Our precious moors would be ruined without gamekeepers: Our letter to the Guardian

The biggest threat to rare mosses is not gardeners buying peat, but those wishing to carpet our moors with trees (Specieswatch: the ‘UK rainforest’ threatened by gardeners, 23 July). Our research found one of the best ways to increase sphagnum moss is through the occasional burning of the heather, to restore it, as practiced on driven grouse moors. Mosses were highest on areas burnt between three and 10 years earlier, yet were very low if the area was left unmanaged for 17 years or more. We must thank the hard work and dedication of gamekeepers that protect the future of this internationally significant resource.

Andrew Gilruth

Director of Communications GWCT