BBC provides honest assessment of Grouse Shooting as part of Botham's Boxing Day Special

With the often Disneyland portrayal of the countryside reported in Springwatch and the vitriolic diatribe of abuse against rural life that we have sadly come to expect from their celebrity presenter, Chris Packham, the BBC has had challenges in recent years over its coverage of rural issues.

Therefore is was a welcome change to listen to the BBC Today Programme yesterday and hear a fair, balanced and honest assessment of moorland management provided by reporter Caz Graham in a Boxing Day special, guest edited by Sir Ian Botham.

This was far from a promotional piece; it was a robust, balanced and fair assessment of driven grouse shooting in this country and why it so vital for many upland communities.

Unsurprisingly that bitter bullying heffalump from Northampton, Mark Avery, who is riddled with prejudice against moorland management, hated it, saying “it was not to the programmes’ standards”.

That’s the problem for Avery and his ilk though. They attempt to shut down any public debate, preferring to live in their sad echo-chamber of anger and dogmatism.

We urge people to listen to the feature, which takes place on the moors of the Peak District, and come up with their own opinions.