A blog from the rather good Tim Birch, of the rather good Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, on the National Trust decision on grouse shooting on their land in the Dark Peak.
[registration_form]7 Replies to “Statement from Derbyshire Wildlife Trust”
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A good common sense approach, exactly what you would expect to hear from a conservation organisation like the Wildlife Trusts and the National Trust. Oops, see if you can spot the deliberate mistake in that sentence…
According to Facebook, Mark, you still like the National Trust: https://screenshots.firefox.com/nOcn6JmGeGIU10cN/www.facebook.com
Looks like you may have some tidying-up of your online profile to do!
Read with interest and like his enthusiasm but getting the National Trust to forsake grouse shooting is like trying to get rid of nits – its going to require a fierce application of resentment and distaste. That a so-called national body is protecting something that is no longer required in this modern world is shaming. Shooting is not a tradition – its barbarism from the past continuing long after it should. We don;t allow bear-bating, cock-fighting and dog-fighting – its all out moded an un-necessary – damaging to wildlife, climate, peoples houses and land (flooding) and damaging the planet.
Nice analogy! It takes persistence but they can be got rid of!
As I commented on Marks post of 10th Jan, this will not be the “message” many readers of this blog wished the NT to send, but it may still have merit in the long term.
There are already initiatives in the uplands (some indeed in the Peak District itself), with the aim of producing a more balanced , sustainable landscape.
The outcomes of these, may persuade other land managers of a similar vein, that is those whose primary aim is other than grouse production, utility companies for example, to go down that path, maybe in the future, even the trust itself, hopefully so.
What they will not do, is change the views of any private land owner (with anything other than a relatively small or marginal grouse moor), they have the potential to make too much money.,and in many upland areas control the largest acreage.
It is this class of smaller, marginal landowner, possibly with some concerns over the present situation shooting is in, that most advantage is to be gained from influencing.
If the trust have got this lease right, and the tenants can balance realistic expectations with their investment, it could be a working example for others to follow.
Driven Grouse shooting is not going away any time soon, an example for other reasonably minded owners, who need to turn a profit from their ground, could be a more practical message to send at this time.
Traoit – thanks for your comment. Interesting.
National Trust, Natural England – the more impressive the names sound the more hollow they ring.