I enjoyed reading this book very much. It immediately gets into my list of books of the year although I’d be surprised if it gets to the top of that shortlist, but you never know. I enjoyed it for three main reasons. First, it is a good read, clearly expressed and argued with some passion…
Tag: grouse moor
Tim Melling – Red Grouse
Tim writes: I took this photo in mid-October while out on the Peak District Moors. It was standing on a drystone wall and was just catching the first rays of the early morning sun. This photo shows the feathered legs and feet which gives rise to its scientific name Lagopus, meaning hare-footed. There are a…
Tim Melling – Red Grouse in the snow
Tim writes: Red Grouse (Lagopus lagopus) usually defend a territory throughout winter, in which the pair will breed in spring. Birds that haven’t managed to find a territory form a nomadic flock and will take up any vacancies if any territory-holders die. But over the last few days I have noticed that all the usual…
Hen Harriers and moorland management
The week after next may see a flurry of activity on the future of driven grouse shooting and Hen Harrier conservation. On Monday 25 January we may see a Westminster Hall debate on driven grouse shooting (following one on trespass) and then on Tuesday and Wednesday 26 and 27 January the much delayed appeal of…
Thoughts on 2020 (1) – Driven Grouse Shooting
You have to feel sorry for the grouse shooters, don’t you? Well maybe not. 2020 was another awful year for those involved in grouse shooting, and one which brought the end of driven grouse shooting closer. For those of us determined to see an end to this damaging hobby, it represented a great leap forward….
No sign of that new grouse shooting debate
I pointed out over a couple of weeks ago that BASC was claiming that; There is a broader grouse debate in the diary for early December, which follows another anti-shooting petition to ban driven grouse shooting. This will be a more comprehensive debate and will cover a broader spectrum of topics. Our briefs are being…
Press release – Nature friendly moorland management sees Hen Harriers return to Wharfedale by Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire Moors
Wildlife campaigners are celebrating the conservation efforts of a leading landowner which have resulted in rare hen harriers roosting on its moor. Adopting nature-friendly moorland management techniques, NG Bailey’s Denton Park Estate, near Ilkley, has reversed declines in birds of prey associated with wildlife persecution by its former grouse shooting tenant. Hen harriers are one…
RSPB press release – moorland burning is massive problem
New analysis shows that burning of moorlands is the biggest threat to England’s most important places for wildlife New analysis of Government data by the RSPB shows that the burning of moorlands is the biggest identified threat to England’s Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). The analysis also shows that no reason has been identified…
Scotland starts the proper regulation of driven grouse shooting
Well, thank heavens for that! And let’s thank the SNP government for having the balls to move decisively (after a bit of a long wait) to announce that they will bring in regulation on driven grouse shooting, muirburn and the use of medicated grit. I was struck by the widespread support for this move from…
Grouse moors, burning and climate change
I’m a Radio 4 addict but I missed PM yesterday as I was engaged with lawyers then, and for a lot of the day. But I caught up with this piece on climate change (starts 45 minutes into programme) and the mention of the government inactivity on banning burning on peatlands being possibly due to…