The ‘lead’ story in the Ilkley Gazette, 25th April 2024, reported that some of the signs that are usually located at the beginning of the main paths on to Ilkley Moor, the ones reminding dog walkers of the need to use a lead during the bird breeding season, had been removed by persons unknown. In previous years, I have noticed these signs are sometimes defaced, broken, or taken down. I wonder if this is a reaction to what some people see as unnecessary and overbearing restrictions.

I think a major difficulty in putting forward a conservation message in this context is not that people have bad intentions, but that many people are not aware of the variety and amount of wildlife in the area, or the effects they might have on it. Let’s face it, wildlife is sneaky and tends to hide away. It is often well camouflaged for its environment and will even make deliberate efforts not to come into contact with people or their dogs! So what are we supposed to do in the face of such devious, isolationist behaviour? It seems obvious that local wildlife only has itself to blame if we overrun its habitat!

Well, to be fair, perhaps we should shoulder some responsibility and acknowledge that, even people who enjoy the countryside, may not be attuned to all the wildlife that lives there. It is easy to stride along - enjoying a wide expansive view - but notice only a fraction of the fauna of the area. Over the past few weeks, considering only birds that might be breeding on Ilkley Moor (and excluding some of the more well-known ‘garden’ species), I have photographed Meadow Pipits, Skylarks, Golden Plover, Curlew, Reed Buntings, Chiffchaff, Willow Warblers, Wheatears, Stonechats, Lapwings, Redshanks, Cuckoos, Greylag Geese, and, of course, Red Grouse. Of these species, four are on the red list of UK Birds of Conservation Concern and five are classified as amber. This might sound like a good news story. However, the bad news is that I think some of these species (particularly Skylarks and Golden Plovers) are present in much lower numbers than was the case just a few years ago.

Conserving this wildlife, that we are lucky enough to live alongside, might require some compromises. It may be that there are times when our dogs can’t run where they wish - or that we have fewer mountain bikes tracks criss-crossing the vegetation. But of course, these are difficult arguments to make because, as I have mentioned, wildlife is sneaky