Natural England is investigating allegations that grouse moors have unlawfully trapped wild birds on their land to maximise the number of grouse for shooting. The habitats watchdog launched its investigation after being passed evidence of more than 50 wild bird traps located on grouse moors over the spring which the wildlife protection organisation Ban Bloodsports … More Grouse moors investigated over ‘illegal’ bird trapping

Leading police officers have met with senior Government ministers to seek stronger powers for law enforcement agencies investigating and prosecuting bird of prey persecution. It comes as a wave of wildlife crime continues on grouse moors with birds of prey having been found illegally shot, poisoned and trapped. Incidents have included five dead buzzards—four of … More Police back tougher penalties for bird of prey crime

New figures showing the shocking scale of grouse moor burning across Yorkshire have been released by a wildlife organisation as the season officially closes today. Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors (BBYM) has compiled more than 550 reports of the county’s heather moorland being burnt — an ecologically-destructive practice performed to engineer habitat for grouse which … More Grouse moor burning season closes with prospect of ban

Three major landowners have ended heather burning on moorland across Northern England in a landmark move welcomed by wildlife campaigners.Yorkshire Water, United Utilities and the National Trust — which collectively own 34 sections of moorland spanning Yorkshire, Lancashire and Derbyshire — enforced the decision last week by asking tenants to halt the practice until further … More Major landowners put a permanent end to grouse moor burning

Grouse moor burning season was prematurely ended today after industry bodies requested members stop the practice. It follows more than 200 hectares of rare blanket bog being damaged in a major blaze on Meltham Moor, West Yorkshire, on Monday when planned grouse moor burning got out of control. Such burning is meant to remove old … More Grouse shooting industry suspends burning season following major blaze on Meltham Moor

Dramatic images have been released by a wildlife protection organisation showing the devastating impact of a major fire on Meltham Moor (available here). Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors published the video footage and photographs — showing more than 200 hectares of damaged rare blanket bog habitat — following planned grouse moor burning getting out of … More Meltham Moor grouse shoot breaks DEFRA agreement on burning, sparking major blaze

Environment campaigners are warning that Yorkshire’s moors are no longer acting as effective flood barriers for the region following decades of burning for grouse shooting. It comes as Yorkshire counts the cost of the third major floods to have hit the region in seven months, with torrents of rainfall having flowed from the Pennine Hills … More Government urged to deliver moorland burning ban following Yorkshire floods

Anyone who has picked up a newspaper this year can’t have failed to notice that when it comes to protecting the environment, the times are a-changin’. As realisation dawns on decision-makers that our county’s degraded uplands must be restored, Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors has found growing momentum is on our side. Week in, week … More This year was a good year for ending grouse shooting ⁠— here are 10 of the biggest wins

The North York Moors National Park Authority has voiced concerns over the increased disruption being caused by the intensification of game bird shooting. In a letter to Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors and the North York Moors Moorland Monitors, the national park’s Chief Executive, Andy Wilson, outlined fresh steps being taken to tackle the problem, … More Progress made to tackle intensive game bird shooting in North York Moors National Park

Gamekeepers trespassing on conservation areas have been thwarted by the intervention of wildlife-championing landowners in Nidderdale. Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire’s Moors became aware this spring of repeated trespass attempts by gamekeepers in the Thruscross and Timble areas of the Washburn Valley dating back to 2018, including the suspected setting of self-locking snares in Hanging Wood. … More Gamekeeper trespass thwarted by landowner interventions