United we stand

Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors

The largest landholding company in Britain, United Utilities, with 56,000 hectares, folded under pressure and announced last week that grouse moor management will cease on its nine leased moors when those leases end. The company had already banned burning on them, so the management was either cutting heather and legal predator control anyway.

The change of tack came after Wild Moors, a green lobby agenda organisation, had, by becoming a shareholder, put itself in a position of influence. They then placed a resolution to the AGM in July 2021, which has been implemented. The leased moors will cease to be shot or managed once the leases expire, which will be on a staggered basis. A note of concern to all grouse moors will be the enthusiasm with which Kerry McCarthy, the shadow climate change minister, greeted the announcement, saying it was “great news” and ending with “not to mention the birds”, inferring that it was a good day for them.