Grouse moor management significantly contributes to the conservation of specific habitats and species and in this blog post we explore how this is achieved.
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What are Grouse Moors?
Grouse moors are primarily located on heather moorland in the UK uplands, predominantly found in areas such as central and eastern Scotland, the Pennines, and the North York Moors. These moorlands are characterized by their peat soils, which can either be deep blanket bog or shallow peat and mineral soils found on heathland.
Red grouse, the iconic species of these moors, have a diet that mainly consists of young heather shoots. To ensure a continuous supply of these shoots, moorland managers employ controlled burning practices.
This controlled burning encourages the growth of new, palatable heather, which is more nutritious for the grouse. The result is a mosaic of heather plants of different ages, providing both food and crucial nesting cover for the red grouse.
Why Heather Moorland Matters
No other country possesses heather uplands as extensive as those in the UK. Most other heather areas are either lowland or coastal. Recognizing this global significance, the Rio Convention on Biodiversity in 1992 acknowledged the global importance of UK heather moorland.
Heather-dominated moorland supports unique plant communities that are either exclusively found in the UK or are more abundant here than anywhere else in the world. These plant communities differ significantly from those found under other land uses like commercial forestry.
Thus, grouse moor management plays a vital role in boosting overall biodiversity in the uplands. These habitats, characterized by species of berry, grass, sedge, and mosses such as Sphagnum, are listed under the EU’s Conservation of Natural Habitats and of Wild Flora and Fauna Directive.
The Moorland Bird Assemblage
Moorlands are essential habitats supporting numerous bird species of European or international importance. Managed grouse moors often demonstrate greater numbers and breeding success of several key species, including:
Red grouse: The iconic gamebird that thrives with active moorland management
Golden plover: A wading bird that benefits from the mosaic habitat created by burning
Curlew: Declining elsewhere, but finds refuge on well-managed grouse moors
Lapwing: Another wader that benefits from predator control
Short-eared owl: This owl benefits from the open habitat and food sources
Merlin: A small falcon that benefits from predator control, especially fox control
Black Grouse: A species that benefits from various management measures
While the overall number of plant and animal species on heather moorland may be relatively low, the specialist species that thrive there are uncommon and not easily found elsewhere. This makes the conservation of heather moorland habitats particularly crucial for maintaining biodiversity.
How Grouse Moor Management Helps Conserve Heather Moorland
Grouse moor management plays a pivotal role in the conservation of heather moorland. Until the early 2000s, heather cover in the UK was declining sharply, primarily due to overgrazing and the expansion of commercial forestry plantations. However, a study by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) demonstrated that management for driven grouse shooting effectively slows the loss of heather from the landscape.
The study revealed that between the 1940s and 1980s, moors that ceased grouse shooting experienced a 41% reduction in their heather cover. In contrast, moors that continued with grouse shooting saw a loss of only 24%. Historically, a landowner’s commitment to grouse management often deterred them from converting moorland to alternative land uses such as forestry or agriculture.
Conservation Designations and Grouse Moors
Many designations in the uplands recognize the importance of habitats and species that are supported by grouse moor management. Some of the finest examples of heather moorland in the UK are designated as:
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs): These sites are protected for their flora, fauna, or geological features.
Special Protection Areas (SPAs): Classified under the EU Birds Directive, these sites protect rare and vulnerable bird species.
Special Areas of Conservation (SACs): Designated under the EU Habitats Directive, these protect habitats and non-avian species.
In England, a significant 74% of upland SPAs are managed as grouse moors. However, it's important to note that inappropriate burning practices or the absence of agreed-upon heather management plans have led to some grouse moors being classified as being in an unfavorable condition.
Bird Species Thriving on Keepered Moors
As mentioned earlier, bird species including curlew, merlin, red grouse, golden plover, lapwing and black grouse exhibit higher densities and breeding success on moors actively managed for red grouse compared to other types of moorland.
More than half of the English uplands are managed as grouse moors. These are primarily located in the North and South Pennines and the North York Moors. Many of these areas are designated as SPAs due to their significant populations of breeding waders, merlin, or hen harriers.
Mountain Hares and Heather Moorlands
Driven grouse moors located in northeast Scotland support some of the highest densities of mountain hares in Europe. The benefits derived from habitat management and predator control on these moors appear to outweigh the impacts of even the most intensive culls. Mountain hares feed on heather and other moorland plants. The managed burning carried out by gamekeepers to ensure a supply of young heather shoots for grouse also improves the food supply for mountain hares.
Foxes can account for up to 90% of mountain hare mortality. The predator control carried out on grouse moors may also significantly help mountain hare survival.
Moorland Rewetting
Moorland drainage became extensive from the 1950s to the 1980s, with government subsidies encouraging landowners to dig drainage ditches to improve grazing for livestock and commercial forestry. However, this drainage had unintended negative environmental consequences.
In recent years, grouse moor owners have been actively involved in blocking these drains to rewet the landscape. Rewetting efforts can help to reduce sediment reaching streams, reduce water coloration, and may reduce flood risk if done sensitively.
Sustainable Grazing
Light, seasonal grazing by sheep can be beneficial for heather moorland and, consequently, for grouse. However, overgrazing, which was incentivized by European Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) subsidies based on livestock numbers, led to a 30% increase in sheep on UK moorlands between the 1970s and 1990s, often resulting in detrimental effects.
Recent shifts in farming support, moving from livestock numbers to area-based payments, have reduced grazing pressure, which can improve heather cover and overall condition.
Summing Up
Grouse moors play a vital role in conserving heather moorland.
They actively support unique plant and animal communities.
Management practices significantly benefit various bird species.
The loss of grouse moor management could negatively impact these habitats and species.
Final Thoughts
Grouse moor management provides substantial conservation benefits, particularly for the preservation of heather moorland and the support of specific bird species. Balancing grouse shooting with comprehensive conservation efforts is essential for preserving these valuable habitats for future generations.
Continued research and adaptive management strategies can further enhance the ecological benefits of grouse moors while effectively addressing any potential concerns.