The RSPB’s conservation projects are often carried out in partnership with a number of fantastic organisations and this extends to our corporate partners who support and sometimes fund key areas of our work.
We’re particularly proud of the partnership between RSPB Scotland and The Famous Grouse which I’m delighted to announce has now raised over £600,000 to support black grouse conservation since its establishment in 2008.
The partnership stands as an excellent example of a relationship between a brand and a charity and has gone from strength to strength over the last 8 years.
The Famous Grouse originally approached us in 2007 to let us know about plans to launch of a new whisky in the UK called The Black Grouse. The whisky’s namesake, the black grouse took pride of place on the label of the bottle.
We were able to convey to The Famous Grouse the full extent of the problems that black grouse populations faced in the UK, and an opportunity was identified that would not only help to raise the profile of the whisky, but also to help raise funds to support action at a range of sites to help this iconic bird.
The Black Grouse is one of the UK’s most striking bird species, yet in 2005 there were fewer than 5,000 lekking males; a fifth of the numbers recorded in the 1970s. Following this decline the birds became Red Listed as birds of “conservation concern”. It became a top priority for the RSPB.
Funding provided by The Famous Grouse has directly benefited seven RSPB reserves where management for black grouse has been accelerated – Abernethy and Corrimony (Highland), The Crannach (Deeside), Inversnaid (Stirlingshire), Wood of Cree (Galloway), Geltsdale (Cumbria) and Lake Vyrnwy (Powys) – allowing us to improve habitat for this iconic species by planting trees and managing heather amongst other work. The partnership has also supported three new black grouse research projects whose results have helped target our management.
At Geltsdale in 2015 reserve staff counted 59 lekking males; a huge increase on the results from 2012 and 2013 of 27 males. The largest single lek at the reserve was made up 28 males and is one of the largest to be reported across the UK that year. It is in large part down to the habitat work (including rush cutting and fencing to facilitate grazing) carried out thanks to the support of The Famous Grouse, that we have seen such a fantastic success story.
Working with our partners and many landowners, across the core black grouse range in England, Scotland and Wales, we set about reversing these declines. The recent launch, by Fergus Ewing, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Connectivity at the Scottish Game Fair of the black grouse conservation in southern Scotland strategy is a good example of this close collaboration. This strategy outlines management required to stop the decline of black grouse in southern Scotland, increase numbers and encourage recolonisation of lost range. The plan was jointly funded by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT), Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS), Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), the Lammermuirs Moorland Group, Scottish Borders Council and RSPB Scotland.
Recently The Black Grouse whisky has been rebranded to become The Famous Grouse Smoky Black and the partnership has evolved to be supported by The Famous Grouse family portfolio (including The Famous Grouse and The Famous Grouse Mellow Gold).
So next time you fancy a wee dram, reach for a bottle of The Famous Grouse Smoky Black and take satisfaction in knowing that your tipple will be supporting essential conservation work for one of the UK’s most fascinating species.