Wales Black Grouse Recovery Project

The Welsh Black Grouse Recovery Project started in June 1999 to arrest the serious decline of black grouse in Wales, which if left unchecked could have led to their extinction in 10-15 years. The Project integrates a comprehensive suite of habitat prescriptions, tailored initially to six key areas in mid and north Wales. In the long term, the Project aims to increase the range and numbers of black grouse in Wales. In addition, the Project aims to raise the profile of black grouse in Wales and awareness on how management measures can reverse the decline. During 1999-2001, the Project was funded by the European Union (European Agriculture Guidance and Guarantee Fund), the National Assembly for Wales (Rural Development Grant), the RSPB, Countryside Council for Wales and Forest Enterprise Cymru.

Using money from the European Union and the National Assembly for Wales, in conjunction with agri-environment schemes and the Woodland Grant Scheme, the Project helped to restore the diversity of mixed land use of moor edge, rough grazing and woodland. Training days, publications, seminars and newsletters have been used to promote the needs of black grouse to landowners, foresters, farmers and grant bodies.

Facts and Figures
The Welsh Black Grouse Survey in 1997 enabled the Project to identify six key areas, based mainly on the presence of suitable habitat and known distribution of male black grouse in mid and north Wales. These became the project core area and comprised 80% of the remaining black grouse population in Wales.

Using management recommendations from existing research, the Project targeted the land within a 1.5km radius around each of 18 focal leks that had recently contained the greatest number of males. These focal leks are situated within forestry or on open moorland and semi-improved grassland, 100-500m from the forest edge. In total, these leks cover 11,300 ha of upland habitats. Habitat management was a combination of bracken control, upland heath, flush and forest management. Click here to find out how we applied management prescriptions to enhance the habitats within this project area. (Word 225kb).

The population of black grouse increased by almost 90% during the first phase of the Wales Black Grouse Recovery Project. P. Lindley (2003)

Searches of all leks within the black grouse key areas were undertaken in each year of the project except in 2001. A full census of lekking males in 2002, using the same method as earlier censuses, was used to measure the population size and range and to assess whether targeted habitat management had been beneficial.

The 2002 key area lek counts recorded 202 males, suggesting a population increase of 87% over 1997 (108 males). Across the whole of Wales, the 2002 census estimated that there were 243 lekking males, 85% more than in 1997 (131 males) and only 8% fewer than in 1986 (264 males). The increase was restricted to areas where advice was given and management work was undertaken. However, elsewhere, the numbers of black grouse have continued to fall and the range has contracted further, so there is still a long way to go before the black grouse population in Wales is sustainable.

How can the Project help?
The Project has moved into a second phase, working closely with CCW and Forestry Commission Cymru, who are developing agri-environment, SSSI and woodland management schemes. Landowners and managers with estates/farms that lie adjacent to or within the current range of black grouse can contact the recovery project officer. He can offer a free site assessment, advise on how best to manage the land for black grouse and who to approach for the correct grants. The Project also runs training and information days and monitors the fortunes of black grouse in Wales.

Contact details
If you would like to help or would like a site visit, contact the Recovery Project officer

More information
How you can help black grouse on your land/Sut allwch chi helpu'r rugiar ddu ar eich tir is a bilingual advive leaflet for landowners, farmers and foresters published by RSPB Cymru, with the support of the Welsh Biodiversity Action Plan Black Grouse Steering Group.