Around 70 people attended the Reclaim our Moors Stop Grouse Monoculture rally at Redmires on Sunday August 18th, organised by Unite the Union and Moorland Monitors. Here is Cllr Peter Gilbert’s speech. Lots of information can be found on the Moorland Monitors website. You will find out about stink pits, snares (now banned in Wales and Scotland but not England), Heather Burning and the pollution it causes here in Sheffield, raptor persecution, how Grouse Monoculture impacts climate change and much more. Please write to your MP about these issues.
Richard Bailey and the grouse moor owners he speaks for (Letters, 7 March) continue to promote the practice of heather burning which is harmful to public health, wildlife, and the environment.
He fails to mention the Government has banned burning on deep peat soils because of damage to protected habitat. Instead of burning, grouse moor owners can now mow and shred the vegetation. In this way, they can reduce the fire risk and reduce the air pollution suffered by people living downwind. This could easily be extended to all moorland.
Unfortunately, illegal burning continues with the owner of Bradfield Moors subject to an enforcement penalty for unlawful burning of deep peat. Three similar cases are under investigation on Sheffield moors.
During the heather burning season, local communities such as Bradfield, Loxley and Malin Bridge are subject to intolerable levels of smoke and particulates which are extremely damaging to health. Then, these pollutants drift eastwards towards the whole of Sheffield.
The ugly tradition of grouse shooting must end for the benefit of all our communities.
