Grouse Shooting: History and Conservation Conflict

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This chapter provides an overview of the sport of grouse shooting in Britain, its history, and its association with the wealthy and well-connected. It discusses the practice of driven grouse shooting, the methods used to maximize the number of grouse, and the conflict between the conservation of protected bird species and the economic viability of the shoot.

In this special Age of Extinction mini-series from Science Weekly, which first aired in August 2023, the Guardian’s biodiversity reporter, Phoebe Weston, explores the illegal killing of birds of prey on grouse moors and asks why it is so difficult to solve these crimes. In episode one, Phoebe hears about the case of Susie, a hen harrier whose chicks were killed while being monitored on camera. As she starts to investigate the case, she hears from conservationist Ruth Tingay about why hen harriers are targeted and finds out about the personal costs of campaigning on this issue. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod