More Than a Landscape: Why Our Upland Traditions deserve to be "Living Heritage"
- Rob Beeson
- 2 hours ago
- 3 min read
✅ KEY TAKEAWAY: Preserve our rural identity. Secure Community Grouse Conservation’s official recognition on the UK’s new Living Heritage inventory by signing the community pledge today at www.ouruplandlivingheritage.com.
When you look out across a purple heather moor in late summer, what do you see?
You see one of the most iconic views in Britain. You see a home for rare birds like the curlew and lapwing. But if you look closer, you see something else. You see people.
You see the gamekeeper checking walls and managing the heather. You see the local families who come together for the season. You see the dog handlers, the beaters, the flankers, and the village businesses that rely on them.
This isn’t just "land management." It is a living, breathing community tradition that has shaped our countryside for generations.
Now, we have a unique chance to get this tradition officially recognised - and we need your help to do it.
What is the "Inventory of Living Heritage"?
You might have heard of World Heritage Sites like Stonehenge or the Lake District, which protect physical places. But what about the things we do? What about the skills, festivals, and traditions that make us who we are?
That is where "Living Heritage" comes in.
Recently, the UK government agreed to join a global UNESCO convention to protect "Intangible Cultural Heritage." To put it simply, they are creating an official list (or "inventory") of the UK’s most important living traditions.
This list will include things like bagpipe playing, cheese rolling, and dry-stone walling. We believe Community Grouse Conservation belongs on that list too.
Why Community Grouse Conservation Matters
For those of us who live and work in the uplands, we know that grouse shooting is about much more than the day itself. It is a golden thread that binds our rural communities together.
We are campaigning to have Community Grouse Conservation recognised because it meets every definition of Living Heritage:
It keeps rural skills alive: From dry-stone walling to training working dogs, these skills are passed down from grandfathers to granddaughters. Without the grouse moors, this knowledge could be lost.
It supports nature: The work our community does creates the perfect habitat for a huge range of wildlife, not just grouse. It protects the peat and the plants that define our hills.
It tackles isolation: In remote areas, the moor is a meeting place. It brings people of all ages and backgrounds together, fighting the loneliness that can often affect rural life.
It supports the local economy: From the local pub to the garage, the "purple pound" keeps village services open during the quiet winter months.
This is About Our Identity
Recognition on the UK Inventory wouldn't just be a badge of honour. It would be a statement that our way of life is valuable.
It would tell the government and the wider public that the uplands aren't just a "resource" to be managed from a desk in a city. They are a cultural landscape, shaped by the people who live there, love there, and work there.
By getting Community Grouse Conservation recognised, we ensure that the role of the gamekeeper and the rural community is written into the nation’s story, safe for future generations.
How You Can Help (It only takes 2 minutes)
We are preparing a submission to the government to include Community Grouse Conservation on the official list. But we cannot do it alone.
The rules say we must prove that this tradition has "community consent." That means we need real people - gamekeepers, farmers, beaters, flankers, local business owners, and residents - to stand up and say, "This is my heritage, and I want it recognised."
We are not just looking for signatures on a petition. We are building a record of the community.
Please Take Action Today
Visit our campaign hub: Go to www.ouruplandlivingheritage.com
Sign the Pledge: Fill in the simple form to register your support.
Share your story: If you can, add a brief comment on the form about what the moors mean to you.
Let’s ensure the people who shape the uplands are finally recognised for the incredible work they do.
