Our uplands are wonderful ‘wild’ places but they could be much better for people and wildlife.
We want to see our moors become a fantastic mosaic of habitats supporting thriving populations of all the variety of wildlife that should live in these inspiring places. This includes birds of prey such as hen harrier and peregrine as well as moorland species such as mountain hares.
To achieve this vision we believe the following must happen now on our Sheffield moors:
- A move away from the intensive moorland management for grouse shooting that is currently practised
- The removal of all stink pits and a major reduction in the use of snares.
- An end to excessive and illegal wildlife persecution
- Greater monitoring and enforcement by Natural England and South Yorkshire Police
- Land managers to be paid for public services that benefit people and wildlife, for example natural flood risk management measures, wildlife conservation, improving water quality and carbon storage
- Habitat and wildlife legislation offering protection equal or greater than that currently provided through European designations
On our moors, the current practice is leading to a monoculture of heather, peat loss and grouse populations that boom and bust, requiring excessive medication and intensive wildlife persecution (e.g. stoats, weasels, badgers, hares) in order to sustain them. A more sustainable approach, in balance with the internationally important habitats we depend upon, working with nature, must be the future of grouse ‘farming’.