Bob Berzins recently reported large scale burning on the Chelburn Moor, near Cow's Mouth. Did anyone here see it taking place? Bob tells me this area is supposed to be conservation protected, so this type of burning shouldn't take place.
Bob took these photos from the main track (Pennine way) just above Cows Mouth lower boulders and Wicken Low to right of pylons.
Bob says:
"No grouse shooting here as far as I know.
Best guess so far is that tenant farmer did it so that there would be fresh shoots for his sheep to nibble. Sheep don't eat the tussocky grass which is called Mollinia, apparently the big tussocks are full of silica.
Natural England have contacted some branch of the fire service to see if anything reported.
Apparently a similar large scale burn took place about 5 years ago?
It's all supposed to be conservation protected so this scale of burning shouldn't happen.
RSPB are very unhappy because some pretty rare birds (Twite) used to nest in this area,but they've not been back since the first large burn."
