Vicarious liability for raptor persecutio​n in England

In Scotland, when a gamekeeper, or similar, is caught poisoning, snaring, or otherwise killing birds of prey it is not only the individual who is prosecuted. His or her employer is also prosecuted - known as "offence of vicarious liability". I understand that there have already been successful prosecutions. This will hopefully make the landowners think twice before actively encouraging the offences or turning a blind eye.

An epetition on the Governments epetition website has been started, to encourage a similar law in England. Please use the following link to add your name - it only takes a couple of minutes - and it might just save a few of these beautiful - and legally protected - birds.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/23089



Hen Harrier

I was lucky enough to see a Hen Harrier over Stockdale Moor, Westerdale, on the North York Moors, a few months ago. It is shocking to think that only four of these glorious birds managed to fledge in the whole of England in 2011. Why.......?

The above picture came from the Raptor Politics website - thanks.

More Snow

The sky dropped another four inches of snow (to add to the three inches or so still on the ground) on Thursday afternoon and evening, over Wykeham Forest. About half of that landed on the dogs and me during our evening walk.

Wykeham Forest - Elven Wood (SE948864)

Both the dogs love the snow and its great to see them running and jumping about in it, scrabbling and digging, and pouncing on imaginary creatures underneath the blanket of white. When out in the dark, Rafe leaps five foot to catch snowflakes in the torch beam.


Wykeham Forest - Rafe and Hal
at the north end of Bee Dale Top (SE943870)

Hal

Here are a few photo's taken over the last couple of days.



Wykeham Forest - Elven Wood
(SE945862)



Wykeham Forest - Rise Dikes from SE943868)

Wykeham Forest - The Big Flat Gorse Bush !!



Wykeham Forest - Rafe looks down into Bee Dale
(SE948867)

Wykeham Forest - Looking south into Bee Dale (SE948867)

Wykeham Forest
Wykeham Estate boundary stone
Bee Dale Top



Wykeham Forest - Wykeham Estate boundary stone, Bee Dale Top,
the west side of the stone, demarking the Forestry Commission land
Rafe and Hal



Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale, looking north from SE952866

Today the snow has that glassy look, as if its ready to slump back into its liquid form without too much of a fight. Its definitely milder today, but there's still quite a lot of snow about, so it'll take a while to disappear.


Wykeham Forest - The Vale of Pickering, south from Bluebell Wood (SE950863).
The Yorkshire Wolds in the misty distance

Snow

Yes - thinking of spring was seriouly premature.......



Wykeham Forest
Hal, as the snow really starts to fall
04/02/2012



Wykeham Forest
Rafe, as the snow really starts to fall
04/02/2012



The Big Gorse Bush - Wykeham Forest - 04/02/2012

North Moor, Wykeham Forest
Just before dawn, 05/02/2012 (SE949862)

Wykeham Forest - Elven Wood (SE945862)

Wykeham Forest - Rafe and Hal at Rise Dikes (SE943868)

Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale from SE944869

Wykeham Forest - Rafe and Hal, Bee Dale Top (SE943869)

Swaledales on East Moor (SE944862)

Wykeham Forest - Hal and Rafe
Bee Dale Top

Wykeham Forest
Bee Dale Top (SE943870)

Wykeham Forest - Middle Track (SE945866)



Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale Top (SE949867)



Wykeham Forest - Bee Dale from SE951866



Wykeham Forest
Rafe and Hal in Bluebell Wood (give it three months !)
SE951864

Views south from Bluebell Wood (SE951863)

Hutton Buscel across Bee Dale from SE961844

January in Wykeham Forest.

Another unusual month - mild and damp. Occasional frosts, and some lovely clear, bright days, wonderful for walking.
 

Wykeham Forest - Mist in Elven Wood (SE943867)

All my walking has been in and about Wykeham Forest since our wade in Rosedale at the beginning of the month, due to work and other stuff going on at weekends.
 

Wykeham Forest - By Harlands Nursery (SE933875)

Firstly Freddie had to be transported, along with all his worldly goods, back to University. He was filled with enthusiasm about his upcoming exams.
 

Wykeham Forest - Hal and Rafe on Infested Path (SE938883)


Another weekend was taken up by a St. John's Activity First Aid course. The course was facilitated by a member of the Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team, partly in the North York Moors National Park HQ in Helmsley and partly on the moors near Sutton Bank. I'm not sure what the hill walkers around and about us thought about 12 mad First Aiders running about in nitrile gloves, bandages fake wounds and plastic sick. A great fun weekend, with like minded people, enhanced skills and a qualificaiton to boot. Thanks Ian!!


Wykeham Forest - birch, beech and moss (SE933874)


Here are a few photo's taken in Wykeham Forest over recent weeks. Looking forward to spring now.... Hope this isn't premature......


Wykeham Forest - Birch in Elven Wood (SE943867)

Wykeham Forest - Rise Dikes (SE943868)

 

Wykeham Forest - Hal and Rafe in Harlands Nursery (SE932874)

Wykeham Forest
After the illegal off-roaders have been through!!
Rafe and Hal - Charcoal Burners Track (SE939877)

Wykeham Forest - The very top of Sawdon Dale (SE938868)

Three Tremblers Tumuli.

Rafe and Hal,
beside the largest and most southerly of the Three Temblers Tumuli,
Wykeham Forest - 01/01/2012

Whilst doing some research into the amcient remains in Wykeham Forest, I came across this article by Brian Beadle, on the Malton Gazette and Herald website :

HISTORY abounds on this ride to find some prehistoric round barrows called the three tremblers hidden away in Wykeham Forest.

Around 1,000BC, which is referred to as the urn period, the urn people made a serious attempt to live on the moors and dales leaving us evidence of their existence with finds of urns and tools.

The three tremblers are barrows where the urn people buried their cremated dead. When the barrows were excavated, there was an urn with a deep neck, a bronze dagger and a flint knife in one trembler and a large urn and a jet pendant in another.

There is also evidence of a stone circle at the most northerly of the three tremblers, but nothing was found there.

Not far away another stone circle was discovered on the edge of the escarpment overlooking Troutsdale where a broken urn filled with burnt bones was found as well as other interesting pots.

As I researched this article, I came upon an interesting fact about stone circles. There was usually a mother-goddess associated with stone circle worship who was nicknamed the Old Wife, and the pathways leading to the circle are today known as Old Wife’s Trod, or Old Wife’s Way. Perhaps the Old Wife’s Way leading to Newgate Foot is associated with the standing stones in the area around Blakey Topping?

Why are the barrows in Wykeham Forest called the three tremblers? No one knows for sure, but some think it could be to do with the constellations in the night sky. The tremblers representing the handle of the plough.

The rest of the article - a cycle route in the area - can be found at the following link:

http://www.gazetteherald.co.uk/leisure/cyclerides/4494210.Brompton__Wykeham_and_Sawdon_cycle_ride/

Scots Pine, guarding the Three Tremblers Tumuli,
Wykeham Forest - 08/01/2012

Rosedale.

Only time for a short walk in Rosedale, but the views were great, on a cool, breezy day with sun and showers. 

Bell Top from Rosedale Abbey

We set off from Rosedale Abbey village car park, walked through the village (disappointed to see that both the tea rooms were closed) and north along the River Seven, 

River Seven, Rosedale - SE716966

 

Hill Plantation, Rosedale, from SE717966

 cut across the dale and followed Northdale Beck back to the village. 

Bell Top, Rosedale, from SE717966

Looking south along Rosedale from SE722969

Descent onto Northdale, SE723972

 

Northdale, Rosedale frm SE724973

Freddie and Rafe, Northdale Beck, Rosedale - SE723974

A really muddy trudge alongside Northdale Beck, Rosedale - SE724964