North York Moors have bacteria

[WorAl]

What the hell is this?

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&amp...

[karona]

Cut and stacked peat? Complete guess though.

[nlldavies]

Peat farming maybe?

[DrTre]

streetview

Edited by DrTre on Tuesday 11th May 11:38

[duff-man]

Controlled burning of the heather

[WorAl]

duff-man said:

Controlled burning of the heather

ahhhh yes, thought it was a bit odd for peat farming, didn't think about the burning

Pat on the back that man.

[soad]

Mystery solved, I see. Satellite pic was most odd though.

[Defcon5]

Why do they do that?

[Don]

Defcon5 said:

Why do they do that?

Kills adders amongst other things...

[Summertime]

The game keepers burn it so it grows back better for the grouse shooting season.

[WorAl]

Summertime said:

The game keepers burn it so it grows back better for the grouse shooting season.

This, plus it lets the grass grow through for the sheep. New shoots from the heather can grow etc etc.

[AstonZagato]

Grouse eat young heather shoots. Once the heather becomes too old and woody, they burn off the old heather in a highly controlled manner to give young plants the room to grow. More food for young grouse = more grouse.

On the moors I know, the sheep are only there to mop up the ticks. The sheep can be herded off the moor periodically and dipped. the ticks are brought onto the moor mainly by deer. Without the sheep, the ticks would attach themselves to the grouse and weaken them. Weak grouse = fewer grouse.