Nesting season.

Last year twitchers observed a rise in numbers of the Great Twit. 

Global warming and increased leisure time brought this species to our open countryside. Observers noted Great Twits were often accompanied by domestic dogs. While the latter species reek havoc amongst ground nesting birds, be they wild or game, Great Twits are often oblivious to this carnage. Modern agricultural practice is not without problems, but Great Twit and their dogs must take some blame. 

Unfortunately, followers of the southern Greater Twit appear equally oblivious to countrymen’s fears, by advocating the species be given free range status. Not only ground nesters, but ewes and lambs are at risk on moorland and in field. Unless a sense of responsibility is brought to Great Twits, harmonious free range status will be reduced significantly. Keep all dogs under control on open moorland, in the nesting season, otherwise Skylarks amongst others will be nought but faded pictures in books.

From 14.08.2010

Ilkley B'aht Moor

28 May 1998

While reading the Garden of Cyrus atop Ilkley Moor, it struck me how alike an early 20th Century electrical Railway telegraph (as referred to in the Windsor magazine - 1904/5), was to the Quincuncial Plantations of the Ancients. Though to describe Ilkley Moor as a similar Lozenge, would be pushing things too far. The network of plantations springing up across it’s northern face, may in part be natural, but many are artificial. And while those stones and boulders with cups and spirals upon their forms are often given a mystical nature, one must consider the effects by trees on these artefacts. Given that a majority may or may not have been buried for over five millennia.

But, why are we allowing such plantations to take over the near untamed character of Ilkley Moor? Agrarians who spend their lives in close unison with Nature know and respect her powers. Is it fear or lack of this respect which prompts Urban Man to plant trees, in wide open spaces? This is, after all, Yorkshire! Were it Sardis, one could understand Xenophon’s feelings, but his treaties on the Horse are of more importance to those people of Wharfedale who follow in his tradition. At least try to! 

Had Dr Thomas Brown visited Ilkley he would, no doubt, view Ilkley Moor with an eye of incredulity. For those able to see and hear, speak and think for themselves, have often quoted how moorland for which this town became known worldwide, is taking a downward spiral and has been for over a quarter century. How long are you, the residents of this Town, going to allow this spiral to continue? That which many of you moved to this area for, is in part, fast becoming eroded, grown over and worst of all, forgotten. Compaired to the Garden of Cyrus, your valley is becoming lost to the humours and vapours of modernity.

For what will Ilkley be remembered at the end of the third Millennia?

*

LOST! Middleton Woods - Middleton in Wharfedale

Over past years, Councillors, Residents and the Press, have repeatedly quoted, “.......development of housing on the former Middleton Hospital site, could be detrimental to an area of ’ancient woodland’ apparently called Middleton woods..........”.

How many have stopped to wonder, just where are Middleton woods?

I have beside me various maps of this area, surveyed and printed from about 1895 to 1990, respectively. Each different when describing woodland across the river, now called by some as ‘Middleton Woods’.

In 1895, there were between Low Hall and Low Laithe, Coppy Wood, Stubham Wood, Hudson wood and Nail Bank Wood. No mention of Middleton Wood. In approximately 1900/4, there were Coppice Wood, Stubbing Wood, Middleton Wood and Nail Bank Wood. Hudson Wood seemingly disappearing. The map of 1952 ( revised in 1959 ), shows Coppy Wood, Stubham Wood and Hudson Wood. Nail Bank Wood and Middleton Wood, going the way of Hudson Wood on a previous map. Also, what was formerly known as Holmes Spring, between Low Laithe and Carters Lane, had become another part of Hudson Wood. Which seems very odd, given the large area of open land between the former Holmes Spring and a previous Hudson Wood.

On the 1990 map the whole area had become Middleton Woods, thus removing any ancient woodland names from that part of the locality, forever.

Some years ago, when involved in trying to stop a development down south, an application from another party was thrown out because of the vagueness in naming an area of woodland. Are we to suppose the same could happen here? If they are to be called ‘Ancient Woodland’, then their ‘ancient’ names must be upheld, too. While there are some who would say Coppy and Coppice, or Stubham and Stubbing are variations of the same. One can’t say this for Hudson, Nail Bank or Holmes spring!

Changing names, has lost this Valley much throughout the past hundred years. Too much. Wheatley is a prime example. We all make little mistakes in research, but the above is so glaringly obvious, one wonders how the Parish Council have missed it, worse still, allowed it to happen.

Curried Oysters

I wonder how many folk realise Bradford, the Curry Capital, is twinned with Galway in Ireland. And one thing Galway is famous for is the Clarenbridge Oyster Festival - http://www.clarenbridge.com/  - perhaps someone in the 'Twins' could pick up on this fact and publicise it more. To make it easier for them here's a Yorkshire link - http://www.bradfordirish.com/wordpress/?p=287

Voice of the Countryside: Researching Bridle Routes

It is quite staggering just how many routes have been lost in the Ilkley/Burley areas compared to the number of footpath/cycleways. To an infrequent rider it shows how totally out of balance the situation has become. Horse riders have as much right to follow their persuit in the countryside as the rest of the population and in the case of the female population a much safer one.

Voice of the Countryside: Rombalds District Bridleways

Researching Bridle Routes

Researching Bridle Routes

A Day in Skipton