Farming: Muirburn to be licensed

While the Scottish Government’s announcement that it will develop a licensing scheme for grouse shooting businesses in Scotland saw a mixed reception from rural bodies yesterday, it emerged that sheep and hill farmers won’t be safe from the changes.

The new approach, designed to tackle raptor persecution, will also see muirburn – the practice of carrying out controlled burns on areas of heather and scrub – permitted only under licence.

The administration said the move would protect wildlife and habitats – regardless of when it was carried out and whether or not it was undertaken for grouse moor management or for improving grazing. There will also be a statutory ban on burning on peatland, except under licence for strictly limited purposes, such as approved habitat restoration projects.

Announcing the proposals, Minister for Rural Affairs Mairi Gougeon said that the majority of those tasked with managing land already followed best practice – but added: “I cannot, though, ignore the fact that some of the practices associated with grouse moor management, such as muirburn and the use of medicated grit, have the potential to cause serious harm to the environment, if the correct procedures are not followed.”

Scottish Land and Estates, and shooting bodies, said the move would be very damaging to fragile rural communities: “Substantive work has already been done to improve muirburn practices, with more to come and we need to understand urgently what the Scottish Government envisages in terms of even further controls.”