Grouse Shooting & Management

The RSPB’s continued demonisation of gamekeepers has led to an exchange of letters between the charity’s CEO and the Moorland Association.

On the Glorious Twelfth, Moorland Association CEO Andrew Gilruth was interviewed on Hugo Rifkind's Times Radio Show to discuss grouse shooting and grouse moor management.

Upland communities face significant challenges and have serious concerns regarding moorland management and conservation, often feeling that their traditional ways of life and local expertise are being overlooked.

A recent article in Yorkshire Bylines on driven grouse shooting presents a number of assertions that deserve a factual, evidence-based response.

Times Radio billed Andrew Gilruth's recent appearance with Rod Liddle as “a confrontation with the Moorland Association.” In reality, it became a confrontation with reality.

Britain's moorlands are at the heart of a vigorous debate about land management. At the core of this discussion is driven grouse shooting and the associated moorland management practices.

We strongly disagree with David Robson’s recent article “Yorkshire’s inglorious moors and the lies of the land” which portrays moorlands as “ecological deserts”, drained and degraded by landowners.

The checklist includes guidance on risk assessments, police reporting, evidence gathering, and how to engage calmly and lawfully.

Defra has finally responded to last year’s Health & Safety Executive (HSE) recommendation. This proposed that lead ammunition should be phased out over five years. Today’s Defra announcement confirmed it wishes to achieve that in four years.

Mark Cocker’s bleak portrayal of the moor at Combs Moss as a vast emptiness that “stirs a deep melancholy” is not just inaccurate - it’s irresponsible.

A recent in-depth study, gathering detailed information directly from gamekeepers across 58 English grouse moors, paints a stark and sobering picture of the threats they face daily.

A new report reveals how the RSPB's 2007 management plan for Lake Vyrnwy set specific targets for curlew and black grouse that have largely been unmet.