I’m really not well up on what happened in the English uplands this weekend – not just on Ilkley Moor (above) but also elsewhere.
I’d be keen to know what happened – can anyone tell please?
And I have always wondered where the legal line is about walking on moors when shooting might be about to take place – I heard various things at the weekend that suggested that it isn’t as much a legal minefield as I had assumed. Would love to know more.
But the grouse shooters can’t like the idea of people walking through their shoot, I guess. So, not a good day for them.
Yes, it’s been a really bad few days for the grouse shooters Bad days (1), Bad days (2), Bad days (3), Bad days (4), Bad days (5), Bad days (6).
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I can only add this quote from the Hunt Investigation Team, who were out on the grouse moors on the 12th:
‘Hunt Investigation Team operatives were out on the moors today. We watched over Moscar and when it became apparent that they were not shooting we moved across to the neighbouring Fitzwilliam Estate. Shooters were seen and sabs called in to stop the shoot. Good day all round and a very expensive picnic for the blood junkies. Please share. HIT’
I know some HH supporters may be uncomfortable with this sort of thing, but I think most successful campaigns have had multiple strings to their bow, including some that push things a bit further than the majority.
I spent Thursday and Sunday hiking over Simon’s Seat, Barden Fell and Barden Moor on the Duke of Devonshire’s Estate. There were large notices advising the moors would be closed for grouse shooting from 17th August for a number of listed dates. Three dates before the 17th August had been deleted. I understood this restriction applied only to the land covered by the Access Agreement, there is after all a bridleway and public footpath across the moor which I understood couldn’t be closed, but these didn’t appear to be in the possible line of fire from the numerous grouse butts. Grouse numbers seemed low, a few flew up from the heather, but I’m more used to hearing a lot more of that classic ‘go-back, go-back, go-back’ call. Spotted some buzzards, red kites, kestrels. This must be one of the most closely observed grouse moors, being so close to the Bolton Abbey estate.
I’d guess the legal line on walking during slaughter weeks is specified in the Countryside and Rights of Way Act – http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/37/contents. Schedule 2 (General Restrictions) 1 j is interesting in relation to the Marsh harrier and other killings on moors.
As reported by AlanTwo (and thankyou Alan), the moors of the Peak District were attended by HIT operatives and Hunt Saboteurs. The Fitzwilliam shoot was attended, resulting in a prolongued and peaceful stand-off between shooters and sabs. This is fairly typical for a sabbed shoot.
Some supporters may feel wary of sabs but this would only be from negative media portrayals and this is – sadly – something we see continued, even from people on the same side. As far as HIT has seen, the HSA is the only official group which has taken any concerted effort against the Peak District grouse estates since our expose. Not a thing from the Park Authority, Wildlife Trusts etc. So we must be thankful that someone has stood up against the slaughter, and we must unite, even if our tactics may differ.
Regarding access rights: many grouse moors are on open access land, with certain dates booked out for shooting – generally 28 days per year. Footpaths should still be accessible. This info is supposed to be publicly advertised, but often is not. Some estates even claim to be closed when they are not (Moscar, a few years back) to deter walkers. The answer is: get out there unless there is clear and correct info not to! Deference to gamekeepers’ self-appointed authority is what has kept them going so long!