"pearl" > wrote in message
...

>
> IOW... this less fertile 'marginal' land has "always" been grazed.

no, because some marginal land is used for forestry and even ploughed


>
> And what's been said about such grazing and land degradation..?
>
> Basically, jim, you're well and truly hoisted by your own petard.

no, you just don't understand what you are talking about I'm afraid.
The increased fertility of the lowlands is also due to grazing, grazing can
be used to improve land where land is capable of being improved through
grazing. Much fell land can be improved by grazing, the adding of lime and
similar, a lot was done after the war, which means it is now inbye and
ploughable.


Jim Webster