Scotland published a draft new law on Wednesday seeking to limit the impact of grouse moors and tackle the persecution of birds of prey, saying the nation’s natural environment must be protected. Introduction of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill would allow the government to licence grouse shooting estates and […]
Scottish Water to phase out burning of peat moors by grouse shooting tenants
Scottish Water has confirmed to Wild Moors that its future will be burning-free to help protect fragile peatlands across its water catchments for the benefit of nature and the climate. The utility company has notified its grouse shooting tenants that no new agreements for burning will be issued and asked that […]
Action needed to protect the UK’s ‘Amazon Rainforest’ from grouse moor burning
As the burning season opens today thousands of fires will soon be started on the UK’s fragile peatland carbon stores – for grouse shooting. Calls to stop swathes of the UK’s iconic heather hills from being deliberately set ablaze have intensified as the grouse moor burning season officially begins. Between 1 […]
Burning issue: councils unite to save England’s peatlands
Thirteen local authorities and their leaders have teamed up with conservation organisation Wild Moors to encourage the government to take urgent action to protect fragile moorland habitats.It comes ahead of a review by the Environment Minister Rebecca Pow in the spring which will consider whether to extend existing legislation to implement […]
Defra minister confirms review of peatland burning
Defra under secretary Rebecca Pow has confirmed that the government will review the burning of England’s carbon-rich peatlands for grouse shooting next spring, indicating that the government may be open to tightening the rules.Pow’s comments came in response to a written question in the House of Commons, in which the Labour […]