Record grouse season for North Yorkshire estates

Estates within the North Yorkshire Moors Moorland Group (NYMMO) are reflecting on the latest grouse season with many hailing it as one that bucked the national trend and local businesses claiming it one of the best on record.
John Dent (left), Rosedale resident who has benefited from employment through grouse shooting and Pete Richardson (right), employed estate farmer who is always out on a shoot day.John Dent (left), Rosedale resident who has benefited from employment through grouse shooting and Pete Richardson (right), employed estate farmer who is always out on a shoot day.
John Dent (left), Rosedale resident who has benefited from employment through grouse shooting and Pete Richardson (right), employed estate farmer who is always out on a shoot day.

Managing moorland for grouse shooting is vitally important to remote rural communities in terms of economic, environmental and social benefits and is a lifeline for many local businesses in North Yorkshire, with a full season being significantly more beneficial.

A recent survey conducted across eight out of the eleven estates in the NYMMO group has found that a total of 177 driven shoot days were hosted throughout the four-month season on these estates across the North Yorkshire region.

The first grouse shoot of the season on the Glorious Twelfth.The first grouse shoot of the season on the Glorious Twelfth.
The first grouse shoot of the season on the Glorious Twelfth.
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On average, each grouse moor employs an extra 34 staff on each shoot day which takes in to account beaters, loaders, flankers, pickers-up, house and catering staff.

This equates to an estimated total of 6,018 workdays of additional employment having been provided throughout the 2018 grouse season, benefiting local youngsters, pensioners and migrant workers.

This seasonal work is in addition to the 45 full-time gamekeepers employed year-round by estate members of the NYMMO group to manage the moors for grouse shooting.

Tina Brough, of the North Yorkshire Moors Moorland Organisation, said: “The success of this season across the North York Moors is testament to the hard-work and dedication of our gamekeepers and grouse moor managers who work year-round managing our land for red grouse. This benefits the local community and businesses whilst also supporting vital conservation efforts in the North Yorkshire region.

John Dent, local Rosedale resident who has benefited from employment through grouse shooting.John Dent, local Rosedale resident who has benefited from employment through grouse shooting.
John Dent, local Rosedale resident who has benefited from employment through grouse shooting.
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“Grouse shooting is an important tradition and helps to sustain the rural economy, especially during the off-season when tourism is limited.

“Essential part-time and seasonal employment is provided throughout the shooting season in remote rural areas of the country that would otherwise be lacking.

“To be able to support over 6,000 extra work days of employment over the past four-month season is extremely important for the survival of small villages in North Yorkshire and offers a vital lifeline for many residents and businesses.”

One Rosedale resident who has benefited from employment through grouse shooting is John Dent, 75, who has been working across the North York Moors for the past seven years driving the field truck that transports the beaters up the moors on shoot days.

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A seasonal grouse shooting worker, John said: “I am out each day during the grouse season and enjoy every minute of it and will continue to drive the truck as long as I can. The beaters range in age from young to old and you get to meet so many great people and hear all their stories, it keeps you young.”

“I know many who rely on the employment provided by the local sporting estates.

“For me, it is a fantastic social occasion getting me and many others outdoors and into the community as we will all go for a few beers after a day on the hills.

“I had a go at beating when I was 11 and back then got paid ten shillings, it was such great fun and I am so lucky to still be a part of it.”

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This season also brought both UK and international visitors to North Yorkshire, with hotels and restaurants continuing to benefit.

Lis Rickleton, manager of the Black Swan Hotel, said: “Helmsley and the surrounding community have been, for many years dependant on the downstream revenues generated by shooting during the season and we believe very strongly in supporting our local estates and businesses. “We rely on shooting parties staying in our hotel to support our business in the off-peak holiday season. It also generates add on services which we can offer parties be it shoot dinners, ladies shooting lunches, spa days and even arranging tailored days out for partners and family members not shooting. Shooting is very much the backbone of our rural community.”

Moorland owners and gamekeepers of the North Yorkshire Moors Moorland Organisation carry out vital conservation work on precious heather moorland across the area, much of which is designated as Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).