Our area has been hit badly by heather beetle so not expecting a particularly busy season. Still, looking forward to getting out but I doubt I’ll be taking the dogs until it cools a bit.
On the tops again this week
- Thread starter wassy
- Start date
Great weather!
That’s an interesting vehicle, what is it?
That’s an interesting vehicle, what is it?
Don’t know where you are Wassy, but we have it quite bad in my neck of the woods too. Couple of years ago a chap I know who owns land over Penhill way had his whole season ruined because of it. I know it’s been on Preston Moor and I think Grinton as well.
Heather beetle seems especially bad on parts of the moor where keepers aren't allowed to burn anymore and have to just cut instead, surely burning is an effective tool in the control of the dreaded beetle.
Controlled burning has been practiced by skilled keepers for maybe hundreds of years but the powers that be are doing their best to ban it ....... on ground above a certain height at the moment but with these people it's just the thin end of the wedge.
There’s not an easy answer to the Heather beetle problem unfortunately. I agree with you regarding the burning but when people like Packham have a prime time tv spot to spout their hatred of moor management it’s only a matter of time before proven methods are banned altogether.
From our moorland group.
They say that life is all about taking the rough with the smooth. Followers will know that we try to keep things as up beat as possible, disseminate positive news and share many of the joys that our moors deliver. Well unfortunately this post doesn't really have much of a positive vibe to it, in fact it’s quite a cheerless one but nevertheless informative. This is footage of the Heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) in both larval stage and as adults. Whilst most insects on moors are highly desirable these little characters are most unwelcome. They can and do cause considerable damage to heather plants, sometimes killing the plant but often damaging it to the extent it can take many months even years to recover. Of course it’s a natural phenomenon and many moors may not experience the blight of heather beetle damage for some years. Others can be afflicted repeatedly rendering
the heather plants unpalatable to livestock, grouse and unattractive to other wildlife and nesting birds. In such cases the impact on livelihoods can be considerable too. The beetles life cycle is interesting in that the adults lay dormant throughout the winter in moss and litter beneath the heather structures. As spring approaches and the temperatures rise the beetles emerge to feed and breed. Eggs are laid in the litter layer hatching a few days later. The larvae climb the heather plants and eat the thin outer bark layer of the stem and the leaves as well. They then pupate into adult beetles two to four months later and fly off in search of fresh ground. Damage to heather is not immediately obvious as the beetles are not easily spotted and will drop to the ground if disturbed. The plants show no sign of being damaged either. Later in the year as autumn approaches 'beetled' heather turns red/brown as the stress of the damage takes its toll on the plants. Grouse will leave affected areas and if the extent of the problem is on a large scale this can have a catastrophic impact. Occasionally large outbreaks can occur with beetles being carried on the wind for several miles. When this happens they can enter properties, gardens even the coast in some areas. Heather beetles can have a devastating long term effect on heathered areas and historical outbreaks have been linked to loss of some moorland habitats. The resulting grass dominance from species like purple moor grass (molinia) can be seriously problematic. Whilst there are two known species of small parasitic wasp that feed on heather beetles they cannot be relied upon to control beetle outbreaks. There is no definitive solution to managing heather beetle and moor managers often have to let nature run its course. Controlled burning is not a realistic solution as, contrary to some commentators, the cool burns do not generate heat that penetrates the substrates beneath the canopy. Therefore the 'sleeping' beetles like other insects and amphibians are unaffected by controlled fires. Different moor managers have their own preferred ways of dealing with beetle damaged heather when it appears. These are largely site specific and determined by local factors. Burning beetled heather or cutting it can help regenerate the plants from the root stock in some cases, in others its a waiting game to see if the plants will recover without intervention. So if you see ginger looking heather in late summer or early autumn or perhaps greying areas in winter there is good chance that the heather has been attacked by beetle larvae. In the past these symptoms were often considered to be frost damage as the two causes produce similar indications. The greatest limiting factor to beetle numbers is actually cold, harsh winters with periods of prolonged sub-zero temperatures or penetrating frosts. With a warming climate and milder winters we could see more beetle damage to our cherished uplands - time will tell.
From our moorland group.
They say that life is all about taking the rough with the smooth. Followers will know that we try to keep things as up beat as possible, disseminate positive news and share many of the joys that our moors deliver. Well unfortunately this post doesn't really have much of a positive vibe to it, in fact it’s quite a cheerless one but nevertheless informative. This is footage of the Heather beetle (Lochmaea suturalis) in both larval stage and as adults. Whilst most insects on moors are highly desirable these little characters are most unwelcome. They can and do cause considerable damage to heather plants, sometimes killing the plant but often damaging it to the extent it can take many months even years to recover. Of course it’s a natural phenomenon and many moors may not experience the blight of heather beetle damage for some years. Others can be afflicted repeatedly rendering
the heather plants unpalatable to livestock, grouse and unattractive to other wildlife and nesting birds. In such cases the impact on livelihoods can be considerable too. The beetles life cycle is interesting in that the adults lay dormant throughout the winter in moss and litter beneath the heather structures. As spring approaches and the temperatures rise the beetles emerge to feed and breed. Eggs are laid in the litter layer hatching a few days later. The larvae climb the heather plants and eat the thin outer bark layer of the stem and the leaves as well. They then pupate into adult beetles two to four months later and fly off in search of fresh ground. Damage to heather is not immediately obvious as the beetles are not easily spotted and will drop to the ground if disturbed. The plants show no sign of being damaged either. Later in the year as autumn approaches 'beetled' heather turns red/brown as the stress of the damage takes its toll on the plants. Grouse will leave affected areas and if the extent of the problem is on a large scale this can have a catastrophic impact. Occasionally large outbreaks can occur with beetles being carried on the wind for several miles. When this happens they can enter properties, gardens even the coast in some areas. Heather beetles can have a devastating long term effect on heathered areas and historical outbreaks have been linked to loss of some moorland habitats. The resulting grass dominance from species like purple moor grass (molinia) can be seriously problematic. Whilst there are two known species of small parasitic wasp that feed on heather beetles they cannot be relied upon to control beetle outbreaks. There is no definitive solution to managing heather beetle and moor managers often have to let nature run its course. Controlled burning is not a realistic solution as, contrary to some commentators, the cool burns do not generate heat that penetrates the substrates beneath the canopy. Therefore the 'sleeping' beetles like other insects and amphibians are unaffected by controlled fires. Different moor managers have their own preferred ways of dealing with beetle damaged heather when it appears. These are largely site specific and determined by local factors. Burning beetled heather or cutting it can help regenerate the plants from the root stock in some cases, in others its a waiting game to see if the plants will recover without intervention. So if you see ginger looking heather in late summer or early autumn or perhaps greying areas in winter there is good chance that the heather has been attacked by beetle larvae. In the past these symptoms were often considered to be frost damage as the two causes produce similar indications. The greatest limiting factor to beetle numbers is actually cold, harsh winters with periods of prolonged sub-zero temperatures or penetrating frosts. With a warming climate and milder winters we could see more beetle damage to our cherished uplands - time will tell.It’s a Reynolds Boughton used for transporting the beaters over the moor.
Reynolds Boughton RB 44
The Reynolds Boughton RB 44 is a multi-purpose 4x4 light utility truck with a 2.5 t payload. It was developed as a private venture. This truck was originally called the RB 510. It can be used for a variety of roles, such as troop carrier, shelter carrier, light artillery tractor, or anti-tank missi
www.milweb.net
Couple of good days on this moor. Bit on the hot side for the dogs but plenty of water to cool off in.
Dogs weren’t keen on the Augusta and neither was I at 3k an hour !
Dogs weren’t keen on the Augusta and neither was I at 3k an hour !
No shooting in the moors of the estate I go on. Heather beetle and gulls the main problem. Possibly a family day is all afaik. Partridges off the fell sides in about 5 weeks is when we start.
I’m on another shoot on Thursday that’s been hit pretty badly so will be interesting to see how the heather looks. They have a team of Americans who come over for the first couple of days But they are in their 80’s now and couldn’t hit a bulls arse with a cricket bat so not a huge bag. Talking to the keeper yesterday he thought they’d only be doing odd single days this season.
I’ve not seen any parties on the moor above us yet this year. It does seem very quiet. Part of the moor is owned by Bradford Met and they banned shooting on their part. Obviously there isn’t the money to maintain that part now. It will be a hell of a job to put it out when it does get on fire.
The land will still get some income from an agricultural grant that Theresa May increased significantly a few years ago.
fullfact.org
Does the government subsidise grouse shooting? – Full Fact
Grouse moorland is eligible for agricultural subsidy, provided it is kept in a fit state for grazing. We don’t know how much subsidy grouse moors receive in total.
fullfact.org
Fogged off yesterday but got four drives in today when it lifted.
That’s Spence in the distance by the sign with his dogs. He’ll be back to the day job in Zandvoort next week changing wheels on an F1 car
That’s Spence in the distance by the sign with his dogs. He’ll be back to the day job in Zandvoort next week changing wheels on an F1 car
Them dogs look in good nick. Didn’t stop at the Rose & Crown did they ?
Certainly been burning the heather around Langdale Moor. Not deliberate though (or maybe it is). Most of N. Yorks fire stations are turning out.
Stank on the coast over the weekend as the smoke drifted down from the moors.
Stank on the coast over the weekend as the smoke drifted down from the moors.
Same team of shooters on a different moor today. Plenty of Grouse about on the low ground and a nice breeze. Heather patchy in places but better than expected. The Augusta turned up again with a different pilot.
Bit of a mixed week from a flat industrial landscape to a rocky Moor with big hills. Got soaked yesterday but it was warm rain so a refreshing change from the scorching sun.
More Grouse about than I expected but I can’t see the season being a long one the way the keepers are talking.
More Grouse about than I expected but I can’t see the season being a long one the way the keepers are talking.
Bit of a steaming wet dog day today
It looks like an Ex UK MoD REYNOLDS BOUGHTON RB44 4x4 to me.
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