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Waders on the Fringe

A report on our nine-year upland predation experiment in Northumberland, which looks at the effect of predator control on upland waders. We show that reducing numbers of carrion crows and foxes signifcantly improves the breeding success of lapwing, curlew and golden plover. Populations of these w...

Wind farms

The GWCT has done no research into the conservation impact of wind farms. The views that follow are based on a review of wind farm research conducted by others, combined with a knowledge of moorland management for wildlife acquired through our own research. Background The GWCT’s 2011 report Wader...

Mustelid and rodent control

Predator Control Appeal

Predator Control Appeal

Scottish Parliament’s mountain hare vote - GWCT Statement

To protect Scotland’s mountain hare population it is clear we must protect their habitat – the sort of heather moorland best managed and maintained by grouse moors. It’s sad that the emotional decision to give mountain hares in Scotland year-round legal protection will do so little to stem the l...

Red grouse

Curlew

Q: How many curlew species are there in the world?A: Eight: whimbrel, slender-billed curlew, Eurasian curlew, longbilled curlew, Far Eastern curlew, little curlew, Eskimo curlew and bristle-thighed curlew. Q: Which one is the most commonly seen in the UK?A: The largest one: Eurasian curlew (Numen...

Rewetting moorland

After the Second World War, government incentives paid for widespread moorland drainage with the primary aim of improving the land for livestock. This is now thought to have been misguided because the environmental impacts were not appreciated at the time and because this drainage did not achieve...

The GWCT fox snare