CONSERVATION at BOWHILL

Three years ago 1,100 acres of hill were taken under the direct management of the Estate with the intention of removing the grazing stock with a view to increasing the heather cover and encourage the recolonisation of the area by grouse.   To date, this policy has yielded an increase in the heather cover of approximately 65% with the additional benefit of a healthy stock of black grouse.  

Aerial and ground based operations are taking place to reduce the bracken cover which in turn will help to suppress tick numbers and consequently lessen the risk of disease in the grouse stock.   In addition, a number of areas have been fenced and planted with a mixture of hardwoods and fruit bearing specimens to continue to encourage the black cock breeding success and satellite leks are already starting to be found in these areas.   Various wading species also seem to be taking advantage of the improved habitat with the numbers of curlews, green and golden plovers, red shank, dotterel and dunlins showing significant increases.  

More recently an additional area of approximately 2,800 acres has been brought into the direct management of the Estate and again the removal of the grazing stock has resulted in a remarkably quick recovery in the heather now that the significant grazing pressure has been removed.   There has also been an increase in the coverage of cotton grass which provides a protein rich food for various species of wild game.   Removal of the livestock has also allowed the condition of the natural mosses to improve which in turn sustains a health food supply for the grouse.

Improving the condition of the heather moorland is a continuing process for the Estate and it is hoped that further areas can be incorporated into the Stewardship Programme in the future.

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