Managing Molinia? Proceedings of a 3-Day Conference 14-16 September 2015 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK
Managing Molinia? Proceedings of a 3-day conference 14-16 September 2015 in Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, UK. Edited by Roger Meade National Trust Molinia Conference organising committee at Marsden Moor Estate office. L-R: Alan Stopher, Craig Best, Roger Meade, Nick Pollett and Andrew Underdown. With assistance from Rob Henry, Alyssa Young and Frances DeGiorgio (not in picture). Cover image © Alan Stopher View towards Pule Hill north-eastwards from the route of the old turnpike. Redbrook reservoir is in the middle distance. This is one of the original canal reservoirs which is maintained by Canal & River Trust with the water supplying Yorkshire Water’s customers. A sailing club also uses the amenity. Molinia tussocks dominate the foreground. 2 ‘Managing Molinia’ Conference, 14-16 September 2015, Huddersfield, UK; National Trust, ed. R Meade To cut, or not to cut. A very straightforward question, but so much Foreword more succinct than the answer. This is the dilemma often faced by managers of land for nature conservation where the easiest solution is to just follow what others are doing. As a former habitat specialist for a statutory nature conservation body, I am familiar with the pressures to provide clear guidance and one I remember well is the popular belief that any trees on lowland raised bogs should be cut down and prevented from regrowth. While there is a case for adopting this principle in many situations there are those in which it is not necessary, and is even undesirable from other perspectives such as the trees’ contribution to the landscape. It means that the conservation land manager must not only be aware of the bare bones of the received wisdom, but also of the caveats that make it possible for him or her to arrive at a reasoned judgement for their specific situation.
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