Glorious grouse benefit the economy and the environment as well as our tables
On the eve of the “Glorious Twelfth”, the start of the grouse shooting season a new report shows the significant benefits that grouse shooting delivers.
“The Value of Shooting” shows that at least 941,000 hectares of upland Britain are managed for grouse shooting. This includes land, particularly heather moorland, preserved and maintained by upland shooting estates, which is of international conservation importance for their breeding populations of waders and other wildlife. Managing the uplands for grouse shooting provides at least 314 full time equivalent conservation jobs.
In addition the economic benefits of grouse shooting, such as the jobs provided and income to less favourable areas, ensures that people are still able to live in the uplands. The research explored the rich diversity of social benefits surrounding grouse shoots in a case study of a grouse shooting provider. This demonstrated support for local businesses, local jobs and people and education. Without grouse shooting jobs would go, schools, pubs and local businesses would suffer. The research shows that grouse shoots have a major beneficial economic effect.
In addition grouse – a bird unique to the UK – provides a delicious game meat more widely available to the general public than in previous years. BASC has produced a guide on where to buy grouse and how to cook it. (Glorious Grouse, click here to view)
Ian Grindy, Chairman of BASC’s Gameshooting and Gamekeeping committee and a former land manager in the Uplands, said:
““The Value of Shooting” demonstrates in hard figures the importance of grouse shooting to the uplands of the UK. Not only does it prove the conservation benefits for heather moorland, which have been described as “our rain forest”. It also demonstrates its social value in keeping people, services and businesses in these often remote areas.”
Alasdair Mitchell, BASC’s Regional Director for Northern England, said: “Those who enjoy eating grouse this season can be confident that they have contributed to the economic, environmental and social life of the uplands as well as enjoying the king of game birds.”
ENDS
Photograph by Nick Ridley.
Notes:
• The Value of Shooting report can be found here.
• “The Value of Shooting”, the largest ever survey of shooting interests in the UK, was based on data collected by PACEC, the independent consultancy based in Cambridge