No rest for the black grouse blogger.

With summer progressing, it seemed like now was a good time to ask for advice on everything I have done so far.

This project has been a very steep learning curve for me and it has always been in the back of my mind that I had not been doing things exactly as they should be done.

With this in mind, I set off to meet John Cowan, an experienced local countryman and author of the controversial new book Advice from a Gamekeeper.

John now works on a lowland shoot in the East of Galloway, but he cut his teeth on the grouse moors of the Borders.

Like so many local people, John was pleased to hear that we had found black grouse on the farm and was very enthusiastic with his advice and suggestions.

He explained how the history of black grouse has been linked to traditional farming practises. And the decline in small scale upland farming combined with a shortage of gamekeepers has led to the massive collapse in black grouse populations over the past 30 years.

John suggested that I establish sacrificial crops on the farm in the hope of recreating some elements of traditional agriculture which once benefitted the birds.

Sacrificial crops are not harvested and are left in to provide stubbles and scattered cereals as food for game birds throughout the winter and into the spring.

I was glad to learn it was not too late to make a start with my cereal crops and quickly commandeered the shepherd’s garden to sow with oats.

For reasons best known to themselves, a pair of black grouse have chosen to nest in the long grass beside the farm buildings and all being well, a late crop of oats should give that family something to think about towards the end of the year.

The views expressed on Patrick Laurie's blog are the author's and not the views of Shooting Gazette, ShootingUK, IPC Media or its employees.

www.gallowayfarm.wordpress.com