Value of grouse shooting highlighted to MPs

As the grouse season draws to a close, BASC and the Moorland Association highlight key grouse shooting facts to MPs

As the 2014 grouse season closes on the 10 December, the value of grouse shooting and the benefit it brings for the economy and the environment are highlighted in an infographic being sent to MPs by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) and the Moorland Association.

The infographic highlights key facts about grouse shooting. The facts include:

Heather moorland is rarer than rainforest and 75 per cent of it is found in Britain because of grouse moor management.

Grouse shooting in England, Wales and Scotland supports conservation work and is worth an estimated £100 million a year.

Grouse shooting in England, Wales and Scotland supports the equivalent of more than 2,500 jobs.

Conservation for grouse shooting is landscape-scale management.

79 per cent of upland EU Special Protection Areas are managed as grouse moors and up to five times more threatened wading birds are supported on moors managed by gamekeepers.

Alan Jarrett, BASC Chairman, said: “This infographic provides MPs with a range of information about the value of grouse shooting and its positive impact. It has been produced in an easy to access format to provide them with key facts at their fingertips.”

Richard Ali, BASC Chief Executive, said: “Grouse shooting delivers significant benefits to the economy, the environment and our tables. The conservation benefits for heather moorland, which has been described as ‘our rainforest’, are clear and it’s important that MPs are aware of these facts.”

Robert Benson, Chairman of the Moorland Association, said: “Driven grouse shooting and associated moorland management is an essential part of managing, maintaining and protecting our rare upland habitats. Grouse shooting is a critical economic driver which provides economic benefits in rural areas. It brings jobs and supports local businesses.”