Cutting trials to enhance brood rearing habitats for Black Grouse in northern England

2, probably due to too much dense and tall grass for successful brood rearing. In 2003 cutting trials began to investigate the benefits, if any, of diversifying the sward structure for foraging Black Grouse chicks. Breeding success was greater on sites with cut vegetation compared to the control sites, but both treatments had lower breeding success than in 2002. Trials will continue for further two years to enable evaluation of cutting as a conservation management tool.