(Excerpt) As July draws to a close across the moors our upland gamekeepers find themselves in the thick of one of their busiest and most critical periods. With The Glorious Twelfth fast approaching their work shifts from protecting nesting birds to assessing populations and preparing for what can be a time of make-or-break for the upland shoot.
Tag Archives: #Moorland
A Saddleworth Saga
Saddleworth moor has a troubled history with wildfires. The most notorious occurred in 2018, when a major blaze, exacerbated by a prolonged heatwave and possibly sparked by arson or discarded cigarettes, burned for weeks, destroying thousands of acres, releasing massive carbon emissions, and prompting a major incident declaration which required military assistance.
The Duties of a Gamekeeper; Spring on the Moors
For the Upland Gamekeeper spring is a season of intense activity, a critical time of fast change at the fulcrum between the wild & windy months of winter and the more benign months of summer, when the moors become vibrant with life.
The Moorland Breeze, by Edwin Waugh
OF all the blithesome melody that wakes the warm heart’s thrill, give me the wind that whistles free across the moorland hill; When every blade upon the lea is dancing with delight, and every bush and flower and tree is singing in its flight.
The Bowland Nature Recovery Plan: A Vision for a Wilder Landscape, with a Blind Spot for Those Who Keep it Alive
In December 2023, the Forest of Bowland National Landscape (formerly the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty) published its Nature Recovery Plan, a 71-page roadmap with the stated aims of reversing biodiversity declines and building climate resilience across 310 square miles of Lancashire and Yorkshire uplands.
Searching for Stonechat on Pendle
In spring the hill becomes alive with birdsong as smaller birds come into their own, high above, unseen in Pendle’s famous mists, Skylark and Meadow Pipit trill, from a lone Rowan an Ouzel whistles and from the Gorse you may hear the unusual yet unmistakeable call of the Stonechat.
Sphagnum Moss, The Bog-builder
Sphagnum moss belongs to the genus Sphagnum, comprising over 30 species in the British Isles, many of which can be very challenging to distinguish.
Long-eared Owls
Long-eared owls, Asio otus, are one of our most secretive and elusive birds of prey. With their distinctive ‘ear’ tufts (which are actually feather extensions for camouflage and expression), striking orange eyes, and mottled brown plumage, these medium-sized owls are unmistakable, yet they are rarely seen, as they blend so well into the landscape and prefer to secrete themselves in dense foliage during the day.
Northwest Nature and History 