Hang glider battling to overturn Peak flying ban
A HANG glider who runs a flying school in the Peak District is pressing to overturn a ban on flying at moorland on the edge of Sheffield.
Steve Hudson has been using Blacka Moor, off Hathersage Road, near Dore Moor, for more than 20 years but has fallen foul of regulations to protect the nature reserve.
He argues that the land was left to the people of Sheffield by Alderman JG Graves for exercise and recreation and says he is being prevented from making a living.
Sheffield Wildlife Trust, which manages the land on behalf of the council, says it wants to encourage outdoor activities but it also has to protect bird nesting and grazing for cattle.
At the same time it is suggesting talks involving Steve, Natural England, the government-backed agency that oversees the land, and the farmer who grazes it, with a view to finding a compromise.
Blacka Moor is the largest of the Wildlife Trust's nature reserves, covering 180 hectares of heathland and woodland. It has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest and the trust says it has an important population of upland breeding birds.
Walking, horse riding and mountain biking is permitted because it is on designated trails but the trust says that, in general, flying is not allowed because it can spook birds and cattle.
Steve, who runs Tideswell-based Derbyshire Flying Centre, which offers hang gliding and paragliding, said if birds were nesting he would keep away, although he disputes whether birds are nesting there. If they were they would be disturbed by bracken clearing and other activities, he said.
"We think our impact on wildlife has been minimal. We have been responsible users for more than 20 years. This is land that has been left to the residents of Sheffield for recreation and it is being subverted by people who want to use it as a nature reserve."
Steve, who claims a lack of consultation when the future of the land was being decided, added: "In these days of long working hours and the fast food culture, sport is one of the ways to keep people healthy. All sports, however, need space and Alderman Graves knew this when he left his estate to the people of Sheffield."
Steve said he wanted to be allowed to continue making a living and "to carry on teaching people the skill of flying, keeping them fit and offering an adventurous potential for our youth".
The wildlife trust said Blacka Moor Nature Reserve supports a wealth of habitats but is also a place that can be used for outdoor activities to benefit the people of Sheffield.
Brendon Wittram, South Sheffield greenway manager, said: "The site comes under various designations, including SSSI status and the Countryside Rights of Way Act 2000, and these place restrictions on the use of the site unless agreement can be reached with the land owner and other relevant bodies."
He said the trust actively encourages the use of the site for recreational purposes "but do so where it is possible for them to co-exist without damaging or disturbing the natural heritage of the site".
He said: "We work closely with a variety of groups to encourage sensible use of the site and are looking to do this with Steve Hudson.
"We have been in contact with Steve since summer last year and in February we have been in talks to organise a meeting in the spring with Natural England, our grazier, Steve Hudson and ourselves to try and create windows of opportunities to allow paragliders and other flyers to use the site and hope this can be resolved amicably."
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 24 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
