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Grouse moor management: a new era of regulation

5 November 2026

Grouse moors and the wider upland landscapes in which they sit have always required careful management, balancing sporting interests, habitat conservation and wider estate objectives. However, that balancing act is becoming increasingly complex.

A series of legislative and policy changes across England is reshaping how grouse moors are managed, influencing everything from heather burning and predator control to trapping practices and environmental funding opportunities. At the same time, public and regulatory expectations around biodiversity, peatland restoration and environmental outcomes continue to grow.

For landowners, sporting estates and managers, the challenge is no longer simply one of compliance. It is understanding how changing regulations, conservation priorities and commercial objectives interact, and ensuring long-term management strategies can adapt accordingly. Those who take a proactive and informed approach will be best placed to protect both the environmental and commercial value of their upland holdings.

Heather Management Under Greater Scrutiny

Heather management remains fundamental to supporting healthy grouse populations, creating the varied age structure required across the moor. Traditionally, controlled burning has been the principal method used to achieve this objective across many upland estates. However, the regulatory landscape has changed significantly in recent years.

The introduction of the Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 placed restrictions on the burning of vegetation on deep peat within certain protected sites, requiring managers to obtain licences before carrying out such activities. More recently, amendments introduced in 2025 expanded peatland protections and reduced the depth threshold at which restrictions apply from 40cm to 30cm.

As a result, many estates are exploring alternative methods of heather management, including mechanical cutting. While effective in some circumstances, cutting is not always a direct substitute for burning, particularly on steep, remote or inaccessible ground where access and practicality can present significant challenges.

Management decisions must also be considered alongside stewardship agreements, restoration programmes and conservation designations, with increasing emphasis placed on peatland recovery and environmental outcomes.

Heather management is therefore no longer simply an operational decision. It now sits at the intersection of sporting management, environmental regulation and public policy, requiring landowners to take a more strategic and site-specific approach.

Predator Control in a Changing Regulatory Environment

Predator control continues to play an important role on many upland estates, helping to protect ground-nesting birds and support wider habitat objectives. However, legislative changes and increased scrutiny are placing greater emphasis on accountability and evidence-based management.

A significant shift occurred following the legal challenge to England’s General Licence system in 2019. The revised framework clarified the circumstances under which certain bird species may be controlled and signalled a broader move towards increased oversight of wildlife management activities.

For landowners and estate managers, this means ensuring that those undertaking predator control fully understand licence conditions, permitted methods and the species covered by individual licences. Activities that may previously have been considered routine now require greater attention to compliance and supporting evidence.

Predator management is also increasingly linked to wider debates around biodiversity recovery, species conservation and the ecological role of land management. As a result, estates are facing greater scrutiny from regulators, conservation organisations and the public.

Lawful predator control remains an important management tool, but successful estates are increasingly adopting a more robust and evidence-led approach. Regular training, clear record keeping and ongoing review of licence requirements can help ensure management remains both effective and compliant.

New Responsibilities for Trap Users

Changes to spring trap legislation further demonstrate the wider direction of travel towards greater accountability across countryside management.

Spring traps continue to provide an important means of controlling certain predator species, but the regulations governing approved trap models, target species and deployment methods are subject to ongoing review. As a result, estate managers can no longer assume that historic practices will remain compliant.

There is an increasing expectation that operators understand the regulations governing the equipment they use and can demonstrate that traps are deployed correctly and responsibly. This includes ensuring equipment is approved for use, maintained appropriately and used in accordance with current legislation, particularly where protected or non-target species may be present.

As with many areas of upland management, training, record keeping and regular review of operating procedures are becoming increasingly important tools in demonstrating compliance and responsible management.

Environmental Schemes and Emerging Opportunities

Alongside regulatory change, the transition away from the Common Agricultural Policy is also creating new opportunities for upland estates.

The Agriculture Act 2020 established the principle of public money for public goods, creating a framework that rewards land management activities delivering benefits such as biodiversity enhancement, carbon storage, water quality improvements and natural flood management.

Through Environmental Land Management Schemes, including Countryside Stewardship, the Sustainable Farming Incentive and Landscape Recovery, landowners are increasingly being encouraged to combine environmental delivery with agricultural and sporting activities.

For grouse moors, this often means greater focus on peatland restoration, habitat condition, species recovery and natural flood management. While these schemes can provide valuable additional income streams, they also bring obligations that need to be carefully considered alongside existing sporting and estate objectives to create a long-term land management strategy.

Looking Beyond Compliance

Taken together, these legislative and policy changes point to a clear direction of travel. Regulation is becoming more complex, environmental expectations are increasing and evidence of responsible land management is under greater scrutiny.

For grouse moor owners and managers, success will depend on more than simply keeping pace with legislative developments. It will require a strategic approach that brings together compliance, habitat management, environmental opportunities and commercial objectives.

Those who regularly review management plans, maintain clear records and understand how regulatory requirements fit within wider estate goals will be best placed to navigate an increasingly complex operating environment.

By taking a proactive approach today, landowners can ensure their moors remain resilient, sustainable and capable of delivering both environmental and commercial value for years to come.