2020

Ahead of the debate that is scheduled in Westminster on the future of driven grouse shooting in England, the GWCT have prepared a series of information sheets on key issues that are the main areas of disagreement on this contentious topic.

We take a closer look at the RSPB's attitude to shooting and how they continue to project it negatively to the public and its members.

You may be very disappointed with the announcement after all the hard work which the GWCT has devoted to the 'Werritty Review', and multiple representations to policy makers. As the recently published GWCT blog on the issue states, we are deeply concerned that what is required is solutions, not another layer of bureaucracy.

When it came to finding solutions to wildlife conflict, Scotland has been a world leader – until now. It was home to the most ambitious largescale moorland raptor trials in the world. However, lessons learnt have not been developed and Scotland now plans to license grouse moors in the hope that this will somehow end the conflict between raptors and grouse shooting.

In the face of oversimplification, it is encouraging to see Sir Edward Leigh explain the important distinction between the ways in which our uplands are managed.

Ahead of the Westminster Hall debate on Moorland Burning on Wednesday 18 November make sure you visit some useful links which contain important information on burning.

In his recent letter, Professor Arthur Morris described grouse moors as ‘ecological deserts’. This is frankly untrue. Breeding birds such as lapwing and curlew have thrived on grouse moors as a result of the management undertaken there. 

GWCT Chief Executive Teresa Dent suggests that the recent call from RSPB to ‘stop burning the peat’ seems to deliberately confuse controlled and uncontrolled burning.

Kirklees Council will be interested to hear that our knowledge of the role heather burning plays in peatland restoration has progressed significantly since the Committee on Climate Change suggested it should cease.

With lessons from Australia and California about the unintended consequences of preventing controlled winter fires to reduce fuel load, we may need to be far more proactive in preventative burning than we have been in the past, as the likelihood of summer wildfires is increasing.