Bill Oddie weighs into Ilkley Moor grouse shoot debate

The TV presenter met campaigners calling for the ban soon after Bradford councillors voted unanimously earlier this month to allow shooting to continue on council-owned land.

The celebrity bird watcher expressed his concern at the damage caused to wildlife by shooting.

He said: “Ilkley Moor has a special place in my heart since performing On Ilkla Moor Baht’at in the style of Joe Cocker for John Peel.

“The moor is also important for the conservation of wildlife and I do not want to see Ilkley Moor harmed. Bradford Council must end grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor.”

His comments were welcomed by Ban Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor (BBIM) whose members met with him last week.

The campaign group has launched another online petition in the hope of forcing the council to think again about shooting.

The previous petition was signed by over 1,000 people and was presented to the council which decided to allowing shooting to continue until 2018.

The authority decided to ban the use of traps used to kill predators such as stoats and weasels.

A spokesman for BBIM welcomed Oddie’s comments.

“Bradford Council must respond to the growing consensus amongst conservationists and moor users on the harms caused to the moor by grouse shooting.

“The only realistic option is to end the shoot, the last in the country to be permitted on public land.”

Ban Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor has vowed to disrupt grouse shooting on the moor in August. It plans to use “lawful direct action” as well as lobbying politicians.

Opponents of grouse shooting include Friends of Ilkley Moor.

A spokesman said it was confident that shooting would cease in 2018.