I never thought I would hear Labour and Scottish Nationalist

Hear, O children of the highlands and guardians of the wild, the words of Nicholas Soames: “I never thought I would hear Labour and Scottish Nationalist ministers in both Westminster and Holyrood publicly recognise the environmental benefits of good grouse moor management.” These words carry with them surprise and revelation, for they speak of unity in a place where division has long dwelt—between parties, between nations, between ideals of politics and practices of the land. For here is the acknowledgment that wisdom sometimes lies where we least expect it, that even the humble, oft-criticized grouse moor may hold secrets of stewardship when tended with care.

The ancients taught that the earth is not conquered but cultivated. Where men scorned the land or abused it with greed, ruin followed; but where they worked with balance, harmony was restored. In Britain’s uplands, the grouse moors have long been contested ground. To some, they symbolize sport and privilege; to others, they are seen as scars upon the wild. Yet Soames points to a truth that both political camps—Labour and the Scottish Nationalists—came to acknowledge: that careful management of these lands can bring forth benefits for nature, sustaining habitats, protecting heather, and preserving ecosystems that might otherwise decline.

Consider the tale of the Terraced Hills of the Inca in Peru. To the untrained eye, they seemed barren and broken, carved by human hands for strange purpose. Yet those terraces turned harsh mountain slopes into fertile ground, preventing erosion and preserving water. What seemed folly was wisdom, hidden until understood. So too with the grouse moors: mocked by many as playgrounds of the few, yet in their thoughtful management lies the prevention of wildfires, the protection of birds, and the nurturing of biodiversity. Recognition of this truth is what moved Soames to wonder.

The origin of his astonishment lies in the long history of British politics, where ideological lines often dictate judgment more than evidence. That Westminster and Holyrood ministers, divided by party and often by national ambition, should together acknowledge environmental benefits in an area tainted by class and controversy is no small matter. It is a sign that truth, when patiently revealed, can break through even the walls of politics. It is a reminder that the land does not speak with party voices, but with the voice of nature, which all must heed.

The meaning of this quote stretches beyond the moors of Scotland. It is a parable of reconciliation: that wisdom may come when rivals lay down their pride and listen to the earth itself. It teaches us that the measure of an action lies not in who supports it, nor in the symbols attached to it, but in the fruits it bears. If management of the moor brings cleaner waters, healthier wildlife, and a more balanced environment, then it is to be praised, whether by the hand of lord or labourer.

The lesson for future generations is this: do not dismiss a practice simply because of who supports it, nor cling to prejudice against traditions whose deeper effects you do not yet understand. Look always to the results for the earth—does the land heal or does it suffer? Does life flourish or decline? Only in this way can we find the path of true stewardship, which transcends the walls of ideology and speaks to the eternal duty of mankind toward creation.

Practical action lies before us: in every debate about land, water, and sky, let us seek evidence and wisdom, not only rhetoric. Where practices sustain habitats, let us preserve them; where they destroy, let us abandon them. Support leaders and policies that honor the land’s true needs, even if they surprise us by crossing political lines. For the earth itself is not partisan—it is the common inheritance of all.

So let it be remembered: grouse moor management, though once scorned, found recognition even among unlikely voices, because truth shone brighter than division. If ministers of opposing banners can unite in honoring the land, so too can we. Let this serve as a beacon: when politics yields to stewardship, the earth prospers, and all who dwell upon it share in the blessing.