A tale of two moors: one managed and one no longer

While red-listed species have suffered after grouse shooting halted on one moor, a host of birds is thriving on the keepered Spaunton Estate

David Tomlinson

Opponents of grouse shooting repeatedly fail to acknowledge the importance of managed grouse moors for a host of moorland birds, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. The Berwyn Hills Special Protection Area (SPA) in Wales provides a classic example of what happens once management for grouse ceases. Historically, the Berwyns provided the best grouse shooting in Wales. According to the GWCT’s figures, red grouse numbers were highest in the early 1900s, with up to 250 birds shot per square kilometre. In the 1970s, the bag averaged 43 birds per sq km, but fell to fewer than five by the 1990s, when grouse shooting stopped. The loss of management had a catastrophic impact on several species. Lapwings have been lost from the Berwyn study area, golden plover have declined by 90%, ring…

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Shooting Times & Country (Digital) - 1 Issue, 28-Jun-2023

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