Hutton Moor — Biodiversity vs. Profit

This is Hutton Moor at the northern end of the Percy Cross Rigg track. I see that the self-seeded birch and spruce that have sprouted on the heather moorland have been unceremoniously cut down. The rationale is clear; if left unchecked, the moorland will eventually transform into a birch woodland. However, this does come at the cost of diminishing the grouse population, and fewer grouse equate to a smaller profit.

On Roseberry Common, the National Trust takes a different approach to sapling management. They do remove some, but not all are subjected to the chainsaw. Their target is approximately 10% tree cover. Moreover, the fallen trees are conscientiously repurposed into snug habitat piles for invertebrates and small mammals, with the added benefit of hastening decomposition.

Meanwhile, over on Hutton Moor, a contrasting strategy seems to prevail. As of now, there has been no initiative to fashion habitat piles, leaving the landscape, in my humble opinion, resembling an untidy mess, visible to all users of the Cleveland Way.