Will black grouse return to the Peak District this decade?

A groundbreaking conservation initiative is taking shape to reintroduce black grouse to the Peak District’s uplands, with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust and Derbyshire County Council leading the charge to restore this red-listed species by 2030.

Black grouse populations have been declining across the UK for decades due to habitat loss and intensive land management practices. The birds, with their distinctive black, white and red plumage, once thrived in Britain’s moorlands.

Dave Savage, landscape recovery manager with Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, recently visited Wales to study successful breeding and release programmes. He emphasises the species’ ecological importance, noting how black grouse act as natural grazers, pruning moorland plants such as heather and bilberry while feeding on herbs including sorrel, buttercup and marigold. Their berry consumption in the autumn also aids seed dispersal across the landscape.

The ambitious project requires establishing populations exceeding 100 birds to ensure colony resilience and encourage migration to new breeding areas. This reintroduction forms part of Derby and Derbyshire’s first Local Nature Recovery Strategy, which also targets restoration of pine martens, red-backed shrike, beavers and other struggling species.

With proper habitat conditions and community support, black grouse could once again grace the Peak District’s thriving upland landscapes.

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