Grouse shooting: Unnatural. Uncontrolled. Unkind.

Filmed across several upland areas in the UK, the footage depicts scenes that are typical of grouse shooting operations.

• Wildlife persecution: including footage of the traps, snares and ‘stink pits’ used to lure and kill animals who are perceived to be a threat to the short-term survival of the grouse.
• Environmental damage: including evidence of the burning of moorland to create heather, which acts as food and shelter for the intended quarry. But burning the moors damages delicate eco-systems and degrades the carbon-rich peat, releasing carbon dioxide, which contributes to climate change.
• Destruction of the landscape: including the building of roads and tracks across ecologically important upland areas, to access the grouse butts.

Until recently, the Glorious Twelfth – celebrated as a traditional custom of the wealthy and elite – has passed with little criticism. But opposition to the ‘sport’ has rocketed in recent years, following revelations of the damage done by grouse moor operators[1]. Amongst those to speak out are conservationists, concerned about the illegal persecution of birds of prey; environmentalists, distraught over the burning and draining of the precious peat bogs in upland areas; and animal activists, horrified at the use of grouse as live targets and the snaring and trapping of huge numbers of wild animals.

To date, more than 65,000 people have signed a petition, supported by the League Against Cruel Sports, Chris Packham and Bill Oddie, calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting[2].

In addition, Animal Aid has interviewed people who live in Hebden Bridge – an area which has been repeatedly flooded in recent years[3]. Residents of the close-knit town live below an area of moorland that has come under intense criticism. They argue that the land management practices carried out on the moor in years past mean that the land has lost some of its capability to soak up rain. The consequence, argue residents, is that water runs off the moor and floods villages and towns in its path.

Says Animal Aid’s Campaign Manager, Fiona Pereira:

‘It is important that people realise that grouse shooting isn’t a harmless, quirky tradition. It is, in fact, a hard-nosed business aimed at impressing the rich and well-connected. The heather-rich moors that are extolled as being wild and natural are nothing of the sort – they are one of the most manipulated landscapes, the sole aim of which is to encourage grouse to breed, just so they can be blasted from the sky come the 12 August. Our film reveals the harm done to wildlife and to the environment, but also talks to the people who are most affected by the havoc wreaked on our precious, peat-rich uplands.’

The campaign group is also holding a Week of Action Against Grouse Shooting (5-12 August) to raise awareness about the harm to animals and the environment caused by the grouse shooting industry. The campaign group will encourage supporters to take the streets to distribute leaflets and campaigners will visit towns and cities near to grouse shooting locations.

Notes to Editors

• For further information, contact Fiona Pereira or Luke Steele on 01732 364546
• View the film:

• The following image gallery shows photos taken at the film locations, including stink pits on Walshaw Moor and Bingley Moor, tire tracks, drainage ditches and a grouse butt on Bingley Moor as well as burning on the moors:

• View longer interviews with participants
• Read 10 Reasons to oppose grouse shooting
• Read Animal Aid’s in-depth reports on the grouse shooting industry – Calling the Shots and Calling the Shots 2014 – which describe how moorland shoots, supported by taxpayer subsidies, are brutally killing and maiming huge numbers of wild animals and leaving vast swathes of precious peatland burnt dry

References

1. Amongst those to speak out against the ‘sport’ are: Bill Oddie OBE, Chris Packham, Mark Avery and the League Against Cruel Sports
2. https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/125003
3. Read the comments by those who live in the vicinity of Hebden Bridge