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Started by Wildfisher, April 20, 2020, 02:41:51 PM

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Laxdale

Quote from: admin on April 21, 2020, 11:59:08 AM
Same every dry spring. Difference is they can't blame anglers and walkers this time. Why in the name of **** are keepers out burning  in these tinderbox conditions AND at a time when the consensus is we should be keeping pressure off the emergency services?

Davy Holt had pictures up of that blaze last night. And a nice wee video he took using his thermal imager. Fred showing his blinkered view again. That fire is on a "rewilded" hill consisting of scrub/gorse.rank heather and dead grass. Young chaps out for a wander started it. There was another similar fire not too far away. Again, on a hillside that had not seen a grazing animal in goodness knows how long.
As I said to a bloke advocating letting more twats out walking/running/cycling just now "Leave them locked up until it rains".
Interesting there are just as many fires, except no one can blame keepers this year. Mind you, the Barra crofters are having a good stab at burning their whole island this year.

Laxdale

A wee update from the Brahan Syndicate Factor -

"Fish Legal advice that fishing is "ultimately up to proprietors", is heavily qualified - travel to fish cannot be considered essential. The police have enforced that position on several rivers.

Being seen on the river is now considered socially unacceptable and this position has been adopted by all DSFBs. FMS advice is that "ultimately, it is for individual proprietors to determine whether fishing can take place in accordance with the latest announcements. However, we do not consider that fishing is an essential activity, and, in most cases, it requires a degree of travel which could not be considered essential. It is our view that the fisheries management and angling communities should play a full part in this greater societal commitment, and therefore it is the strong recommendation of Fisheries Management Scotland that we should refrain from fishing during the lockdown period..."

FMS has two current priorities: 1. Working with Dr Antje Branding (Marine Scotland Policy) they have sent a joint submission to the Cabinet Secretary, Roseanna Cunningham, for DSFB Assessments to be considered in the same light as Business Rates, with Government assistance to Boards as a result. 2. A return to fishing, at least locally, as soon as the lockdown begins to unwind. I am informed that near daily meetings are taking place because of the impact on rural communities. Fishing was left off the original Small Business Rates Relief scheme simply as an oversight.

And our MSP's are asking the appropriate questions, as a sampler:

Question S5W-28280: Rachael Hamilton, Ettrick, Roxburgh and Berwickshire, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party, Date Lodged: 08/04/2020
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of many sporting clients coming to Scotland for leisure purposes, which contributes to other retail and hospitality businesses, for what reason sporting businesses are ineligible to apply for the support grant for retail, hospitality and leisure businesses to mitigate the impact of COVID-19.
Current Status: Expected Answer date 06/05/2020"

Wildfisher

Quote from: Laxdale on April 21, 2020, 12:24:19 PM
Davy Holt had pictures up of that blaze last night. And a nice wee video he took using his thermal imager. Fred showing his blinkered view again. That fire is on a "rewilded" hill consisting of scrub/gorse.rank heather and dead grass. Young chaps out for a wander started it. There was another similar fire not too far away. Again, on a hillside that had not seen a grazing animal in goodness knows how long.
As I said to a bloke advocating letting more twats out walking/running/cycling just now "Leave them locked up until it rains".
Interesting there are just as many fires, except no one can blame keepers this year. Mind you, the Barra crofters are having a good stab at burning their whole island this year.

:roflmao

Laxdale

He added this 10 minutes ago -
"this is my neck of the woods, there are no keepers on that ground, no grazing, no land management but has loads of rewilding areas on it right in the area where the main fire started. Its still going just now, but thankfully its restricted by the terrain as to how far it can spread."

The lads are saying a lot of walking and countryside pages are working themselves up over this fire. All fabrication.
Most likely started in the same way as the Tarvie fire.....a bloke having a smoke just dropping his cigarette and ambling off on his merry way.

Wildfisher

Quote from: Laxdale on April 21, 2020, 12:27:19 PM
- travel to fish cannot be considered essential.

Can't argue with that really even although it seems that reasonable travel for the purpose of exercise is  fine.  It could be argued that there is some exercise in the process of fishing, exercise is not the primary purpose.

Could  be worse. In Spain for example  you are not even allowed out for a walk. However if you have a dog you can walk that. At least in the good old UK dog exercise is not more important than human exercise.


ianmck

That's the kilpatrick hills. There are fires there every single year usually around greenside reservoir, primarily caused by the local neds from duntocher. There has also been a lot of tree felling recently. Lots of dry wood lying about to keep it burning. High winds at the moment have probably helped it spread and made it worse than usual.
The lower slopes of the hills are grazed by livestock. The middle is typical dry heather and the tops are mostly marshy grasslands around the lochs. I wouldn't exactly call it a rewilding area, it's just the forestry commission are replanting what they chopped down but are using native trees in more natural plantings this time. There are actually some old grouse butts kicking about up there.

Wildfisher

As far as getting back to fishing goes  it would be better phased in. Common sense would  dictate  that last on the list should anything that requires guides or ghillies,  comes with accommodation like lodges, hotels etc, boat fishing,  small fisheries and the like.   In short anything that by definition brings people into contact has to be last back and probably best delayed until 2021.


ianmck

I am seeing more and more people doing outdoor activities. Saw some people up on the hills flying kites the other day. Some guys kicking a football about the local football pitch earlier. Maybe if we promise to only use split cane rods and cast and walk then we can get it classed as exercise too  :lol:

Wildfisher

I just wish this virus could have done the decent thing and waited until the end of the season.  That the BBC would have had to dump Strictly Come Dancing would have just been a bonus.  :lol:

Laxdale

Quote from: ianmck on April 21, 2020, 01:35:25 PM
That's the kilpatrick hills. There are fires there every single year usually around greenside reservoir, primarily caused by the local neds from duntocher. There has also been a lot of tree felling recently. Lots of dry wood lying about to keep it burning. High winds at the moment have probably helped it spread and made it worse than usual.
The lower slopes of the hills are grazed by livestock. The middle is typical dry heather and the tops are mostly marshy grasslands around the lochs. I wouldn't exactly call it a rewilding area, it's just the forestry commission are replanting what they chopped down but are using native trees in more natural plantings this time. There are actually some old grouse butts kicking about up there.

I challenged Davy if what he said was true...I did a copy and paste and challenged him.
The response -
  Gordon Mackenzie not quite, this area is to the right of the Greenside within the yellow line and the red is the bit that looks to be still burning. This area has large patches of replanted native trees, zero grazing and zero management. The response came with a map, and areas in question marked.

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