Naturalists and conservationists who know the uplands are unconvinced by the claims made by the shooting industry that driven Red Grouse moors are rich in wildlife. Here are some more excerpts: Caz Walker: I live in rural Cumbria at 900 feet, not far from the Lakeland Fells, where you’d imagine there would be a lot…
Tag: grouse shooting
Gems from the written evidence 17 – retired policeman Neil MacDonald
This is the evidence from someone with plentiful experience of investigating wildlife crime. Here are some excerpts from his expert testimony; I was a senior crime investigator with the police but found investigating wildlife crime a very frustrating part of my work as a police officer. Of the many wildlife crimes I was tasked to…
Gems from the written evidence 15 – Dr Ian Mclean
There is rather too much talk about birds and too little about everything else in the discussions about the harm caused by driven grouse shooting. So have a look at the evidence submitted by a distinguished entomologist with many years experience (can you spot anyone remotely similar speaking up for the unsustainable management of our…
Gems from the written evidence 14 – Guy Shorrock
More powerful evidence from Guy Shorrock, former police officer and long-serving RSPB Investigations team member; here are some quotes: The phenomenal response to the e-petition, on what many would consider a niche subject, is indicative of the increasing public concern about grouse moor management and the wide ranging environmental implications. Based on a significant volume…
Gems from the written evidence 13 – name withheld
Here is the summary of another very powerful piece of written evidence: The shooting industry and its representatives should be removed from all positions of power where wildlife crime law enforcement policy are discussed or decided upon. Driven grouse moors should be rewilded. This at a stroke, would remove the many very serious problems of…
Any takers?
I’ll bet you a pound to a penny that the Hen Harrier, named Rowan, found dead in Cumbria, did not die of natural causes. Any takers? Amanda? Liam? Andrew? Well done to the Hawk and Owl Trust for funding this satellite tag in a joint project with Natural England. No doubt Natural England will have…
FoE begins to expose scale of taxpayer handouts
Grouse moor owners are receiving massive handouts from taxpayers on land used for the hobby of grouse shooting, reveals a study by Friends of the Earth in today’s Guardian. It won’t come as a surprise to readers of this blog that the future of grouse shooting is being debated by MPs in Westminster Hall on…
Gems from the written evidence 12 – Tweed Ecology Ltd
This one’s a bit different and rather interesting – extracts from the evidence of Tweed Ecology Ltd: Braithwaite’s assessment of Greenlaw Moor Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), the largest SSSI in Berwickshire is particularly damning: – ‘Botanically, this is moorland at its worst, as the cycle of muirburn optimised for grouse has gradually eliminated…
Don’t pass on the Hen Harrier
This is a beautiful sight, a rare sight, an endangered sight. It’s a food pass between a male Hen Harrier (the grey upper bird) and its mate who will take the food back to the nest and feed it to their chicks. Wouldn’t you lover to see these avian gymnastics in a National Park…
Gems from the written evidence 11 – Bob Berzins
More extracts of evidence pertaining to the Peak District – this from the evidence of Bob Berzins: I have enjoyed the outdoors all my life but over the last 10 or 15 years, especially since reports like Peak Malpractice, I have seen signs of wildlife persecution and understood the significance of damage to protected habitats….