The first day of the grouse-shooting season – fondly referred to by the shooting community as the 'Glorious 12th' – is fast approaching.

Typically, wealthy shooters kill around half a million of these birds, pictured, whose population has been boosted to unnatural levels by intensive management of the UK's moorlands.

There are many reasons to oppose the killing of grouse.

A large number of native birds and mammals who interfere with grouse shooting are trapped, poisoned or snared.

There is nothing 'glorious' about shooting birds for pleasure.

Readers who wish to find out more about the horrors of 'game' shooting and what they can do to help to campaign against this bloodsport, should contact Animal Aid.

Fiona Pereira

Animal Aid