Shooting set to go ahead on Ilkley and Bingley Moors (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

'Wet weather won't affect annual season' pledge

9:00am Wednesday 8th August 2012 in News

Grouse shooting will go ahead on the moors above Bradford, despite the “significant impact” of the wettest spring and early summer on record.

Shooting parties from across the UK and abroad are set to shoot on Bingley and Ilkley Moors following the Glorious Twelfth – the traditional start of the shooting season.

Edward Bromet, chairman of the Moorland Association and a member of the Bingley Moor Partnership, which holds shooting rights on the moors, said: “There has been a significant impact because of the weather but the good news for the Pennines is that it is likely that shooting will proceed.”

Mr Bromet said grouse numbers on lower land had suffered far more than those living on upland moors such as Bingley, because of the flow of water into lower-lying areas.

He said: “It has been the wettest spring and early summer on record and in the southern dales it has been particularly severe, with areas like Hebden Bridge being flooded twice. That said, grouse are a hardy upland breed and the mothers, if they are in good condition, have remarkable ability to protect their chicks.

“The good news is days shooting sold to high-paying parties from England and abroad can go ahead, bringing a much-needed boost to the local economy.”

The Moorland Association has put £50million of private shooting into managing moorland across the UK for shooting parties to use after August 12.

Mr Bromet said there would be “knock-on” benefits such as an increase in trade at hotels and shooting lodges and for game dealers during the season.

He said: “The economy of the upland areas will receive about £17million nationally. It is an extremely important source of revenue.”