16th August 2021
MasterChef finalist Juanita Hennessey took to the moors today to prove that red grouse is one of the UK’s most sustainable foods. As the grouse season officially gets under way, Juanita showed that the number of grouse produced per acre is a tiny faction compared with other foods. Only one or two grouse is […]
12th August 2021
The start of the grouse shooting season got under way today in the wake of new research that underlines the social, economic and environmental importance of moorland management. This year’s season is expected to be particularly important to rural areas as they recover from the impact of lockdown. Research published earlier this week by the […]
11th August 2021
The number of merlin chicks fledging on the North York Moors has reached 56, demonstrating a good recovery after a poor season in 2020. A new survey carried out by grouse moor keepers covering the majority of the North York Moors National Park moorland area has revealed 56 young merlin on the wing, suggesting a […]
7th August 2021
The Daily Telegraph reports on a forthcoming academic study on sustainability and grouse shooting Grouse shooting gives glorious boost to rural economies and the environment, says study Sport supports tourism, employment and biodiversity, experts argue. Plus, Prof James Crabbe on why Glorious 12th is vital for conservation By Hayley Dixon, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT There are 8.38 million […]
5th August 2021
The prospect of another record-breaking year for Hen Harrier breeding rose today after reports of successful nests from several parts of the country. Land managers have reported 24 successful nests on moorland in Northumberland, North Yorkshire, County Durham, Cumbria, Derbyshire and Lancashire. Of the 24 successful nests, 19 are on moors managed for red grouse. […]
23rd July 2021
Leading UK rural organisations have today (23rd July) announced the launch of a formal partnership to promote the multitude of conservation and community benefits that make the countryside a better place for all to enjoy. ‘Aim To Sustain’ has been formed to highlight the crucial role that sustainable game shooting plays in delivering biodiversity net gain […]
14th July 2021
The strategy of grouse moor managers to avoid planting trees on peatland has been supported by new official guidance that acknowledges trees can damage peatlands. A framework for establishing new woodland issued by the Forestry Commission, Forest Research and Natural England reaffirms the importance of healthy peatlands to aid carbon capture. The guidance advises that […]
18th May 2021
The Moorland Association today welcomed the publication of the England Peat Action Plan and said that grouse moors will continue to play an important role in improving and protecting peatland for years to come. Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association, said: “Moorland owners and managers across England share government’s aspirations to improve peatland and […]
5th May 2021
The government should act now and make the use of sky lanterns illegal, that’s the message from leading farming, environment, animal and fire organisations. The group made up of 18 agencies, including the Moorland Association, has written to Environment Minister Rebecca Pow to explain how the Government’s approach not to regulate sky lanterns is now […]
30th April 2021
Gamekeepers and moorland managers who helped firefighters to tackle recent wildfires are warning the public of the continued risk of wildfire on moorland over the Bank Holiday weekend. There have been six major wildfires on moorland in the north of England since the start of the month. Many smaller fires are extinguished by gamekeepers without […]
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.
RECORD HIGH FOR HEN HARRIER POPULATION IN ENGLAND Figures released today by Natural England show another rise in the population of Hen Harriers in England, with 141 chicks fledging successfully this year. This increase is nearly a further fifth from last year’s 119 chicks which was the highest number for a century. The data marks a decade of population growth for this very […]
Can using fire help protect our beautiful heather moors? There are many misconceptions about the way moorland is managed to help red grouse and other ground-nesting birds to nest and fledge their chicks successfully. Controlled burning has been carried out for generations for improving grazing, but the association between heather burning and grouse shooting means that campaigners constantly seek to portray it as […]
