Burn, baby, burn

The burning of heather moorlands to create the right conditions for unnaturally high densities of Red Grouse may be harming the aquatic life in the rivers draining such uplands according to a new study. The authors, from Leeds University, studied the aquatic animals in 10 rivers in the north of England – five from burned…

Golden Eagle – Scotland’s National Bird? Aye!

Golden Eagles occur all over the place – the USA, Spain and much of southern Europe and Scandinavia. Now the RSPB has launched a petition asking the Scottish Government to make the Golden Eagle Scotland’s National Bird. Who could disagree with that?  Surely not those who manage grouse moors in eastern and southern Scotland? Vote…

Animal Aid on grouse shooting

Today Animal Aid is calling for public subsidies to be withdrawn from millionaire grouse shooters. In its new report on grouse shooting, Calling the Shots, the UK’s largest animal rights group sets out its case.  It contains extensive reference to the Walshaw Moor affair as well as to persecution of birds of prey and the…

National Trust – looking good!

The National Trust has just issued a press release on its plans for the High Peak Moors. This has been a subject of concern and hope on this blog for quite some time (see here, here, here, here, and here). The text of the press release is reproduced below (with some good bits highlighted by…