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Scotland’s rural communities are braced for the publication of the Wildlife Management (Grouse) Bill, which will introduce a licensing scheme for grouse shoots. The Scottish government carried out a consultation on the bill towards the end of last year and the text, which is to be placed before parliament, is expected imminently. The bill arose from a review conducted by Professor Alan Werritty into grouse shooting in Scotland. The review chose not to recommend the introduction of licensing but suggested waiting five years and then reviewing the status of key species around grouse moors. How...

A CAMPAIGN group has said grouse shooting is surrounded by a “circle of destruction” on one of the busiest days in the sport’s calendar.

The coronavirus pandemic, which has devastated business and economies worldwide, has resulted in almost £1.7 million of losses in Scotland’s grouse moor estates, according to new research. Figures from Scotland’s Regional Moorland Groups indicate estates spent a total of £8.98 million over the period March to November – an average of more than £390,000 each. However, the survey, which took information from 23 grouse moor estates, shows each business lost an average of shoot and accommodation income of £73,000 due to the pandemic – totalling £1.67 million. Lianne MacLenna...