2022

In August this year GWCT chief executive Teresa Dent wrote a letter to Greenpeace’s Interim Executive Director in response to its petition calling for a complete ban on controlled burning in the uplands. We received a reply outlining Greenpeace’s position, which despite our presentation of evidence to the contrary, reiterates the viewpoint that the “weight of scientific evidence shows heather burning, in particular, is damaging to English peatlands,” and, significantly, omits to mention the important role controlled burns can play in wildfire mitigation.

You would think that there would be a single term to describe the removal of surface vegetation such as scrub, heather and grasses using fire. But this is not the case. There are regional terms, legislative terms and then just plainly incorrect terms resulting in nine possible descriptors for a single practice.

With the start of the muirburn season (1st October – 15th April) now upon us, many upland farms and estates across Scotland will be watching the weather forecast with a close eye and view to burning.

A pioneering trial set up to help rebuild the population of the endangered Hen Harrier in England has reared and released 13 chicks this year.

Red grouse management and shooting can contribute significantly to rural economies whilst delivering a plethora of wider biodiversity and environmental benefits. 

Henrietta Appleton discusses the findings from ‘Sustaining Ecosystems: English Grouse Moors’, our audit of the contribution of grouse moor management to society’s wants and needs, as expressed by goals in the Government’s 25 year Environment Plan (25YEP).

The few who perpetrate wildlife crime overshadow the many grouse moor managers who work tirelessly to create habitat where birds of prey can thrive. 

Rod Liddle lets a story get in the way of the facts when writing about grouse moors. Rather than being a “desolate moonscape”, they are the last refuge of some of our most endangered wildlife.

As a new study on mountain hares hit the news, we thank GWCT member Matthew Higgs for writing to the Telegraph to share our findings