Estates in the East Cairngorms Moorland Partnership (ECMP) are preparing to undertake the second year of mountain hare monitoring using the new methodology published by Scottish Natural Heritage last year. In the last few months of 2018, Balmoral, Invercauld, Mar and Glenavon estates surveyed 10 sites covering a total area of 40 sq km (15.4

Glorious Twelfth off to a bang in Glen Clova in the Angus Glens The vital contribution of grouse moors to jobs, tourism and wildlife conservation in remote areas of Scotland has been heralded as the season got underway today. As Rottal Estate in the Angus Glens hosted the first party to go out on the

Rural organisations have appealed to politicians to recognise the value of grouse shooting ahead of one of the most important seasons in generations. Scottish Land & Estates (SLE) – alongside the British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC), the Scottish Gamekeepers Association (SGA), the Scottish Countryside Alliance (SCA) and the Scottish Association for Country Sports

Ending grouse moor management risks declines – and possible local extinctions – of a range of ground-nesting bird species, a new study has revealed. Published today (Monday 22 July) by Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, the new research looks at the impact of stopping grouse management on birds such as curlew, golden plover, lapwing, black

Scottish estate owners are cautiously optimistic that this year’s grouse season will show an improvement on last year’s wash-out, with demand from domestic and international shooters remaining strong. Around 60% of visitors come from England, 10% from within Scotland and 30% from overseas – primarily the USA, Denmark, Belgium, Holland, France and Spain. New markets

International wildfire warning systems should be replicated in Scotland No wildfires reported on Scottish grouse moors as muirburn season closes Calls for the increased use of controlled burning approach to combat wildfires is backed by the experience of this year’s muirburn season, Scottish Land & Estates has said today. Scottish Fire & Rescue Service (SFRS)

Gamekeepers, families and villagers cleared over 35 bags of discarded rubbish from around Tomatin, Carrbridge and Cawdor village last week, astonished by the scale of rural littering.   The members of Tomatin Moorland Group and Cawdor Estate decided to do a countryside clean-up around their local communities, with some having done a similar thing last

An international scientist has claimed the ability of the endangered Curlew to cling on in Scotland and beyond could lie in the hands of gamekeepers managing key moorland habitats. Dr Daniel Hoffman, a certified biogeographer with Game Conservancy Deutschland, was speaking ahead of the second World Curlew Day, which takes place this Sunday (April 21st).

A study by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) and published in the European Journal of Wildlife Research has found that moorland managed for driven grouse is likely to provide an overall conservation benefit for mountain hares in Scotland. The research looked at mountain hare numbers over a 16-year period from 2001 to 2017.

Gamekeepers throughout the Scottish uplands are taking the lead to ensure mountain hare (Lepus timidus) numbers are sustainably managed for the future by implementing a new counting methodology that provides better insight into their abundance. Nearly 70 gamekeepers and land managers across 47 estates have now attended formal training workshops, led by the Game and