The GoG Blog

The area of Scotland used for grouse shooting has been alleged to be “almost a fifth of Scotland’s land” but this is based on out-dated figures. Changes in land use and economic viability has reduced this figure, and is estimated to now be no more than 10% of Scotland used for both driven and walked

The British Game Alliance (BGA) was formed with the aim to increase demand in order to return a commercial value back to British game meat. Launched back in May 2017, the BGA laid out its plans for the season ahead and has certainly delivered, publishing a comprehensive end of season summary to the industry. Now approaching 500 shoot members have

The contribution of grouse moors revealed in new Scottish Government-commissioned report. The James Hutton Institute and Scotland’s Rural College were jointly commissioned by the Scottish Government to investigate the socio-economic and biodiversity impacts of grouse shooting in Scotland. Their report, published last week, demonstrates the importance of the sector to rural areas of the country

I’m delighted that my next book with William Collins will be on our relationship with British predators. The idea is to explore the natural history of some of the main ones in the UK and Ireland – fox, seal, badger, crow, cormorant, buzzard, pine marten and so on – and to look at how we

Muirburn: Carbon loss or carbon gain? With recent scrutiny of moorland management practices, research into muirburn has been given a new lease of life. This review by Rebekah Strong of Scottish Land & Estates will focus on some of the most recent studies on the impact of muirburn on carbon storage in peatland. What is

By Tim Baynes, Director of the Scottish Moorland Group A version of this article first appeared in The Scotsman on 9 November 2018.   For land managers tasked with caring for Scotland’s treasured moorland landscapes, 2018 has not been the easiest year to be out in our hills and glens. The incredibly harsh winter that

THE LAUNCH OF THE BRITISH GAME ALLIANCE Guest GoG blogger – Tom Adams, Managing Director, British Game Alliance    In 2017 over 50 major representatives from across the shooting community met. They felt enough time had been dedicated to idly discussing the declining market for game meat, and that something needed to be done. Unlike many

By Tim Baynes, Director, Scottish Moorland Group We Have Wildlife – a positive message for all who care and treasure biodiversity both on and away from Scotland’s moorland. The campaign, backed by the #WeHaveWildlife hashtag, was launched by Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups and The Gift of Grouse in mid-July in response to Chris Packham’s Bioblitz.

Gamekeepers and moorland managers throughout Scotland are at the forefront of combating the number of ticks in the countryside and ultimately the spread of Lyme disease. Tick control methods include sheep dipping and bracken spraying, as well as careful management of deer and hare numbers on grouse moors. With May being ‘Lyme Disease Awareness Month’

Gamekeepers and estates across Angus and Grampian have teamed up to provide meals of fresh local game for over 550 homeless and vulnerable people this Christmas. Over the past year Angus Glens Moorland Group and Grampian Moorland Group have been working with several community causes to supply healthy, free-range game meat to those with limited