Almost 100 people came to Bingley Moor last weekend for an event organised by the Countryside Alliance and the Moorland Association. This was the fourth in a series of moorland open days held across the north of England to show how moorland is managed for grouse shooting, sheep grazing and public access.

During a three hour walk head keeper Donald McGill showed how heather is managed by controlled burning in the winter, and gave a demonstration of the Estate’s fire fighting equipment which was used to help put out the devastating fire in July on neighbouring Ilkley Moor.

He explained that foxes and crows have to be controlled as they not only eat grouse and their eggs, but also other rare ground nesting birds, such as Golden plover, Curlew, Dunlin and Lapwing. Other issues discussed included the range of birdlife found on managed moors, how dogs are used to assess grouse populations, and the impact of moorland management on local employment and conservation.