VEGETATION on Dartmoor will be the topic under the spotlight during the 9th Dartmoor Society Debate, due to take place this month. In the past few years, the moor?s vegetation has changed significantly. In some areas, an increase of gorse and lank grass has made it difficult for farmers to move animals, or for walkers to find routes. Some archaeological sites are disappearing from view beneath scrub, gorse, heather and bracken. Trees are spreading out on to the moorland. Thicker vegetation seems to harbour more disease-bearing ticks. Much of this is a direct result of recent national farming policy and the reduction in numbers of grazing animals, supposedly for sound environmental reasons. Many ecologists welcome these changes, arguing that heather regeneration and an increase in scrub trees is beneficial for wildlife, and improves the appearance of Dartmoor as a whole. But what sort of Dartmoor vegetation do we want in the future? Is the burning, or swaling, of vegetation good or bad? Should there be more or fewer animals on the moor? How important is the view seen from the road? Speakers at the debate on Saturday September 23 are Andy Guy of Defra, John Waldon, coordinator of the Dartmoor National Park ?Vision?, Simon Bates of English Nature, hill farmer Tracy May and Tom Greeves, a cultural environmentalist. The day will be chaired by Timothy Garratt FRICS, FAAV. The debate takes place at Meldon Village Hall, near Okehampton between 10 am and 5pm and there will be plenty of time for open discussion. This fascinating event will be of great interest to farmers, ecologists, archaeologists, land managers, ramblers and all who have an interest in Dartmoor?s future. It is open to everyone but tickets must be booked by Monday 18 September. Tickets cost £10 per person, and include coffee, buffet lunch and tea. Please send cheques (payable to The Dartmoor Society), with your name and address, to: The Dartmoor Society, PO Box 38, Tavistock PL19 0XJ, to arrive no later than Monday 18 September 2006. The Dartmoor Society, a registered charity, was formed in 1998 to be ?an independent voice and a forum for debate for those who find Dartmoor a source of livelihood or inspiration?. Its charitable objects are primarily educational in the broadest sense. Previous topics covered by the society?s annual debate have included tourism, the 40 mph speed limit over Dartmoor, the military on Dartmoor, buildings of the 19th and 20th centuries, renewable energy, the china clay industry and the future of orchards.