Thank you for visiting
Tom's Shot 
The arrow mark on this gate post bares the mark of the War Department Arrow.. I come across these quite often when out and about. This one was high up on a moorland road so maybe it was meant to point towards a shooting range or a look-out post. It is interesting to see them and think about who made these marks and who followed them.
Throughout Scotland and in the uplands of England and Wales the burning season begins October 1st, so at the moment the heather burning season is underway and continues to 15th April, with some extensions beyond this date possible in Scotland. Burning at the beginng of October can interfere with other activities, such as grouse shooting and stalking, and therefore it is not always possible to burn heather that early in the season, but it can offer good conditions that allow for effective, controlled burning to be carried out. In spring, burning can be more difficult to control, especially if conditions become very dry, and there is a risk of interference with the nesting of some bird species. Getting the right time and weather is a must.
The burning of heather is an important management and conservation tool, it improves the condition of moorland. Without burning, heather can become rank and has little interest to moorland birds or grazing livestock. In many areas, the management of moorland for grouse provides an example of how burning improves the productivity of moorland areas for sporting, conservation and farming interests.
One of the places I find relaxation, is always beside a stream such as this. No matter what is on my mind, just to get away and sit and listen to water is to be at peace. 
Another of Lee's Game Keeping pictures here, this time showing the outcome for this deer. I notice it seems it was shot in the heart. Hopefully Lee if he as time could fill in a bit of information about this picture and Deer Shooting. Don't just look at this as a dead deer as there is a story behind the picture. The long hours looking after the herd and the cost of such a venture. The livelihood of the workers such as Lee, and more importantly a way of life and tradation in certain areas. Look at where it was shot, how it was shot and what with. Think about why it was this one that was shot.
One of the tools of the trade, a trusty Land Rover. Notice the rail above the cab, and the lamp. These would be put to good use when out at night culling the local fox population. Look at that snow as well... I would think that Lee and men like him are out in all weathers doing this job. They will be working from dawn till dusk at this time of the year, and then out at night again lamping. Then in the early hours the phone might ring and someone as spotted a poacher, he can't just rollover and deal with it in the morning.. I should think Lee and others like him certainly earn their corn.
The diet of mountain hare is variable depending on the available vegetation. If possible the Hares will feed on grasses during the summer and switch to a heather-dominated diet during winter. Other vegetation that features in their diet are rushes, sedges, blueberry, gorse, the bark and low twigs from trees.
The mountain hare is not a managed game species, but at times large numbers are shot. Lee tells me this cull was needed as the hares were doing so well on the local moors he managers and numbers had swelled in the last two seasons. This amount might seem large until you think of the acreage involved. A mountain Hare can also eat a third in a day of what a moorland sheep can. More from Lee the Game Keeper tomorrow.
More of my woodland finds
I can't think of a more peaceful place I'd rather be than on a hilltop seat taking in the views with Defor besides me at dusk.
Swineshaw Reservoir, no matter what time of the day the views are stunning, I was luckier than normal as the dusk produched some colouring at the end of yet another warm spring like day
In the distance you can see the smoke from 'Burning The heather, burning removes the dead material and recycles the nutrients. This encourages fresh new growth to sprout from existing heather plants. Burning maintains heather moorland and prevents natural succession, which would otherwise result in growth of scrub and birch woodland. The burning cycle creates a pattern of different aged heather. The oldest provides cover for birds like the Red Grouse ( seen below ) and the new shoots provide succulent food for other birds and sheep. A well-burnt moorland will have a mosaic of heather and other moorland plants of differing ages, which will provide food for different wildlife. Heather burning is a very old way of controlling and prolonging the life cycle of the heather.
This is our Skylark..it larger than a sparrow but smaller than a starling. It is streaky brown with a small crest which can be raised when the bird is excited or alarmed It as a white-sided tail and the wings also have a white rear edge which can be seen in flight. It is renowned for its display flight, vertically up in the air. you can normally here the Song but the bird flying high can be hard to spot.
Our native Mountain or Blue hare is smaller than the introduced brown hare, it as a more rounded shape and without a black upper surface on the tail. Mountain hares also have shorter ears and legs than the brown hare. In summer, they have grey/black coats, and in winter they are partly, or completely white as the two above. These moult twice a year - in late autumn, and again in the spring when they lose their winter coat.
The red grouse is a medium-sized game bird. It has a plump body with a short tail and a tiny hook tipped bill. It is reddish-brown, its legs and feet are covered in pale feathers. These birds breed in the moorlands and are resident all year round. The best place to see this bird is on upland heather moors, when it suddenly rockets up from the heather when disturbed to fly off with fast-whirring wingbeats.
Peter as not done all of this route yet, but plans are being made for him and others to do it this year. 
It's a 270-mile walk that will take him from the Peak District National Park in Derbyshire along the Pennine ridge through to the Yorkshire Dales, up into Northumberland, and then across the Cheviots, setting him down in the Scottish Borders..
This stone pathway below is part of the Pennine way footpath
http://www.ramblers.org.uk/INFO/paths/pennine.html
