Eat Wild brings leading UK chefs to the moor

Eat Wild has once again highlighted the conservation value of grouse moors by bringing leading UK chefs to the hills as part of the latest Why Moorland Matters event, hosted by Tarquin Millington-Drake and Matt Ridley.

Organised by Eat Wild’s culinary director Leon Challis-Davies, the initiative invited senior chefs from three of the UK’s largest contract caterers to experience first-hand the role of gamekeeping in protecting vulnerable species such as curlew, lapwing and grey partridge. Guests observed the black grouse lek at dawn, explored moorland habitats and engaged in open discussion about land and wildlife management.

The event follows a recent peer-reviewed study by Dr David Baines (Journal for Nature Conservation, March 2025), which found steep declines in ground-nesting bird populations in areas lacking predator control – despite habitat remaining stable.

“This kind of experiential learning is invaluable,” said Eat Wild chairman Alan Beynon.
“When chefs understand the story behind game meat, they become powerful advocates for responsible sourcing.”

Eat Wild hopes to expand the programme to cover lowland game in future, as Mark Webber of catering firm Elior UK added:

“I left with a deep appreciation for the passion and knowledge behind these landscapes.”