Clearing up after Isha

Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group

As storm Isha moves out of our region and storm Jocelyn is set to sweep across the country , our gamekeepers with local farmers have been involved once again with the clear up and repairs to fallen trees and estate tracks. It is often local keepers who are the first on the scene to storm damage be that on public roads, byways or footpaths.

As fully qualified operators, some of our keepers were out with the chainsaws this morning clearing blocked roads and opening up access to vehicles and the public. Others were repairing moor tracks that had been washed out by heavy rainfall. These tracks are often used by the public more frequently than the estate staff themselves but all expenses for labour, materials and equipment comes solely from the moor owners.

One cannot avoid pondering what would happen if shooting was ever halted and gamekeepers disappeared from these rural areas. Who would clear the trees in a speedy manner? Who would repair the tracks and bridleways? And who would pay for it?

Thanks to our keepers people were able to get to work safely this morning and the roads were cleared should the emergency services, carers and power technicians need to get through to attend to incidents.

Well done men!