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The
devastation at Trendlebeer Down after the fire
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We have only to cast
our minds back a few years and remember what happened on Trendlebeer Down,
near Bovey Tracey, which due to the exclusion of livestock for a few years
had developed into an overgrown almost impenetrable mass of Blackthorne,
Bramble and Bracken.
I accept it was a haven for many species of wildlife but one match and
the whole area went up in smoke and flames.
This demonstrated the need for careful management.
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A
fireman tries desperately to
extinguish the flames
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At Trendlebeer, regeneration
is now taking place, the wildlife is returning and re-establishing, and
with a management plan now in place a large catastrophy like the last
episode should be a thing of the past.
We must all realise that Dartmoor and Exmoor without livestock is a recipe
for a similar disaster in the future.
To keep the Moors as a useful asset both for Agriculture and Tourism and
Recreation we must make sure that these wonderful areas of outstanding
natural beauty do continue to be grazed by the hardy indigenous livestock
and in so doing, does not become a "Wilderness".
It would then be of no value to anyone, farmers, naturalist, historians,
ramblers, tourists, artists, the list is endless, and it would be an incalculable
loss to the Nation.
And one final note - I've had an email from David Baker, the Secretary
of the Dartmoor Duke of Edinburgh panel who sent me the address of the
D of E web address.
You may like to have a look too by clicking on www.theaward.org
- thanks David.
If you'd like to get in touch with Tony you can email
him
at devon.online@bbc.co.uk
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