The National Trust has decided to end grouse shooting on its land at Park Hall, in High Peak, Derbyshire, following the conclusion of an internal review.

The Trust decided to not renew the lease due to ‘concerns over the management techniques utilised’ to promote the breeding of red grouse, which are fired upon in sports shoots.

This means that the conservation charity will no longer allow the 1,611 acres of moorland to be used or managed for grouse shooting and it will instead restore it for the benefit of nature, climate and people.

A National Trust spokesperson said: “The National Trust chose to not renew the shooting lease at Park Hall in Derbyshire in December 2022. We regularly review leases as part of our organisational processes and on this occasion chose not to renew due to concerns over the management techniques utilised.

“We have no plans to initiate a new shooting license at Park Hall, as our objectives for the land are to work with our grazing tenant to mitigate the nature and climate crisis. As a conservation charity, our priority is to ensure we deliver our aims and objectives for nature, beauty and history.”

Wild Moors, which works to protect the uplands and is lobbying the National Trust to end grouse shooting on its land, said that it strongly welcomes the decision.

Luke Steele, Executive Director of Wild Moors, said: “We are understandably delighted that the National Trust has decided to end its grouse shooting lease at Park Hall, and especially that the moorland will now be restored for the benefit of nature, climate and people.

“The ecological impact of grouse shooting is huge, and we would now urge the National Trust to bring its three remaining grouse shooting leases across the Peak District to an end.

“Until this happens we will continue to work to end grouse shooting on National Trust land.”

ENDS

(Image: National Trust Images / Andrew Butler)