How Traditional Moorland Management Protects Our Priceless Uplands

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: A Global Leader in Rare Habitats 

It’s a critical moment to understand the immense, positive impact that traditional moorland management has on our precious countryside. These aren't just wild, untouched spaces; they are living, working landscapes, carefully nurtured for generations.

Our uplands are a truly unique and globally important habitat, rarer even than rainforests. These stunning landscapes are vital for many species of flora and fauna, and their existence is not by accident, but by design and dedication.

The Heart of Moorland Conservation: Active Management 

For centuries, the people who live and work in the uplands - gamekeepers, farmers, and estate owners - have been the primary custodians of these landscapes. Moorland managed for red grouse, in particular, undergoes habitat management that actively preserves and enhances heather.

This vital, year-round work creates a mosaic of different heather heights and ages through controlled, "cool" burning, grazing, and mowing. This varied patchwork is essential, providing food, shelter, and breeding sites for a wide array of wildlife, leading to increased overall biodiversity.

A Sanctuary for Declining Species 

The benefits extend far beyond grouse. Managed moors are strongholds for many declining upland bird species that are of significant conservation concern nationally and internationally. For example, studies show that birds like curlew, lapwing, and golden plover are more numerous and breed more successfully on moorland managed for red grouse compared to unmanaged areas.

In fact, it's estimated that approximately 53% of the UK's curlew population and 42% of its lapwing population are found on English grouse moors covered by our Regional Moorland Groups.

This is an extraordinary achievement for a relatively small area. The contrast is stark: where grouse moor management was abandoned, like in the Berwyn Mountains, populations of curlew, lapwing, golden plover, and red grouse have declined significantly, with some becoming extinct in certain areas.

Preventing Habitat Loss and Wildfire 

Traditional moorland management also plays a crucial role in preventing less biodiverse land uses, such as commercial forestry or intensive agriculture, from taking over these unique habitats. Without grouse moor management, heather cover has been shown to decline more sharply.

Furthermore, careful vegetation management is key to preventing devastating wildfires. Gamekeepers actively reduce fuel loads through controlled burning and create firebreaks, which significantly lowers the risk and severity of uncontrolled blazes, protecting lives, property, and the moorland itself. This proactive work is recognized by fire and rescue services, who often receive training and assistance from gamekeepers.

Tradition, Livelihoods, and Stewardship 

For those who live in the uplands, their way of life is inextricably linked to the land and its traditional management.

Field sports, including driven grouse shooting, are seen as a vital part of this heritage, sustaining not only direct employment for gamekeepers and estate managers but also supporting a wide range of local businesses and injecting significant private investment into often remote rural economies.

This private funding often fills gaps where government or charitable funding might fall short, ensuring continuous habitat improvement and land stewardship.

Moorland communities overwhelmingly trust private estate owners and gamekeepers as custodians of the uplands, preferring their time-tested, evidence-based practices over untested alternatives like blanket rewilding, which often lack clear outcomes and can increase fire risk.

The maintenance of our heather moorlands is a testament to generations of dedicated land stewardship.

As decisions are made about their future, it is crucial that policymakers listen to the voices of those who work on the ground and recognise the profound, evidence-based benefits that driven grouse moor management delivers for rare habitats, unique wildlife, and the thriving rural communities of our uplands.

These are working landscapes, and their continued health depends on informed, supportive decisions.

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