Chris Packham, the esteemed BBC presenter and naturalist, has spoken about a heartbreaking realisation he had while filming Springwatch in the Peak District last year. During an appearance on the BatChat podcast in November, the 64-year-old confessed that despite enjoying his time in the National Park, one aspect troubled him deeply.
Packham revealed that during three weeks of filming, he did not see a single Buzzard or Kite flying overhead. 'So, whilst we had Dippers and lots of other fascinating wildlife, there were no predatory birds, because outside that tiny area, which is beautifully protected and run by the National Trust, it's a Raptor death zone,' he said. 'And so it's very much like peering over the fence and into the desert really, which is tragic.'
A 'Raptor death zone' typically refers to regions in the UK where birds of prey are unlawfully targeted and killed. Packham expressed shock over birds allegedly being targeted, linking the issue to driven grouse shooting. 'You've got all these good people doing all this great stuff. And then, over the fence, you've got some reprobates, you know, with an industry that's completely underpinned by criminal activity. I'm talking about grouse shooting,' he added.
Driven grouse shooting, where large numbers of birds are driven towards armed individuals, is a contentious practice unique to the UK. The RSPB has called for licensing to regulate grouse moor management, citing evidence of increasingly intensive and sometimes illegal practices on an industrial scale. However, the National Trust reported good news for other birds in the Peak District, such as pied flycatchers, which fledged successfully thanks to dry spring weather.
