On many hills and uplands in the UK where soil quality is low, foresters have to bring in rock phosphate from Morocco in order to get their spruce trees to grow. This is hugely expensive, expending enormous energy in mining and transport to help establish plantations. Researchers in Canada found that salmon in mountain rivers contain a high level of phosphate which they have absorbed from the sea while migrating.
We have received some very helpful advice recently in the form of a new publication from the Forestry Commission, which is a practical guide as to what we should do today, rather than trying to be too specific about what might or might not happen in the future.
“Vision without action is a daydream. Action without vision is a nightmare” Japanese proverb
You may already have started to see some notices in the woods asking walkers to ‘SNIP AS YOU GO’. This will help us with footpath maintenance, especially when the brambles are growing thick and fast. So I hope you’ll pop a pair of secateurs (and maybe some tough gardening gloves!) in your pocket when you go down there, & do your bit to help us keep the footpaths clearer for everyone.
During a recent routine inspection of the bridge, a major defect was discovered which required urgent attention. Although not immediately necessary to take the bridge out of action, a repair was needed. One of the main suspension cables was noted as almost touching the steel structure of the West pier which left untouched would have caused the wire to wear, eventually causing the wire to part and the bridge to collapse. With this knowledge, the area will be inspected more regularly. to ensure emergency repair is not necessary and can be planned to coincide with better weather.