Threatened ban on driven grouse shooting

[Conor O'Gorman]

Wild Justice is petitioning Parliament to ban driven grouse shooting. If the petition reaches 100,000 signatures, it can be scheduled for debate in Parliament

The petition is here: Ban driven grouse shooting - Petitions

Following the election there are many new MPs who know little or nothing of the environmental, social and economic benefits of sustainable driven grouse shooting and may believe the one-sided propaganda from Wild Justice.


WHAT YOU CAN DO

BASC is calling on all those who support sustainable shooting to contact their MPs and tell them of the benefits to conservation, biodiversity and marginal upland communities.

BASC is asking all those with access to a grouse moor to get their MPs onto the moor and show them the work done that benefits the local environment and economy.

Click this weblink to find your MP and their email address:

https://members.parliament.uk/constituencies

Forward any responses to politics@basc.org.uk

KEY MESSAGES FOR MPS

When contacting your MP, highlight these critical points.

• Conservation success: Grouse moors managed by gamekeepers support up to five times more threatened wading birds compared to unmanaged landscapes.
• Heather moorland conservation: Heather moorland is rarer than rainforest, with the vast majority of this globally important habitat found in the UK, thanks to grouse moor management.
• Zero tolerance for wildlife crime: BASC has a zero-tolerance policy on the illegal killing of birds of prey, with those convicted for breaking the law being expelled.
• Hen harrier conservation: Last year (2023) saw another record year for the number of hen harrier chicks fledged in England. BASC funding and co-operation between moors and conservationists helped 141 chicks to fledge, an increase on the previous breeding season for the seventh year in a row.
• Economic importance: The grouse shooting sector employs around 2,500 people across England and Scotland, providing essential stability for fragile upland communities.
• Carbon storage and land management: Managed grouse moors help preserve the UK’s largest carbon store—peatlands—through careful heather management, rewetting initiatives, and drain-blocking efforts, increasing the resilience of these landscapes to increasing wildfire risk.
• National treasure: Over 90 per cent of managed grouse moors are located in National Parks or Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, making them vital to preserving the UK’s most protected landscapes.

Edited November 27, 2024 by Conor O'Gorman

[Fellside]

Thanks Conor. I have just written to my MP emphasising the main points. I would urge anyone (hopefully lots of people) who write to their MP - to also insist upon written assurances of support for grouse moors. Try to get some commitment. I appreciate that not all people who shoot will have a direct interest in grouse shooting, however if ‘Wild Injustice’ succeed this will be the thin end of the wedge. We all need to push back. 

[udderlyoffroad]

1 hour ago, Fellside said:

Try to get some commitment. I appreciate that not all people who shoot will have a direct interest in grouse shooting,

So much this; am unlikely ever to go near a grouse moor, but the "I'm alright jack" mentality of some shooters needs to die, and quickly.

I do wonder if the government has the appetite to take on rural communities though.  The farmers' protest has managed to galvanise people, admittedly not many people eat grouse, but nevertheless the seed of a clueless, townie central government imposing nonsense on rural communities has definitely been planted.

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Having read the Wild Justice reasons for submitting the Petition it would appear that Chris Packham, Ruth Tingay and Mark Avery are intent on letting the well managed moors revert to the poor state they will be without the good work that has been done over many years. They also include the raptor persecution as if they would miss another chance to go down this route. Not sure what they mean by "driven grouse shooting is bad for people?"

What they fail to address is who will be paying for this rewilding?

 

Here is what they entered to support their petition;

"Chris Packham, Ruth Tingay and Mark Avery (Wild Justice) believe that driven grouse shooting is bad for people, the environment and wildlife. People; we think grouse shooting is economically insignificant when contrasted with other real and potential uses of the UK’s extensive uplands.

Environment; muirburn contributes to climate breakdown and drainage leads to flooding and erosion. Wildlife; the wholesale extermination of predators has a disastrous impact on the ecology of these areas and the criminal practice of raptor persecution has taken place. We believe it's time to provide an opportunity to implement immediate and meaningful measures to address what we see as an abhorrently destructive practice so that recovery of moorlands can progress."

[Fellside]

I refer you to the derelict Irish grouse moors, hardly a bird in sight……. of any kind!!

[Conor O'Gorman]

Thanks @Fellside for writing to your MP. That's what we need and I hope other PW members will do similar!

Considering some of the other comments yes grouse shooting is so much more than shooting grouse. Personal accounts help flesh that out better than research papers and stats. For example, read the following case study from this year’s Value of Shooting report.

Gamekeeper Bernard Moss is the sporting manager for shooting estates in North Yorkshire covering 28,000 acres, including Farndale and Bransdale. Moorland accounts for 21,000 acres, the remainder is lowland shooting. Annually, the estates put on around 120 driven shooting days, including 30 grouse days. Although, says Bernard, when you add in walked-up shooting, falconry and dog training events, the number of active days is nearly 200. This provides significant local employment.

“On a grouse day, we have an average of eight Guns, each paying in the region of £3,000 a day. A grouse day employs around 35 people from the local community.

“We also run two shoot lodges where Guns can stay overnight; these also require staff, including a full-time chef. Overall the estates employ 18 people directly.”

All this adds up to around 4,500 work days a year on the shoots, plus hundreds more in hospitality. “In addition the estates buy grain and food from local farmers, and processed game from local suppliers to give to the Guns.”

Bernard pointed out the estates’ contribution to the environment: “We carry out our own wader surveys, and a project funded by National Parks to monitor curlew breeding, behaviour and distribution, using satellite tagging.

“We also plant hedgerows and 40 acres of wild bird food to help birds through the winter, which wouldn’t happen if there was no shooting here.”

If any PW readers/members have a story like Bernard’s to tell it is especially important to contact your MP. Don’t let the antis dominate the narrative about the future of your livelihood.

 

 

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

Update this evening on Fieldsports TV:

 

[Conor O'Gorman]

The Wild Justice petition calling on the government to ban driven grouse shooting is nearing the halfway mark. BASC has published an updated infographic on the benefits of grouse shooting for anyone wishing to use some key stats when contacting MPs. See webpage below for more information.

https://basc.org.uk/share-the-benefits-of-grouse-shooting/

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

Not at 45 000 yet.

[Conor O'Gorman]

A government response has been given to the petition as follows:

The Government has no plans to ban driven grouse shooting. It recognises well-managed grouse shooting can be an important part of a local rural economy, providing direct and indirect employment.

This is a devolved matter. The Government appreciates that many people hold strong views on the issue of driven grouse shooting. The Government considers that well-managed shooting activities can bring benefits to the rural economy and can be beneficial for wildlife and habitat conservation. We will continue work to ensure a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship between shooting and conservation. The Government has no plans to ban grouse shooting.

It is of course vital that wildlife and habitats are protected and the law is respected by those involved in the grouse shooting industry. Wild birds of prey, for example, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There is evidence from Ewing et al (2023) and others to suggest a link between crimes against birds of prey and grouse shooting. The Government supports the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) – which helps prevent and detect crimes against wildlife by obtaining and disseminating intelligence and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations – and the Hen Harrier Task Force – which is led by the NWCU and aims to detect, deter, and disrupt offenders, in particular those persecuting rare hen harriers – by using technology and improving partnership working. Where wild birds of prey or any non-target species of wildlife are killed illegally the full force of the law should apply to proven perpetrators of the crime. All forms of predator management to protect grouse must be undertaken within the law, including compliance with animal welfare legislation.

Grouse shooting takes place in upland areas, which are important for a range of things including, food, fibre, water regulation, carbon storage, biodiversity and recreational opportunities. UK uplands have 75 per cent of the world’s remaining heather moorland and about 13 per cent of the world’s blanket bog.

Upland catchments provide 70 per cent of the UK’s drinking water. The Government is committed to delivering positive environmental and economic benefits and creating a more sustainable future for the English uplands, including preserving and restoring peatlands.

Healthy, active peat provides good habitat for grouse as well as numerous environmental benefits. Through the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, the Government is continuing to invest millions of pounds in peatland restoration, to aid climate change mitigation and nature recovery. The Government’s new and improved Countryside Stewardship offer will be available this summer. This scheme will encourage land managers to enter into agreements to enhance and protect the natural environment, including upland peatland habitats.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700036

 

[TIGHTCHOKE]

That's good, well done BASC.    

[islandgun]

20 minutes ago, Conor O'Gorman said:

A government response has been given to the petition as follows:

The Government has no plans to ban driven grouse shooting. It recognises well-managed grouse shooting can be an important part of a local rural economy, providing direct and indirect employment.

This is a devolved matter. The Government appreciates that many people hold strong views on the issue of driven grouse shooting. The Government considers that well-managed shooting activities can bring benefits to the rural economy and can be beneficial for wildlife and habitat conservation. We will continue work to ensure a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship between shooting and conservation. The Government has no plans to ban grouse shooting.

It is of course vital that wildlife and habitats are protected and the law is respected by those involved in the grouse shooting industry. Wild birds of prey, for example, are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. There is evidence from Ewing et al (2023) and others to suggest a link between crimes against birds of prey and grouse shooting. The Government supports the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) – which helps prevent and detect crimes against wildlife by obtaining and disseminating intelligence and directly assisting law enforcers in their investigations – and the Hen Harrier Task Force – which is led by the NWCU and aims to detect, deter, and disrupt offenders, in particular those persecuting rare hen harriers – by using technology and improving partnership working. Where wild birds of prey or any non-target species of wildlife are killed illegally the full force of the law should apply to proven perpetrators of the crime. All forms of predator management to protect grouse must be undertaken within the law, including compliance with animal welfare legislation.

Grouse shooting takes place in upland areas, which are important for a range of things including, food, fibre, water regulation, carbon storage, biodiversity and recreational opportunities. UK uplands have 75 per cent of the world’s remaining heather moorland and about 13 per cent of the world’s blanket bog.

Upland catchments provide 70 per cent of the UK’s drinking water. The Government is committed to delivering positive environmental and economic benefits and creating a more sustainable future for the English uplands, including preserving and restoring peatlands.

Healthy, active peat provides good habitat for grouse as well as numerous environmental benefits. Through the Nature for Climate Peatland Grant Scheme, the Government is continuing to invest millions of pounds in peatland restoration, to aid climate change mitigation and nature recovery. The Government’s new and improved Countryside Stewardship offer will be available this summer. This scheme will encourage land managers to enter into agreements to enhance and protect the natural environment, including upland peatland habitats.

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700036

 

At last a science based result, a managed healthy moor is good for all bodiversity

[PeterHenry]

That's a wonderful result - and one that's bound to irritate certain people.

[Newbie to this]

The worring bit is they are saying it is a devolved matter, and are trying to devolve most local councils.

[Weihrauch17]

3 minutes ago, Newbie to this said:

The worring bit is they are saying it is a devolved matter, and are trying to devolve most local councils.

Yep you couldn't trust a single word they say on anything.

[jall25]

Great news !

[PeterHenry]

29 minutes ago, Newbie to this said:

The worring bit is they are saying it is a devolved matter, and are trying to devolve most local councils.

In this context, I would be very very surprised if they meant anything other than the Scottish / Welsh / Northern Irish assembly's.

Powers, and the future handing out of powers vary between the above three assemblys as it stands - if the government started handing out powers of that magnitude to - in effect - suped up councils, the country would be largely ungovernable.

 

[Newbie to this]

2 minutes ago, PeterHenry said:

In this context, I would be very very surprised if they meant anything other than the Scottish / Welsh / Northern Irish assembly's.

Powers, and the future handing out of powers vary between the above three assemblys as it stands - if the government started handing out powers of that magnitude to - in effect - suped up councils, the country would be largely ungovernable.

 

Possibly, but look at London. It's dictator has the say on (almost) everything.

[PeterHenry]

11 minutes ago, Newbie to this said:

Possibly, but look at London. It's dictator has the say on (almost) everything.

He doesn't though. Yes he has various powers, and some would argue that he has too many - but it would be an entirely ceremonial role if he couldn't do anything. He can't stop you from owning or takeing a gun to London. He can't close gun shops, he can't stop you from eating meat three times a day, seven days a week - i'm not even sure he can ban you from having a log burner or open fire (as long as its up to spec and the right fuel is used) as much as he may want to. 

Edited Friday at 18:23 by PeterHenry

[Conor O'Gorman]

3 hours ago, Newbie to this said:

The worring bit is they are saying it is a devolved matter, and are trying to devolve most local councils.

It is a matter of fact. Decision making on laws regarding quarry species in England are for the UK government to decide on. Decision making on laws regarding quarry species in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are a devolved matter for the Welsh, Scottish and NI govts to determine, in consultation with residents in each of those countries.