News

Ahead Of The Game For A Species In Trouble

July 04

Conservationists will be delighted by new figures released by The Black Grouse Recovery Project, which reveal that black grouse in northern England have hit their conservation target ahead of time.

This remarkable come-back is a huge achievement for those involved in the recovery project, including many farmers and landowners. Phil Warren, Project Officer, said, “Counts of displaying males this spring show a 30% increase in numbers since 1998. In 1998 the population was estimated at just 773 males, which was below the Government’s Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) target of 800 lekking males in England. From our latest count figures we estimate the population is now closer to 1000 males.”

Black grouse are one of the north’s most spectacular upland birds, but their future is dependent on providing the right mixture of habitat conditions, including heather moorland, rough pastures, native woodland and meadows. Research shows that a reduction in sheep grazing is also a critical factor to help the recovery of this rare bird.

The English Black Grouse Recovery Project has been particularly successful due to a series of wide ranging habitat improvements combined with existing predation control by moorland gamekeepers and a voluntary restraint on shooting by most sporting managers.

Phil explains, “This latest increase is very encouraging and means we are meeting the first objective of the Biodiversity Plan, which is to stem the decline of black grouse. Our next objective is to increase the population and expand the range. To achieve this, we have been targeting our advisory efforts to the southern fringe of the range in North Yorkshire and to the north in Northumberland. In Northumberland we are currently developing an application for Heritage Lottery Funding to improve the conditions for black grouse and hope to achieve a target of £ 3million to fund the project.”

Black grouse are one of Britain’s most endangered species. In the last century black grouse numbers plummeted and in most areas of England the bird is now extinct. In an attempt to reverse this decline it became a Government Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species and the English Black Grouse Recovery Project was established in 1996. This is a partnership between The Game Conservancy Trust, Ministry of Defence, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB), English Nature and Northumbrian Water.

Landowners or farmers in northern England who are interested in receiving advice on providing the right habitat conditions for black grouse, should contact: Phil Warren, Project Officer, The Game Conservancy Trust, Telephone: 01833 622208
END
Notes to Editors:
1 The last UK survey of black grouse estimated their population at 6.517 lekking males (in 1996), more than half of which were in Scotland. Since partnership recovery projects began in England and Wales, populations of black grouse have increased in both countries, while a repeat UK survey planned for 2005 will determine the trend in Scotland.
2 The UK Biodiversity Action Plan for black grouse is jointly chaired by The Game Conservancy Trust and the RSPB. More details about black grouse can be found on its dedicated website: www.blackgrouse.info.

Notes to Editors:
The Game Conservancy Trust is an independent wildlife conservation charity which carries out research into game, associated species and habitats. In 2003 the Trust spent £3 million in furtherance of its charitable objects of which £2 million was spent on research that is carried out by 60 scientists based at Fordingbridge, and at study centres throughout the country. The Trust’s main areas of interest include farmland, moorland and woodland conservation, river and habitat restoration, disease, predation control and education. The Trust is also responsible for a number of Government Biodiversity Action Plan species and is lead partner for brown hare, grey partridge and joint lead partner for black grouse. Morag Walker – Press Officer Telephone – 01425-652381 (direct 01425-651000) Mobile – 07736-124097 www.gct.org.uk