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Yorkshire Dales Wildlife: 2021 Grouse Shooting Season
Rose Atkinson • Aug 03, 2021
The annual grouse shooting season is one of the most celebrated events in the Yorkshire Dales calendar; beginning on the Glorious Twelfth (12th August) and lasting until 10th December. Moorland owners and gamekeepers of the Yorkshire Dales carry out vital conservation work on more than 226,000 acres of precious heather moorland across the area, many of which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
During the late summer season, our beautiful Dales moorland really is a sight to behold. The heather is in full bloom on our uplands, turning the hills a vivid purple. The heather provides the perfect habitat for the remarkable red grouse. Keep reading to discover more about our important work in moorland management…
The Remarkable Red Grouse
Red grouse
are ground-nesting birds that are found on upland heathlands; however, they are under threat from predators, diseases, and the loss of habitats. These wonderful creatures are wild and free – unlike many other birds, their population is not maintained by releasing hand-reared birds. They are territorial and move around very little, and with the right conditions and management, they can breed in large numbers.
Grouse shooting has huge economic, social, and environmental significance in our area, and it is due to shooting that the red grouse has not found itself on the endangered species list. The lovely lean, dark meat is treasured by chefs from near and afar. Often referred to as the ‘king of game birds’, the meat is rich in flavours and completely wild and sustainable. Red grouse meat is very healthy and in high demand, containing less than 1/3rd of the fat found in chicken. You will no doubt see grouse on the menu in many of our local eateries during the season – do try it if you can!
British Moorland Management
Moorlands cover huge areas of upland in the UK, dominated by purple heather that creates a kaleidoscope of violet hues in the summertime. In fact, the UK is home to 75% of the world’s heather moorland, which is now rarer than the rainforest as a habitat. Therefore, it is vital to maintain and preserve this unique upland environment.
Heather burning, cutting, and grazing are all important steps to maintaining this habitat. It is also vital to manage pests and predators, control diseases and ticks, and restore damaged peatland. Heather burning involves quick, ‘cool’ burning of small areas of heather, which serves to remove older heather and encourage the growth of new heather shoots. Without burning, the heather would eventually turn woody, have very little nutritional value, and support little wildlife.
Spectacular Shoot Days
Whilst walking upon the moors, you may stumble across a shoot. What a wonderful sight! Many different people are involved in running a shoot day; an average of 50 local workers per day who like to get involved and enjoy a day out on the moors. Teams of beaters, flankers, loaders, pickers up and caterers, ranging from the age of 13 upwards, all really enjoy the comradery of the day's activities. The local hotels, restaurants and pubs are always busy when a shoot is taking place during the season – a good season can equate to over 1600 overnight stays in our local area! A great boost to our delicate economy.
The Benefits of Moorland Management
Thanks to the hard work and dedication of skilled gamekeepers, the Yorkshire Dales’ heather is home to an abundance of wildlife; from threatened species such as curlew, merlin, and lapwing, to specialist flora such as sphagnum mosses, bilberry, and cross-leaved heath.
The magical moorland supports at least 76 bird species, with 43 of these being endangered. When moors are managed for grouse shooting, ground-nesting birds including curlew and lapwing are on average 3.5x more likely to successfully raise a chick. Birds of prey such as peregrine falcons, buzzards, kestrels, and golden eagles
also thrive on the moorland. Predators such as foxes, carrion crows, stoats, and weasels are carefully controlled, encouraging a range of reptiles, small mammals, and invertebrates to make the moorlands their home. This is just a brief insight into the benefits of managing moorland – it’s not just all about the shooting!
Discover the Yorkshire Dales Wildlife at Reeth Holiday Cottages
Tucked away in a quiet corner of Reeth in Upper Swaledale, our stunning self-catering cottages provide the perfect hub for discovering the wonderful wildlife that inhabits the Yorkshire Dales. We are now fully booked up for the summer season but are accepting bookings for 2022 – click here to book your break in the Yorkshire Dales today!
With the bank holidays coming up in May and the Summer Holidays on the horizon, we have put together a list of family friendly walks and activities to really make the most of your stay in beautiful Swaledale.
Happy New Year!
The most wonderful time of the year is almost here! Christmas 2020 was full of lockdowns and cancellations, so we’re definitely intending to make the most of the 2021 festive season. There are so many fun things happening in God’s Own Country this season – from artisan Christmas markets to spectacular light trails, Santa’s grotto visits and festive train rides, and so much more. Check out our guide below to discover some wonderful Christmas events taking place in the Yorkshire Dales this month…
Autumn is a truly wonderful time of year to visit the celebrated Yorkshire Dales. The Dales becomes an artist’s delight in the colder months, adding amazing autumn hues to its vibrant colour palette. Enjoy a stroll through the Dales as the leaves begin to fall or discover the county’s rich history in a quintessentially British castle, before curling up in front of a log fire in a hearty country pub. As the summer rush finally comes to an end, it’s the perfect excuse to get cosy in a luxury cottage this autumn. So, why not soak up the wonders of mother nature this season at Reeth Holiday Cottages?!
Have you been to visit the Yorkshire Dales yet? Our four luxury self-catering cottages are situated in the glorious village of Reeth, tucked away in the corner of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale. Reeth is a bustling hub of activity, perfect for exploring the celebrated Yorkshire Dales. Our cottages are extremely popular amongst walkers and visitors to the area. The Yorkshire Dales is one of the most picturesque areas in the whole of the UK and is arguably the waterfall capital of England. The county is awash with waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, with its dramatic landscapes boasting cascading falls. The Yorkshire Dales features the highest waterfalls in England both below and above ground, as well as the highest single drop waterfall in the country. We have compiled a handy list of our favourite waterfalls in the Yorkshire Dales; so you can spend less time researching, and more time exploring. All the below walks can be found on the OS Maps app, which guests can access whilst staying at our cottages.
Nature truly comes alive in the Yorkshire Dales during the summer months. Birds and animals are hard at work feeding their young, whilst the spectacular hay meadows reach their peak. There is no finer sight or smell than a hay meadow in full flower on a hot summer’s day! Swaledale boasts some of the Dales’ finest hay meadows, which are best experienced in late June to early July. Keep reading to discover more about the Yorkshire Dales’ very own delightful hay meadows…
After being cancelled last year, we are delighted that the renowned Swaledale Festival has returned in 2021! This celebration of music and arts has been running since 1972, situated in the three most northern areas of the Yorkshire Dales: Swaledale, Wensleydale and Arkengarthdale. Beginning on the Saturday of the late May Bank Holiday each year, the festival boasts marvellous musical acts, artistic workshops, children’s events, guided walks and much more. This year, festival organisers have decided to spread events over a six-month period, instead of the usual 2 weeks. Many events have been so popular that they are already sold out, but there are still tickets remaining for the following…
Tucked away in a cosy corner of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, the picturesque village of Reeth is perfectly placed to explore the surrounding Yorkshire Dales. Visitors from near and afar flock to Reeth to explore the spectacular Yorkshire Dales landscape each year. The village is only a short two-minute stroll from our four luxury self-catering cottages and the community of Reeth is always bustling with activity. There are various pubs, restaurants, cafes, shops, a museum, a hairdresser’s, an ice cream parlour, a beauty salon, and a weekly Friday market to enjoy.
Want to whisk the kids away on holiday this year? With holidays abroad being off the cards for the time being, why not consider a fun family staycation here in the Yorkshire Dales?! Our lovely self-catering cottages are set in the idyllic village of Reeth in the Yorkshire Dales, providing a real “Home from Home” experience. Set in the spectacular Swaledale countryside, surrounded by stunning views and breathtaking scenery, our luxury cottages offer the perfect opportunity to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There are plenty of activities nearby for children of all ages to enjoy; whether they are keen moochers, adventurers or explorers. Take a day trip to the famous Thorp Perrow arboretum or play and explore at the fantastic Forbidden Corner – the possibilities are truly endless!
Our four luxury holiday cottages are nestled in the idyllic, quiet village of Reeth. We are tucked away in the corner of Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, situated in the north of the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Spring is in the air, and we can finally shake off the chill of winter (is it just me or did winter last forever?!). The end of lockdown is in sight, and we can look forward to catching up with friends and family after so long apart – and there’s no better place to celebrate the end of lockdown than the glorious Yorkshire Dales…