A species on the risk list — endangered
A farming community that has seen its population of humans crash after the 1982 war. The population of Camp has fallen drastically and continues to haemorrhage people. Fewer and fewer people are supported by farming. Sheep are the main crop, but the land is bare. It can only support livestock when spread over many hectares. The grasses are nibbled down to crewcut length and the bones of the earth gleam through. The tussock has mostly gone. The wild life still remains — seabirds and sea mammals. The small birds, so evident on Carcass are fewer and live in the Diddle dee.
The species at risk on this island — Man.
The new prosperity of Pebble must lie with its main resource — wildlife. Rewilding of part of this island and increased visitors who will pay for a high quality experience must be the future
Going back in time
The basis of the prosperity of the Falklands has always affected life here. Originally based on wild cattle which were landed from passing,ships, the first crest depicted Captain John Davis’s ship Desire and a wild steer.
The crest was later changed perhaps to reflect the importance of harvesting the abundant wildlife and a Sealion appears together with the Desire. A further change in the crest in 1948 from a sealion to a sheep was made, to reflect the new source prosperity and the dominance of the wool industry on these islands A good choice then, but it sends the wrong message now. Tourism is a growing business. Sheep are harming not just the land of the Falklands but also its image. Man made fibres are preeminent in the clothing industry for sporting and leisure wear. Wool will be in the future reserved for the premium market — this will be in the form of fine wools such as Merino. From a staple of clothing for centuries, wool will be a luxury item. Synthetic breathable microfibre synthetics are cheaper lighter and perform better 1
If the main business of theses lands is to be reflected on the flag then it should change to include a fish or a squid on the crest now. Maybe in future years an oil rig should take pride of place.
Go back to your roots and celebrate the gift of nature that the Falklands have been granted.
No one wants to visit the Falklands to see the sheep! 2
I say bring back the Sealion crest from the 1920’s. The sheep has had its day.
- this can be debated, as I love my Merino fine performance t shirts and layered tops. They are cool in the heat, they breathe and they are warm and have an antibacterial property. Unfortunately, the killer is that they are expensive and thus will never be mass market) ↩
- well, some farmers might, but most visitors are not farmers. I also do recognise that some farmers here farm for a high quality wool (Merino mix) — but to repeat, this is for the boutique market ie small and high value. ↩
