Re: Sheepbury Hill | Forum — The Modern Antiquarian

Silbury Hill 180

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Sheepbury Hill

Rhiannon Nov 18, 2004 10:06:00

Replying to Pete G

Surely the rabbits have been grazing there for 2000 years (without it falling down). And don't they reuse burrows? How much burrowage do they need? I would have thought a few burrows were far less destructive than people making tunnels in the thing. Anyway if the scrub has got that big then sheep aren't going to be able to solve it, it's going to have to be removed by hand, surely.

Pete G Nov 18, 2004 10:18:54

Replying to Rhiannon

The rabbits have been cleared off the hill for generations. They are doing a huge amount of damage now.
A lot of the burrows have loose earth that is constantly being thrown down the hill.
One local tells me the problems can be sorted out in an afternoon with a couple of ferrets.
The larger bushes will have to be cut down by hand.
Once Silbury was classed as a SSSI and made part of the WHS the Greenaways were no longer allowed to clear the hill.
PeteG

nigelswift Nov 18, 2004 10:27:45

Replying to Rhiannon

Rabbits are mad. They have a mania for constant burrowing. At any one time, a good percentage of the surface of the hill is spoil, brought up from several feet below the surface. The base of the hill has expanded beyond the fence due to rabbits.

You're right, they've been at it for millenia and the whole surface has been churned many times. But it's a question of numbers, and no control. I bet there are more there now than at any time. Silbury is the only place in Wiltshire where rabbits can get in and foxes can't.

It's not just the damage, it's the blatant crass failure to act as guardians of something so important that drives me wild. That, and the sodding, leering prat of a jester that's to be the public face of EH next season.
:)
Can't cut the scrub because they don't have the insurance? Well they have £5,000,000 cover for members of the public who might get hurt on their properties, so it ain't rocket science.

Rhiannon Nov 18, 2004 10:53:50

Replying to Rhiannon

Oh right, ok. And I forgot about the place being fenced off from predators, which can't help. Despite being a limp vegetarian I do say 'send in the ferrets' I think.
It's ridiculous to say things can't be done because it's an SSSI, it's only chalk grassland Because of the grazing regime.
And to say they won't pay for it - well why don't they (because of the insurance, yes) just ask for some bloody volunteers for the scrub removal, I'm sure they'd have plenty of takers.
In fact why don't some people just go and DO IT and by the time EH have got off their office chairs to tell them off it'll all be done.