We’re hearing persistent rumours, from several sources, that Leadhills Sporting Ltd are leaving their shooting tenancy on the Leadhills (Hopetoun) and Buccleuch Estates.
Some say they’ve already gone, others say they’re in the process of leaving, and another says they’ll be gone ‘before the end of the year’.
Have they chosen to leave of their own accord or were they forced out? Is the company disbanding or simply changing name? Are they taking a tenancy somewhere else or just calling it a day? Will Leadhills (Hopetoun) Estate lease the grouse moor to another group? Definitely one to watch.
Let’s hope the rumours are true and we see a change on these moors. It’s long long long overdue.
If you don’t know what’s been going on in this area for the last decade, click on the ‘Leadhills Estate’ tag in the right-hand column.
Raptor Persecution UK 
Interesting as the Scottish Bird fair will be much bigger this year held on the Hopetown estate!
Don’t hold your breath everyone..there were plenty of persecution incidents under previous tenancies. The whole “ethos” and widespread management of driven grouse moors is based on eradicating all predators to artificially maximise grouse numbers [which in turn attracts predators]. There will always be a desire to kill protected species in these places. The whole land use system needs to change.
I don’t think it matters whether the current occupiers leave or not, I think the incoming lot will probably be just as bad if not worse.
I see that the RSPB heirarchy are still morally obtuse when it comes to standards of etiquette, or are they so thick skinned that they just don’t care so long as they’re making a pound or two !!!