September

The GWCT will be submitting an independent, very thorough and very detailed response, which will include the most comprehensive list of peer-reviewed scientific evidence, research reports and papers. However, there is a real need for shoots, shoot owners, shoot managers and gamekeepers to respond to this Call for Evidence to provide data and evidence that the GWCT does not hold.

After 18 months in which the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) – Defra’s flagship mechanism to help farmers deliver the food and nature outcomes on which this nation depends – was closed, farmers had less than six hours to submit their applications for three-year periods of funding before the door was once again slammed shut.

Today marks the coming into effect of the new licences to make muirburn on non-peatland and peatland respectively. This means that, as of today, it is illegal to make muirburn in Scotland unless under a valid licence issued by NatureScot.

As the leading independent, scientific, evidence-based organisation on gamebird management, the GWCT very much looks forward to engaging with Defra over the coming weeks as part of this call for evidence.