The GoG Blog

By Ross Ewing, Director of Moorland, Scottish Land & Estates For many Scots, August 12 was probably like any other day. Going to work, preparing for the return to school, or maybe even basking in the uncharacteristically warm Scottish summer. But high in the glens, amid a resplendent eruption of purple heather, a timeless tradition

Scotland is out of step with the rest of the world on wildfires — as Australia, Portugal and California recognise and reinstate traditional burning practices to prevent catastrophic wildfires, Scotland is abandoning the most effective method we have to control wildfire risk. From 1 January 2026, a licence will be required to practice muirburn in

by Iona McGregor, Co-ordinator of the Angus Glens Moorland Group Gamekeepers and land managers have warned for many years that changes to land management practices would result in an increase in ticks and the  diseases they carry. The Scottish government has not only ignored these warnings but has introduced a raft of policies which will

By Drew Ainslie, Head Keeper of two moors in the Lammermuir Hills I have been a game keeper all my working life and today – the so-called glorious 12th of August – is a time that has always filled me with feelings of purpose and pride. The heather-clad hills are at their best, a tremendous

Most people won’t be aware of the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill discreetly working its way through the Scottish Parliament. It certainly hasn’t attracted the same strident criticism as the deposit return scheme; nor the palpable disquiet that surrounds highly protected marine areas; nor the eviscerating anger over the challenges of providing a satisfactory ferry

By Ross Ewing, Moorland Director at Scottish Land & Estates (Video highlights from the parliamentary session can be viewed at the end of this blog) Stakeholders with an interest in the proposed Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill returned to Holyrood this week for the second evidence session with witnesses. Legal Adviser, Ashley McCann, led

By Ross Ewing, Moorland Director at Scottish Land & Estates (Video highlights from the parliamentary session can be viewed at the end of this blog) After a long build up, the first stakeholder evidence session on the proposed Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Bill was held at the Scottish Parliament this week. At a meeting

Scotland is home to an astounding number of birds of prey – and grouse moor management is one of the key environments for species to succeed, with high quality habitat and fewer predators than other landholdings. Such has been the success of recent conservation efforts, that of the UK’s 21 bird of prey species, only

By Iain Hepburn, head gamekeeper, Dunmaglass Estate and a retained firefighter with the Scottish Fire & Rescue Service Not many of us will have cause for celebration when hearing last week’s announcement about the proposed licensing of grouse moors but what’s more deeply concerning would be the licensing of muirburn. The true value of muirburn