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Protest against grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor

Walkers on Ilkley Moor Credit: Press Association

A protest will take place this morning against controversial grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor.

The event at Bradford City Hall coincides with the opening of the burning season, when moorlands are set on fire to increase game bird numbers for shooting.

Campaigners are calling on Bradford Council? to ban the burning of the moorland, which they claim decreases wildlife biodiversity, reduces water quality and damages rare blanket bog on the publicly-owned land.

Cartridges are released from a shotgun after a grouse is shot Credit: Press Association

"We ask Leader David Green to not turn a blind eye to the damage grouse moor management is causing and replace burning with cutting, which benefits habitat conservation."

– Luke Steele, Ban Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor

The protest comes just days before Bradford Council's Corporate Overview & Scrutiny Committee will consider an appeal next Wednesday to send a 2,200-strong petition to prohibit grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor to the Executive Committee. Ilkley Moor is the last municipal moorland in the UK where grouse shooting is still permitted, with Sheffield City Council and Peak District National Park Authority having already prohibited the sport on their land.

Bradford Council say that heather burning is legally allowed in the UK as a way of managing heather usually on upland moors. The purpose, they say, is to encourage new growth and remove the old, "woody" plants, which are less attractive for feeding and nesting for upland bird species, including, but not exclusively, red grouse. They say they already have a process in place to restrict burning to areas where the activity will not damage active blanket bog and other wet heath areas.

"We are in contact with Natural England as our key advisors, who are keeping abreast of research and evidence in relation to heather burning at national level. If their advice changes, this will be reflected in any restoration or management plans for the moor agreed with them. Unless we can prove that unlawful activity, or activity which does not comply with agreements and is damaging, is or has taken place, there are no grounds to bring the sporting rights deed to an end."

– Bradford Council
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Protest against grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor