Thank you for contacting me about grouse shooting.
I share your concerns over the illegal persecution of raptors and I would encourage anyone with information about it to report what they know to the authorities. The Government are fully committed to tackling wildlife crime and this was highlighted by their decision to fund the UK’s specialist National Wildlife Crime Unit fully until at least 2020.
With regard to concerns about the impact of grouse shooting on moorland, I believe that game management can make an important contribution to biodiversity by providing cover for wildlife, and through the creation and care of habitats such as woodland, grouse moors, beetle banks and hedgerows.
You may be interested to know that the vast majority of grouse moors of special scientific interest are now in a favourable or recovering condition. This is a considerable improvement from 2006, where it is estimated that only half were in this condition. I applaud the growing awareness this reflects among moorland managers of the importance and sensitivity of upland biodiversity...
Continued on PDF...