VallumVoice

Another day, another wildfire meeting.  Yesterday, I was in Northern Ireland as part of an international cast advising Northern Ireland wildfire stakeholders, led by the NI Environment Agency and NI Fire & Rescue Service, about the development of a wildfire strategy.  The other members of the  cast were: Ciaran Nugent, Forest Service (Ireland) Michael Bruce, Firebreak Services and the Scottish Wildfire Forum Chuck Bushey, International Association of Wildland Fire (USA), Colum McDaid - organiser (Northern Ireland Environment Agency) Rob Gazzard, Forestry Commission England Jordi Vendrell, Pau Costa Foundation (Catalonia) Alex Held, European Forest Institute (Germany) The meeting took the form of a workshop with group working by the 47 delegates to assess the best approach to adopt in Northern Ireland to develop a wildfire strategy.  It was pleasing to note that there was a high degree of consensus.  The establishment of a mechanism (a wildfir...

As Chairman of the England & Wales Wildfire Forum, I was pleased to give a presentation, representing The Heather Trust, at the South and West Wales Wildfire workshop that took place today at the HQ of South Wales Fire & Rescue Service (SWFRS), at Llantrisant to the north of Cardiff. I had the last slot of the day and gave a presentation that covered the ‘The Role of a Wildfire Forum’. I had watched many of the points I wanted to make being covered in the earlier presentations, but this provided me with an opportunity to build on what others had said. I think that a key role for the wildfire forum is to promote the 'power of partnership' - to develop a consensus amongst the broad range of stakeholders that are engaged in wildfire or that are likely to be affected by it.  I also believe that the wildfire community should work together across the UK, as this will give the message about wildfire the greatest impact. The most important message about wildfire ...

Smiling Tree Farm /  Emily Chappell   In the debate about carbon, global warming and impending disaster, the cow often gets a bad press.  The popular view is that, as large herbivores, cattle produce large amounts of CO 2 and, less pleasantly, large quantities of Methane (CH 4 ).  If this is your view and it concerns you, read the blog from Smiling Tree Farm.  You will be offered a different view that provides justification for the continuing supply of beef, milk and leather, for the foreseeable future, at least from a climate change perspective. Perhaps a key point is that 'cows cycle carbon, while fossil fuels add carbon'. Let's love our cattle!  In an upland environment, I think there is an important role for cattle and when managed correctly they are a significant force for good.  I welcome this alternative view to counter the views of the prophets of doom. Smiling Tree Farm - Cattle Mooooves

Is this an example of the shape of things to come?  If nothing else it comes as a relief to see some common sense thinking about how support for upland farming could, and perhaps should, be shaped in the new era that will follow departure from the EU. Extract from the  Exmoor NPA website : During 2017, the Government, through Defra, encouraged the people of Exmoor to develop new ideas for incentivising the wide range of public benefits provided by farming and other land management. In response to this, and to a clear appetite from the Exmoor farming community to influence future policy and investment, a steering group was set up to explore the potential for a locally designed scheme. The steering group comprises the Exmoor Hill Farming Network, ENPA, Exmoor Society, Natural England, RSPB and private landowners. Robin Milton, the Authority Chairman is chair. In a Nutshell (from the  Exmoor Ambition  Report) Brexit ...

Opening up a new blog raises a range of questions: what to cover, what style to adopt, who will ever read it? Who knows to the last point, but the other questions will probably be answered by a bit of evolution. This first post is to provide a basis for developing a voice in my new role as a Consultant to follow on from the posts I wrote for the Heather Trust's blog .  Anne Gray takes over from me as Director on Monday morning.  Where did that 16 years go?! My role for HT may have been full on, but there is still some fire in my belly that I intend to apply to the cause in continuing support of the Trust, but also in parallel to the Trust as an independent consultant, should any opportunities appear. I will not be reaching for the cardigan and slippers just yet.  Initially, my support for the Trust will include a continuing a role with Scotland's Moorland Forum, and on other groups where I  am chairman. I will be providing support with some proj...