Thursday 7 January 2016

Open Letter

To Sheffield Council Party Leaders and Deputy Leaders


The increased flood risk makes it imperative that we should take a new look at the way our uplands are managed on the fringe of Sheffield. While much focus in the Sheffield media has recently been on city trees there has been a remarkable silence on the vital role that trees should play on the moors. At the time of writing Sheffield has been lucky to escape the worst of the floods mainly because rainfall has so far not equalled that experienced further north, nor the levels of 2007 in Sheffield. But flood warnings have been issued and conditions can change very quickly. If things take a turn for the worse only emergency and desperate measures can deal with any incidents.

Surely it would be irresponsible to ignore those calls for important long term measures that are gathering strength nationally. A consensus is developing on the action that needs to be taken. The greatest rainfall comes in the higher land around the city and here that is managed by the conservation charities constituting the Sheffield Moors Partnership who are committed to maintaining extensive and artificially open landscapes that remain essentially characteristic of grouse shooting estates; grassy areas are also managed to discourage woodland through grazing with sheep and cattle. Trees are generally very few and, astonishingly, in places mature native trees are being felled adjacent to watercourses. These trees can help to moderate rainfall run-off and do much to mitigate the effects of flooding.

Environmental and wildlife commentators are increasingly claiming that a more wooded character to our local uplands can have many benefits that go well beyond flood mitigation, bringing a more natural aspect to landscape and a greater range of wildlife. This issue is at least as important as the proper management of flood plains.

Sheffield Moors Partnership gains financially from farm subsidies and grants from DEFRA and elsewhere encouraging open treeless landscapes and 'good agricultural condition'. They will not voluntarily turn away from this money so will only change if there is political pressure.

Sheffield's Waterways Strategy makes mention of “change management of mooorlands” and “management of the upland catchment …. to improve stormwater retention” but with no practical measures suggested.

Will you help by calling for an open debate and re-evaluation of current policies as laid out in Sheffield Moors Partnership's flawed Master Plan?

Neil Fitzmaurice

Friends of Blacka Moor

some links:



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-3382245/The-root-flood-crisis-mad-dash-EU-cash-writes-GEORGE-MONBIOT.html

Latest article.

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Spot on Neil. Have you sent this letter to the Council? If so, do keep us updated as to their response.

Neil said...

Sent to Council party leaders. Someone should also write to the Telegraph?