News

PURPLE GLORY IN THE NORTH

14th August 2000

Heather on Increase for First Time in 50 Years

Figures released today by the Moorland Association show that, for the first time in the last 50 years, heather moorland habitat in the North of England is on the increase. The Association’s research has shown that, during the last 15 years, the steep decline (nearly 200,000 acres of heather lost between 1945 and 1985 alone) has been steadily reversed. Over 160,000 acres of heather moorland have been created or brought into management and improved by a combination of heather re-seeding, bracken control and a reduction of grazing on the moors.

The increase is the result of a £9.6 million + investment by Moorland owners, re-enforced latterly with grants for farmers from the Countryside Stewardship Scheme, Ministry of Agriculture and European funds through projects such as the Northern Uplands Moorland Regeneration Project and the North York Moors Objective 5b Moorland Regeneration Programme.

Looking to the future, The Northern Uplands Moorland Regeneration Project, initiated by the Moorland Association, today announced that 75,000 acres of northern moorland have now been signed up to 10-year management agreements for heather regeneration.

Said Sir Anthony Milbank, Chairman of the Moorland Association: “Managed heather moorland is not only a habitat for grouse, but is vitally important for a whole raft of birdlife, including rare and protected species. These include waders such as Curlew, Golden Plover, Dotterel and Lapwing, predator birds like the Merlin, Shorteared Owl, Hen Harrier and Peregrine and other rare ground nesting birds like the black grouse and the skylark.
“Working together with government agencies and obtaining funds for moorland habitat creation work has been the task of the Moorland Association since it’s inception in 1986. Traditional management of moorland for sheep and grouse continues to be the sustainable way forward for the vast majority of heather moorlands. It is good to see the government, farmers and moor owners all pulling in the same direction on heather regeneration and this can only be good news for the heather moors and their magnificent array of wildlife, he added.”