The cuts seem never ending with the perennial promise of more, just in case we step out of line.
Perhaps it's a sign of the times that I, out walking, find that the local council are happy to waste money on cuts that have acutely saddened me. I'm not talking about anything life threatening here, not the reduction of support to people that need it (as seems to be the case ongoing in the UK), but instead a countryside path/cycle route/bridleway.
The council have sent in a maintenance team to basically cut the hedges/verges and treeline to nothing. First world problems certainly, but it's just sad to see such small minded attitudes. Granted this region isn't the Amazon or the Masai Mara, it's still nature. It's wild and it should be free. But instead council jobsworths with money that could be much better spent just to make sure some leaves don't land in the wrong place.
Unfortunately this area is also rich in wildlife; it has everything from birds and adders to deer and foxes. It seems all to typical of our attitudes these days; instead of letting something beautiful through being natural, it has to be artificially managed in order to be pleasing. None of this was causing a hazard nor in anyone's way. I doubt there was a crisis of sickness though I'm sure, when I can get hold of the right people (the parish council are completely in the dark), the reason will be to manage the land better.
Well in my opinion the land has managed just fine up until now. It doesn't need councillors with money to waste interfering. It just makes me sad to see even something as simple as a hedge along a country lane being fiercely cut back. Is nothing sacred anymore?
You are right, we need to leave nature to it.
ReplyDeleteAbout ten years ago, the local wildlife group took their axes and machetes to part of the old railway line footpath and created carnage for the wildlife, so as to make the path "more attractive and accessible" to the dog walking public (who had been managing just fine anyway) They decimated the bushes and trees right back to the hedges, creating a desert either side of the path. You used to get a lot of Bullfinches down there, and the odd Goldfinch. Not seen any for years now, there's little for them to eat and much less cover. The Barn Owls have fucked off too, despite the wildlife group putting up nesting boxes. Once the path was more popular, the owls moved out. Can't say I blame them.
But it's nice and tidy now and that seems to be all that matters sadly.
There's something about keeping nature tidy, it's like a germ that gets into the brains of wildlife group organisers and local councils.