Wildlife Thrives on the Moors of the North Pennines

The North Pennines Moorland Group has recorded a clear rise in the number of visitors travelling to the area to watch and photograph wildlife on the moors it manages. The trend reflects growing public recognition of the vital role the North Pennines plays in supporting birdlife across the uplands.

In the past week alone, species recorded include hen harrier, marsh harrier, sparrowhawk, buzzard and red kite, alongside lapwing, oystercatcher, curlew and redshank. Meadow pipit, skylark, red and black grouse, little owl, golden plover, wheatear, dipper and stonechat have also been observed on managed moorland, and these account only for the sightings the Group itself has seen.

These are not isolated records. They represent a landscape that continues to support an exceptional range of species, a significant proportion of them red and amber listed, sustained by the habitat and predator management undertaken by gamekeepers and moorland staff throughout the year.

The North Pennines Moorland Group will continue to draw attention to the work carried out across these hills and to ensure that visitors understand the direct contribution of active land management to the biodiversity they observe. Those who spend time on the tops with a camera or binoculars should acknowledge the reality of what is before them: these species are thriving on moors managed for grouse shooting.