Pointers on the Moor: HPR Training Days Raise Over £1,000 for Local Charity

A group of HPR (hunt, point and retrieve) gundog enthusiasts spent two days on the North York Moors at the end of last week, working their dogs on heather moorland in the North York Moors Moorland Organisation (NYMMO) area.

The training days gave the handlers a valuable chance to develop their dogs in the field, covering ground and pointing red grouse in the kind of setting that is hard to replicate anywhere else. Managed heather moorland supports healthy grouse numbers, which makes it an ideal training ground for pointing breeds.

The two days also raised more than £1,000 for a local charity, a welcome result for a small, informal gathering.

The benefits reached well beyond the moor. Visitors spent money locally on accommodation, food and fuel, and many stayed for the full week to enjoy the area and its outstanding scenery. Days like these show how moorland managed for grouse supports the wider rural economy, bringing people and spending into communities that rely on them.

A spokesperson for NYMMO said: "We had two fantastic days on the moor. It was great to see the dogs working so well, and to raise over £1,000 for a local charity at the same time. Many of our visitors stayed on for the week, which is a real boost for local businesses."