AN MP has been given a close-up look at the heather moorland which makes up 25pc of her constituency.

Hilary Armstrong, MP for North-West Durham and Government Chief Whip, visited the moors surrounding Killhope lead mining museum at the top of Weardale after accepting an invitation from the Countryside Alliance to visit the Weardale Estates to see the importance of managed heather moorland.

Britain has 75pc of the world's remaining heather and it is a particularly dominant feature in the North Pennines. Its continued guardianship rests in the hands of those who manage it on the ground. In Ms Armstrong's constituency 60pc of the moorland is managed for grouse shooting.

Harry Beadle, head keeper on the Weardale Estate, explained the importance of heather burning to provide food for both sheep and grouse, and nesting habitat for endangered birds such as curlew, lapwing, merlin and golden plover.

He said it was also important to protect the birds by controlling foxes and crows.

In particular, the black grouse, a listed species under severe threat through loss of habitat, had responded to positive management on Weardale Estates and numbers were rising again.

Tim Baynes, the Countryside Alliance's moorland policy and information officer, said heather moorland was managed for grouse shooting, nature conservation and farming. It was vital that all the different uses worked together.

Both challenges and opportunities lay ahead, with open access for walkers from next year, and reform of the CAP, which might lead to loss of farming jobs and grazing animals.

There were also direct threats. A ban on hunting would make fox control more difficult in remote moorland areas and jeopardise the survival of rare ground nesting birds.

"The support of politicians is crucial to ensure a coherent moorland policy to maintain the right balance of wildlife, landscape, recreation and the rural economy," he said.

Ms Armstrong said: "Weardale is one of the nation's most beautiful areas; the spectacular scenery provided by the moors offers a unique place for local people and visitors to enjoy.

"However this doesn't happen by accident and it was interesting to talk with people who have been dedicated to the sympathetic management of the moorland over many years.

"There are challenges ahead with reform of CAP and the Right to Roam and we all have a role to play if we are to conserve the rich landscape of the moors."