Grouse moors, according to the Sun

[eastcoast 4,177]

I don't buy newspapers these days and was not a fan of the Sun when I did but came across this today when doing a bit of cleaning at a family member's house. Not sure how readable the scan is but basically some "journalist" at the Sun who has obviously never set foot on a  grouse moor has given his readers the low down. I used to be far more philosophical when coming across anti - shooting/hunting attitudes, it is only to be expected in a nation of animal lovers even though most of their opinion is based on a total ignorance of the thing that disapprove of and  hypocrisy as their love of animals does not extend to intensively farmed chickens or pigs. The latter being something that I was grateful for recently when supermarket shelves were being emptied before I had a chance visit but the more expensive more sympathetically produced eggs, chicken and bacon was the last to be cleared. I am less philosophical toward their ignorant attitudes these days though. The reason being that real damage is being done.

Last year two 10 year leases on council owned land for upland game managed shoots were refused renewal. In both instances an independent survey was commissioned and both findings were the same. Basically that the management of these lands in this way was not only beneficial to the continued existence of local and vulnerable flora and fauna but essential to its continued existence unless replaced by an alternative and expensive (expensive to the tax payer) management programme were to be introduced. Even if such a programme were to be put in place the  loss of grouse shooting would have a catastrophic effect financially on the local communities. These independent surveys were ignored in both instances on ethical grounds relating to shooting birds for sport.

I have shot the occasional grouse over the years but never after an invite or paying to stand in a But and have birds driven over me. I have spent time on grouse moors though and peripheral land. I know that these places are usually teaming with wildlife, the birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians that you would expect/hope to find on that type of land. Even now I sometimes accept an invite from a friend who has permission to hunt and shoot on land literally across the "road" from a managed grouse moor and the diversity of species that I see when stalking around with an air rifle would make the presenters of programmes such as Spring Watch come in their pants or knickers.  The last time that I was there a merlin or hobby (the light was failing) skimmed by. They are most certainly not "barren desserts full of heather and nothing else" as the man from the Sun suggests. It probably helps if you sit for a while or have a dog with a decent nose rather than walking in a group of noisy garishly dressed people.

Muirburn? The fire brigade are now learning techniques from keepers as wild fires are becoming more prominent in areas that are no longer traditionally managed.

But people will read the words in the Sun and take it as gospel. Then jump in the car and treat their kids to chicken McNuggets.    

 

Edited August 21, 2020 by eastcoast
added text

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Walking about not seeing is no excuse for ignorance .

[cragman 2,788]

The moor where I work and walk on when I’m not working is nothing like the moor this twat writes about. We have merlin, whinchat, nightjar, owls x 3 type, peregrine falcon, cuckoo on the lower moor, curlew, plover, lapwing lower down, wheatear, stonechat, ouzel, pipit, siskin and much more flora and fauna. Step over the fence line onto a moor managed by the rspb and it’s dead! There’s either lots of pipits or nowt. Most ground nesters are predated and the corvids and gulls rule this patch. Having just had a day on the moor today  beating in great company, I know where the real work is being put in and it’s a 365 days a year job. Liddle has never been near a moor and wouldn’t know what one looks like. His comments are poor journalism with sound bites to con the public 

[eastcoast 4,177]

10 minutes ago, foxdropper said:

Walking about not seeing is no excuse for ignorance .

I may write to the Sun. Used to do that sort of thing. But these days it feels like trying to fight a battle in a war that has already been lost.

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

No mate do it ,I’ll do same .Too many people let this sort of thing slide .Do you have an email address even better as Cant ignore  it  

[eastcoast 4,177]

3 minutes ago, foxdropper said:

No mate do it ,I’ll do same .Too many people let this sort of thing slide .Do you have an email address even better as Cant ignore  it  

letters@the-sun.co.uk. 

[king 11,982]

Don't read a newspaper.problem solved 

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

I’ll address it tomorrow mate thanks for that

[JDHUNTING 1,817]

A keeper or keeper association should sue him, imagine a newspaper singling out any other group for that kind of tripe.

[pesky1972 5,325]

Haven’t bought a paper in years. I doubt many young-uns do now, so I reckon the likes of The Sun are a dying breed and will disappear before grouse shooting ever does. I also think it’s widely recognised that managed grouse moorland creates a valuable ecosystem which would disappear without that management.., and so a lot those who maybe aren’t in favour of the shooting, can see the benefit of it continuing as is. 

The most damaging thing I see is the constant linking of raptor persecution to grouse moors. The RSPB and various bodies, often with no hard evidence, blatantly insinuating tracked birds (primarily GE’s) have been killed on and by shooting estates. Not saying it doesn’t go on, but if eagles are such a problem, and so at such a risk, then why isn’t there a scheme to compensate so that both could co-exist? 

[Dervburner 2,549]

That report is truly appalling. It’s like racism against anyone involved, with accusations based on nothing more than the writers totally biased opinions. Aimed at any other minority group, this would be seen as completely unacceptable. Well, it is unacceptable and they shouldn’t be allowed to make such allegations and name calling, but then, it is the sun, so it’s to be expected from that tabloid trash.

[Meece 1,958]

It's quite easy to email the guy.  His e-mail address is on the top of that tripe.  It is      rod.liddle@the Sun.co.uk   I  bet that he doesn't get many emails from shooters or is it printed to act as devils advocate.  Look at how I can tease those stupid shooters..?

[Squirrel_Basher 17,100]

Fake email .I tried it mate .No recipient .

[eastcoast 4,177]

17 hours ago, Meece said:

It's quite easy to email the guy.  His e-mail address is on the top of that tripe.  It is      rod.liddle@the Sun.co.uk   I  bet that he doesn't get many emails from shooters or is it printed to act as devils advocate.  Look at how I can tease those stupid shooters..?

I would  expect emailing the man would not be of any benefit other than boosting his ego and making him think that he is a proper journalist. But passing off lies as fact to the generally uninterested public is something that does bother me. The masses may have little real interest in what goes on in the countryside but if they knew the facts would possibly be less compliant with those in positions of power making radical changes due to their own personal agenda rather what is beneficial to the environment. We had the Hunting Act of course that was geared towards stopping hunting with dogs and the efforts of the people behind this kind of legislation are now focused on stopping shooting, no matter the consequence.

Organisations do exist that are meant to be fighting on behalf of field sports but do people not already involved with hunting or shooting even know of their existence? I don't think that they reach the masses in the way that those opposed to these things do. In recent years some of the TV chefs have probably done a better job by extolling the virtues of wild harvested meat and traditionally managed land. Over the years I have given shot or caught game to work colleagues whose opinion on hunting definitely would fall into the anti rather than pro camp, or so they thought. The only education that they received had came from anti propaganda but that opinion can be easily changed when presented with free food and an explanation of where it came from and how it was sourced. Some have even came out for a days ferreting or shooting.

 

[morton 5,368]

On ‎21‎/‎08‎/‎2020 at 20:12, eastcoast said:

I don't buy newspapers these days and was not a fan of the Sun when I did but came across this today when doing a bit of cleaning at a family member's house. Not sure how readable the scan is but basically some "journalist" at the Sun who has obviously never set foot on a  grouse moor has given his readers the low down. I used to be far more philosophical when coming across anti - shooting/hunting attitudes, it is only to be expected in a nation of animal lovers even though most of their opinion is based on a total ignorance of the thing that disapprove of and  hypocrisy as their love of animals does not extend to intensively farmed chickens or pigs. The latter being something that I was grateful for recently when supermarket shelves were being emptied before I had a chance visit but the more expensive more sympathetically produced eggs, chicken and bacon was the last to be cleared. I am less philosophical toward their ignorant attitudes these days though. The reason being that real damage is being done.

Last year two 10 year leases on council owned land for upland game managed shoots were refused renewal. In both instances an independent survey was commissioned and both findings were the same. Basically that the management of these lands in this way was not only beneficial to the continued existence of local and vulnerable flora and fauna but essential to its continued existence unless replaced by an alternative and expensive (expensive to the tax payer) management programme were to be introduced. Even if such a programme were to be put in place the  loss of grouse shooting would have a catastrophic effect financially on the local communities. These independent surveys were ignored in both instances on ethical grounds relating to shooting birds for sport.

I have shot the occasional grouse over the years but never after an invite or paying to stand in a But and have birds driven over me. I have spent time on grouse moors though and peripheral land. I know that these places are usually teaming with wildlife, the birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians that you would expect/hope to find on that type of land. Even now I sometimes accept an invite from a friend who has permission to hunt and shoot on land literally across the "road" from a managed grouse moor and the diversity of species that I see when stalking around with an air rifle would make the presenters of programmes such as Spring Watch come in their pants or knickers.  The last time that I was there a merlin or hobby (the light was failing) skimmed by. They are most certainly not "barren desserts full of heather and nothing else" as the man from the Sun suggests. It probably helps if you sit for a while or have a dog with a decent nose rather than walking in a group of noisy garishly dressed people.

Muirburn? The fire brigade are now learning techniques from keepers as wild fires are becoming more prominent in areas that are no longer traditionally managed.

But people will read the words in the Sun and take it as gospel. Then jump in the car and treat their kids to chicken McNuggets.    

 

He,s a left wing influenced nugget,another fat ignorant twat that would rather feed and sate his ignorant gob than do the necessary research a major tabloid may expect,as the sun is heavily influenced by southern prejudice and connecting with pricks that read and believe we will always be at a loss,millions of readers every day is more important than a few hundred souls than can see the fat prick for what he his.