Beyond Rewilding: Why Traditional Practices Outperform Untested Alternatives

Ahead of the Commons debate on the future of driven grouse shooting taking place on Monday 30th June, we’re publishing a series of blog posts that examine the vital contribution made by grouse moor management.

Britain’s moorlands are truly special and for generations they have been shaped and maintained by the dedicated people who live and work there, from farmers to gamekeepers.

Today, there’s a vigorous debate about the best way to manage these crucial areas. On one side are those advocating for “rewilding” - a hands-off approach often suggesting minimal human intervention. On the other, proponents of traditional land management argue that centuries of refined practices offer the most effective and sustainable path forward.

The Heart of Our Uplands: Integrated Moorland Management

Traditional moorland management is a comprehensive, year-round effort, much of it driven by the needs of driven grouse shooting. It’s not just about game; it's about creating a thriving ecosystem. This integrated approach involves several key practices carried out by skilled gamekeepers and land managers:

• Heather Management: This includes careful, controlled burning, cutting, and grazing. The goal is to create a diverse patchwork of heather at different ages and heights, providing ideal conditions for various species. This also promotes new, nutritious growth for wild birds and farmed animals.

• Predator Control: Legal and targeted control of generalist predators like foxes and carrion crows is essential to protect vulnerable ground-nesting birds.

• Disease Management: Monitoring and controlling diseases in gamebirds, particularly parasitic worms and ticks, is also a crucial part of the management package.

A Haven for Wildlife: Boosting Biodiversity

Moorlands managed in this traditional way are globally significant for their biodiversity. They are strongholds for many species, especially ground-nesting birds, some of which are declining elsewhere.

• Remarkable Bird Populations: Studies consistently show that moorland managed for red grouse supports higher numbers and better breeding success for iconic upland birds compared to unmanaged areas.

  • Curlew, Lapwing, Golden Plover: These species are particularly numerous and breed more successfully on grouse moors. For instance, one study found three to five times higher densities of breeding waders on managed grouse moors. In England, approximately 53% of the UK's curlew population and 42% of its lapwing population are found on moors managed by Regional Moorland Groups.

  • Hen Harriers and Merlins: Even ground-nesting raptors like hen harriers and merlins have shown increased numbers and breeding success on moors with grouse management. Recent models suggest improvements in survival and settlement rates for English hen harriers, potentially linked to reduced conflict.

• Habitat Conservation: Active management helps maintain heather-dominated habitats, which are internationally important. In fact, 75% of the world’s heather moorland is found in Britain. This management also supports unique plant communities not found under other land uses.

Guardians Against Wildfire: Protecting Our Landscapes

Wildfires pose a significant and growing threat to UK uplands, exacerbated by climate change and increased fuel loads. Traditional management, especially prescribed burning, plays a crucial role in mitigating this risk.

• Fuel Load Reduction: Controlled "cool burns" reduce the accumulation of old, woody heather, which acts as a massive fuel source. This reduces the likelihood and intensity of uncontrolled wildfires.

• Fire Breaks: Prescribed burning also creates effective fire breaks that can hinder the spread of larger, more destructive wildfires.

• Expert Response: Gamekeepers are often the first responders to wildfires due to their training, equipment, and deep knowledge of the terrain. They even train Fire & Rescue Services personnel in wildfire management.

• Devastating Wildfires: The 2018 Saddleworth Moor wildfire, on unmanaged land, resulted in the loss of vast areas of surface vegetation and approximately seven centimetres of peat, which could take up to 200 years to restore. Such uncontrolled blazes cause significantly more CO2 emissions than prescribed burns.

Beyond Birds and Fire: Broader Environmental Benefits

The impact of traditional moorland management extends beyond wildlife and wildfire prevention.

• Carbon Management: While some carbon is released during burning, vigorous regrowth can counteract this, and studies suggest that "biochar" (charcoal produced by burning) can effectively lock up carbon in peatland soils for long periods. Furthermore, managing moors for grouse has historically prevented the damaging large-scale planting of trees on deep peat, which is detrimental to both biodiversity and carbon management.

• Water Quality and Flood Mitigation: Well-managed moorland with healthy vegetation and features like blocked drains can reduce rapid surface run-off, contributing to lower peak flows in rivers and clearer water downstream.

• Tick Control: Managing vegetation and grazing can help control tick populations, which are carriers of diseases affecting both humans (like Lyme disease) and animals. A lack of active management at locations like Lake Vyrnwy has led to concerns about increased tick numbers.

Fueling Rural Life: Economic and Social Contributions

The benefits of traditional moorland management are not just ecological; they are deeply intertwined with the economic and social fabric of rural communities.

• Economic Vitality: Driven grouse shooting contributes significantly to local economies, often in remote areas where other opportunities are scarce.

  • Investment and Jobs: Moorland owners invest considerable private funds - estimated at over £1 million a week across the UK - to maintain these landscapes. This supports around 2,500 full-time jobs directly linked to grouse shooting and generates millions in economic activity annually through expenditure on staff, contractors, and local businesses like hotels, shops, and garages.

• Community and Well-being: 

  • Social Cohesion: Driven grouse shooting days involve many local people as beaters, pickers-up, and other support staff, fostering strong community bonds and inter-generational connections.

  • Physical Activity: Participants, such as beaters, often walk significant distances (an average of 12.5 miles per day) over challenging terrain, contributing substantially to their physical health and well-being.

  • Cultural Heritage: This activity is deeply rooted in the cultural heritage of many upland communities, offering a sense of identity and continuity.

The Perils of Untested Alternatives: Why 'Rewilding' Falls Short

While "rewilding" sounds appealing to some, it often lacks the proven outcomes of traditional management and can introduce significant risks. Many studies have highlighted serious concerns about abandoning active management:

• Increased Wildfire Risk: Ceasing traditional management, including prescribed burning, leads to a dangerous build-up of fuel loads, dramatically increasing the risk and severity of wildfires. Despite claims, merely "rewetting" moorland does not guarantee fire prevention, as seen in recent bog-burning wildfires.

• Biodiversity Decline: When management stops, key bird populations like curlew, lapwing, and black grouse can decline significantly, even to the point of extinction in some areas, as observed in the Berwyn Mountains after grouse moor management was abandoned. Heather cover also declines without active management.

• Unproven Outcomes: There is insufficient long-term evidence to suggest that alternatives like passive rewilding or widespread cutting would better deliver environmental benefits compared to integrated moorland management. The potential negative consequences of reduced grazing and cutting, such as increased bracken and ticks, are often overlooked.

• Ignoring Local Expertise: Policies promoting "rewilding" often disregard centuries of accumulated local knowledge and experience of land managers, leading to misguided decisions.

A Call for Collaboration, Not Conflict

The debate over moorland management needs to move beyond polarized opinions and embrace a balanced, evidence-based approach. Focusing on single issues, such as only carbon storage, risks unintentionally damaging other vital environmental, economic, and social aspects of these complex ecosystems.

• Adaptive Management: Policies should allow for flexible, site-specific management rather than imposing rigid, "one-size-fits-all" rules. This means empowering landowners and managers to adapt practices based on local conditions and emerging scientific understanding.

• Holistic View: It is crucial to recognize that the British uplands are "living, working landscapes" that provide multiple benefits simultaneously. Conservation, rural livelihoods, and responsible stewardship must be viewed as interconnected, not mutually exclusive.

• Valuing Practical Expertise: The deep knowledge and daily efforts of gamekeepers and other land managers are invaluable. Their contributions to environmental health, local economies, and community well-being should be recognized and supported.

The evidence strongly suggests that traditional moorland management practices, including those supporting driven grouse shooting, deliver significant and sustainable benefits for the UK’s uplands. They foster biodiversity, reduce wildfire risks, and underpin rural economies and communities.

While alternatives like rewilding are gaining traction, they often lack the comprehensive understanding and proven track record that centuries of integrated management have demonstrated.

For the future of our precious moorlands, a collaborative approach that values science, local expertise, and the multi-functional nature of these landscapes is essential to ensure sustainable outcomes for all.

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