Farming Monthly National July 2018 | Page 25

| Sheep NSA warns of link between upland rewilding and devastating wildfires At the leading edge Known nationwide. Owned nationwide. Shown nationwide. With devastating scenes of wildfires raging over Saddleworth Moor across the news recently the National Sheep Association (NSA) is warning of the increased risk of similar disasters if proposals to re- wild many of the UK’s upland areas are pursued. he Whiteley Hey Flock Exhibiting at the NSA Sheep Event on the 18th July 2018 Boasting 30 years of Genetics in Texels, Beltex x Texels and Beltex x Charolais. Our sheep are sold throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The progeny of these rams have gone on to win many Easter and Christmas fat stock shows. The lambs are amongst the top priced lambs in prime stock rings around the country. These rams are bred for T ombined risk factors of predicted climate change and weather patterns with removal of grazing animals that have in the past protected uplands from out of control fires by creating natural firebreaks could mean the fires causing distress amongst people living and working in the area could become more widespread. NSA Chief Executive Phil Stocker comments: “Wildfires are becoming more common across the UK, in part due to a loss of grazing animals and an increase in high volumes of dry vegetation. The result is causing immense environmental damage including the loss of peat and release of carbon into the atmosphere, the destruction of mammals and young birds, the potential loss of domesticated livestock and of course, a risk to human health. “The grazed nature of most of our uplands has, in the past, protected us from out of control fires, meaning that when fires occur as they inevitably will, they are short lived and relatively easy to get under control. This is C www.farmingmonthly.co.uk excellent Conformation and Skins. We have an outstanding show of rams on offer exhibiting power, skin, length and shape all the attributes required for today's commercial and pure breeders. See our sales page for sale dates and venues or visit our farm and see them for yourself. All our sheep are vaccinated with Enzo- Vac, Tox-Vac and Foot Vac and are on the Heptavac P system. The sheep are fed naturally with malassed sugar beet pellets only. Therefore they continue to thrive and go on to do well for their new owners. a practical example of how sheep farming has an integral relationship with our planet and connects our landscape, our people and our wildlife and environment through natural and traditional land management whilst also producing food and fibre from plants and regions that would not otherwise feed and clothe us.” Extending sympathy and concern to all affected by the blaze currently affecting over 6 sq. km of land on Saddleworth Moor, Mr Stocker continues: “The NSA is not aiming to win political gain from a clearly distressing and damaging event and our thoughts go to all affected in the area, however we do feel the need to point out that moves to re-wild many of our upland areas would put far more and far larger areas at risks.” Further information on the environmental benefits of sheep farming in upland areas is available in the NSA publication ‘The complementary role of sheep in upland and hill areas’ that is available to download from www.nationalsheep.org.uk/polic y-work July 2018 | Farming Monthly | 25