I REFER to the letter from Andrew Tyler, director Animal Aid, regarding grouse moor management (Derby Telegraph, August 9) which, in my opinion, contains a number of fundamental inaccuracies and misinformation.

Grouse moor management has been instrumental in producing a landscape that is both rich in wildlife and biodiversity. Nesting on the ground, the eggs and chicks of red grouse are hunted by a range of avian and mammalian predators, and the legal control of common predators such as foxes, stoats, weasels and carrion crows is essential, in not only benefiting red grouse, but also many other species of threatened ground nesting birds.

When unmanaged, heather grows into a dense mass of long woody stems that support very little wildlife, has no grazing value, and is a serious wildfire risk. Unlike a wildfire, the controlled cool burning of heather does not harm wildlife or the environment.

Thanks to moorland management, almost half of all grouse moors are designated as EU Special Protection Areas for the rare birds that they support, and as Special Areas of Conservation due to the variety of plant species. Nationally, 66% of grouse moors are protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest, and 45% carry all three of the designations. They are a true conservation success story, and something glorious to be celebrated.

Adrian Blackmore

Countryside Alliance