Lubin
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Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 29, 2011, 16:57
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I should have thought that a bit of lanolin was the last thing that would have any real effect on the stones after everything the British weather throws at them. It may even protect them.
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Littlestone
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Edited Jul 29, 2011, 18:32
Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 29, 2011, 17:29
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Thanks for that Mr S.
Had to Google flystrike to learn summat about it, and it seems it’s not only sheep and rabbits that can be affected – humans too (myiasis). Not a pleasant condition, and one that can lead to death. Given that the stones are touched, hugged and... oh yes, frequently climbed... by adults and children alike this could be a health issue no-one’s thought about (as well as an inappropriate use of a WHS).
Actually, it occurs to me why bother to keep the grass cut anyway? Why not leave it to evolve into natural meadow, with accompanying wildflowers and wildlife? There would always be enough visitors to the site to create pathways to the main points of interest while the rest could be left alone.
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Sanctuary
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Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 29, 2011, 18:36
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Littlestone wrote: Thanks for that Mr S.
Had to Google flystrike to learn summat about it, and it seems it’s not only sheep and rabbits that can be affected – humans too ( myiasis). Not a pleasant condition, and one that can lead to death. Given that the stones are touched, hugged and... oh yes, frequently climbed... by adults and children alike this could be a health issue no-one’s thought about (as well as an inappropriate use of a WHS).
Actually, it occurs to me why bother to keep the grass cut anyway? Why not leave it to evolve into natural meadow, with accompanying wildflowers and wildlife? There would always be enough visitors to the site to create pathways to the main points of interest while the rest could be left alone.
I think you'd find that it would get out of hand LS. I'm all for lush meadow grass pasture but unless you have animals to keep it in check it runs riot. It can be 'topped' of course which means that you remove the seed heads and overgrowth leaving a lush and thick 6" or so.
I've never personally known of a person becoming affected or ill through 'strike' but then I'm no expert on it. When we clip a sheep affected by strike we have to go right back to the bare flesh and remove the maggots and treat it accordingly. The maggots removed just fall to the ground and normally die. I've seen sheep with huge holes in their bodies going right back to vital organs where the maggots live on them. Sheep on the moors affected are virtually off their heads as they can do nothing about it and it drives them mad. Good husbandry is essential as dipping doesn't always prevent it in severe cases. I have a local shepherd who attends to my sheep but when I've done it myself it absoluley stinks of maggot pee which runs down under and through the wool. In New Zealand, being such a huge sheep country, they actually train their dogs to smell out the sheep affected before it's actually detected by eye.
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thesweetcheat
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Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 29, 2011, 19:51
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juamei wrote: Or technically employed... Existing in a curious netherworld where they are paid with as much as they can eat to mow the grass.
Sounds almost like a perfect socialist utopia. Everyone wins.
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Littlestone
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Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 29, 2011, 20:33
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thesweetcheat wrote: juamei wrote: Or technically employed... Existing in a curious netherworld where they are paid with as much as they can eat to mow the grass.
Sounds almost like a perfect socialist utopia. Everyone wins.
thesweetcheat wrote: Sounds almost like a perfect socialist utopia. Everyone wins.
Not quite, the sheep only win while they’re in the field. After that they lose big time...
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goffik
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Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 29, 2011, 20:58
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Some might say now ewe are taking the piss, LS! ;)
G x
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Littlestone
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Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 29, 2011, 20:59
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goffik wrote: Some might say now ewe are taking the piss, LS! ;)
G x
tsk... you been earwiggin’ again Goff...
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thesweetcheat
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Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 29, 2011, 21:15
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Littlestone wrote: thesweetcheat wrote: juamei wrote: Or technically employed... Existing in a curious netherworld where they are paid with as much as they can eat to mow the grass.
Sounds almost like a perfect socialist utopia. Everyone wins. thesweetcheat wrote: Sounds almost like a perfect socialist utopia. Everyone wins.
Not quite, the sheep only win while they’re in the field. After that they lose big time...
Hmm, well not on my account.
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ocifant
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Re: Unemployed layabouts leave marks on Avebury stones
Jul 30, 2011, 06:44
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As someone said on FaceBook:
They should be lambasted, they can't pull the wool over our eyes!
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VBB
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Barbour Shepherd
Jul 30, 2011, 06:59
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Littlestone wrote:
Quite a coincidence that the burial of stones in the thirteenth century coincided with the monks clearing land to accommodate huge numbers of sheep. The sheep snapped by Moss have been treated yet still habitually as you point out rub up against the stones, and of course undermine the areas around the stones by congregating and sheltering, so might topple if they weren't stuck in concrete. Shepherds back then had to treat and replace sheep at their own expense, they carried tools to snip wool from the rear end to discourage fly strike and to deal with bloat, and had lamb warming pockets just like the modern Barbour. I bet you would still be able to make it serviceable had it say been buried beneath a stone for 700 years :)
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