Shooting industry must stop putting strain on countryside, says RSPB chief

Among other practices, 50m game birds released annually for shooting negatively impact existing wildlife and ecology, Dr Mike Clarke tells landowners

More than 50 million game birds a year are being released for shooting, putting increasing strain on native wild birds and the ecology of the UK's countryside, landowners will be warned on Friday.

As management of driven grouse moors intensifies, the shooting industry must take responsibility for the impact their industry has on biodiversity and the natural environment, RSPB chief executive Dr Mike Clarke will say.