Ruth Maguire MSP today hosted a preview of a campaign which will put forward the case for the reform of Scotland’s grouse moors.
In an online session, MSPs were shown a trailer which parodies the TV series Dragon’s Den to highlight weaknesses in the arguments in favour of managed grouse moors in Scotland.
Government’s Den, a campaign film created by the Revive coalition imagines a world where grouse shooting doesn’t exist and puts two lobbyists in front of the dragons, arguing for up to a fifth of Scotland to be managed for the sport.
The film sees the lobbyists put forward their case for ownership of a huge part of Scotland in return for a 0.02% contribution to the economy, with only ‘a few Government subsidies’ required. They also argue that they will use predator control to systematically wipe out all species that pose a threat to grouse to enable them to cultivate tens of thousands of game birds to be shot for enter-tainment.
The SNP MSP has given her backing to the campaign which aims to bring about greater land reform, protect native wildlife and take steps to reach Scotland’s climate targets.
Ms Maguire said: “I commend Revive for their work in this area, this is a funny, entertaining video but it lays out very plainly the serious problem with Grouse Moors in Scotland. The scale of land use for the benefit of so few and the accompanying damage done to the environment, wildlife and health may well shock the majority of Scottish people. We can do better, it is time for change.”
Campaign Manager for Revive, Max Wiszniewski said: “The video is intended to be taken tongue in cheek, but behind the humour is a very serious issue. Driven grouse shooting is an intensively managed bloodsport which depends on turning vast swathes of Scotland into barren monocultures. The circle of destruction which surrounds grouse moor causes untold suffering to many thousands of animals, depletes our peat reserves and causes environmental damage on an industrial scale.
The trailer for Government’s Den can be viewed below:
Ruth Maguire MSP 