Sir,
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust condemns the illegal killing of birds of prey, and we are committed to finding effective and practical resolutions to conflicts (Call for grouse shooting to be licensed amid rise in bird of prey deaths, 12 August). Those who break the law undermine the vital role grouse moors can play in the conservation of raptors such as merlin, hen harriers, kestrels and short-eared owls and the globally important moorland habitats that sustain them. The land managers on the ground work year-round to look after heather and other peat-forming plants through conservation grazing, controlled ‘cool’ burning’ in winter and rewetting the moors. This not only provides important habitat for many red-listed species, but also reduces the risk and scale of wildfire, preserving some of Britain’s finest landscapes for the public to enjoy.
James Swyer
Press & Publications Manager