Press release from REVIVE, the coalition for grouse moor reform (10 Nov 2023):
Three quarters of Scots are against grouse moor land management practices
Meanwhile six times more Scots are against grouse shooting than support it
New polling has revealed three quarters of Scots are against grouse moor land management practices.
The figures have been released ahead of REVIVE’s National Conference – Changing the Face of Scotland – hosted by wildlife expert, TV presenter and conservationist, Chris Packham. The conference keynote address will be delivered by Lorna Slater, Minister for Green Skills, Circular Economy and Biodiversity.
The polling commissioned by the League Against Cruel Sports on behalf of REVIVE, and carried out by the Diffley Partnership show the use of predator control on grouse moors is opposed by over three quarters (76%) of the public, with 73% opposed to the practice of muirburn to change the landscape to ensure there are more grouse available for shooting. Both these practices are supported by just one in ten people. The figures also show six in ten people oppose grouse shooting, with only 13% supporting it.
Campaign Manager for REVIVE Max Wiszniewski said: “Grouse shooting is a sport enjoyed by a tiny minority of Scots, and the public are now strenuously voicing their opposition to a bloodsport which takes over a disproportionate amount of the Scottish countryside, for little economic gain, for the pleasure of just a few.
“These latest figures back REVIVE’s position, even if there is ever any legitimate reasons for predator control or muirburn, increasing grouse numbers for sport is not one of them. The public heavily backs us on this.
“This weekend’s national conference will bring together the country’s leading wildlife, biodiversity and land reform experts to explore how we change the face of Scotland, for the good of our wildlife, our environment and our people.”
The conference which is expected to attract over 700 delegates will look at issues surrounding intensive grouse moor management in Scotland and debate whether forthcoming legislation will go far enough to protect wildlife and the environment. Speakers include journalist, broadcaster and campaigner, Lesley Riddoch; RSPB Scotland’s Head of Investigations, Ian Thomson; Mark Diffley from the Diffley Partnership; Jessica Findlay, Moorland Licencing Manager for NatureScot; Ruth Tingay from Raptor Persecution UK; and others.
Chris Packham added: “This conference comes at a crucial time for nature as the Scottish Parliament is deciding how to tackle the biodiversity and climate crisis while grouse shooting continues to exacerbate both.
“Intensive grouse moor management is unsustainable and the Scottish Government seem genuine in their desire to end the killing of Scotland’s birds of prey – a crime commonly associated with grouse shooting.”
Mark Diffley, Founder and Director of the Diffley Partnership which conducted the polling said: “This is our fourth poll for Revive which looks at public perceptions to grouse shooting and predator control. As with previous years we find that the majority of Scots oppose both, with 60% opposing grouse shooting and 76% against predator control. Interestingly, opposition is strong across all ages, social classes and geographic areas of the country. Elsewhere, the practices of using traps and ‘muirburn’ on moors are supported by a majority of Scots, except where they are used to enhance grouse numbers for shooting where the vast majority oppose the practices.”
The conference takes place on Sunday 12th November at the Perth Concert Hall.
ENDS
Raptor Persecution UK 
How about doing something radical and let democracy decide??? Why should the gun-dog’s tail rule the head??? No birds raised for the murderous “sport” of the few. Let real nature look after the moorland properly.
And the people partaking in this endless turmoil and cruelty will be really concerned about this and the people profiting will really feel guilty spending their ill gotten gains and of course the biggest twist behind this taxpayer sponsored cruelty( via government subsidies) will all end through the power of the majority??? No I don’t think so….. the same people will vote the same way and Nothing Will Change.
We need to stop playing their game….its not a sport, its killing for fun. We are the majority, make it our agenda.
The Scottish people may be anti blood sports and the associated cruelty to animals but the landowners of the estates wield much power in Scotland. There are many large estates owned by the various dukes and sundry other toffs (or rich nonentities). It is very feudal in Scotland from my experience and while the people think that these are wrong getting change will prove difficult. It is still the right course of action to fight for this.
We would benefit from clarity on how the polls were conducted. The perception persists that such research is not across the whole spectrum of population.
Have a link – https://diffleypartnership.co.uk/ – to the company who conducted the survey. “Contact Us” button is top right.
Why not see what they can tell you?
Does anyone have a link to the figures they keep mentioning? I can’t see any on the linked Revive page. Thank you
Considering how much of the UK’s land surface is taken up by grouse moors it’s shocking how little in depth discussion there is of exactly what it entails for wildlife, landscape and rural communities. Taking that into account these polls are encouraging, with more information getting into the public sphere the numbers are only going to get worse for the grouse shooters – imagine what they’d be like if everyone in the country was aware of how much they contribute to the flooding of homes, businesses and better quality farmland downhill?