12th November 2012
Robert Benson has been elected Chairman of the Moorland Association, taking overall responsibility for the direction and activities of this membership organisation representing the owners and managers of over one million acres of moorland in England and Wales. He replaces Edward Bromet who has retired after serving the Association as its Chairman for four and a half years.
Robert (59) is a self-employed Cumbrian based sporting and conservation manager helping to look after several thousand acres of globally rare heather moorland in Cumbria and Scotland. These upland estates have diverse primary interests including sheep grazing, red grouse, drinking water and red deer. In Cumbria, Robert has developed his passion for moorland management over 40 years working with gamekeepers on the Bracken Bank Moors followed by the management of Lowther and Lonsdale Estates. He also works closely with the managers of moorland in County Durham during the grouse shooting season. He has extensive experience of putting in place management plans to regenerate moorland working closely with Natural England to secure agri-environment schemes that improve biodiversity and economic sustainability. Crosby Ravensworth Fell is such a flagship restoration project.
Robert has been a Committee member of the Moorland Association since its formation in 1985 and has served as the Association’s Representative for the moors in Cumbria. He has been a member of the Lake District National Park and the Cumbria Local Access Forum. He is a member of the Cumbria Commoners Association and a board member of the Heather Trust. He is the Chairman of the North Lakes Red Deer Group as well as Chairman of Penrith and District Red Squirrel Group and was instrumental in helping to set up the Red Squirrels North England Project.
Said Robert Benson: “I am committed to the future of our globally rare and treasured heather uplands. I believe passionately that integrated moorland management, with grouse shooting as the lynch pin, can produce the greatest level of benefits for wildlife, landscape and local economies. Everybody gains; from the clean water out of our taps, to the purple jewel in the crown of our upland National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
English grouse moors already have an impressive record for conservation with their extensive network of Sites of Special Scientific Interest exceeding Government’s 2010 targets. The Moorland Association has set ambitious aims to see 250,000 acres of further heather moorland regenerated, and with it boost populations of many important birds, plants and animals that will help Britain reach its Biodiversity 2020 goals. As Chairman, I will ensure best practice moorland management is thoroughly researched, understood and implemented and continue the excellent progress made to find the right solutions to complicated issues such as breeding hen harriers on grouse moors and the possible restoration of deep peat to active blanket bog.”
