THE grouse shooting season opened in North Yorkshire today – but pouring rain made it a far from a Glorious Twelfth, at least as far as the weather is concerned. But there are other concerns worrying grouse moor owners, for whom shooting income can mean the difference between financial survival and disaster.

Although it was reported that the so-called “credit crunch” had not affected the numbers of rich sportsmen taking part – fees of £1,000 a day per gun are not unusual – sporting estate owners are worried about bugs – or rather a lack of them.

The Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, which advises its members on the management of shooting estates, has been monitoring the decline in Britain’s insect population since the 1960s.

Insects play vital roles in the economic life of the countryside, pollinating crops, killing off unwanted species like aphids, the gardener’s hated pest, and providing vital feed for newly hatched game chicks like grouse, pheasant and partridge.

One possible reason for this decline in insect numbers is the increased used of pesticide sprays, not just by farmer but also, increasingly, by gardeners. Another is the tidying up of wild corners or fields or gardens which are fertile breeding grounds for insects.

To help halt the decline, the trust has come up with three coloured fact sheets with advice on how to create insect-friendly havens.

• For copies of the free insect guides, which have been sponsored by Bayer Crop Science or for advice on creating wildlife rich habitats, please contact the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, telephone 01425 651060 or email: jbushnell@gct.org.uk