This year's grouse shooting season, known as 'Grouse Twelfth', is beginning today. Tim Baynes of the landowners' organization, Scottish Land and Estates, said spring has been nice and dry this year and everybody is looking forward to a very good season. The sport is believed to benefit the country's most endangered birds.

England's moorland owners spend £52.5m on annual basis to ensure protection of seriously threatened species. Experts have predicted an average season on the region's moorlands.

Moorland Association chairman Robert Benson said, "Careful game management has seen significant gains in a number of at-risk species. Endangered lapwing, curlew, golden plover, ring ouzel, merlin, black grouse and grey partridge all fare far better on moorland with gamekeepers".

He said that they are committed to play a significant role in protecting most vulnerable birds in the region.

George Winn-Darley manages 6,500 acres of North Yorkshire moorland. He said over 1,500 jobs are created by the £67m industry in addition to provide immense help to fauna and flora to thrive.

Winn-Darley added that 42,500 days of work a year is being created by shooting. A strong moor season will turn out to be profitable not only for the hoteliers, but clothing manufacturers, stone wallers etc. as well.

Winn-Darley said that it is important to shoot only the excessive population, so that a healthy wild breeding stock is maintained.

He firmly believes that grouse poor management is essential to stop many moors from reverting to scrub and forest. Moreover, without grouse moor management, there is always a risk of moorland plants, animals and precious landscapes getting lost.