Tag: shooting

Some commentary on the murder conviction of ex-Head Gamekeeper David Campbell

Two days ago, a jury at the High Court in Glasgow returned a guilty verdict in the trial of former Head Gamekeeper David Campbell, 77, who had been accused of murdering his ex-colleague from Edradynate Estate, Brian Low, after ambushing him and shooting him in the chest and neck with a shotgun on a remote woodland track near Aberfeldy on 16 February 2024.

Former Head Gamekeeper and now convicted murderer David Campbell. (Photo by Police Scotland)

The circumstances of this horrific murder were shocking and understandably Campbell’s conviction made the headlines in widespread news coverage yesterday. For example:

But for many living in the rural area around Edradynate Estate, near Aberfeldy, Perthshire, and those who have been investigating wildlife crime on Edradynate Estate for decades, Campbell’s conviction came as no surprise whatsoever.

During his 33-years of employment as Head Gamekeeper on Edradynate Estate (1984-2017), Campbell was at the centre of at least 22 police investigations into the alleged poisoning, shooting and trapping of birds of prey, as well as firearms offences. I say alleged – what I mean is that there is no question whatsoever that raptors were illegally killed on that estate, over a period of three decades, but nobody was ever convicted for any of it and David Campbell had always denied any involvement.

Here’s a blog I wrote in 2017, after the Crown Office had dropped another prosecution against an Edradynate Estate gamekeeper relating to the alleged poisoning of Buzzards in 2015, despite a plea from Police Scotland to pursue a prosecution:

Edradynate Estate has been at the centre of investigations for alleged wildlife crime for a very, very long time. In 2002, the estate’s Head gamekeeper and underkeeper were arrested and charged with nine offences relating to the use of poisoned baits and also bird cruelty, including the use of spring traps. However, on 22 July 2004, two years after the original arrests and 13 court hearings later, the Crown Office dropped the case (sound familiar?). A COPFS spokeswoman later admitted that the time taken to prepare the case had been a major factor in the decision to scrap it (see here).

In July 2010, a poisoned red kite was discovered. An un-named gamekeeper from the estate (who said he was a member of the Scottish Gamekeepers’ Association) claimed the bird had been ‘planted’. It also emerged that in addition to the poisoned red kite, over the previous 15 years, 9 buzzards, 2 sparrowhawks, 2 crows, 1 gull, 1 tawny owl, 1 pole cat, and 1 domestic cat, had all been found poisoned in the area. Twelve poisoned baits (Carbofuran, Mevinphos and Alphachloralose) had also been discovered (see here). Nobody was prosecuted for any of this.

In March 2011, two poisoned buzzards, two poisoned crows, and two Carbofuran-laced pheasant baits were discovered. A gamekeeper was taken for questioning but he was later released without charge (here).

In February 2012 an Edradynate Estate gamekeeper was charged with a number of alleged firearms and explosives offences (see here). However, in September 2012 the Crown deserted the case without providing an explanation (see here). Gosh, this is becoming quite a habit, isn’t it?

Writing about the Crown Office’s decision in 2017 to drop the case against Campbell for the alleged poisoning of Buzzards on Edradynate in 2015, former Police Wildlife Crime Officer Alan Stewart wrote on his blog,

‘This has been the fourth case in relation to the poisoning of raptors submitted to the fiscal against the same accused. I submitted the first Edradynate case in 1994 but it was always going to be short of evidence of identification. The fiscal sat on it in case anything further was discovered that would help the case but had to drop it at the end of the time bar, which at that time was 6 months‘

and

‘I was involved in a further search, which I think was in the month of March. Two or three dead (poisoned) buzzards were found and there were a couple of pheasant baits recovered as well. No pesticides were found but we took samples from the accused’s vehicle and from various items of his clothing. Traces of pesticide were found in the vehicle and on several items of clothing, including from an item he was wearing when he was detained. It was a reasonable circumstantial case, which I thought would be clinched with the pesticide traces on the clothing worn by the accused. I suspect that identification, which is always crucial, was again considered to be the stumbling block. This case was eventually dropped as well‘

and

‘Between 1993 and 2011 I am aware of 14 poisoned baits involving the banned pesticides carbofuran, mevinphos and alpha-chloralose being found on Edradynate estate. There have also been 31 poisoned victims including 17 buzzards, 4 carrion crows, 2 sparrowhawks, 2 tawny owls, a domestic cat, a common gull, a red kite and a polecat found either on the estate or very close to its boundary. I doubt if anyone would disagree that this number of baits and victims were the very tip of the iceberg. I doubt also if anyone would think that someone was ‘coming in off the street’ and dumping all these dead creatures on the estate to cause trouble‘.

In 2018, Police Scotland issued an appeal for information after three dogs and two Buzzards were ‘deliberately poisoned’ between October 2017 and April 2018 around the Edradynate and Pitnacree Estates area (see here). Campbell was no longer working on the estate by this time (see discussion below) and there was local speculation that someone was trying to set up the new Head Gamekeeper but as far as I’m aware, nobody was prosecuted. I’m not aware of any further raptor persecution incidents at Edradynate since the new gamekeeping team was employed.

Alongside the reports of rampant raptor persecution at Edradynate over many, many years, there were stories relating to Campbell’s alleged threatening behaviour towards locals. The court heard some of that testimony during Campbell’s murder trial, although those charges were dropped on the last day of his trial. Further evidence of Campbell’s alleged behaviour was reported by Alan Stewart in one of his books – see here, and this is really worth a read.

It is apparent that many locals were terrified of Campbell, too scared to speak out for fear of retaliation of what he might do to them, or their beloved pets. One individual I’ve spoken to, who wishes to remain anonymous, tells a story of dogs being poisoned and shot and a claim about how Campbell was allegedly seen drowning a dog in a peat hag after it didn’t do as it was told.

Some speak of Campbell’s alleged ‘reign of terror’ in this small rural community and if their testimonies are true, it paints a picture of violence being normalised and being beyond the reach of the law.

The only time Edradynate Estate was held to account was when SNH (now NatureScot) imposed a three-year General Licence restriction in 2017 (see here), assumed to be in relation to the alleged poisoning of Buzzards in 2015 – the case that the Crown Office refused to prosecute.

One of the poisoned Buzzards found in 2015 (photo RPUK)

Despite the widely publicised and appalling catalogue of wildlife crime on Edradynate Estate, reported over several decades, the game shooting industry apparently turned a blind eye.

The Scottish Gamekeepers Association accepted at least two donations from the estate owner, Michael Campbell (no relation to gamekeeper David Campbell and recently deceased); one in 2014 and one in 2015. Surely the SGA was aware of the long history of allegations made about this estate? Perhaps they didn’t care. As there hadn’t been a single conviction they could conveniently ignore the allegations and continue to accept the donations and continue to sit around the table at so-called ‘partnership’ meetings claiming to be doing all they could to eradicate raptor persecution.

Edradynate Estate was featured in the Fieldsports magazine in 2014, where one of the named guns was Robbie Douglas-Miller – surely not this one?

In 2020 Edradynate Estate was endorsed by the British Game Alliance, the game shooting industry’s own ‘assurance’ scheme (at the time), membership of which is supposed to indicate ‘rigorous and ethical standards’.

Screen grab from Edradynate Estate website 2020

And in 2023, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) accepted an auction donation from Edradynate Estate owner Michael Campbell with an estimated value of £2,500.

GWCT Scotland Dinner-Auction-2023-CatalogueDownload

By February 2017, David Campbell’s employment as Head Gamekeeper at Edradynate Estate had ended, reportedly after his relationship with owner Michael Campbell had deteriorated and he was ‘removed from his job‘. Later that year David Campbell was charged with maliciously poisoning game cover crops on the estate as an ‘act of revenge’, a charge he denied, and of which he was ultimately cleared after the court ruled the case against him had not been proven beyond reasonable doubt (here).

In the sentencing remarks after gamekeeper Campbell’s recent conviction for murder, Judge Lord Scott said this:

“You have no previous convictions. This appalling and senseless act of extreme wickedness casts a shadow over what seems to have been a long life spent by you in gainful employment and some benefit to the community“.

I do wonder on what background information Lord Scott based this statement. Whilst it’s true that Campbell had no previous convictions, it is indisputable that he was a suspect in multiple crime investigations spanning several decades, and that many in the local community lived in fear of him. And at some point his firearms and shotgun licences had been revoked, presumably on evidence that his suitability was questioned and/or he was considered a risk to public safety.

I understand that following Campbell’s murder conviction, Alan Stewart is preparing a new book. I also understand that a TV production company was granted permission to film during the trial inside Glasgow’s High Court for a documentary about this case.

According to an exclusive article in The Courier yesterday, David Campbell is expected to mount an appeal against his murder conviction and it is anticipated that he will lodge formal paperwork with the Court of Appeal in the coming days.

Stepping away from the tragic murder of Brian Low, there are wider, more general implications to consider.

It is extensively evidenced that there’s a strong link between violence towards animals and violence towards humans. I think ‘violence towards animals’ in this context often refers to issues of illegal animal cruelty (e.g. Badger baiting, putting pets inside microwaves etc) but personally I would also define the routine duties of a gamekeeper as qualifying as ‘violence towards animals’, even though much of this activity is still considered legal in the UK.

I fully accept that some people will disagree with this opinion, and may argue that those who have been granted firearms/shotgun licences, as most (all?) gamekeepers have, are subject to rigorous police checks of their character and suitability. However, you’ve only got to look at the number of wildlife crimes that include the use of a firearm/shotgun, let alone the murder of innocent people by firearm certificate holders, to know that the system isn’t fit for purpose.

I recently read an analysis produced by the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU) about polycriminality in wildlife crime offenders in the UK, which suggested that a significant proportion (59% of offenders) are also linked to violent offending against humans, ranging from low level common assaults to attempted murder, murder and kidnap. (Unfortunately I don’t think this report is available in the public domain).

Wildlife & Countryside LINK is using this analysis to push for a series of recommendations for the government to improve policing resources for tackling wildlife crime, which in turn should increase public safety as well as the safety of wildlife and the environment.

WCL_Wildlife_Crime_2025_Executive_summaryDownload

Goshawk shot in Derbyshire – police appeal for information

Derbyshire Police’s Rural Crime Team has issued an appeal for information after the discovery of a critically-injured Goshawk, which had to be euthanised due to the extent of its injuries.

The injured Goshawk was found by a member of the public near Stanton Hall, Stanton by Dale, in south east Derbyshire on Saturday 31 January 2026. A veterinary examination and x-ray revealed the bird had been shot with a shotgun and sustained a right wing fracture, a left wing fracture and a suspected left ulna fracture near the elbow.

Given these injuries, it is likely the Goshawk wasn’t capable of long distance flight from the location where it was shot.

Photographs via Derbyshire Police Rural Crime Team:

The Police are asking the public whether they saw anyone with a gun in the area, whether gunshots were heard, and whether anyone saw any suspicious behaviour.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police on 101 and quote incident number 26*68719.

Sentencing remarks & statement from Police Scotland after conviction of gamekeeper David Campbell for shotgun murder of ex-colleague

Further to yesterday’s news that David Campbell, 77, the former Head Gamekeeper of Edradynate Estate in Perthshire was convicted of the shotgun murder of his former estate colleague, Brian Low, two years ago, the judge’s sentencing remarks have been published and Police Scotland has issued a statement.

Retired Head Gamekeeper and now convicted murderer David Campbell (photo by Police Scotland)

Lord Scott’s sentencing remarks:

“You have been found guilty of the murder of James Brian Low, known as Brian Low, on a quiet country lane near Aberfeldy on 16 February 2024, just over 2 years ago.  You did not encounter Brian Low by chance that day, and you did not just happen to have a shotgun with you. On the evidence, the jury decided that it was proved beyond reasonable doubt that, in a carefully premeditated act, you murdered an unarmed and defenceless man by discharging a shotgun at him, causing such severe injuries that he died where he fell. You did this having earlier disabled CCTV cameras in your home in an attempt to conceal your whereabouts that day.

There was no provocation for what you did. You murdered a man who offered no threat to you. You did this having told people over several years how much you hated him or loathed him or blamed him for the change in your fortunes which followed police attention to the estate where you were head gamekeeper for over 30 years. After some time, and things you blamed him for, you left the estate although you felt that you were sacked. The bitterness and grudge you bore towards Brian Low, reflected in some of the things you said about him, did not diminish over time. Indeed, it seems to have become more intense, leading you to plan and carry out the sort of killing that was referred to in a relevant decision of the Appeal Court as “a targeted assassination” or “a pre-planned execution with a victim who was unarmed and unaware of the fate which was about to befall him.

The murder weapon was never found, undoubtedly disposed of by you along with other incriminating items in calm and calculated efforts to conceal your crime and remove any evidence in its immediate aftermath.

It may be that, given serious errors in the early stages of police inquiries, you thought initially that you had got away with murder. If so, you were wrong. From the point of the first effort at autopsy, it became clear that Brian Low’s death was not due to natural causes. From that point on, despite successful efforts to dispose of key evidence and cover some of your tracks, it seems inevitable that suspicion would start to focus on you given, among other things, the views you held about Brian Low which you made no secret of until you came to give evidence.

You lied to the police, attempting to avoid the obvious conclusion from some of what you had done by alleging a police conspiracy to lose what you claimed would have been exculpatory evidence. By the time of the trial, it had occurred even to you that some of those lies were ludicrous and would never be believed, so you adapted your evidence in court to try to counter some of the incriminating facts, veering sharply away from some of your earlier lies and even some of your apparent trial strategy.

When you murdered him, Brian Low was 65 years old. There are 2 moving Victim Impact Statements, prepared by Brian Low’s partner, Pamela Curran and his older brother, Douglas Low.

Pamela Curran describes the significant impact on her life of the loss of her partner.  She feels sad every day and misses Brian. It is hard for her to think she will never see him again. You robbed her of the chance to say goodbye. She will not now go out after dark. She is stressed, tearful and cannot concentrate or relax properly. In March last year, she was contemplating trying to see a counsellor for the impact on her mental health. Her closest friend told her, “the spark has gone out of your eyes, you just appear sad. It’s heartbreaking”. Without Brian’s financial contribution, she thought that she would have to find somewhere else to stay and leave the home she loved and in which she formed many happy memories with Brian.

Douglas Low describes the profound and lasting impact on him and his family of their traumatic loss through murder. He says he is changed forever. Brian Low’s family are understandably devastated. Douglas Low says his heart is broken, with an overwhelming sense of loss and grief “that words cannot express”. Brian was a best friend, a confidante, and almost like a son to him due to their 10 year age gap. He says that, “His kindness, old-fashioned honesty and sense of humour were refreshing and always welcomed”. He still misses their weekly Sunday catch-ups. Brian Low’s family are left with many questions, not least why anyone would want to murder him so callously. What you did robbed Brian Low, Pamela Curran and Brian Low’s family of the life he had planned for retirement.

Douglas Low says, “He touched many lives with his warmth and presence, and those who loved him now live in sorrow, trying to come to terms with the cruel reality of his absence”.

Brian Low was clearly a much loved partner, brother, uncle, friend and colleague. It is obvious that no sentence I can impose will be enough to help Brian Low’s loved ones with their traumatic loss.

David Campbell, you are 77 years old and, at the time of the murder, were 75.  You have no previous convictions. This appalling and senseless act of extreme wickedness casts a shadow over what seems to have been a long life spent by you in gainful employment and some benefit to the community.

Understandably, Mr Lenehan was simply unable to find anything to say on your behalf today in view of the jury’s verdict.

The sentence for murder is prescribed by law and is a life sentence.  I require, however, to specify a punishment part which is the period you must serve before you can be considered for parole.  Having regard to the premeditated nature of this murder, I have decided that the appropriate punishment part is 19 years. That takes into account all relevant factors, including your age. Had it not been for your age, the punishment part would have been greater.

You should understand that this is not a sentence of 19 years imprisonment.  It is a life sentence.  19 years represents the minimum time you will have to serve before you can even be considered for parole.  Given the date when the sentence will commence, that period of 19 years will keep you in prison to the age of 94 at least. Whether you are released then or ever will be a matter for the Parole Board to determine after that 19 year period has elapsed, based on the risk you are assessed to pose at that time.

The sentence will date from 27 May 2024“.

ENDS

I’ll come back to this part of Lord Scott’s statement in a separate blog:

“You have no previous convictions. This appalling and senseless act of extreme wickedness casts a shadow over what seems to have been a long life spent by you in gainful employment and some benefit to the community”.

Statement by Police Scotland:

David Campbell has been found guilty of murdering Brian Low in Aberfeldy, Perthshire. 

Mr Low, 65, was fatally shot while out walking his dog in the Pitilie area in the afternoon of Friday, 16 February, 2024.

Today, Wednesday, 25 February, 2026, 77-year-old Campbell was told he will spend at least 19 years behind bars before being eligible for parole. 

Detective Chief Superintendent Lorna Ferguson, Police Scotland’s Head of Local Crime, and the senior investigating officer for the case, said:

“This was a complex and challenging investigation involving a number of specialist officers and staff from Police Scotland and the Scottish Police Authority who worked tirelessly to piece together the events leading up to Mr Low’s murder.

“A team of 31 officers from Police Scotland’s Major Investigation Team, the local policing division and specialist search colleagues were involved in the three-month investigation. 

“Detectives examined 2400 hours of CCTV footage, captured around 1000 statements and visited almost 500 properties as part of extensive enquiries to establish what happened and who was responsible for Mr Low’s death.

“Expert witnesses in ballistics, biology, chemistry and cybercrime, also played a crucial role in building evidence in the case against Campbell. 

“I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge that our initial response to this tragic incident fell short of what Police Scotland and the public rightly expects. We have reflected and we have learned from what happened.

“This learning included a complete review of all policies and procedures around attendance at unexplained deaths as we take steps to try and prevent something like this happening again.

“Our thoughts today are very much with Mr Low’s family and I would welcome the opportunity to apologise to them personally for our initial response to his death.

“They have described Brian as a much-loved partner and grandfather, who will be very much missed by all who knew him. They acknowledge the conviction at court today and have asked their privacy to be respected as they continue to process and grieve.

“Violent crimes are extremely rare in the Aberfeldy area, and I know this incident caused shock and fear within the local community. I want to thank all those living locally for their patience and support throughout our investigation, which saw extensive police activity for a long period of time in what is a quiet tourist town. Your information was vital in helping to trace the person responsible“.

ENDS

UPDATE 27 Feb 2026: Some commentary on the murder conviction of ex-Head Gamekeeper David Campbell (here)

Raeshaw Estate claims General Licence restriction “wholly unjustified” & intends to appeal

Following yesterday’s news that NatureScot has imposed a(nother) three-year General Licence restriction on Raeshaw Estate in south Scotland (here), based on evidence provided by Police Scotland about the disappearance of satellite-tagged Golden Eagle ‘Merrick’, who police believe was ‘shot and killed’ (here), Raeshaw Estate has announced its intention to appeal NatureScot’s decision.

Camera trap photo of golden eagle Merrick, from South Scotland Golden Eagle Project

The following statement, attributed to a spokesperson for Raeshaw Estate, was reported in several newspapers yesterday:

‘The decision by NatureScot to restrict the estate’s general licence is wholly unjustified. We will challenge it vigorously through an appeal.

We share the frustration felt by many about Merrick’s disappearance but there is no evidence the estate or any of its employees were in any way responsible.

The estate has zero tolerance for raptor persecution and remains fully committed to respecting wildlife, nature and the environment.

Merrick’s last established position was not on land owned or managed by our estate. The location was in a nearby wood where other parties have access and are permitted to shoot.

No employee of the estate was charged as a result of a lengthy police investigation which concluded nearly 20 months ago.

NatureScot has conceded there was an unacceptable delay in dealing with this case.  We also provided expert veterinary testimony to NatureScot stating there was insufficient evidence to ascertain the bird had been killed by criminal means and that DNA analysis was inconclusive.

In reaching its decision NatureScot confirmed the estate was not suspected of any other contraventions of land management regulations.

This decision is even more disappointing given that NatureScot has acknowledged the estate is a supporter of the South of Scotland Golden Eagle Project.

So much so, the estate recorded the presence of eagles on many occasions foraging and enjoying the safety and serenity of Raeshaw – something we dearly welcome.

We also provided NatureScot with video evidence of these frequent visits‘.

ENDS

My commentary:

A lot of this reads like PR-bluster -damage-limitation-mumbo-jumbo to me.

It’s difficult to comment in detail about the specifics of the evidence collected by Police Scotland and provided to NatureScot, as much of it isn’t in the public domain, although presumably has been provided to the representatives of Raeshaw Estate, which probably includes the estate’s management agency, which I believe is JM Osborne (and the estate is also listed on the William Powell Sporting website), both companies are owned by ‘grouse guru’ Mark Osborne.

However, there are several aspects of the statement that can be discussed.

For example:

  • ‘Merrick’s last established position was not on land owned or managed by our estate. The location was in a nearby wood where other parties have access and are permitted to shoot’.

It’s true that Merrick’s last established position (sleeping in a tree) was ‘not on land owned or managed’ by Raeshaw Estate, but it was close by. And it is known that some gamekeepers will trespass onto neighbouring land to commit an offence (e.g. see here). Now that doesn’t mean that somebody from Raeshaw did do that, that’s not what I’m saying, but given the proximity to the estate boundary, it’s not inconceivable that this scenario could have happened.

Screen grab from Who Owns Scotland website, annotated by RPUK, showing the proximity of Merrick’s last known location and the Raeshaw Estate (shaded in blue)
  • ‘No employee of the estate was charged as a result of a lengthy police investigation which concluded nearly 20 months ago‘.

So what? A General Licence restriction isn’t reliant on somebody being charged. Indeed, GL restrictions were introduced by the Scottish Government in 2014 for the many situations where police evidence confirmed that raptor persecution had taken place but where there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution against a named individual. There’s no requirement for NatureScot to link an alleged offence to a specific individual; indeed, NatureScot always issues GL restrictions with an accompanying statement that says, ‘Please note that this restriction does not imply responsibility for the commission of crimes on any individuals’.

  • ‘NatureScot has conceded there was an unacceptable delay in dealing with this case’.

So what? Yes, NatureScot did take far too long to reach this decision, but there isn’t a time limit for NatureScot to make a decision on GL restrictions so this statement is irrelevant.

  • ‘We also provided expert veterinary testimony to NatureScot stating there was insufficient evidence to ascertain the bird had been killed by criminal means and that DNA analysis was inconclusive’.

Er, I’m not sure how an ‘expert veterinary testimony’ could conclude anything about whether the eagle was ‘killed by criminal means’, or not, given that there wasn’t a body to examine! And from what I’ve heard, DNA analysis of the blood found at the scene came back as a match with Merrick’s DNA profile, so quite how that makes the analysis ‘inconclusive’ I don’t know! There was likely a 1 in several million chance/probability that the blood wasn’t Merrick’s.

  • ‘In reaching its decision NatureScot confirmed the estate was not suspected of any other contraventions of land management regulations’.

Again, so what? It doesn’t need multiple ‘contraventions’ for a GL restriction to be imposed. This statement is irrelevant.

  • ‘…the estate recorded the presence of eagles on many occasions foraging and enjoying the safety and serenity of Raeshaw – something we dearly welcome. We also provided NatureScot with video evidence of these frequent visits‘.

Providing videos of eagles flying over an estate doesn’t prove anything other than that eagles are sometimes present. But we already knew that because Merrick’s satellite tag data showed she’d been there. It doesn’t mean that she couldn’t have been killed that night when roosting in a tree a few metres from the estate boundary. In the same way that the Conistone & Grassington Estate could have shown videos of Hen Harriers ‘enjoying the safety and serenity‘ of the estate, or the Hovingham Estate could have shown videos of Buzzards ‘enjoying the safety and serenity‘ of the estate, or the Moy Estate could have shown videos of Sparrowhawks ‘enjoying the safety and serenity‘ of the estate, or Fengate Farm could have shown videos of Buzzards and Goshawks ‘enjoying the safety and serenity‘ of the estate….I could go on but I’m sure you get the idea.

  • ‘The estate has zero tolerance for raptor persecution and remains fully committed to respecting wildlife, nature and the environment’.

Marvellous.

Nevertheless, although it is true that nobody has ever been prosecuted for raptor persecution incidents on Raeshaw Estate, and I have no doubt that JM Osborne, as an experienced sporting agency, has a written policy, maybe even a contractual obligation, for the need for its employees to comply with the law, it is still a fact that there have been a substantial number of confirmed/suspected raptor persecution incidents recorded in the area (see list created in 2017, here), dating back over a 25-year period.

As part of NatureScot’s decision-making process for General Licence Restrictions (the Framework), one of the criteria assessed is, ‘Any history of previous, similar instances’. Given that Raeshaw Estate has already served one previous General Licence restriction (2015-2018, see here), then it seems reasonable to me that NatureScot is entitled to consider those earlier incidents when deciding whether to impose another GL restriction on this estate, regardless of whatever claims an estate makes about loving wildlife. It doesn’t mean that NatureScot is stating that someone/an individual connected to Raeshaw Estate is responsible for shooting/killing Merrick – it simply means that NatureScot has lost confidence in the use of light-touch regulation (the General Licences) on the estate.

Of course, Raeshaw Estate is fully entitled to appeal NatureScot’s latest decision. That, too, is enshrined in NatureScot’s GL Restriction Framework. Other estates with General Licence Restrictions imposed have appealed those decisions over the years but as far as I’m aware, none of the appeals have been upheld. For example:

Leadhills Estate loses appeal (this is hilarious – here)

Leadhills Estate loses another appeal (this time against an extension to its GL restriction) (here)

Moy Estate loses appeal (here)

Invercauld Estate loses appeal (here)

Lochan Estate loses appeal (here)

If Raeshaw Estate is going to appeal, it will have to do so in writing to Naturescot within 14 days. According to the GL Restriction Framework, ‘An appeal shall have the effect of suspending the restriction from the date the appeal is received by the Head of Licensing until the date of the Decision on Appeal…‘. NatureScot advises that it will seek to make a decision on an appeal within four weeks of receipt.

Three-year General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate (again), this time relating to shooting of Golden Eagle ‘Merrick’

NatureScot has today announced a three-year General Licence restriction on Raeshaw Estate (and on neighbouring Watherston Wood, which is understood to be under separate management to Raeshaw), in relation to the shooting/killing of Golden Eagle ‘Merrick’ in October 2023.

Camera trap photo of golden eagle Merrick, from South Scotland Golden Eagle Project

Here is Naturescot’s statement:

10 February 2026

NatureScot has restricted the use of general licences at Raeshaw Estate and Watherston Wood in the Scottish Borders.

The decision was made based on evidence provided by Police Scotland of wildlife crime against birds.

This evidence included the sudden disappearance of a satellite-tagged golden eagle named Merrick in October 2023 as well as golden eagle blood, feathers and shotgun cartridge wadding recovered from the same location.

Chris Dailly, NatureScot’s Head of Licensing, said: “We have decided, in discussion with Police Scotland, to suspend the use of general licences on this land for three years until January 2029. The police have recorded Merrick’s disappearance as a crime and have provided robust evidence to NatureScot to support this.

“We are committed to using all the tools we have available to tackle wildlife crime. This measure will help to protect wild birds in the area, while still allowing necessary land management activities to take place.

“We believe this is a proportionate response to protect wild birds and prevent further wildlife crime. We will continue to work closely with Police Scotland and consider information they provide on cases which may warrant restricting general licences.”

Individual licences may still be applied for, but these will be subject to strict record-keeping and reporting requirements and will be closely monitored to ensure licence conditions are met.

General licences allow landowners or land managers to carry out control of common species of wild birds, such as crows and magpies, to protect crops or livestock, without the need to apply for an individual licence.

In addition to this restriction, there are currently two other restrictions in place in Scotland: on Millden Estate in Angus and Lochindorb Estate in Highland.

ENDS

Here are the maps provided by NatureScot showing the restriction areas on Raeshaw Estate and Watherston Wood, and an accompanying statement of clarification:

In line with NatureScot’s published General Licence restrictions: Framework for Implementing Restrictions we hereby give notice that a restriction has been applied to the land outlined in red overleaf. This restriction prohibits the use of General Licences 01, 02 and 03 on that land from 10th February 2026 up to and including 9th February 2029.

Please note that this restriction does not imply responsibility for the commission of crimes on any individuals.

My commentary:

There’s a lot to say about this latest General Licence restriction. Some of it will have to wait for another blog because I’m short on time at the moment, but some of it I’ll say now.

General Licence restrictions, which have been available to NatureScot since 2014, are based on the civil burden of proof and are issued when NatureScot receives information from Police Scotland about wildlife crimes but where there is insufficient evidence to identify an individual offender for prosecution. (GL restrictions can also be imposed on estates where gamekeepers have been convicted of wildlife crimes).

General Licence restrictions do not prevent an estate from game-shooting, nor do they prevent an estate from carrying out [lawful] predator control – this can still be undertaken if the estate applies for an ‘individual licence’ which may restrict the amount of predator control, the estate may be subject to compliance spot checks, and the licence holder must provide NatureScot with licence returns (i.e. indicate how many birds were killed, where, and when etc).

General Licence restrictions are not perfect as an effective sanction – they are nowhere near, as I’ve written about many times before (e.g. see here and links within). They do, however, work as a ‘reputational driver’, although in some cases reputation is apparently not an issue of concern.

Whilst today’s decision is very welcome news, it’s taken NatureScot far too long to reach it. Regular blog readers will know that NatureScot has been considering this decision since April 2024 (see here) when it first received information from Police Scotland about the shooting/killing of Merrick. That’s almost two years of procrastination (e.g. see here, here). It’s nowhere near good enough.

This is the second General Licence restriction imposed on Raeshaw Estate.

Raeshaw Estate boundary derived from Andy Wightman’s Who Owns Scotland website

Raeshaw Estate was one of the first estates to receive a General Licence restriction in 2015, based on clear police evidence that wildlife crimes had been committed although there was insufficient evidence to prosecute any individual (see here). Representatives of Raeshaw Estate applied for a judicial review of NatureScot’s decision but the Court of Session upheld NatureScot’s procedures and ruled them lawful (here).

Whilst under that first General Licence restriction, Raeshaw Estate applied for, and was granted, a number of ‘individual licences’ so the gamekeepers could continue to kill certain species as part of the estate’s grouse moor management plan (quite a lot of birds were lawfully killed – see here).

However, in 2017 the individual licence was revoked by NatureScot due to non-compliance issues and more suspected wildlife crime offences (see here). Not that the revocation made any difference whatsoever, as the estate could simply apply for another individual licence!

Inexplicably to many of us, NatureScot did not extend the length of the original General Licence restriction, which it has the authority to do, in light of the non-compliance issues on the estate’s individual licence (see here).

And now here we are again, with a second General Licence restriction imposed, this time in relation to the illegal shooting and killing of Golden Eagle ‘Merrick’ in October 2023.

As a colleague pointed out to me today, General Licence restrictions have been useful in as much as they have provided a framework for imposing a licence restriction based on the civil burden of proof, and this has clearly influenced the new system of grouse moor licensing in Scotland, introduced as a new sanction under the Wildlife Management & Muirburn Act 2024, whereby licences to shoot Red Grouse can be revoked, based on the civil burden of proof, if evidence of wildlife crime is provided to NatureScot by Police Scotland.

In this latest case relating to Raeshaw Estate, I doubt very much whether a grouse shooting licence will be revoked because Merrick was shot in October 2023, before the introduction of grouse shoot licences, and a licence revocation can’t be applied retrospectively. I’m not even sure whether Raeshaw Estate has a grouse shooting licence; there isn’t a public register to consult. If it doesn’t currently have a grouse shooting licence, but applies for one during this three-year General Licence restriction, it’d be interesting to see what happens.

More commentary to come soon…

UPDATE 11 February 2026: Raeshaw Estate claims General Licence restriction “wholly unjustified” and intends to appeal (here)

More commentary on the sentencing of Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper Racster Dingwall

Racster Dingwall, the now former Head Gamekeeper on Conistone and Grassington Estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park, pleaded guilty at York Magistrates’ Court last month to conspiring to kill a Hen Harrier.

His crimes were captured on camera after the RSPB installed covert equipment on the grouse moor, capturing video and audio recordings of Dingwall and his two armed accomplices, as shown on Channel 4 News, here.

Screen grab from the RSPB covert footage via Channel 4 News

Dingwall’s sentence was a fine of just £1,520. I’ve written previously about the judge’s remarks and how this derisory penalty was determined (see here).

Now the Northern England Raptor Forum (NERF, representing raptor fieldworkers) has added to the commentary in a new blog (here), which is well worth a read.

Here are some of the highlights:

Dingwall had a previous conviction for violence, but this was discounted because it was dissimilar to the offence before the court. However, there is ample evidence in the literature showing that violence towards people and animal cruelty are frequently linked.

It was accepted by the court that Dingwall’s actions in this case were “completely out of character”. Was it really? The RSPB Investigations Team didn’t just turn up on the estate and install covert recording equipment. The team was there as a result of intelligence they had received and had spent several months confirming that the information was correct. They also identified the precise location where Dingwall and his colleagues usually sat. There was nothing random in the enquiry. Dingwall and his two underkeepers, recorded during the filming, were dressed in camouflage clothing, using radios, and armed with shotguns. They were clearly on a mission when sat in their allocated positions, waiting for dusk and for Hen Harriers to come in to roost.

Mr Ryan, Dingwall’s solicitor, told the court that his client “regrets enormously” his actions. If that were true, why were he and his colleagues there in the first place, dressed and armed with shotguns? Why didn’t he chastise his staff when they discussed having killed a Buzzard and a Raven? Why didn’t he call the whole thing off when they talked about not shooting a Hen Harrier—now known to be Ataksak—because it was wearing a box and would cause problems for the estate? Why, when the next Hen Harrier arrived without a “box”, did Dingwall leave his post to go and shoot the bird, which he subsequently told his staff he had done? He had every opportunity to prevent his underkeepers from killing the Buzzard and Raven. He also had a duty to ensure that Ataksak and the untagged Hen Harrier were not threatened with death. He failed on all accounts. Clearly, the only thing Dingwall regretted was being caught.

There is no requirement for a defendant to identify who his two underkeepers were, and Dingwall chose that route and stood in the dock alone. That was his choice, and the identity of his underkeepers remains unknown—at least in the public domain. Obviously, their employer knows who they are; but will they be sanctioned? Will they lose their jobs?

What we do know is that the owner will not be sanctioned, and it is business as usual. This loophole in the law is ludicrous and needs to be closed. Owners and land agents responsible for managing shooting estates need to be held accountable for the criminal activities of their employees. Until they are, they have no incentive to ensure that their estates are managed in compliance with wildlife legislation.

To read the full blog on the NERF website, click here.

I’ll be writing a further blog about this case shortly…

Golden Eagle found shot in Scottish Borders – Police Scotland appeals for information

Press release from Police Scotland (9 February 2026)

APPEAL AFTER GOLDEN EAGLE SHOT IN THE SCOTTISH BORDERS

Wildlife officers are appealing to the public for information after a four-year-old golden eagle was shot in the Scottish Borders.

Golden Eagle photo by Pete Walkden

On Tuesday, 20 January, 2026, police were made aware a gamekeeper from an estate in Stanhope had discovered an injured golden eagle on Thursday, 15 January, 2026.

The bird was wearing a satellite tracking device and was identified as Hamlet, a four-year-old golden eagle that had been relocated from the Outer Hebrides to the Scottish Borders in 2023.

Hamlet was examined by a vet, who confirmed shotgun pellet injuries to his wing. He received treatment and made a full recovery. Hamlet has since been returned to the wild.

X-ray showing shotgun damage to the eagle’s right wing. Photo by SSPCA via Police Scotland

Officers investigating the crime have reviewed Hamlet’s tracking data and following consultation with raptor and veterinary experts, it’s believed Hamlet was shot during the first week of January 2026 in an area between Stanhope and Glenbreck, off the A701 Broughton to Moffat Road.

Detective Sergeant David Lynn, National Wildlife Crime Coordinator, said: “It is extremely disappointing that we are investigating another golden eagle persecution crime. Very few people would have the means, opportunity and motive to commit this crime and I would urge anyone with any information to contact us so we can identify whoever is responsible for shooting Hamlet.”

Police Scotland, with the support of the UK National Wildlife Crime Unit, is conducting a thorough enquiry in the local area to identify the culprit. Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland via 101, quoting incident number 1221 of 3 February, 2026. Alternatively, you can pass on your information anonymously to Crimestoppers using 800 555 111.

ENDS

‘Hamlet’ is the sixth victim of eagle persecution in the Scottish Borders in recent years:

Golden Eagle ‘Fred’ disappeared in an area managed for gamebird shooting in the Pentland Hills in January 2018 (his satellite tag transmitted from the North Sea a few days later – here).

Golden Eagle ‘Merrick’ was shot whilst she was sleeping in a tree next to a grouse moor in the Moorfoot Hills in October 2023 (we’re STILL waiting for NatureScot to make a decision about whether a General Licence restriction will be imposed as a consequence – see here).

Golden Eagles ‘Tarras’ and ‘Wren’ disappeared in an area managed for gamebird shooting near Langholm in August 2025 (see here).

A White-tailed Eagle ‘disappeared’ in the Moorfoot Hills area in November 2025 (here).

All six of these eagles were satellite-tagged. Nobody has been prosecuted in relation to any of these incidents.

Shot Buzzard found nr Wigginton, York

Raptor rehabilitation expert Jean Thorpe posted on social media yesterday about an injured Buzzard that was found grounded near Wigginton, York.

The Buzzard was taken to Battle Flatts Veterinary Clinic where an x-ray revealed a shotgun pellet lodged in her leg and associated feather damage.

The Buzzard is currently undergoing rehabilitation with Jean.

The Buzzard was found on 26 January 2026. If you have any information about this, or any other raptor persecution incidents in North Yorkshire, please contact the police and the RSPB Investigations Team.

Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group in desperate attempt to divert attention away from conviction of Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper Racster Dingwall

The Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group (YDMG) is undertaking a major damage limitation exercise this week following the widespread media coverage of the recent conviction of Yorkshire Dales gamekeeper Racster Dingwall, who pleaded guilty to conspiring to kill a Hen Harrier on the Conistone & Grassington Estate (see here), which is, as far as I can tell, a member of the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group.

Indeed, according to this 2018 article in the Yorkshire Post, the then coordinator of the YDMG lived on the Conistone & Grassington Estate as the wife of the previous Head Gamekeeper (i.e. before Racster Dingwall took on the role as Head Gamekeeper). The current YDMG coordinator is believed to be a former gamekeeper from one of the most notorious estates in the Dales.

Dingwall’s conviction, based on damning video evidence filmed by the RSPB, made the national, regional and local news, which threw the spotlight once again on the criminal killing of birds of prey on grouse moors in the Yorkshire Dales.

Dingwall’s conviction has undone all the good work (propaganda) that the YDMG has pumped out over the years to try and disguise the fact, according to the RSPB, that:

“This area – dominated by grouse moors – is the epicentre for Hen Harrier persecution in the UK. Since 2016, in this area four confirmed persecution incidents involving RSPB and Natural England satellite tagged Hen Harriers have taken place and 13 satellite tagged Hen Harriers have suspiciously disappeared – all suspected to have been persecuted (2016-2025)” (see here).

In a desperate attempt to divert attention from Dingwall’s crimes, the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group is trying to persuade anyone who’ll listen that Hen Harriers aren’t routinely killed on grouse moors in their area. Good luck with that!

To illustrate this claim, the YDMG has posted the following story on social media about a satellite-tagged Hen Harrier called Frank:

Did Hen Harrier Frank live a long and productive life on grouse moors in the Yorkshire Dales? Yes, he did, but he was the exception to the rule. I’ve often wondered why he wasn’t nobbled and have been told, by various sources over the years, that Frank was seen as a ‘pet’ of one of the gamekeepers’ wives and an agreement was made not to shoot him. Whether there’s any substance in that I don’t know, but it’s interesting that I’ve heard the same story from different sources.

I think one of the reasons Frank wasn’t killed was because he was seen by the grouse shooting industry as the ‘poster child’ for Natural England’s Hen Harrier Brood Meddling Trial – indeed, some of Frank’s offspring were indeed brood meddled (unsurprisingly, several of them later then ‘disappeared’ in suspicious circumstances) and so there was a LOT of attention on Frank by those invested in the brood meddling sham who wanted to show that the trial was working. ‘Look, here’s a Hen Harrier (Frank) whose chicks we’ve brood meddled but he’s surviving just fine, he hasn’t been killed, therefore the brood meddling trial is a stunning success, let’s roll it out as standard practice for ever more’. You get the picture.

Anyway, back to the YDMG’s diversionary tactics. What they’re suggesting in their latest propaganda piece, is that gamekeepers were suspected of illegally killing Frank in 2025 when his tag stopped working. They claim that,

“They [raptor monitors and Natural England field staff] raised suspicion and insinuated to local gamekeepers that persecution could be a factor behind the bird going off-line“

and

“Suspicions and accusations began to circulate. Internal communications at Natural England determined the bird as missing/suspicious on a grouse moor“.

Really? Where is the evidence that gamekeepers were accused/suspected of killing Frank? He’s NEVER appeared on any list on this blog, nor on the Natural England Hen Harrier satellite tag spreadsheet, nor in any RSPB press release.

Why didn’t he appear? Well, simply because Natural England had been quite upfront on the HH sat tag spreadsheet and reported, accurately, that Frank’s tag stopped transmitting in May 2025 but in June 2025 he was photographed by NE field staff provisioning young at a nest and the photograph clearly showed his satellite tag had a broken aerial and therefore the tag was no longer transmitting. It was a clear technical malfunction, acknowledged by Natural England, and therefore there weren’t any grounds for suspicion.

The Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group is trying to play the victim card here but without any actual evidence of being ‘victimised’.

The fact that (apparently) Frank was recently found dead near Hull, and tests (apparently) show he had contracted avian influenza (although that wasn’t necessarily the cause of death) is neither here nor there. Although I suspect, if indeed this information is accurate, that Natural England might be looking closely at who was privy to that information and who leaked it to the YDMG!

I’d be interested in a statement from the YDMG about the status of the Conistone & Grassington Estate as a YDMG member. Has the YDMG got any plans to expel the estate? If not, why not?

The bigger question that very few people seem to be asking is, who funds the Yorkshire Dales Moorland Group, and all the other regional moorland groups that sprung up in 2015 to promote ‘the good work’ of the grouse shooting industry?

Who is paying for the regional coordinators of these groups, who spend their time putting rubbish out on social media and conducting malicious smear campaigns against individuals and organisations who happen to challenge the claims made by the grouse shooting industry? Who is paying for their websites? Who is paying for their extensive promotional material? Their branded clothing? Their picture boards and associated marketing material they drag around the country shows each year? Their logo-heavy ‘activity packs’ that they hand out to unsuspecting school children?

Gosh, I wonder who it might be? Surely not someone with a vested interest in grouse shooting and is a member of the British aristocracy?

Murder trial due to begin: former Head Gamekeeper David Campbell of Edradynate Estate accused of killing ex-colleague with shotgun

A long-awaited murder trial is expected to get underway this coming week at the High Court in Glasgow.

David Campbell, 76, the former Head Gamekeeper at Edradynate Estate near Aberfeldy, Perthshire is accused of murdering a former colleague, groundsman Brian Low, whilst Mr Low was walking his dog on Leafy Lane, near the Pitilie Track close to Aberfeldy in February 2024 (see here for background).

It is alleged that Campbell did this after disabling CCTV cameras at Tigh Na Caorann, Crieff Road, Aberfeldy, in an “attempt to conceal” his whereabouts.

Both the accused and alleged victim were formerly employed on Edradynate Estate, Perthshire. Photo by Ruth Tingay

At a pre-trial hearing in November 2025, the court heard that Campbell faces a separate charge of attempting to defeat the ends of justice following Mr Low’s alleged murder. It is alleged between 16 February and 24 May 2024 he disposed of an Walther RM8 Rotex airgun – for which he allegedly did not have a certificate – at an unknown location.

He is further said to have got rid of the shotgun and a gun bag, also at a spot unknown to prosecutors.

Campbell is also accused of going to Crighton’s Cycles, Blairgowrie, and having two replacement tyres fitted on an electric bicycle, which prosecutors believe was used by him in the commission of the murder.

It is also alleged that Campbell disposed of a box, cartridge bag and bicycle tyres at Aberfeldy Recycling Centre.

Campbell further faces five breach of the peace allegations dating back to the mid-90s.

It is alleged some time in July 1995, he threatened a man called Alan Stewart and placed him in a state of fear and alarm.

Prosecutors further allege that on a date between 1 March and 31 May 1997, Campbell conducted himself in a disorderly manner at the Edradynate Estate, Aberfeldy and threatened to shoot worker Gregor Forrest.

Campbell has also been accused of threatening to shoot another man, Richard Wright, also at Edradynate Estate between 1 June and 31 August 1999.

It is further alleged that between 1 June and 30 September 2011, Campbell threatened to shoot a fourth man, Maksymillan Konchanski, at The Square, Aberfeldy.

And he is also accused of threatening to shoot a woman’s dog at Ardlach House, Aberfeldy, sometime between 1 June and 30 September 2012.

Campbell has previously pleaded not guilty to all charges and his defence advocate, Tony Lenehan KC, has lodged a special defence of alibi in connection with the murder charge.

Campbell has been held on remand since May 2024.

The trial is expected to last for three weeks in front of Lord Scott and had been listed for 2nd February 2026. However, court documents show it is currently listed as a ‘dedicated floating trial’, which means that rather than having to begin on a specific date, the case can start within a ‘floating period’ (usually a week) of that date. This flexibility is to facilitate the availability of a judge and court room to ensure a continuous schedule.

NB: As this case is live, comments have been turned off until criminal proceedings have concluded.

MEDIA COVERAGE OF TRIAL

Day 1 (Weds 4 Feb 2026)

Murder trial accused ‘threatened former police officer’ (BBC News here)

Former gamekeeper, 77,, accused of shotgun murder of retired groundsman Brian Low ‘loathed’ victim, court hears (Sky News here)

Day 2 (Thurs 5 Feb 2026)

Murder trial told of dog walker’s body discovery (BBC News here)

Alleged killer thought murder victim was trying to set him up, court told (Sky News here)

Day 3 (Fri 6 Feb 2026)

Aberfeldy shotgun death initially deemed non-suspicious (BBC News here)

Day 4 (Mon 9 Feb 2026)

Murder trial shown accused covering doorbell camera (BBC News here)

CCTV at murder suspect’s home went off on morning of alleged shooting, court hears (Sky News here)

Day 5 (Tues 10 Feb 2026)

Murder accused ‘believed he would get arrested’ (BBC News here)

Day 7 (Thurs 12 Feb 2026)

Wife blows kiss to murder accused before giving evidence (BBC News here)

Wife ‘can’t remember’ if husband had grievances with his alleged murder victim, court hears (Sky News here)

Day 8 (Fri 13 Feb 2026)

Accused ‘first heard of man’s murder on the news’ (BBC News here)

Murder suspect branded police ‘desperate’ when accused of shooting ex-colleague dead, court hears (Sky News here)

Day 9 (Mon 16 Feb 2026)

Murder trial jury told of dog walker’s shotgun injuries (BBC News here)

Day 10 (Tues 17 Feb 2026)

Murder accused ‘did not get on’ with alleged shooting victim (BBC News here)

Aberfeldy murder suspect admits he ‘didn’t like’ man he is accused of shooting dead, court hears (Sky News here)

Day 11 (Weds 18 Feb 2026)

Shooting murder accused says police inquiry was ‘monumental shambles’ (BBC News here)

Aberfeldy murder suspect accused of shooting ex-colleague dead brands police probe ‘monumental shambles’ (Sky News here)

Day 12 (Thurs 19 Feb 2026)

Accused denies murdering ex-colleague ‘out of sheer malice’ (BBC News here)

Aberfeldy murder suspect denies shooting ex-colleague out of ‘sheer malice’ as he rebukes prosecutor for calling him a ‘liar’ (Sky News here)

Day 13 (Fri 20 Feb 2026)

Closing speeches heard in Aberfeldy murder trial (BBC News here)

UPDATE 25 February 2026: Scottish gamekeeper David Campbell found guilty of murdering ex-colleague from Edradynate Estate, Perthshire (here)

UPDATE 26 Feb 2026: Sentencing remarks & statement from Police Scotland after conviction of gamekeeper David Campbell for shotgun murder of ex-colleague (here)

UPDATE 27 Feb 2026: Some commentary on the murder conviction of ex-Head Gamekeeper David Campbell (here)