GWCT News Blog

The recent debate on driven grouse shooting revealed two very different attitudes to management. Those opposed to banning grouse shooting regard the management of grouse moors as a constructive action supporting biodiversity and other public goods and services; those supporting a ban see management as artificial and destructive. So who is right?

“What is not clear is that banning driven grouse shooting would be good for the environment: in fact, I think that, on balance, it would be harmful”, said Tom Hunt, MP for Ipswich as he drew Monday’s Westminster Hall debate on the future of driven grouse shooting to a close. Across an hour and a half, members of Parliament shared their views on the Wild Justice petition to ban driven grouse shooting.

Politicians will soon be debating a petition launched by Chris Packham, Ruth Tingay and Mark Avery of Wild Justice, titled ‘Ban Driven Grouse Shooting - Wilful blindness is no longer an option.’

Two years after the General Licence fiasco, Defra has announced here that it has taken control of heather burning too – another complex issue that some have repeatedly oversimplified. The RSPB, which has championed extensive restrictions, has been clear that the announcement is “not what was promised”.

Hen harriers in England have just enjoyed their best breeding season in three decades but beating last year’s record of 60 chicks, from 24 nests.

Ahead of the debate that is scheduled in Westminster on the future of driven grouse shooting in England, the GWCT have prepared a series of information sheets on key issues that are the main areas of disagreement on this contentious topic.

We take a closer look at the RSPB's attitude to shooting and how they continue to project it negatively to the public and its members.

You may be very disappointed with the announcement after all the hard work which the GWCT has devoted to the 'Werritty Review', and multiple representations to policy makers. As the recently published GWCT blog on the issue states, we are deeply concerned that what is required is solutions, not another layer of bureaucracy.

When it came to finding solutions to wildlife conflict, Scotland has been a world leader – until now. It was home to the most ambitious largescale moorland raptor trials in the world. However, lessons learnt have not been developed and Scotland now plans to license grouse moors in the hope that this will somehow end the conflict between raptors and grouse shooting.

In the face of oversimplification, it is encouraging to see Sir Edward Leigh explain the important distinction between the ways in which our uplands are managed.