In this special 'Glorious Twelfth' episode, and the first episode of the GWCT Podcast, we take a closer look at the 2025 red grouse season — the pressures, the policies, the research, and the opportunities that lie ahead.

Join us as we speak to three GWCT experts working at the heart of upland management:

• Dr Nick Hesford, Director for GWCT Scotland, explains how recent and upcoming legislation — including the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 — will impact land managers across the UK. From muirburn licensing to peat depth definitions and parliamentary debates, Nick outlines the importance of a strong evidence base in shaping sustainable, workable regulation.
• Cathy Fletcher, Senior Researcher, shares the latest insights from GWCT’s long-running studies, including the heather cut-burn experiment, upland predation trials, and the troubling 34% decline in spring grouse pairs. Cathy also introduces new research efforts like the Maternal Grouse Project and Future Moors, which aim to understand long-term productivity and climate resilience.
• Felix Meister, Uplands Advisor for GWCT Scotland, provides an on-the-ground view of how GWCT is helping estates adapt to new regulations and manage risk — from peat survey mapping and predator licensing, to tackling the rise of Louping-ill virus and working with NatureScot on practical solutions.

Whether you’re a land manager, policymaker, conservationist or simply interested in how science informs sustainable upland practices, this episode offers timely insight into the challenges and responses shaping this season and beyond.

This episode is sponsored by Wild Digital — a platform helping estates, rural businesses and conservation organisations capture and communicate the environmental good they do.

GWCT Advisory Website: https://www.gwctadvisoryscotland.co.uk/

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