A REPORT suggesting Scotland’s grouse moors are “bird sanctuaries” has been dismissed by bird charity the RSPB, which called instead for a more balanced approach to upland management.

The study by academics at Durham and Newcastle Universities, backed by pro-shooting celebrity Ian Botham, found grouse moors are home to high numbers of endangered species.

The research, published in the run-up to the start of the grouse shooting season on August 12, looked at numbers of birds on grouse moors in Scotland and England.

The study found grouse moors can have 24 times as many lapwings, six times as many endangered curlews, and extra golden plover, snipe and oyster catchers, compared to areas where fewer predators such as foxes, stoats and crows are killed by gamekeepers.

But James Reynolds, head of communications for RSPB Scotland, said: “The fact that the killing of predators reduces predation is hardly ground-breaking. This grouse-moor-funded report tells us what we’ve known for some time: grouse moors are good for grouse. Some other ground-nesting species benefit indirectly whilst others do not, most notably hen harriers, which are completely absent.

“The RSPB seeks a more balanced future for the uplands where grouse, birds of prey, mountain hares and people can all co-exist and where unsustainable management practices often carried out on intensive grouse moors, such as the illegal killing of hen harriers, are consigned to the past.”

Former cricketer Botham said “bird activists” who criticise grouse moors “should realise that without gamekeepers many of Britain’s endangered birds would not have a prayer”.