Painting of Cup and Ring Stones
Concern has been expressed that some person or persons unknown has been painting cup and ring stones recently. The first time we became aware of this was when, some years ago, the cup and ring stone in the wood above Willy Hall's Spout was painted with red paint. Recently the same has been done to the Badger Stone, in black paint, and there is a report that another stone has been painted. In each case the intention seems to have been to accentuate the carvings.
Now it is quite probable that when the stones were originally carved, that they were coloured. But those colours will have been simple vegetable pigments. Modern paints contain all sorts of other substances and it is possible that some of these may damage the surface of the stones.
The carved stones on Ilkley Moor are gradually weathering away, and nothing can be done about that, but if we want them to continue to exist, to fascinate future generations, it is important that nothing is done that might increase the rate at which they are weathering. They are all scheduled ancient monuments and just as it would be inexcusable to paint (with modern paints) Nelson's column or the stones at Stonehenge, so too it is inexcusable to paint the cup and ring stones on Ilkley Moor.
We urge all our members that if they know who has been painting the stones they must tell them to stop immediately. If they see anyone painting stones they should report the matter immediately to the Richard Perham of the Countryside Service, to Gavin Edwards at the Manor House Museum and, if necessary to the police.
In 1893, the Ilkley Local Board bought Ilkley Moor from Marmaduke Francis Middleton for the then enormous sum of £13,500. The reason for the purchase was that there was seen to be a conflict between the shooting interests (represented by Middleton) and the rights of the public to enjoy the Moor. That decision resonates today.
At about the same time that the Friends of Ilkley Moor was being formed, Bradford MDC entered into a lease with the Bingley Moor Partnership allowing the Partnership the shooting rights to the Moor. The amount of money paid for the rights was relatively small and the argument that persuaded Bradford MDC was the extra management that the shoot would put into the maintenance of the Moor.
Up until now, FoIM has retained a strict neutrality on the subject of shooting on Ilkley Moor, however, after a careful consideration of the arguments, your committee has decided that we can no longer keep to this position. We have decided that (just as in 1893) there is an inherent conflict between the public right of access and the public's ability to enjoy the Moor and the interests of the shoot. In essence the interests of the shoot are that there should be as few people as possible on the Moor during both the breeding and the shooting season, to minimise the disturbance of the breeding grouse and to minimise the interference with shooting.
From the point of view of FoIM, the Moor should always be a friendly and welcoming place for walkers. This is important too for the economic well-being of the town. We have firm evidence on the harmful effects to the commercial interests in the town when the Moor was closed during the foot and mouth epidemic, and it is our contention that if the Moor became known as a place where a walker might experience an unpleasant confrontation with a gamekeeper, then this would have a directly detrimental effect on businesses in Ilkley. We regret that there have been a number of such incidents reported to us.
Your committee is also aware that there is now a debate among conservation bodies as to whether management of a moor for grouse shooting has a beneficial effect or otherwise on the quality of the environment for species other than grouse. One of the requirements of a shoot is the elimination of all species that predate grouse. Thus the shoot is allowed, under the terms of the lease, to kill magpies, jays, corvids, stoats, weasels and fox. We are also aware that some gamekeepers (and we make no accusation about keepers for the Bingley Moor Estate) illegally kill raptors. There is a contrary view in conservation circles that a healthy population of prey species can support a population of predators and that predators and prey are a necessary part in any natural ecosystem. FoIM takes the view that Ilkley Moor should be managed to benefit all species and not just grouse and that we wish to see Red Kite and Kestrel flying over the Moor just as much as we wish to see Grouse, Redshank, Curlew and Oyster Catcher.
The shooting lease has a break clause allowing Bradford MDC to determine the lease at no cost (subject to six months notice) at any time after 1.5.2013. FoIM will be asking for a meeting with the relevant Councillors to request that notice should be given by 1.11.2012 to end the lease. Thus it is the hope of your committee that there will be only one more shooting season on the Moor after this year.
It is noteworthy that the income Bradford MDC has derived from the lease is very considerably less than the money FoIM has raised to spend on the Moor. It is our view that the primary function of the Moor is to provide space for the exercise and relaxation of the public. It is for that reason it was purchased in 1893 and we believe that the leasing of the shooting rights has tended to diminish and not enhance the public's right of access to the Moor.
Over 70 stunning images of Ilkley Moor have been launched on The Friends of Ilkley Moor Website Gallery. Said Owen Wells (Chair of The Friends) “Enjoy the visual splendour of Ilkley Moor by browsing our gallery of photographs. All the images can be downloaded in high resolution for high quality reproduction free of charge”.
The Friends would like to thank Gavin Edwards , Andy Savage, Colin Williams and Barry Wilkinson for contributing their photographs free of any charge, without which the picture gallery would not have been possible.
The Friends of Ilkley Moor are now into their second year and following the success of the Events and Learning Programme last year, a new Programme funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and the South Pennines LEADER Programme has now been created with sixteen events ranging from Bird and Bat spotting to Dry-stone walling.
The events start in May through to September. Many projects of renovation and restoration are planned for this year. For access to our gallery and for further information please go into www.ilkleymoor.org
These notes cover the whole of Rombalds Moor, not just the area that is the concern of the Friends of Ilkley Moor, as any dog walker starting a walk on Ilkley Moor, may easily end up on one of the adjacent moors.
Good Practice & Legal Requirements
All dog owners will like seeing their dog run freely on the Moor, but there are three points that must be borne in mind.
Ground nesting birds
Research shows that where dogs are running free, ground nesting birds will not nest within 250m of a path. By contrast birds will nest within 25m of a path where dogs are kept on a lead. Moreover raptors will follow a free ranging dog and will be able to see nests when the highly camouflaged parent has been disturbed. They will then eat the eggs or chicks.
So anyone who wishes to hear a skylark sing, or to see a little owl, should keep their dog on the lead on the upper slopes of the Moor between 1st March and 31st July.
If dogs are running free at that time then a half kilometre wide strip of land around a path will be denuded of ground nesting birds.
In the same spirit, it is obviously better that dogs should not chase wildlife, so please do not, for example, let your dog chase the ducks on the Tarn
Sheep
Any dog worrying livestock (and this includes simply chasing them) may be shot by the farmer, so keep your dog under close control when there are sheep about. Note, only the farmer can shoot a dog (under the Dogs [Protection of Livestock] Act 1953) so a gamekeeper threatening to do so would have no legal sanction to do so.
Dog mess
Dog mess is distasteful so please pick up and dispose of your dog's mess. But please remember, plastic bags of dog mess are even more distasteful, so if you are out on the Moor it is better to leave the dog mess to be eaten by slugs etc. than to put it in a plastic bag and leave it.
LEGAL REQUIREMENTS
General
The law governing dogs is complicated by the fact that it comes from different pieces of legislation and some provisions do not seem to mesh with others. I have attempted to make it as simple as possible, but please note, this explanation has been devised by a layman; it is possible that a lawyer might find flaws.
There is a general requirement on dog owners to have their dogs under control at all times. This means training. A trained dog is a happy dog. We have had very good experiences with the Embsay Dog Training Club. We will happily recommend other dog training schemes if members recommend them.
CROW Act Open Access Land
On open access land under the CROW Act 2000 the situation becomes more complicated. There is a general national requirement that during the period 1st March to 31st July a person is not entitled to be on access land with a dog unless it is on a short lead (defined as less than 2m) and at any time of the year on open access land 'in the vicinity of livestock' with a dog unless it is on a short lead ('vicinity' is not defined). Note: Ilkley Moor is included in the definition 'open access land'.
Natural England have the right to impose an absolute access restriction between 1st March and 31st July (i.e. not even dogs on lead) however there is another provision that allows customary rights to override the provisions of the CROW Act. It might be argued that on Addingham High Moor, for example, dogs have customarily been allowed at all times, and this overrides the absolute restriction imposed by Natural England. Similarly, it might be argued that there have never been any dog restrictions on Ilkley Moor and this overrides the general requirement to keep a dog on lead during the period from 1st March to 31st July.
Under the CROW Act there is also a specific offence of 'reckless disturbance' of schedule 1 birds. This might be taken to apply to free running dogs in the breeding season, however the majority of moorland ground nesting birds are not on schedule 1.
The enforcement authority for Ilkley Moor, is the local authority. The shoot that has leased the shooting rights (and hence the gamekeepers employed by the shoot) have no right to enforce any restrictions on dogs but are at liberty to point out concerns to members of the public, so long as this is done in a courteous manner. A gamekeeper threatening to shoot a dog might be deemed guilty of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour under the Public Order Act1986.
Access on Rombalds Moor
Dog access on the Moor is complicated by the number of different requirements on different areas of Rombalds Moor. All of Rombalds Moor is open access under the CROW Act. There is a general right of access, for recreation on foot, and this includes activities like walking, sightseeing, bird watching, picnicking, climbing and running. On those parts of the moor registered as urban common, there is also a right to ride horses. Ilkley and Burley Moors are urban commons, although an Order of Limitation on Burley Moor restricts horse access to certain routes at certain times of year.
Under the CROW Act owners are entitled to ask for dog restrictions on moors managed for grouse. Most of these restrictions end on 31st March 2010 and will have to be reviewed then. The rights of access for dogs are listed below under the name of each Moor.
Note
There are never any restrictions on the right of access for guide dogs or hearing dogs for the deaf on any open access land, or for any dogs under close control on a public footpath. 'Close control' is not defined. It does not necessarily mean on a lead if a dog has been taught to walk to heel. You may walk with your dog at any time on a public footpath
Ilkley Moor Dogs are always allowed, but from 1st March to 31st July they must be kept on lead to protect ground nesting birds. However, see the note above about customary rights.
Burley Moor there is a restriction on Burley Moor (which is an urban common) but these are under the Law of Property Act and will not expire. This requires dogs to be on lead at all times except on certain specified routes. The CROW Act exemption for guide dogs and hearing dogs probably does not apply. Under CROW Act dogs are not permitted on a very small area below Stead Crag and on Craven Hall Hill until March 2010 (except guide dogs etc and dogs on a public footpath, as above).
The Burley Moor restriction predates the Commons Act 2006 and the CROW Act 2000. It is appears to restrict the rights of dogs even on public footpaths although this needs clarification.
Morton Moor, Bingley Moor, Hawksworth Moor dogs are not permitted on these moors (except guide dogs etc and dogs on a public footpath, as above).This restriction expires 28.3.2010 (20/10/10 on Hawksworth Moor) unless renewed.
Addingham High Moor dogs are not permitted on this moor from 1st March to 31st July annually to protect ground nesting birds (except guide dogs etc and dogs on a public footpath, as above).This restriction will also apply to Morton Moor, Bingley Moor and Hawksworth Moor if the discretionary dog ban currently in place is lifted after in 2010. In other words dogs will be allowed on these moors at other times if the general restriction is lifted. However, see the note above about customary rights on Addingham High Moor.
Information about dog restrictions can be found on www.countrysideaccess.gov.uk/ Under 'Open Access' click on 'view the maps' to find detailed information.
