Why Britain Is Igniting Its Precious Peatlands: The Shocking Truth Behind a Dangerous Sport

Viscount Deveroux, a character played by comedian Henry Morris, makes a bold statement about grouse moor management: "To keep this moor alive, we must raise 6,000 grouse each season, which means eliminating everything else that moves." His comments come at a time when driven grouse shooting is under scrutiny. Critics describe it as an elitist practice, largely disconnected from the shared values of nature and conservation.

The UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has opened a consultation about grouse moor practices, closing on May 25. One focal point of this discussion is heather burning, a method used to manage moors for grouse hunting. While this practice has historical roots going back 200 years, its consequences extend well beyond local landscapes.

Currently, the UK holds 13% of the world’s blanket bogs, but about 80% of its peatland is in poor condition. Peat bogs play a crucial role in climate stability, storing around 584 million tonnes of carbon. For perspective, if this carbon were released, it would equal five times England’s annual carbon emissions.

Advocates for driven grouse shooting argue that their management techniques protect these carbon stores. Yet, conservationists like Chris Packham counter that this claim is misleading. Packham argues that a healthy peat bog doesn’t need burning; it should naturally retain water and support a variety of plant life, not just heather.

The 2021 regulations introduced a rule to restrict heather burning on deeper peatlands. Unfortunately, compliance has been low, with the RSPB reporting over 200 illegal burns. The latest Defra consultation proposes expanding protections to more peatland areas, covering an additional 146,000 hectares—an area the size of Greater London.

Some see this consultation as a threat to the grouse shooting community, which is ready to fight back against such proposals. Adrian Blackmore from the Countryside Alliance argues that controlled burning is essential for habitat management and preventing wildfires. However, experts argue that when bogs are kept healthy and wet, they are less susceptible to fires.

Recent studies support this viewpoint, revealing that up to 80% of carbon stored in vegetation can be lost through burning. Moreover, evidence suggests that practices from other countries may not translate well to the UK’s unique peatland ecosystems.

There are calls from groups like Wild Justice and Raptor Persecution UK for an outright ban on heather burning. A petition to ban driven grouse shooting recently surpassed 100,000 signatures, prompting potential parliamentary debate.

The conversation extends into the rural economy. Grouse shooting is estimated to contribute about £23 million a year to local businesses in Scotland. However, this pales compared to the potential benefits of rewilding and restoring peatlands. The UK government is pledging up to £400 million to enhance tree planting and peatland restoration as part of its Nature for Climate Fund.

A study from the Rewilding Network demonstrated that rewilding projects in Scotland created over 400% more jobs, from 24 to 123, proving that restoring lands could lead to sustainable employment growth in rural areas.

In summary, the debate over grouse moors goes beyond hunting; it’s about nurturing landscapes and communities. As the conversation evolves, it’s clear that preserving our natural heritage is vital—especially during this climate crisis. For more insights, you can read the latest report from Natural England here.

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