Hebden Bridge Web

Stop Grouse Shooting demo in Hebden Bridge 

Saturday, 11 August 2018

Protestors gathered in Hebden Bridge this morning to campaign against grouse shooting on Yorkshire's moorland.

The rally was organised Ban Bloodsports on Yorkshire's Moors (BBYM) and the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) with the aim of stopping moorland being used for the sport.

"If we can stop fox hunting, we can stop grouse shooting," speakers said.

Campaigners claim that 'jaw-like' traps have been found set on the moors, aimed at preserving game birds from natural predators for shooting parties.

They called upon Yorkshire Water and the Walshaw Estate (now owned by Richard Bannister of the Boundary Mill empire) to end shooting on their land.

The protest comes in the wake of a decision by nearby Bradford Council to end grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor.

As well as countless numbers of animals being saved, rewetting the moors immediately increases the number of insects and therefore the variety of birdlife.

The League against Cruel Sports say, "Investigations, undercover filming, scientific research and economic analysis reveals that commercial shooting in the UK is nothing but a cynical industry which exploits loopholes in animal welfare laws, puts our landscape at risk and exaggerates any financial benefit to the economy.

"In terms of the numbers of animals persecuted and killed, no other cruel sport in the UK has such a devastating impact on animals as commercial 'game' bird shooting.

"It is estimated that 100,000 birds are shot every day in the UK during the shooting season."