UNPREDICTABLE weather has hit this year’s grouse shooting season, with rural businesses across Tynedale also feeling the consequences.

The elements, including the harsh rain and snow brought by the Beast from the East, which was then followed by the long drought has resulted in poor heather growth – the grouse’s main source of food – which has resulted in a shortage of the wild birds.

Red grouse are unable to be reared, and as such are left to the mercy of mother nature in turbulent whether conditions.

Only when there is a healthy surplus of grouse can shooting occur.

Over this year’s four-month season, which started in August and ended at the beginning of December, the Moorland Association estimated that 70 per cent of shoot days were cancelled due to the low red grouse numbers across Britain.

Shooting can only occur when there is a healthy surplus of grouse.

Nationally, approximately £11m is said to have been lost from the bad season, but rural businesses across Tynedale have also suffered – with many relying on the business generated from the country sport to get them through the quieter months away from tourist season.

One such business which saw a decline in businesses throughout the autumn months was the Lord Crewe pub in Blanchland, which holds a national reputation as being one the best shooting pubs in the UK, named so by the Countryside Alliance and Country Life magazine.

General manager of the Lord Crewe Arms, Tommy Mark, said: “The pub generates a lot of custom through country sports and shooting events, so we did feel the effect of the bad grouse season, especially throughout October and November.

“Grouse shooting has always drawn people in to this part of the country, and it’s especially important to keep business up after the tourist season is over.

“We received quite a few cancellations from shooters during those months, and many of our regular, season visitors didn’t make the journey.

“Luckily, business continued to tick over nicely through a influx in leisure visitors, so we did well overall.”

Amanda Anderson, director of the Moorland Association said: “2018 has been a disappointing year for most of the grouse shooting community in England.

“The knock on negative economic impact has been significant and rural businesses have really felt the hit.

“The good news is that despite the poor season, grouse estates across the country continue to invest heavily in the conservation and protection of the moorlands, which benefits a wide range of flora and fauna, including vulnerable ground nesting birds such as the curlew, merlin, lapwing, ring ouzel and red grouse.”

The association, whose members manage 190 moors covering one million acres of the uplands across England and Wales, said that more than £50m of private money was invested annually by grouse moor owners towards conservation, and so far has helped to fund better predator control and wildlife protection, complete peatland restoration initiatives, and maintain good habitat management.

The Beast from the East seemed to really