“Grouse moors exist or one purpose only: to maximise the numbers of a particular bird, the red grouse, for weathy men and women to shoot. Theirs is an entirely artificial, intensively managed environment. Moorland heather is extensively burned to encourage the fresh shoots eaten by young grouse. Many grouse moors were drained historically, because it was thought this would improve the otherwise damp conditions for both sheep and game birds. Gamekeepers lace the moors with traps to kill animals that predate on grouse: stoats, weasels, foxes and birds of prey. It's illegal to kill birds of prey, but that doesn't stop it happening: the unlawful persecution of raptors is endemic on Britain's grouse moors. And if you want to own a grouse moor, you have to be rich: even the Spectator says that owning one is 'screamingly' elitist and 'the ultimate trophy asset'.” ShootingElitismRaptorsGamekeepersGrouse MoorsRed Grouse Book:The Lie of the Land Source: The Lie of the Land
“One... misconception is the idea that England is now mostly concreted over. Coupled to this is the idea that the onward march of bricks and mortar is the main cause of declining species and habitats. Neither assertion is true. Just 8.8 per cent of England is built on; 73 per cent is farmland, and 10 per cent is forestry. The biggest drivers of biodiversity loss in this country are modern agriculture, forestry and shooting. ...the greatest threat to the countryside comes from within it.” EnglandShootingAgricultureCountrysideBiodiversityForestryHabitats Book:The Lie of the Land Source: The Lie of the Land