Search results

Black Grouse lekking on the North York Moors for the first time in living memory

By Holly Appleby and Molly Brown, Uplands Research Black grouse were once numerous and widespread in England, yet over the last 150 years, the population has become increasingly isolated due to low breeding success, habitat fragmentation and changes in landscape configuration. The remaining birds...

Predation Control: Can closed seasons work?

By Mike Swan, Senior Advisor Twenty or so years ago I struck up a slightly weird ‘friendship’ with a man who owned a few acres of woodland in Devon, where he lived in a yurt. He was not against shooting, and was positively enthusiastic about my passion for coastal wildfowling, but he hated the bi...

Disease monitoring in Red Grouse

Will our moors become silent?

By Henrietta Appleton, GWCT Policy Officer A couple of weeks ago I (and my colleagues Eleanor and Sally) had the pleasure of being part of a Moorland Matters event. These informal get togethers of those with an interest in our uplands are a great way to experience moorland wildlife and to learn t...

Driven Grouse Shooting debate: recognising the science

Many readers will be aware of the recent scrutiny facing grouse shooting. At the start of the year Wild Justice once again launched a petition calling for the ban of driven grouse shooting, and in May this petition gained the 100,000 signatures necessary for the topic to be debated by Parliament....

Black Grouse Range Expansion Project FAQs

What is the Black Grouse Range Expansion Project? Why are black grouse populations declining? How will the project help increase black grouse breeding success? Why is the North York Moors a suitable location for re-establishing black grouse? How will black grouse be moved to the North York Moor...

Grouse Monitoring Services

Crashes in grouse populations in recent years have highlighted the need to better understand grouse population dynamics and the factors that currently influence these dramatic declines. The GWCT has carried out red grouse population and disease monitoring since the 1980s, which has led to a wealt...

The role of firebreaks to prevent, mitigate and control wildfire on deep peat and dry heath is acknowledged by Natural England

Written by Henrietta Appleton, Policy Officer (England) Over the past 2-3 years, we have spent much time highlighting to ministers, their advisers and conservation bodies the increasing risk of wildfire to our natural environment. Our concerns are that the current direction of land management pol...

Rewilding grouse moors not the answer: our letter to The Spectator

Taking Flight: Inside the GWCT Black Grouse Expansion Project

From the North Pennines to the North York Moors: The GWCT Black Grouse Translocation Project is in full swing! Our latest short film (above) offers an exclusive glimpse into the incredible work our team is doing to safeguard this iconic species. The Black Grouse Range Expansion Project, funded b...