Glorious So-so Twelfth
..heralding a less than Glorious Twelfth. In England, which has about 180 grouse moors, the number of shooting days is down about 80 per cent, according to the Moorland Association, provoking predictions of the worst season in half a century and the loss of about £11.2 million to the upland rural economy, particularly North Yorkshire, the Pennines and Northumberland.
The forecast across Scotland’s 450 grouse moors is more complicated, with some areas in dire straits while others are faring better. There is little doubt that a decade of gradual decline has continued, caused by a combination of disease, from sheep ticks and a gut parasite, warmer winters and wetter springs.
Ian McCall, director of the Game Conservancy Trust in Scotland, said: “It is not universally disappointing. It is not catastrophic and on balance Scotland might be better off than England, which is a rare achievement this year. England usually does better because of the kinder climate and fertile soil. But this year they have fewer grouse because they had too many last year and did not shoot enough, which allowed disease to spread.”
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One bright aspect is new research showing that heather moorland managed for shooting is a haven for other wildlife and rare upland birds, such as black grouse, golden plovers, curlew and lapwing.