Did you know.....

Britain has 75% of the entire world's resource of open heather moorland.Following the Second World War and until the mid 1990s, some 200,000 acres, or 20% of the heather moorlands in England and Wales, were lost to over-grazing, afforestation, the spread of bracken and general neglect. The Moorland Association was formed in 1986 to halt the loss of heather moorland and to secure its future. Members are responsible for 750,000 of the estimated 800,000 acres of heather moor remaining in England and Wales.

Moorland Association Achievements 1986-Present

Today

The Moorland Association:

• Works closely with other interested bodies such as Natural England, The Countryside Agency, DEFRA, the Game Conservancy Trust, the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, the British Trust for Ornithology, the National Farmers Union, the Country Land and Business Association, The Countryside Alliance, the British Association For Shooting and Conservation and the National Gamekeepers' Association.
• Aims to encourage greater public understanding about heather moorland, the way its human, plant and animal inhabitants interrelate, and its dependence on the management practices of the grouse moor



• Advises Government on practical matters relating to heather moorland and is actively involved in the consultation process for new legislation and regulations
• Provides advice to moor owners and managers on legal and practical matters and acts as a forum for information on new management techniques
• Helps members to host school visits and educational events to help understanding of heather moorlands
• Collects vital information from membership surveys to monitor heather loss and reclamation, and takes part in scientific research into the effect of management regimes on moorland wildlife
• Represents owners and managers of heather moorland in a wide range of negotiations with Government, nature conservation and other bodies. Moorland Association members comprise a wide range of moorland managers and owners, including farmers, utility and mineral companies, and national charities.