sheep provided a decent place for ticks to live, now they have to jump onto us!
ReplyDeleteIt's certainly a way of life that is dying out, and that, in itself, is a shame.