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Yorkshire moorland owners could help reduce flooding Yorkshire moorland owners could help reduce flooding
(about 1 month later)
Pressure should be put on Yorkshire moorland owners to reduce flooding downstream, a councillor has said.Pressure should be put on Yorkshire moorland owners to reduce flooding downstream, a councillor has said.
The Yorkshire moors are cut to provide food for red grouse, boosting numbers for shooting.The Yorkshire moors are cut to provide food for red grouse, boosting numbers for shooting.
But experts have said the land should act as a sponge, with vegetation soaking up rainfall and slowing water before it reaches urban areas.But experts have said the land should act as a sponge, with vegetation soaking up rainfall and slowing water before it reaches urban areas.
Calderdale councillor Steve Sweeney said moorland owners should consider people further down the valleys.Calderdale councillor Steve Sweeney said moorland owners should consider people further down the valleys.
The Calder Valley was particularly badly flooded in December, as was York below the North York Moors.The Calder Valley was particularly badly flooded in December, as was York below the North York Moors.
Mr Sweeney, who is also on Yorkshire Regional and Coastal Flood Committee, said: "Landowners are entitled to manage their estates in a way that is to their benefit.Mr Sweeney, who is also on Yorkshire Regional and Coastal Flood Committee, said: "Landowners are entitled to manage their estates in a way that is to their benefit.
"But they are not entitled to manage that estate in a way that threatens lives, livelihoods and properties of people further down the valleys.""But they are not entitled to manage that estate in a way that threatens lives, livelihoods and properties of people further down the valleys."
Dr Mark Avery, an environmental campaigner, said the removal of vegetation means water runs off hills and into built-up areas more quickly.Dr Mark Avery, an environmental campaigner, said the removal of vegetation means water runs off hills and into built-up areas more quickly.
"About 70% of UK rainfall falls on our hills, and the way we manage hillsides will affect how quickly that water gets down to the lowlands, where most of us live," he said."About 70% of UK rainfall falls on our hills, and the way we manage hillsides will affect how quickly that water gets down to the lowlands, where most of us live," he said.
"Forestry plantations, sheep farming and grouse shooting all have a part to play in reducing flood risk.""Forestry plantations, sheep farming and grouse shooting all have a part to play in reducing flood risk."
'Step-change' in attitudes
Moorland on the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales has been burned to encourage new growth for around 150 years, because tender heather shoots are ideal food for red grouse.Moorland on the North York Moors and Yorkshire Dales has been burned to encourage new growth for around 150 years, because tender heather shoots are ideal food for red grouse.
A day's grouse shooting can cost £2,000 per gun. However, the Moorland Association, whose members manage one million acres of uplands in England and Wales, says there has been a "step-change" in attitudes to peat management since 2014.
Landowners said shooting is vital for the rural economy and delivers around £20m to Yorkshire's economy annually, with grouse numbers increasing in recent years. A spokesman said: "It is not the aim of grouse moor managers to 'dry the peat to increase the grouse population' or to 'burn the peat'. Peat is the basic building block supporting the habitat for red grouse."
Yorkshire flood envoy Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said the view was "simplistic". The association said grouse moor managers appreciated that "wetter is better".
"Grouse shooting brings money into these communities and means people are out there managing moorlands," he said. "They are working hard across vast tracts of land in northern England, rewetting peat by blocking up thousands of kilometres of historic, ill-advised, agricultural drains, slowing and cleaning water, re-vegetating hundreds of hectares of bare peat and reintroducing the king of bog plants, sphagnum moss.
"The Moorland Association is fully engaged with doing all that can be done to help flood alleviation, but even with every inch restored to active blanket bog... the help this will add to the needed suite of flood mitigation in the North of England is limited.
"However, we will continue to work closely with the country's leading agencies and organisations as flood prevention action plans are explored and instigated."
Landowners said shooting also delivered around £20m to Yorkshire's economy annually, with grouse numbers increasing in recent years.
Yorkshire flood envoy Robert Goodwill, Conservative MP for Scarborough and Whitby, said: "Grouse shooting brings money into these communities and means people are out there managing moorlands," he said.
"It's simplistic to say to stop managing the moors for grouse [will reduce flooding].""It's simplistic to say to stop managing the moors for grouse [will reduce flooding]."