Conservation at Work

Who We Are

The Moorland Association was set up in 1986 to tackle a serious decline in heather moorland, dating back to the Second World War.

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What We Do

Grouse shooting on 175 estates in England and Wales plays an important part in the rural economy during a season running from August – the Glorious Twelfth – until December 10.

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How We Do It

Forging close ties with influential bodies allows us to foster a greater understanding of the widespread needs and issues surrounding both our moorlands and grouse shooting.

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Latest News
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Heather coverage UK

Heather Coverage in UK

Moorland Association members are passionate in their care for 860,000 acres of heather moorland in England and Wales for wild red grouse, spending £52. 5 million a year on these iconic, fragile landscapes.

Rarer than rain-forest, around 75% of Europe’s upland heather moorland is found in the UK, treasured by millions of walkers and wildlife enthusiasts.

More than 60 per cent of England’s upland Sites of Special Scientific Interest are moors managed for grouse shooting. Over forty per cent are also designated under European habitats and bird directives for their rare and remarkable vegetation and ground-nesting bird populations.

The purple cloaked treasures are at the heart of our most precious landscapes in the country’s prized National Parks and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Shooting provides essential income for the protection of this remarkable land and is responsible for over 1,500 jobs in the heart of the countryside. Even during the most successful seasons, shooting usually stops well before the official end on December 10 and every day is a bonus for the local economy.

Because of the significant costs involved in year round management, running a grouse moor does not often make money, but the effects of such extensive conservation are felt across the vast, much-loved moorland wilds.

Careful land management through the skill and dedication of game keepers has seen significant gains for some of the country’s most endangered ground-nesting birds. It has also led to the successful breeding of hen harriers, Britain’s most talked about birds of prey.

We are committed to a raft of measures which maintain the exceptional habitats of unique birds, plants and animals and safeguard peat for carbon storage and water quality.

Without this work, the precious land would revert to scrub and forest and the heather moors lost forever.

 

Return of the Hen Harrier – Read the Full Story

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Did You Know?

75% of Europe’s remaining upland heather moorland is found in the UK – but this area declined alarmingly over the latter part of the last century. The Moorland Association was set up in 1986 to coordinate the efforts of moorland owners and managers to halt this loss, particularly in England and Wales.

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TRUE THREAT OF WILDFIRE RISK IN CLIMATE CHANGE COMMITTEE REPORT HIGHLIGHTED BY MOORLAND ASSOCIATION The Moorland Association today is encouraged by the Climate Change Committee’s latest adaptation report that highlights for the first time the real threat to life and ecosystems of wildfire in our changed climate. The independent committee also identifies the most effective approach to mitigate the risk. 2022 was a record year for large wildfires in […]

PEAK DISTRICT FARMERS JOIN FORCES FOR CONSERVATION A group of hill farmers  has created a pioneering  environmental cooperative to protect against the effects of climate change and boost wildlife, alongside sustainable livestock production. Peakland Environmental Farmers (PEF) has 55 farmers on board, covering over 28,000 hectares of upland in the Peak District National Park. The innovative collective will enable farmers and landowners […]

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