View from the top

Conditions were not optimal for monitoring on the top of Great End, part of the Scafell massif (see yesterday's blip). At least it wasn't raining when this was taken (it was most of the time we were there), but visibility was limited in the low cloud.

This is a herdwick sheep grazing summit vegetation. The herdwicks do have a particular liking for the summit heaths, and as a result vegetation is not what we would hope to find, that is dwarf heathland rich in lichens and mosses. The diversity of lichens is low and the dunging encourages grass growth. On the positive side, sheep numbers are lower now than they were 10 years ago, and there are signs of the vegetation improving.

The herdwicks are the breed of sheep unique to the Lake District, possibly derived from stock brought over by the Norse settlers in the 10th or 11th centuries (see more info here). They are extremely hardy animals that can cope with anything the Lake District high fell weather can throw at them - more hardy than us ecologists, for sure.

Despite the rain and the low cloud, we made progress with the monitoring, though there remains a lot to do. Simon and I have an expression for situations like this: it could be worse, we might be on the North Face of the Eiger.

There is a more typical Gladders photo here. In today's and yesterday's blips, I am trying to diversify away from pretty landscapes as Bwhere gently encourages me to do. There is also a picture of Matt at work in the rain.