The Werritty report into grouse shooting was published yesterday after an unconscionable two year period. I accept that Prof Werritty was ill during this period but this report is not an impressive document and will not command much respect. It does give the Scottish government a free hand to do whatever it wants to do…
Tag: grouse shooting
Press release – Scottish Wildlife Trust on Werritty report
Sarah Robinson, Director of Conservation, Scottish Wildlife Trust said: The Review Group on Grouse Moor Management’s report highlights the serious impacts that unsustainable moorland management can have on Scotland’s uplands. We welcome the recommendation that the Scottish Government should signal its intent to introduce licensing unless bird of prey populations on or near shooting estates…
RSPB press release – Werritty report
Independent Grouse Moor Review does not go far or fast enough to tackle raptor crimes ‘Werritty’ Review Group publishes findings RSPB Scotland has given a cautious welcome to the publication today of the long-anticipated report by the Scottish Government’s Independent Grouse Moor Review Group, chaired by Professor Alan Werritty. We support the recommendations relating to…
Guest blog – Grouse Shooting, a Track and the Law by Bob Berzins
Bob is a campaigner and activist. His novel Snared will be available in the new year. Grouse Shooting, a Track and The Law I arrived at a workshop to be greeted by a land agent as if I was a long lost friend, then spent the morning in a group with one of his gamekeepers…
Wild hacking – what we learn from an FOI request (3)
This post continues to explore the licensing of wild hacking of non-native falcons in the UK and uses information received from SNH about wild hacking licensed by them in Moray in 2019. To catch up on the story enter wild hacking into the search facility on this blog (top right) and all posts on this…
RSPB press release – Hen Harrier found dead and two others missing
Hen harrier found dead while two others disappear in suspicious circumstances RSPB Scotland is appealing for information following the discovery of the body of a hen harrier found to have been shot and the sudden disappearances of two young satellite tagged hen harriers. A member of the public found the dead female bird on a…
Guest blog – Langholm Moor Community Buyout by Kevin Cumming
My name is Kevin Cumming, I work for the Langholm Initiative charity, based in the town of Langholm in Dumfries and Galloway. I hold a BA (hons) in Business Administration and an MSc in Conservation and Management of Protected Areas. Currently I manage the LI’s Wild Eskdale project which aims to promote eco-tourism in the…
NEWS: Another Hen Harrier ‘disappears, this one is called Ada – from the RSPB
The RSPB say: Today, Northumbria Police and the RSPB have issued an appeal for information following the sudden disappearance of yet another satellite tagged hen harrier, a female bird known as Ada. Ada hatched on a nest on the Scottish borders this summer (2019). She was fitted with a lightweight satellite tag as part of the…
Poor Field craftiness
There is a somewhat formulaic method by which the shooting press refer to Wild Justice. First of all, they hardly ever mention Ruth Tingay who is an integral and equal partner in Wild Justice alongside Chris and me. I wonder why they so often do this – it’s usually a man writing, maybe they just…
Sunday book review – Sky Dance by John D. Burns
This novel is set on the fictional Scottish island of Morvan and set amongst the hill walkers and shooting estate folk who enjoy this landscape. It’s a good yarn and I enjoyed reading it. When I tell you that the land owner is called Lord Purdey and he has a couple of unsympathetic criminal gamekeepers,…