Talking to the deaf

Last week the RSPB wrote to the Moorland Association thus; Amanda Anderson Director The Moorland Association 16 Castle Park Lancaster LA1 1YG Dear Ms Anderson The RSPB has always sought to work with the sport shooting community to create grouse moors that are environmentally sustainable and provide a safe home for birds of prey and…

Hen Harrier day update

Hen Harrier Day – 10 August 2014 – is an opportunity for the public to express their concern over the widespread, illegal killing of Hen Harriers.  Action is being planned for five localities in the north of England for that day: the Forest of Bowland, Cumbria, Northumberland, Yorkshire and the Peak District.  This is the…

Be an ethical consumer – turn your back on grouse!

In a week of grouse-related, Hen Harrier-related, moor manager-related, news – this is the latest, and potentially most important. Following the announcement of the location for the Derbyshire Hen Harrier Day event and the attendance of Chris Packham, and the sacking of Simon Barnes from The Times (which may or may not be related to…

Is this pretty?

Heather burning is vitally important to grouse shooting.  Burning the heather on a rotational basis, every few years, creates a pattern of young and older heather.  The younger heather produces green vegetation that is eaten by Red Grouse whereas older heather provides more nesting cover.   This image from talented wildlife photographer Peter Cairns shows…

A bit of a round up – all good news

Virunga – good news here! And well done! to WWF. Hen Harriers in Bowland – some good news here – there are three pairs of Hen Harrier in England this year – that’s just under 1% of the number that there could be judging by the suitable habitat available. Hen Harriers on Springwatch – did…