Posted by PeterH on May 19, 2006 at 18:09:21 from 81.155.57.47 user Peter_H.
In Reply to: Re: The Dogs Home - a shambles !!!! posted by Jock on May 17, 2006 at 09:00:56:
As I have been away for a few days, this is the first chance to reply to Jock’s charge (echoing Iain Hobbs’ charge) that TARS has ‘appointed itself’ curator of the Dog’s Home. The small building which is confidently considered to be the model for AR’s ‘Dog’s Home’ (where the ‘Picts’ lived) is situated in the woods on the east side of Coniston Water. It is on land managed by ‘Forest Enterprise England’, an agency of the UK Forestry Commission. The DH is in an isolated and concealed position (as it is in P&M) and it is simply not possible for either the Forestry Enterprise staff, or volunteers from TARS, or indeed anyone else who may be concerned, to mount guard on it night and day, or even visit it every day. Just about any structure or artefact which is out in the open and unsupervised will, in Britain today, sooner or later be vandalised, I’m sorry to say. However, the DH has got off fairly lightly so far, due, ironically, to its concealed position. (Which is why I have not specified its position).
TARS members have been concerned about this, and whenever a report of damage (whether deliberate or natural) has been received, efforts have been made to get together a ‘repair team’ and made the appropriate application to Forestry Enterprise for permission to work on the building (which otherwise would constitute trespass). Pleas have also been directed to Forestry Enterprise to maintain the building As one can see, it is a sort of running battle with the occasional vandalisers, and the wind and rain.
TARS has not ‘appointed itself’ manager of the Dog’s Home, as that is legally and practically impossible. The point here is that a ‘Society’ carries more clout with the Forestry people than an private individual would, which is why TARS has felt it should become involved. However, I should think that all AR-lovers, whether they are TARS members or not, would be concerned about the condition of the Home, and if so should voice their concerns to Forest Enterprise. If anyone has an accurate and up-to-date report to give of the state of the DH, then by all means send it to the Secretary of TARS. (I stress ‘up-to-date’ – reporting the condition of the DH last August is not much help to anyone, nor is ‘shouting’.)
The DH is being visited by TARS members very shortly, and I hope that I or someone else can report on its condition in a few weeks time.