GUILTY GUILTY GUILTY — ANOTHER CONVICTION AGAINS A HUNTSMAN ON A SAB

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘁𝗼𝗻 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗺𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝘀𝗮𝗯 Senior Herefordshire and Clifton Hunt master, Rob Parsons, has admitted riding a horse at a sab at the hunt's opening meet in November 2024. This wasn't the first time Parsons has ridden his horse at a sab but this incident was captured on both handheld and body worn cameras, providing irrefutable evidence. The offence was Section 4 Public Order, and having admitted the offence, a conditional caution was imposed. Parsons will attend a three hour victim awareness course at a cost of £60 paid by him. Since the incident sabs have heard him joke to other hunt followers "I tries to be as violent as possible." With this attitude, we are not convinced a three hour victim awareness course will deter him from future violence but for now justice has been served. Sabs risk violence every time they stand up against illegal hunting. A strengthened Hunting Act that puts an end to hunting with dogs once and for all can't come soon enough.

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — A LITANY OF FOXHOUND CRUELTY

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Resurfaced Footage Shows Bedale Foxhounds Beaten and Abused Protect The Wild has obtained more unseen footage from the Wildlife Guardian, further exposing the systemic abuse of hounds used by hunts. CHARLOTTE SMITH APR 10 READ IN APP Protect The Wild has obtained more unseen footage from the Wildlife Guardian, further exposing the systemic abuse of hounds used by hunts. In 2016, Bedale Hunt staff were recorded repeatedly beating hounds with what appears to be a large stick, seemingly without reason. This footage is being released now, as the UK Government reaffirms discussions around a full hunting ban. Supporters of hunting often argue that a ban would cause suffering for the hounds, failing to acknowledge that foxhounds are already subjected to cruelty. Many are shot in the head when deemed no longer suitable for hunting, and as our own research shows, their welfare is continuously put at risk during hunt meets. This newly surfaced footage sheds light on the grim reality foxhounds are put through. It is no surprise that saboteurs and monitors frequently observe foxhounds cowering, tensing up, and shrinking away from hunt staff. The Bedale Hunt footage reveals why: hounds are not treated with the care and kindness claimed by hunts and their supporters. Instead, they are controlled through fear and the constant threat of punishment. The first clip shows a distressing scene involving a hound displaying signs of lameness. The hound appears unable to fully bear weight on their back left leg, moving with a slight hop and stiff gait, as the hunt employee attempts to gather them. The hound retreats to a corner before stopping. In these moments the body language displayed by the hound—tail tucked under their abdomen, and a hunched posture—suggests pain and/or fear. The hunt employee then approaches aggressively, wielding what appears to be a stick. The hound remains still, likely too scared to move. The hunt employee then unnecessarily raises the stick and strikes them four times, forcing the scared hound to move in the cruellest way possible. Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident. Additional footage reveals that similar acts of violence toward hounds occurred multiple times over the course of the investigation, proving that this type of foxhound abuse is not an anomaly but deeply embedded in the day-to-day life of hounds used by hunts. In thier entirety the footage raises alarming questions about the training methods used on foxhounds. Canine behaviour research overwhelmingly supports positive reinforcement as the most effective and humane training approach for dogs. Yet, in this footage hunt staff make no attempt to use such techniques, exposing the hunts fundamental ignorance of canine psychology. Instead, they immediately resort to violence, inflicting pain and fear on the hounds. This constitutes a clear breach of the Animal Welfare Act, which prohibits unnecessary suffering. Such cruelty would be unacceptable in any other context. If a member of the public were seen beating a dog with a stick in their garden, in the park or on the street, it would result in outrage and an RSPCA investigation—as it should. But when hunts commit the same acts little, if anything, is done to hold them accountable, likely due to the secrecy and smokescreen that surround hunts. Tragically, like the overwhelming number of hunt hounds, it is possible the beaten Bedale hounds went on to meet the same cruel fate: being shot in the head when no longer required for hunting. In additional footage, some Bedale Hunt hounds can be seen being dragged by a lead. Their muzzles are then tightly bound with what appears to be rope before they are taken off camera. Shortly after the hounds are seen, what could be gunshots are heard. Disturbingly, if this was the case, one hound appears to have been shot twice, two minutes apart raising the sickening possibility that they did not die instantly, therefore would have suffered immensely. These practices have sparked serious concerns among veterinary professionals regarding the inhumane methods used to kill these large dogs. The treatment of foxhounds in the hunting world is a disgrace that must not be ignored by “a nation of dog lovers”. We believe hounds deserve the same ethical considerations as any other dog. The hunting community’s continued secret abuse of foxhounds highlights a fundamental failing in animal welfare laws and enforcement in the UK. It is time to bring this systemic cruelty to light for the forgotten foxhounds, which is why we continue to research their welfare. A full ban on hunting is required to not just protect wildlife from the cruelty of hunts but the foxhounds too. Support Wildlife Guardian! Wildlife Guardian investigates and reports on wildlife cruelty committed in the name of sport, and aims to bring hunts to justice. They’re a brilliant team of highly skilled individuals and we’re proud to work alongside them to shine a light on those intent on killing wildlife for kicks. Donate to Wildlife Guardian Want to help Protect the Wild fund more investigations? Let me be brutally honest — the first few months of this year have been the toughest we've ever faced at Protect the Wild. Financially, it's been a real struggle. As an organisation that runs entirely on small donations, we've always pushed ourselves to grow and make an impact, but right now we're having to make hard choices. Our Equipment Fund, which usually supports sabs, monitors, and wildlife defenders, is currently being used solely to fund vital undercover investigations — and that means we can’t support those on the ground in the same way we want to. That’s why we’re launching Project Investigation, a fundraising drive to raise £2,500 a month so we can run investigations without compromising our frontline support. We’re asking 500 people to donate just £5 a month — enough to fund consistent, fearless, high-impact work that exposes cruelty and forces change. You’ve seen what our covert work can do: our Beaufort and VWH Hunt investigations shattered the trail hunting myth, our badger cull footage aired on the BBC and challenged government policy, and our exposés on raptor persecution are helping take down the shooting industry. We want to do even more — but only if we have the resources to keep going. Please, if you believe in what we do, be one of the 500 and help fuel this fight. We’re currently on 214 donors! 42% of the way there! :) Join Project Investigation SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM THE HUNT SABS REPORTING A CONVICTION FOR ANIMAL CRUELTY

FROM HEREFORDSHIRE HUNT SABS AND INTRODUCING THE NEWS FROM NORWICHS Sam Staniland, who began his hunting career as whipper in at the Ludlow, where his mother Ann, was secretary to the Ludlow for twenty years was sentenced at Norwich Magistrates Court today. The judge described 'sadistic cruelty' committed against dogs in his care and wildlife. No doubt in our minds, he deserved a custodial sentence and a lifelong ban on keeping animals. At least his career in hunt service is over. Seen in the photo leaving court with his father, Frank Staniland. FROM NORFOLK & SUFFOLK HUNT SABS Today we were at Norwich Magistrates Court to hear District Judge Matthew Bone sentence Sam Staniland, ex Huntsman for the Essex & Suffolk Hunt for three counts of animal cruelty offences. Staniland pleaded guilty in February no doubt in an effort to prevent the evidence obtained by police from entering the public arena. However, the prosecution gave a detailed summary that described the catalogue of videos, photos and messages taken from his phone. Judge Bone described these acts as “sadistic” and “depraved” before sentencing him to the following; 26 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months. Disqualified from keeping dogs for 5 years. 150 hours community service. £1200 contribution to the RSPCA costs £180 victim surcharge. We understand that that the disqualification order was also suspended for a short time to allow Staniland time to rehome their family dog. We will write a further report on the additional details in the coming days. Our congratulations go to Suffolk Action For Wildlife who made this possible. Please consider supporting us with a small donation in order that we can keep putting sabs in the field to put these sadistic criminals in the dock. Here’s our link - https://buy.stripe.com/14k9Bc5EhaXz9nq8wz Thank you! 🖤

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — THE SECRET MONITOR — ITS A BLOODY READ

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The Secret Monitor: The war on wildlife on a North Yorkshire shooting esate "I began monitoring the local pheasant shoot around a decade ago...the endless, year-round killing of native wildife drove me to do this." CHARLIE MOORES APR 9 READ IN APP Damaging stories from inside hunting and shooting have been circulating for years. Both industries present a public face that aims to convince politicians and the public alike that everything they do is lawful or ‘sustainable’. The truth is very different, and much of what takes place is out sight. Supporters, clients and even the police seem happy to 'turn a blind eye’- but not everyone is looking the other way. There is always someone watching, always someone listening. The Secret Monitor. When shooting lobbyists promote their horrible industry, an industry that involves killing literally millions of birds and trapping and killing countless native predators in snares and traps, they use terms like ‘tradition’ and ‘respect for the quarry’, and they persuade politicians that shooting is somehow ‘sustainable’… The Secret Monitor begs to differ. The North York Moors National Park should be a haven for wildlife, but as the Secret Monitor, who is reporting in this post from North Yorkshire - the county repeatedly named as having the most confirmed cases of raptor persecution in England - all is not as it seems… *NOTE THE IMAGES BELOW are graphic and may be upsetting to many, but they are the reality of the war on wildlife being waged on many shooting estates.* The North York Moors The beautiful landscape close to my home in the North York Moors National Park appears idyllic, especially if you love nature and walking. However, all is not as it seems. From my midteens, I developed a healthy love of birds, long walks, and the countryside. In the 1970s and 1980s I accepted that bird shooting happened in the countryside, and I don’t remember having any real issues with it. But shooting was relatively uncommon back then, with far fewer shoots and smaller numbers of pheasants on the ground compared to now. When you are passionately interested in the natural world, you become more aware of and concerned with the harmful practices you see over time. For me, habitat loss, species declines, pollution, and the intensification of farming, are all worrying changes. The huge growth in driven pheasant shooting where I live is too. The impact it is having on all our native species is alarming. As many as 50 million pheasants and other non-native birds are released into the wild countryside in early summer. The exact number is not known but it could be more. It’s mind-blowing to think that the total biomass (or combined weight) of these released birds is more than all our wild birds put together. Gamekeepers provide supplementary feed to released birds but this only forms part of their diet. Pheasants will also feed on snakes, lizards, amphibians, invertebrates and native wild plants. Gamekeepers are not like the rest of us In my experience, gamekeepers have a very different attitude to wildlife to my own. They face huge pressure to produce ‘big bags’ on shoot days and as a result their actions risk total destruction of many of our native species. Strong words, but true. Since moving to my current home, I have become involved with some environmental groups and organisations, for whom I conduct bird surveys and record sightings of other wild animals. When I am out carefully observing wildlife, I feel privileged to be part of their environment. However, gamekeepers are people who want to control wildlife, rather than fit in alongside it. The whole area where I live has intensive shooting estates, with large numbers of pheasants released for shooting each year. Fox hunts (including the Sinnington, Derwent, Hurworth, Middleton and the Ampleforth Beagles) sample the delights of killing wildlife in a ‘national park’ during the hunting season, sometimes damaging badger setts and rampaging through woods and copses. In the first year I moved to the area, I had to involve the police when I discovered badger setts attacked on hunt days and by shooting estates. Then I began monitoring the local pheasant shoot around a decade ago, which covers around 10 square miles of land within walking distance from my home. It was the endless, year-round killing of native wildlife that drove me to do this. Dumped pheasansts found on North Yorks shooting estate. Image Secret Monitor. Involving police, authorities and local people has been difficult, not least because catching the estates committing an offence is always hard. Also, most people I speak to say, ‘Living in the countryside, I don’t have a problem with it’. How has what I see become so normalised? A war on wildlife What I am about to list are just a few examples of the incidents and needless killing of wildlife that I have personally observed over the years. Some have involved the police, while others have involved different authorities. But most of what I am about to describe are just unreportable incidents and are classified as non-crimes. I need to leave public footpaths a lot of the time to observe the area fully, which often leads to gamekeepers challenging me. My relationship with the gamekeepers on the estate – past and present – is one of mistrust and grudging tolerance. I suppose you could say it’s a ‘keep your friends close and your enemies closer’ type of relationship. I visit the estate most weeks and often multiple times a week. I have discovered carcasses of foxes, roe deer, hares, rabbits, crows, squirrels, pheasants, and even a badger. In fact, I find a fresh carcass on at least half my visits. Based on what I have witnessed, I suspect more protected species are killed, but they will dispose of them more carefully. Dumped corpses of foxes and deer found on North Yorks shooting estate. Images Secret Monitor. Large holes are dug into the ground on the estate to put some of the carcasses into, which are slowly filled with dead pheasants and their eggs. I have discovered hedgehogs trapped in these holes. Without my intervention, I fear they would be killed if found due to their liking for eating eggs. These ‘stink pits’ also attract flies and scavengers. It got so bad one year that I contacted environmental health and, after a bit of persuasion, I managed to get the pit filled in. Dumped pheasant eggs in pit on North Yorks shooting estate. A hedgehog was found trapped here and rescued. Image Secret Monitor. Meanwhile, shot foxes and deer are dumped in a small copse on a monthly basis. There are so many dead or injured pheasants around that it’s not surprising foxes are attracted to the area as they search for an easy meal. Unfortunately, this puts them in the crosshairs of the estate management. The largest pile of dead foxes I have photographed there is seven. Shooting estates are waging war on foxes. Many badger setts are present on the estate. While foxes don’t have much in the way of legal protection, badgers and their setts do. Over the past 10 years, though, most of them have suffered some form of attack. Every time I hear a gun go off after dark, I fear a badger has been shot. I once found a dead badger at the entrance to a sett on the estate. The body was badly decomposed but I managed to get the police to collect it, and an examination by a vet confirmed it had been shot. No further action was taken due to the lack of evidence as to who had fired the fatal shot. Badly decomposed badger found on North Yorks shooting estate. Image Secret Monitor. A month after this event, I also witnessed the gamekeepers shooting at three buzzards above woodland on the estate. All birds of prey are protected by law. I contacted North Yorkshire police and managed to get them to speak to the two gamekeepers but unfortunately not under caution. The gamekeepers claimed they were scaring the buzzards away from pheasants going to roost. No further action was taken. In fact, they wanted the police to take action against me for trespass! One summer, three cage traps baited with dead pheasants were placed on a badger sett at a time when cubs are about. Again, I managed to get North Yorkshire police to attend and the gamekeeper was asked to remove them. He claimed he was catching foxes who were using the sett. No further action was taken. A struggle to get police interested By the way, I keep using the phrase ‘I managed to get police to attend’ because it can be a struggle sometimes even to obtain a crime number. More recently, an artificial fox earth was attacked following the new gamekeeper replacing the two old ones. It was filled in at both entrances and a large hole was dug over it and filled back in. This is a classic indication that the digging out of an animal took place. Flies were all over the dugout area, suggesting that animal blood and remains were present. I had monitored this earth for years and had proof it was constantly occupied by badgers, including badger hairs in the entrances, fresh bedding taken in and out, latrines, and badger print marks. After I noticed the attack on the earth, I obtained a crime number and the scene was visited by the police. They refused to take me with them and concluded it wasn’t a badger sett. I pointed to the photographic evidence I sent them, making special note of the freshly dug out hole. The officer said it was overspill from a plough, but when I pointed out that the field adjacent to the earth hadn’t been ploughed, he went a little quiet. No further action was taken over this incident. However, I persuaded the police to speak to the gamekeeper. Unfortunately, once again, this was not under caution. Most of these larsen traps are set illegally as they are baited with meat (the law says that operators must NOT use meat baits, including carrion, in any trap – unless strictly necessary - to minimise catching non-target species). Larsen traps are meant to catch corvids, but are baited with meat to attract birds of prey (which can never legally be targetted). Eggs should be used unless the gamekeeper can show all other non-lethal methods have failed. Also, the entrances to the fenn trap covers are not reduced in size, which allows non-target species to enter. Corvid in baited cage trap found on North Yorks shooting estate. Image Secret Monitor. Rabbit caught in illegally used spring trap. Image Secret Monitor. At this point I should say that if I released a crow from one of the Larsen traps on the estate and the keeper said he saw me, I would be interviewed by the police under caution (typically for criminal damage). Another sad truth. Needless to say, I stay within the law in this respect. The list goes on, with larsen traps, snares, and fenn traps all over the estate. One snare I photographed was made of barbed wire! How can this be explained away by shooting as a ‘restraint device’? Snare made of barbed wire found on North Yorks shooting estate. Image Secret Monitor. I won’t give up I have turned to our local parish council for help more recently. Armed with my long history of evidence, I’m hoping that we can persuade the land owner who leases the shoot not to renew the lease. Instead, using the parish council’s biodiversity plan, we want him to rewild parts of the estate. It won’t be easy to get this done, not least because some members of the parish council actively hunt and the landowner is a shooter himself. In summary, worse case practices are happening here and I often feel helpless, unable to get local support and help from the authorities. Nonetheless, I will continue to gather evidence and hopefully through the parish council our rewilding plan may gain some support from local people too. What I have witnessed over the years is too damaging to just give up fighting for a better future for all wildlife. It has been seen from projects where shooting has ceased that wildlife returns. A wild creature belongs to nobody, it is wild. Continued killing of predators and scavengers has created an imbalance in the ecosystems vital for all species. I want to see a time when all our countyside activities exist without controlling wildlife through trapping, snaring and habitat destruction. We have listed numerous pubs and hotels around the North York Moors National Park that support shooting and welcome shooters. Search bloodbusiness.info Want to help Protect the Wild fund more investigations? Let me be brutally honest — the first few months of this year have been the toughest we've ever faced at Protect the Wild. Financially, it's been a real struggle. As an organisation that runs entirely on small donations, we've always pushed ourselves to grow and make an impact, but right now we're having to make hard choices. Our Equipment Fund, which usually supports sabs, monitors, and wildlife defenders, is currently being used solely to fund vital undercover investigations — and that means we can’t support those on the ground in the same way we want to. That’s why we’re launching Project Investigation, a fundraising drive to raise £2,500 a month so we can run investigations without compromising our frontline support. We’re asking 500 people to donate just £5 a month — enough to fund consistent, fearless, high-impact work that exposes cruelty and forces change. You’ve seen what our covert work can do: our Beaufort and VWH Hunt investigations shattered the trail hunting myth, our badger cull footage aired on the BBC and challenged government policy, and our exposés on raptor persecution are helping take down the shooting industry. What we’re working on now could change everything — but only if we have the resources to keep going. Please, if you believe in what we do, be one of the 500 and help fuel this fight. We’re currently on 176 donors! 35% of the way there! :) Join Project Investigation SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM THE HUNT SABOTEURS ASSOCIATION HIGHLIGHTING THE CRUELTY OF STAG HUNTING

View this email in your browser Hi, Stag Hunting: The Shame Of The West Country The West Country is a popular holiday destination, known for its rolling hills and charming villages. But for some visitors the idyllic scenery can be shattered by an unexpected and brutal spectacle: a stag hunt. What begins as a peaceful countryside scene can quickly turn into a nightmare, with hundreds of 4x4 vehicles appearing, quad bikes and motor bikes tearing across the land, and hounds and riders on horseback giving chase to a single terrified deer. This cruel tradition continues to this day, and we need your help to end it. All of this lot to chase one scared animal What is Stag Hunting? Stag hunters aim to chase a herd of deer, gradually isolating a single stag (or deer, depending on the season) to be hunted. The entire herd can be pursued for over an hour before being broken into smaller groups, until the stag is finally forced away from the protection of his family. Once singled out, he is relentlessly pursued across miles of difficult terrain, while supporters on quad bikes, motorbikes, and in cars track his movements, relaying his position to the hunt and blocking any chance of escape. Quad bikes harass the stag, sometimes even driving into him to slow him down, allowing the hunt to catch up. Both quad bikes and motorbikes are also commonly used to block stags from reaching the safety of land where hunting is banned. The chase can last from a couple of hours to several hours; hunts have been reported to last as long as seven hours. Stag-hunting quad rider churns up the land. The terrified and exhausted stag is chased using a relay of two hounds, which are continually replaced with fresh hounds, until he reaches the point of collapse. Throughout the chase, he may lie down multiple times, unable to continue in the heat of the day. In a final desperate attempt to find safety, he may try to hide and cool down, often in a river or stream. The terrified stag tries to hide from the gunman. Image Bath Hunt Sabs This horrific footage shows a terrified stag being shot while attempting to escape the hunt, as sabs tried to save him. The hunt's gunman will dismount and shoot the exhausted stag, carving up his lifeless body, handing out body parts as gruesome trophies to the hunters. Hinds are often pregnant and accompanied by young calves when hunted. As with stag hunting, the goal is to separate her from the herd. Once isolated, she is relentlessly pursued until exhaustion forces her to collapse. Her calves are unable to keep up and may eventually be left behind. In hind hunting, it is more common for the vulnerable hind to be attacked by the hounds before being shot by the hunt's gunman. Who does it? Hunt staff Stag hunts are structured in much the same way as a fox hunt; with hunt masters, huntsman and whippers–in. However, stag hunts include one or two members of the hunt riding with shotguns and the ‘harbourer’, whose job it is to select a suitable stag to be hunted. Mounted field The mounted field followers can number somewhere in the region of 80 to 100 riders or more. Hunt followers/supporters There can be hundreds of car supporters, plus participating quad bikes and motorbikes. They play a vital role by relaying the position of the hunted deer, making noise to scare them and using their vehicles to turn them away from safety. The Packs There are three stag hunting packs in the UK who hunt Red deer, all based in the south-west. These are the Devon & Somerset Staghounds and the Quantock Staghounds, both based in Somerset, and the Tiverton Staghounds in Devon. All three are members of the Masters of Deerhounds Association (MDHA). There are two Buckhound packs that hunt Roe deer: the Cheldon Buckhounds (who violently attacked and hospitalised sabs in 2016) and the Exe Valley Buckhounds, both based in Devon. In the 1990s, Buckhound packs were expelled from the MDHA following a series of highly publicised heinous acts. One of the most horrific incidents involved a Cheldon Buckhounds hunter slashing the throat of a fleeing deer, who had become trapped on a wire fence. He then sat on the struggling deer for 15 minutes as she slowly died, an act captured on video by a hunt monitor. When do they do it? Red Deer Hunting of red deer happens in three phases, based on their sex and age, between early August to the end of April. Mature stags are hunted from early August until the end of October, the hinds (female deer) are then hunted from November until 31st March, while young ‘Spring’ stags are hunted from the beginning of March until the end of April. However juvenile stags can also be hunted, as this video from Mendip Hunt Sabs shows. Terrified and exhausted. Spring stags escape from the Devon & Somerset Staghounds. Image © North Dorset Hunt Sabs Roe Deer Roe deer are hunted by Buckhound packs from the beginning of September through to the end of April/May. But isn’t hunting deer with hounds banned? Yes, the Hunting Act (2004) prohibits the hunting of certain species of wild mammals, including deer, being deliberately hunted with hounds. However the stag hunts are using an exemption in the weak Hunting Act which they claim provides them with a loophole: Observation and study of a wild mammal, using not more than two dogs and no dog below ground. The ‘research and observation’ exemption of the Hunting Act 2004 can only legally be used if the following vague conditions are fulfilled: 1. Purpose: the hunting is undertaken for the purpose of or in connection with the observation or study of the wild mammal. 2. Two Dogs: the hunting does not involve the use of more than two dogs. 3. Above Ground: the hunting does not involve the use of a dog below ground. 4. Land permission: the hunting takes place on land which belongs to the hunter or which he has been given permission to use by the person to whom it belongs. 5. Dogs under control: each dog used in the hunt is kept under sufficiently close control to ensure that it does not injure the wild mammal. Quantock Stag Hounds in a relay vehicle With deer and stags being hunted in much the same way as before the ban, it’s clear that no genuine research or observation is taking place. The only difference between pre-ban hunting and now is the use of two hounds in a relay, the hunt replacing them with fresh hounds when they get tired to prolong the chase. Sabs have even caught hunts ignoring this restriction, witnessing additional hounds being hastily loaded into the relay vehicle when they arrived. Quad bikes and motorbikes are also pursuing deer despite it being illegal to use a vehicle to chase deer. The effects on deer Deer experience intense fear and panic when chased by hounds, and the trauma of being separated from their herd only adds to their distress. As herd animals, deer depend on the safety and comfort of their group. When hunted over long distances and through unfamiliar terrain, they become disoriented and confused, which increases their stress. The practice of hunting deer with hounds has been widely criticised for the suffering it inflicts. In a report commissioned by the National Trust in 1997, Professor Bateson concluded that: “Hunted deer experience high levels of stress and exhibit significant physiological effects. He stated that (red) deer are ill suited to lengthy chases as they do not naturally range over large areas, they cannot sweat, and their muscles are dominated by a type of fibre called type IIB which is specialised for bursts of activity rather than endurance.” Sabs keep the pressure on the Quantock Staghounds How you can help! Join our campaign to urge MPs to close the loopholes that enable illegal hunting with hounds. We want to eliminate all loopholes and exemptions in the existing Hunting Act that allow animals to be hunted and killed, and to strengthen enforcement and sentencing powers to create a real deterrent. Get involved! Find out how you can be part of our campaign to Strengthen The Hunting Act Take Action Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Logo Copyright (C) 2025 Hunt Saboteurs Association. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Hunt Saboteurs Association. Our mailing address is: BM HSA, London, WC1N 3XX, U.K. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH AN APPEAL TO SAVE HABITATS

View in browser Dear John, We just joined the RSPB, the Wildlife Trusts and many other nature organisations to warn the UK government that its proposed planning law could push species towards extinction and cause permanent loss of habitats [1]. We’ve called for essential changes to the new law. But we need your help too. If you don’t want the government to let big businesses harm nature, please join 30,000 others in calling for a rethink. I'LL SIGN MY NAME There’s more information about the threat posed by the Planning and Infrastructure Bill in my original email below. Best wishes Paul Campaigner, Friends of the Earth Dear John, The UK government's Planning and Infrastructure Bill could lead to habitats being trashed and wildlife lost – while big developers profit. The government has said wildlife protections are to blame for the “red tape” blocking development and growth. But this worn-out excuse is a distraction from the real issues. We need your support to call out the threats to nature in this new bill. So, please sign your name today to stop nature loss being rubber-stamped across the country. I'LL SIGN MY NAME Of course, we need more affordable, sustainably built homes to address the housing crisis. But this bill could let developers get potentially harmful development green-lit just because they’ve paid into a so-called “nature restoration fund”. This is a false solution to fixing our under-resourced planning system. So, join us in telling the government we mustn’t put nature at risk in the drive for economic growth. Please sign today to show the government you support sustainable green growth – not this rash and short-sighted bill. I'LL SIGN MY NAME Together we must demand better planning rules that improve our communities today without costing our natural world tomorrow. Thanks for your help holding the government to account. And thank you for standing with us for nature. Paul de Zylva Campaigner, Friends of the Earth PS Help spread the word by sharing this action with anyone who cares about protecting nature as much as you do. The more voices that sound the alarm, the bigger our impact will be. NOTES: [1] Read our joint letter. About us Supporter promise Privacy policy Contact us DONATE This email was sent to spanishjohnedwards@gmail.com Want to change how you receive these emails? Unsubscribe from this list We send communications to our supporters who have opted in to receive emails from us. Friends of the Earth Limited. Reg. No. 01012357. Incorporated in England and Wales. Registered office: Friends of the Earth The Printworks 139 Clapham Road London, SW9 0HP United Kingdom Copyright © Friends of the Earth Limited

FULL NEWS ROUNDUP FROM HEREFORDSHIRE HUNT SABOTEURS

MARCH ROUND UP — FROM THE HEREFORDSHIRE HUNT SABOTEURS 🦊 March saw the hunting season coming to an end for many hunts across the country, and many groups faced violence and witnessed kills right up till the final meets. Groups also headed south to help local groups sabotage the stag hunts. 🦊Toby Fleming of Eastgate Farm, Marham estate, has now been formally charged with Common Assault after his unprovoked assault on a lone female Sab from Norfolk/Suffolk Hunt Saboteurs abs who was monitoring the West Norfolk Foxhounds meet there in January. 🦊The final meet of the season for the Grove & Rufford Hodsock Cottage Farm quickly descended into violence. Hunt master JH Taylor immediately assaulted one sab with his whip, then gloated on camera about it. Lurking thugs threw rocks and made threats against sab foot teams who determinedly followed hounds. Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs were able to stay on the scent though despite constant hunt intimidation, the windscreen of one vehicle being smashed in a drive-by bricking by masked up hunt supporters on a quad bike. Lincoln Hunt Saboteurs & Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs arrived later in the day and the team of sabs had the upper hand for the rest of the day. After hunting till sunset the huntsman headed back to the meet along a bridleway crossing the A60 near Langold. As the hunt blocked traffic in both directions, a trap was sprung as masked up hunt thugs attacked Lincoln and Notts vehicles with bricks and a fire extinguisher before making their escape at high speed through a residential area. Undeterred, sabs walked into the meet to check the hounds were boxed up and headed for home. 🦊Glasgow Hunt Sabs attended a meet of the Dumfriesshire & Stewartry (D&S) Hunt near the village of Thornhill, marking the first visit from sabs since the hunt’s formation in 2006. The hunt, which replaced the Dumfriesshire Hunt after it disbanded in 2001, has largely managed to avoid attention from sabs due to its secretive nature and a focus on other hunts. The hunt soon resorted to violence after being asked why a quad rider was riding illegally with no number plates, one passenger lashed out and punched a sab in the face. The altercation forced the hunt to reconsider their actions, and after just 90 minutes, they returned to the meet and packed up. A 64-year-old man has since been arrested and charged with assault following the attack. 🦊Senior Herefordshire and Clifton Hunt master, Rob Parsons, has admitted riding a horse at a member of Herefordshire Hunt Sabs at the hunt's opening meet in November 2024. The incident was captured on both handheld and body worn cameras and led to Parsons admitting the offence, under Section Section 4 Public Order Act, a conditional caution was imposed. Parsons will attend a three hour victim awareness course at a cost of £60 paid by him. 🦊Herefordshire Hunt Sabs joined up with Bristol Hunt Saboteurs & Severn Vale Hunt Saboteurs to target the closing meets of two Gloucestershire hare hunts. The first target was the Royal Agricultural College Beagles, the hunt of the Royal Agricultural University who continue to enable this Organised Crime Group, notably by hosting their end of season dinner at the university. The kennels are on land owned by, and all the hunt masters are students of, the university. The hunt soon headed back to the meet at William Vestey, 4th Baron Vestey’s Stowell Park estate. The three sab groups then headed over to the Dummer Beagles final meet of the season where over 120 supporters had gathered for Steve Duckmanton’s last day as huntsman after 40 years of hare killing. Once sabs arrived it wasn’t long before the support began heading for their vehicles and By 2pm it was all over, the hound van left for the kennels. 🦊Herefordshire Sabs headed down to join North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs at the Devon and Somerset Staghounds where after killing a stag the body was butchered in front of spectators and handed out trophies such organs, teeth, antlers and feet. The remains were then thrown to the dogs as a reward, to the fanfare of the horn call for a kill. 🦊North Dorset Hunt Sabs were joined by Mendip Hunt Sabs & Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs at a meet of the Quantock Stag Hounds at Dead Woman's Ditch. Two stags escaped but another was killed. The stag was exhausted, and after a final run from the quarry, he collapsed and was shot where he lay in a field near Smokeham Farm. Sabs at the kill site were subjected to serious aggression from hunt followers as they filmed the gruesome scene. One excuse the hunt like to proclaim for their awful behaviour is bTB testing, which is laughable given their biosecurity measures involve chasing an animal cross country for miles, dragging the corpse around, and trailing fresh blood all over a cow field. 🦊Back at the Devon and Somerset Staghounds North Dorset joined by Herefordshire sabs, Staffordshire Hunt Sabs & West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs ensured there were no kills despite a stag being chased across the hills in very warm conditions for a couple of hours 🦊Jacob Rees-Mogg hosted the Mendip Farmers Hunt meet at his West Harptree mansion. This gang of violent criminal thugs are relentless illegal fox hunters, which sabs from Mendip Hunt Sabs, Somerset Sabs and North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs witnessed throughout the meet. Sabs had to intervene to stop the hounds as they hunted the line of a fox that had run from White Hill. New Great Celebrity Bake Off judge Caroline Waldegrave OBE allowed the Mendip Farmers Hunt to relentlessly hunt a fox across her vast estate in Chewton Mendip. 🦊 Two Somerset hunts – the Weston & Banwell/West Somerset Vale Hunt (W&BWSV) and the Taunton Vale Harriers – have been forced to merge in a desperate attempt to survive. Members of the two hunts gathered at an Emergency General Meeting to decide on their future and vote on an amalgamation 🦊At the Stevenstone Hunt meet near Milton Damerel huntsman Anthony Hemmings alongside his girlfriend Lydia Peers launched an unprovoked attack on members of Devon County Hunt Sabs with Ben Vincent joining the attack halfway through. Devon County Hunt Saboteurs along with Plymouth & West Devon Hunt Sabs also witnessed a fox being killed at a joint meet of the Spooners & West Dartmoor Hunt / Mid Devon Hunt. After the hounds had finished tearing the poor animal to shreds, riders rushed in to attempt to hide the body, with one field rider jumping off their horse, and riding up over a nearby hill to dispose of it. Sabs were unable to get to the fox and help it without turning the fox back towards the hounds. But this is exactly what the terriermen chose to do and deliberately pushed the fox back into the jaws of the pack 🦊 West Midlands Hunt Sabs joined up with Three Counties Hunt Sabs for the Croome and West Warwickshire Hunts final meet in Throckmorton. After the hounds were put into a barn at Middle Buildings, owned by former hunt director Edward Righton, West Mids quickly launched their drone and once it was up realised that the hounds had already killed next to one of the farm buildings. The body was quickly taken away out of view behind another building. 🦊 Another kill witnessed at a West Mids / Three Counties joint sab last year at the Warwickshire Hunt ended up in court where Warwickshire Hunt member Ben Halsall was found guilty of hunting a wild mammal. The conviction was based on video footage and evidence of a member of Three Counties Hunt Sabs. 🦊 Salisbury Plain Hunt Sabs reported that no new licenses will be granted for hunting on MOD land for the foreseeable future, a massive relief for the wildlife on the Salisbury Plain. ❤ Finally, March marked the anniversary of the death of Hunt Saboteur, and activist, Anna Campbell.ve her life for the Rojava revolution. Fighting alongside the YPJ, a feminist all woman army established by the kurds in Northern Syria which helped defeat Isis in Kobane, Anna was killed in Afrin by Turkish forces using air strikes. Rest In Power

HARROWING REPORT FROM PROTECT THE WILD ON FOXHOUND CRUELTY

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Used, Abused, Incinerated – The Disposable Lives of Hunting Hounds These dogs are not seen as companions or working partners, but as expendable commodities—cast aside when they’re no longer of use. CHARLOTTE SMITH APR 7 READ IN APP Protect the Wild has obtained harrowing footage, filmed by Wildlife Guardian, documenting the abuse of foxhounds at the Dwyrd hunt. The footage reveals serious animal welfare violations, including the horrifying moment a foxhound is violently dragged away to be shot and then incinerated. This disturbing evidence sparked further undercover investigations, culminating in 2021 with the largest-ever joint raid by North Wales Police and the RSPCA—a case extensively reported by Rupert Evelyn and ITV. As a result of the raid, all hounds were seized and successfully rehomed by the RSPCA, effectively shutting down the hunt. This case not only highlights the urgent need to expose the cruelty inflicted on foxhounds, but also powerfully disproves the hunts’ longstanding claim that these animals cannot be rehomed. The Scruffing of a hound being led to their death At the start of the footage, a foxhound is seen eagerly jumping at the gate—likely seeking affection or attention from hunt staff. This moment of innocent trust makes what follows even more distressing. The hound is then aggressively scruffed—a practice that causes both pain and fear. It is widely accepted that adult dogs, including working breeds, should never be handled in this way. Scruffing forces the dog’s weight onto the skin and underlying tissue, which are not designed to bear it. In this case, the hound is lifted so forcefully that their front legs leave the ground, swinging in the air. The intensity of the motion reveals how roughly this animal was handled in what would turn out to be their final moments. This level of rough treatment likely caused significant emotional and physical suffering. The hunt staff made no effort to reduce this distress—inflicting cruelty in a moment that should have been handled with dignity and care. Veterinary professionals consulted by Protect the Wild have raised serious concerns, including: Unnecessary and excessive use of force Exposure to fear and psychological distress Likely exposure to physical pain Inadequate staffing during euthanasia—humane shooting of a large dog at close range requires at least two people to ensure proper restraint The method used in the shed also raises ethical questions. The person preparing the firearm would have required both hands free, meaning no one was appropriately restraining the hound—yet another failure in basic animal welfare standards. Hound bodies carried past other live hounds, then burned. The abuse did not end with the individual hound. The footage also documents how, after being killed, dead hounds were carried in full view of the surviving pack. This shows a complete disregard for the emotional needs of the other animals. Foxhounds, like all dogs, form strong social bonds—and exposing them to the bodies of their dead companions could cause psychological trauma. Later, the footage shows multiple foxhounds being killed, their bodies then burned on-site. This cruelty is not an isolated incident. It is part of a wider, deeply concerning pattern of systemic neglect—where foxhounds are treated as disposable tools rather than sentient beings. The Forgotten Victims of Hunting Protect the Wild’s ongoing research has consistently highlighted this shocking and persistent neglect. Since August 10th 2024, over 500 foxhound welfare incidents have already been recorded. That number is expected to grow as we uncover more historical cases and publish additional reports. Between 2022 and 2025, we estimate that over 1,500 cases of foxhound welfare concerns—reported by anti-hunt monitors, members of the public, and local media—will be documented across the UK. While many of these incidents occur in public view, this latest footage offers a chilling glimpse into what happens behind closed doors. It underscores the physical violence and emotional neglect foxhounds endure, exposing the reality that many hunts try to keep hidden. These dogs are not seen as companions or working partners, but as expendable commodities—cast aside when they’re no longer of use. This is cruelty, plain and simple. No dog deserves such treatment. There Is Another Way Foxhounds deserve to live peaceful, safe lives once their ‘working’ years are over. This case proves that rehoming is possible—and effective. It’s time for the hunting community to take responsibility for the animals it exploits and to offer them the chance to live out their lives free from fear and suffering. You can find out more about hound welfare and our calls to rehome the hounds here. Support Wildlife Guardian! Wildlife Guardian investigates and reports on wildlife cruelty committed in the name of sport, and aims to bring hunts to justice. They’re a brilliant team of highly skilled individuals and we’re proud to work alongside them to shine a light on those intent on killing wildlife for kicks. Donate to Wildlife Guardian Want to help Protect the Wild fund more investigations? Let me be brutally honest — the first few months of this year have been the toughest we've ever faced at Protect the Wild. Financially, it's been a real struggle. As an organisation that runs entirely on small donations, we've always pushed ourselves to grow and make an impact, but right now we're having to make hard choices. Our Equipment Fund, which usually supports sabs, monitors, and wildlife defenders, is currently being used solely to fund vital undercover investigations — and that means we can’t support those on the ground in the same way we want to. That’s why we’re launching Project Investigation, a fundraising drive to raise £2,500 a month so we can run investigations without compromising our frontline support. We’re asking 500 people to donate just £5 a month — enough to fund consistent, fearless, high-impact work that exposes cruelty and forces change. You’ve seen what our covert work can do: our Beaufort and VWH Hunt investigations shattered the trail hunting myth, our badger cull footage aired on the BBC and challenged government policy, and our exposés on raptor persecution are helping take down the shooting industry. What we’re working on now could change everything — but only if we have the resources to keep going. Please, if you believe in what we do, be one of the 500 and help fuel this fight. We’re currently on 106 donors! 20% of the way there! :) Join Project Investigation SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

THIS IS FROM PLANTLIFE — IT’S ALMOST ‘NO MOW MAY TIME’ — JUST DON’T CUT THAT GRASS

Plantlife Newsletter April 2025 View this email in your browser Dear John! Spring is in the air and we’re getting excited! The Daises and Celandines have been popping up and we’re starting to see the Dandelions and Forget-me-nots joining the party. This can only mean one thing…it’s almost time for No Mow May! You can now officially join the No Mow Movement and help us give power to the flowers in as many gardens as possible. Join us as we prepare for No Mow May, celebrate National Dandelion Day and share top tips for starting a community meadow. Join the No Mow Movement Whether you've been with us from the start or it's your first No Mow May, we are so excited to have as part of the community. Give power to the flowers this May, continue through Let it Bloom June or enjoy mow-saic months with different lawn lengths throughout the year. Just like this amazing photo above which was taken by one of our Movement members Debbie, last year. Make sure to sign up for access to exclusive content including top tips from our experts! Did you know that last week was also Community Garden Week? The perfect time to celebrate those green spaces that bring people together to connect with nature. Read our blog on community meadows here. It's National Dandelion Day Saturday was National Dandelion Day! To celebrate this bright and beautiful little wildflower we wanted to share some of our favourite facts and folklore. What do you Know about the Primrose? There's a lot of celebrations this April! Did you know that 19 April is National Primrose Day? Can you guess which British Prime Minister chose Primrose as their favourite flower or which Queen sent bunches of this bloom regularly? Find out here – including how and where to spot this wonderful wildflower. Members Talk - Road Verges: Nature Hidden in Plain Sight The thin green lines of road verges can be the last stand for many treasured wild plants and fungi. But how can these pockets of nature along the edge of our roads help in the fight for nature recovery? Join our Road Verge Advisor, Mark Schofield to hear Plantlife’s ambition for these unassuming spaces. Find out more here. This talk is free for our members. Join and become a member from only as little as £3.25 per month. *If you are a member you should have already received your personal email invitation directly from our team (contact us if you haven’t). New members will receive a link in your welcome email. Want to Help our Plants and Fungi? Join Plantlife today and together we will secure a world rich in wild plants and fungi. You’ll receive an Identification Guide to fungi, lichens, wild plants and trees, as well as access to Member Events. You’ll see the impact you’re having in your Plantlife magazine. Join and Make a Difference Today Follow Plantlife on: Twitter Twitter Facebook Facebook Instagram Instagram YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn Visit Plantlife's website Copyright © Plantlife All rights reserved. Plantlife International is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity in England and Wales (1059559) & Scotland, (SC038951) Registered Company in England and Wales (3166339) Registered Office: Brewery House,36 Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2AP, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1722 342730 enquiries@plantlife.org.uk www.plantlife.org.uk You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive emails from Plantlife. If you don't want to receive emails from us in the future, please unsubscribe here.

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — TO STOP THE CULL AND SIGN THE PETITION

View this email in your browser No matter what happens we will always keep fighting for wildlife and for what's right. So just a quick update for you on the govt petition to end the Badger cull - we've passed 75k and are pushing towards the next milestone of 100,000! But I'm gonna be honest and say it really is going to go down to the wire. We have until May 28th to reach the 100k mark otherwise our chance to secure a Parliamentary debate on the issue will disappear. If you're reading this email and haven't already done so, please add your name today. It will only take 30 seconds :) And if you have any friends and family who live with you then you can also ask them to sign it too as multiple people can sign under the same address :) As always if you'd like to support our work to end the cull and our ongoing campaigns to protect British wildlife you can check out our online shop. We've just launched a new Stop the Cull car sticker (see design above) so you can support the cause when you're out and about! :) Thank you as always, Rob Support Protect the Wild Copyright © 2025 PROTECT THE WILD LTD, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website. Our mailing address is: PROTECT THE WILD LTD Covent Garden, London 71-75 Shelton Street WC2H 9JQ Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp

234th NEWSLETTER FROM WILD JUSTICE — PETITION TO BAN DRIVEN GROUSE SHOOTING

Good morning! In this newsletter: our petition - click here - to ban driven grouse shooting has passed 88,000 signatures. We have until 22 May to secure the remaining 12,000 signatures to trigger a Westminster Hall debate. Also in this newsletter; the Private Eye story and a question of burning. Private Eye: last week we revealed that Private Eye had published one of three adverts we had placed with them and then decided not to publish the other two. We don't know why because Private Eye won't tell us, but they have published three letters slagging us off. We're pleased that the issue of gamebird releases is getting more and more publicity through only paying for one advert! We've written a pithy blog post in response to those three letters - click here. Many Wild Justice supporters are now disgruntled or even former readers of Private Eye as a result of Lord Gnome's high-handed behaviour. And many of you tell us that you are writing letters to Private Eye - here are contact details. Burning questions: Defra, last week, proposed measures to strengthen regulations on burning of vegetation on peatlands - the vast majority of it as management for grouse shooting. This is an area where Wild Justice, as far back as July 2021 - click here - sought to strengthen the regulations through a legal challenge. Some of what we called for has now come about - click here - and we have been active behind the scenes since that challenge. Of course, if driven grouse shooting were banned then the incentives for environmentally damaging burning would disappear... Our petition on banning driven grouse shooting: there are many reasons to clamp down on driven grouse shooting from reducing greenhouse gas emissions to reducing flood risk and from reducing the legal and illegal killing of wildlife to reducing air pollution (click here for more details). Our blog lists the constituencies from which most signatures have come - click here. Top of the list is the marvellous Derbyshire Dales with 537 signatures but it's the total that counts. Your signature is just as valuable as anyone else's from anywhere else. We know that many subscribers share these newsletters - please consider sharing this one with friends and asking them to help us get to the 100,000 signatures. Thank you! Wild Justice depends on donations to do our work. You can donate through PayPal, bank transfer or a cheque in the post - see details here. You are our source of funding and a donation today would also feel like a vote of confidence in what we are doing. Thank you. . Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 234th Wild Justice newsletter. This email was sent to you because you subscribed to it through the Wild Justice website or through an e-action or a petition where you ticked a box. Thank you. We will only use your personal details to send you the Wild Justice newsletter. We will not give or sell your details to anyone else. You can unsubscribe at any time: there is an unsubscribe button at the foot of this email or you can reply to this email and ask us to remove you from the list (the former will happen immediately, the latter might take a few days). 9 Lawson St Raunds Wellingborough Northants NN9 6NG UNITED KINGDOM Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL — ITS OUR EARTH MONTH

View in browser Dear John, April marks Earth Month – a chance to renew our commitment to protecting the planet we all share. In a tough news cycle, Earth Month and the arrival of spring brings renewed hope and energy. To celebrate, we’ve teamed up with theprintspace to create Future Blooms – a limited-edition collection of beautiful, nature-inspired art prints. We’re delighted to have works donated by 15 talented and dynamic artists, such as Luke Adam Hawker, Sarah Andersen and Jess Currier, each bringing their unique style to the collection. Their pieces inspire connection with nature and foster optimism for a future where people and planet thrive together. We hope you’ll love browsing the pieces and you enjoy them as much as we do. I'LL BROWSE THE COLLECTION The collection is available to buy for a limited time only, from Thursday 3 April until Sunday 27 April. And as a valued Friends of the Earth supporter, we’re thrilled to offer you exclusive first access to the collection on Wednesday 2 April before it opens to the general public on Thursday. So if you’d like a piece for your home or office, or to give to someone, take a look at the Future Blooms collection now. I'LL BROWSE THE COLLECTION Want to know the best part? These generous artists are donating all profits towards our vital campaigning work – holding the UK government and corporations to account, and protecting nature and justice for all. So in addition to a beautiful new print for your wall, you’ll be supporting Friends of the Earth to bring about positive change for people and planet. We’d be interested to know if you buy a print. Reply to this email with your favourite piece or artist. And if you hang one up, we’d love a photo. Best wishes, Aleanna Supporter Relations Manager, Friends of the Earth PS Remember, your exclusive early access to the Future Blooms collection is only available for 24 hours. Then it will be open to the general public until Sunday 27 April. About us Supporter promise Privacy policy Contact us DONATE This email was sent to spanishjohnedwards@gmail.com Want to change how you receive these emails? Unsubscribe from this list We send communications to our supporters who have opted in to receive emails from us. Friends of the Earth Limited. Reg. No. 01012357. Incorporated in England and Wales. Registered office: Friends of the Earth The Printworks 139 Clapham Road London, SW9 0HP United Kingdom Copyright © Friends of the Earth Limited

WILD JUSTICE TOO EDGY FOR PRIVATE EYE SECOND ADVERT — REALLY — ESTABLISHMENT PRESSURE?

Good morning! We're fans of Private Eye because of its edginess and because it speaks truth to power. That's what Wild Justice tries to do too. So we were keen to run a series of three advertisements in the Eye to raise our profile and attract some new subscribers to this newsletter. Our first advert, on gamebirds, see above, was a cartoon by Edith Pritchett and it attracted lots of comments (although fewer new subscribers than we had hoped). We know that Wild Justice’s full-page advert was passed around in many conservation organisations and indeed in Whitehall. Who knows how many people, including decision-makers, now have a better insight into the vast numbers of non-native gamebirds released into the countryside as a result? We were surprised then, when Private Eye said that it wouldn't run our second and third adverts, especially as they gave no reason at all for this. They knew what they were publishing when they published it but they abruptly changed their minds. How odd! It's as though they were got at. It's as though they gave in to pressure from the shooting industry or some other vested interest. It seems that Wild Justice is too edgy for Private Eye. That's a great disappointment, but also somewhat amusing. Our next advert (another Edith Pritchett cartoon) will be placed elsewhere. It will be soon - and we'll let you know. Wild Justice - too edgy for Private Eye? Private Eye - too establishment for Wild Justice! Thank you, Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 233rd Wild Justice newsletter. This email was sent to you because you subscribed to it through the Wild Justice website or through an e-action or a petition where you ticked a box. Thank you. We will only use your personal details to send you the Wild Justice newsletter. We will not give or sell your details to anyone else. You can unsubscribe at any time: there is an unsubscribe button at the foot of this email or you can reply to this email and ask us to remove you from the list (the former will happen immediately, the latter might take a few days). 9 Lawson St Raunds Wellingborough Northants NN9 6NG UNITED KINGDOM Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

GUEST POST FROM TOM ANDERSON VIA PROTECT THE WILD

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more GRAPHIC: Warwickshire Hunt whipper-in convicted under Hunting Act. Benjamin Halsall of the Warwickshire Hunt convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs. TOM ANDERSON APR 2 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP Benjamin Halsall of the Warwickshire Hunt has been convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs in breach of the Hunting Act 2004. 'Whipper-in' Halsall, from Shipton-on-Stour, was found guilty by a District Judge at Coventry Magistrates' Court, after the court was shown footage of the Warwickshire Hunt's hounds ripping up a fox on 9 October 2023. He has been ordered to pay a £1000 fine and £1000 court costs. In a significant move, Warwickshire Hunt Limited was tried for the same offence, but was acquitted. A hunt has rarely been prosecuted as a corporate body by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). However, the District Judge reportedly said that the CPS had not put sufficient evidence forward against the Hunt as a legal entity. Benjamin Halsall convicted - photo via Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs and the Hunt Saboteurs Association Benjamin Halsall watches as a fox is ripped apart - photo via Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs and the Hunt Saboteurs Association This is one of several recent convictions of hunt members and supporters. Protect the Wild recently reported on the Blackmore and Sparkvale (BSV) Hunt's Charlie Mayo and Kieron Bashford pleading guilty to obstructing hunt sabs while the BSV was in pursuit of a fox and a few weeks ago former Essex & Suffolk Huntsman (ESH) Sam Staniland plead guilty to three animal cruelty charges under the Animal Welfare Act. Also in the last month, the prosecution of three more ESH huntsmen fell apart after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) failed to properly prepare its case. Fox brutally killed after Halsall drives her toward the hounds On 9 October 2023, according to the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA), Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs (3CHS) and Warwickshire Hunt Saboteurs (WCH) were both out sabbing the Warwickshire Hunt (WH). 3CHS filmed a fox being chased from the woods by the Hunt's hounds. She ran into hunter Benjamin Halsall at the top of Idlicote Hill. Hallsall managed to turn the fox around into the path of the hounds where she was ripped apart. The Warwickshire Hunt's hounds ripped apart a fox, after Benjamin Halsall sent her into their path- photo via Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs and the Hunt Saboteurs Association The Warwickshire Hunt's hounds rip apart a fox, after Benjamin Halsall sent her into their path- photo via Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs and the Hunt Saboteurs Association The HSA website published graphic footage of the fox being torn apart, and then Halsall coming and retrieving her body. Sabs tried to save the fox, but were unsuccessful. One sab from 3CHs was thrown to the ground by a member of the hunt. This assault was reported to Warwickshire Police, but the investigation was reportedly halted after the assailant fled the country. Not an isolated incident Halsall's behaviour is all too common for the Warwickshire Hunt. Sabs have gathered evidence of the Hunt chasing 29 foxes and one deer this season alone, in clear breach of the Hunting Act. Sab groups also recorded at least two incidents of the WH interfering with badger setts, in contravention of the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Police attended the scene on no less than 28 occasions. Halsall picks up the dead fox - photo via Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs and the Hunt Saboteurs Association Halsall picks up the dead fox - photo via Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs and the Hunt Saboteurs Association CPS failed to make a proper case against Warwickshire Hunt Ltd According to a member of 3CHS who was present in court, the District Judge said that the "court has heard no evidence about who the Warwickshire Hunt Ltd are and what role they played". The judge did accept that the WH were present on the day and had organised the supposed 'trail hunt' in which Halsall was acting as 'whipper-in'. It was also accepted that he was acting as a "representative" of the hunt, albeit on a voluntary basis. The court heard evidence that Halsall had not received adequate training. However, the CPS did not present proper evidence setting out the corporate structure of Warwickshire Hunt Ltd and linking it with the killing of the fox. Neither did they present any evidence about who the directors of Warwickshire Hunt Ltd are. The Hunting Act states that the corporate body is guilty of an offence if it takes place "with the consent or connivance" of at least one officer (ie a director, manager or secretary) of the Hunt. It isn't surprising that the prosecution of Warwickshire Hunt Ltd failed. Warwickshire Police attempt to claw back their reputation Warwickshire Police (WP) put out the following statement about Halsall's conviction: "Last year communities across Warwickshire and the country were deeply saddened when they saw a video on social media showing illegal fox hunting. Officers from our Rural Crime Team worked incredibly hard to gather evidence to build up a robust case to put to the courts." Warwickshire Polivce even released a video statement about the conviction. So why the sudden police enthusiasm for prosecuting hunt members? In Protect the Wild's opinion this 'copaganda' has everything to do with repairing the force's damaged reputation after it was widely criticised for its close relationship with the Warwickshire Hunt. In fact, WP was recently forced to release a secret Protocol from the 2023/4 hunting season showing that the police had agreed to tell the Hunt every time they intended to turn up at any of their meets, a move tantamount to promising to tell a burglar before attempting to catch him in the act of robbing a house. The signing of the agreement coincided with the dropping of a Community Protection Notice (CPN) issued to WH. Full details of Warwickshire Police's secret agreement with WH can be found here. When we contacted WP about the disclosure of the Protocol, they pointed us to their press release about the conviction of Halsall - suggesting strongly that the enthusiastic police press work is part of a PR strategy to rebuild public trust after the embarrassing release of the Protocol. "Wildife is being killed in front of our eyes” A spokesperson for Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs made the following comment to the HSA about Halsall's conviction: “Three Counties were there that day supporting West Midlands Hunt Sabs. The Warwickshire hunt blatantly and deliberately hunted this fox which ended with them being ripped apart by the hounds. Witnessing an act of such horrific cruelty so close was deeply distressing. Hunting is still happening week in week out and wildlife is being killed in front of our eyes” A spokesperson for West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs commented to the HSA: “This confirms what we have been saying for a long time – the Warwickshire Hunt are regularly illegally hunting and killing foxes. They are operating as an organised crime group. It’s clear that foxes are still being hunted and killed 20 years after the Hunting Act was originally brought in. A £2000 fine is clearly not enough of a deterrent. The government needs to fulfil its promise to strengthen the Hunting Act.” The Hunt Saboteurs Association added: “Hunt saboteurs are the only ones stepping in to try and save foxes’ lives, and gather the evidence needed to bring cases to court. Without their bravery, foxes would be killed every week with no accountability. The courage and determination of these individuals highlights the need for stronger wildlife protections and ensures that these crimes don’t go unnoticed. It’s because of them that the fight to end fox hunting remains in the public eye and justice continues to be pursued.” Protect the Wild strongly agrees that a fine isn't gonna stop a hunt from menacing Warwickshire's wildlife. We need direct action to save lives, coupled with a campaign to push Labour to keep their promise and implement a workable ban on trail hunting. Sign our petition for a real ban on the hunting of mammals here. Featured images via Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs and the Hunt Saboteurs Association Check out West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs' website, and donate to support their work. Support Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, and make a donation to help them continue their work. Check out the Hunt Saboteurs Association website. Read the secret protocol that Warwickshire Police didn’t want anyone to see. See West Midlands Hunt Saboteur’s statement on Warwickshire Police's complicity with the Warwickshire hunt, on the Network for Police Monitoring website. A guest post by Tom Anderson Journalist for Protect the Wild Subscribe to Tom SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM BUG LIFE

Header Will Hawkes Dear John Welcome to the March edition of Buglife's e-newsletter, BugBytes! Keeping you up to date with invertebrate news, interesting snippets of information and so much more. This month, we bring you lots of exciting opportunities for the young bug lovers in your lives, fascinating solitary bee discoveries, great events and an update on our Winter Appeal. We hope you enjoy, thank you for your ongoing interest and support of our work! Thank you for your support! Our Winter GiveMatch Appeal closed at the end of February and we're delighted to share that together we raised more than £20,000 for bugs! We depend on your support to continue protecting and championing a safe and secure future for invertebrates – they are essential to life as we know it. Thank you, as always, for your unwavering commitment and support. BugBytes Image - Winter Appeal Become a Citizen Scientist this spring! Be a citizen scientist (1) It's a brilliant time to explore the great outdoors, spend time with family & become a Citizen Scientist, if you aren't already! There are lots of fantastic bug-gy activities to get involved with; check out some of our suggestions below: Bugs Matter ~ Will lack of insects be a hot topic again this year? There are a number of ways you can help support anecdotal discussion with science and data, starting with our very own Bugs Matter! (open May until 30 September). Search for the Strandline Beetle ~ Heading to the beach in the South West? Keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you spot one of these strandline scuttlers (open year round). SB Survey Be a BeeWalker ~ if you have a few spare hours every month, want to enjoy a short walk and help monitor the abundance of bumblebees, this is the survey for you! (open March until October) Scottish Oil Beetle Hunt ~ have you spotted a strange looking blue-tinged beetle whilst out walking? Be sure to take a picture and log your sighting (open year round) PoMScheme FIT Counts ~ Help monitor how pollinator populations are changing with PoMScheme FIT counts! With your help data is being gathered on a wide range of flower-visiting insects. All you need is a flower and 15 minutes. (open April until 30 September) POM Just a few of the many great insect related Citizen Science opportunities, surveys and activities running at the moment. All are a fantastic way to learn more, contribute to science, and hopefully aid in discovering what is happening in our natural world. Join the Bug Art Competition this Easter! Calling all creative kids aged 5 to 17! Showcase your artistic skills and win fantastic prizes in the Bug Art Competition, hosted by Wild Finca and The Little Adventures of Erig the Earwig, and supported by Buglife. Sign up now to receive: • A downloadable guide with 'Top Tips' for your bug hunting adventure; • All competition details (including the 3 age groups); • A chance to win a Leica Monovid, The Little Adventures of Erig the Earwig books, Bug Hotels, one-year Buglife family membership, a London In the Wild Book, two CampWild Memberships, and more exciting prizes! Get ready to impress the judges: • Bill Markham, series producer of Disney's 'A Real Bug's Life'; • Ash Whiffin, Curator of Entomology at National Museums Scotland; • Wildlife Kate, nature enthusiast and educator; • Lucy Fleming, illustrator of The Little Adventures of Erig the Earwig; • Luke and Roan of Wild Finca. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to unleash your creativity and explore the fascinating world of bugs with us! Sign up now and let the bug art adventure begin! Find out more and sign up BAC Additional opportunities for young nature lovers Do you know someone aged 12-16 living in England or Wales? Make sure you tell them about Action for Conservation’s FREE Summer Camps! This is an amazing opportunity for young people to: Learn how to take action for nature Discover wildlife Make friends & have fun! Applications close on Monday 5 May 2025! Visit the Action for Conservation website for more information or to download an Application Pack. AFC - SC An Unconventional Home for the Gold-fringed Mason Bee Did you read our recent blog from Buglife Cymru Conservation Officer, Liam Olds, following a recent discovery with regards the Gold-fringed Mason Bee (Osmia aurulenta)? A specialist snail shell-nesting bee, this mason bee is often limited by the abundance and quality of available nests, however, at Castlemartin Range, they appear to have found an unlikely alternative. In June last year, female Gold-fringed Mason Bees were observed entering and exiting ammunition cases with nesting materials. Some of the cases had already been plugged with leaf mastic (chewed-up leaves), suggesting that the bees were using the casings as brood cells. Read more... GfMB © Liam Olds Masters by Research opportunity at the University of York Could this exciting opportunity from the University of York, be just what you are looking for? Assessing the conservation status of wood ants across Europe. This project will involve both collating and evaluating existing published data, and also working with newly collected datasets on wood ant distributions. The new data are being collected as part of the European-wide project MonitAnt, and it will thus be possible for data gaps to be identified and targeted as part of the integration between the Red List assessment process and the data collection. Find out more Upcoming Events Tuesday 1 April ~ Pollinators with the Biological Recording Company (Online) Tuesday 3 April ~ Species Reintroduction – It’s Not Just Beavers with FarmED (Honeydale Farm, Chipping Norton) Wednesday 9 April ~ Walk the Wick! (Canvey Wick, Essex) Wednesday 9 April ~ Wildlife Wednesday: Spring Spotters (Canvey Wick, Essex) Monday 14 April ~ Biodiversity Net Gain and Invertebrates: Are We Getting It Right? with The Biological Recording Company (Online) Tuesday 15 April ~ Using Wildlife Observation Apps with The Biological Recording Company (Online) Wednesday 16 April ~ Wildlife Wednesday: Egg-cellent Adventure (Canvey Wick, Essex) Tuesday 22 April ~ Improving Bee Hotel Design: The Big Bee Hotel Experiment with The Biological Recording Company (Online) Wednesday 23 April ~ Invertebrate Study Day with The Biological Recording Company (NHM, London) Wednesday 23 April ~ Walk the Wick! (Canvey Wick, Essex) Keep up to date with both current and future Buglife events, as well as events from partners and supporters by visiting the Events Page on our website. News in Brief UK Pesticides National Action Plan published, finally! Buglife welcomes a new UK National Action Plan on Pesticides which aims for a future of more sustainable pesticide use, and a reduction in risk to invertebrates, but there is plenty of work still to be done. Find out more... Hope remains for rediscovery of Endangered Strandline Beetle The distinctive Strandline Beetle (Eurynebria complanata), known for its beautiful black and sand-coloured patterns, is the focus of renewed conservation efforts during 2025 in South West England. The last recorded sighting of the Strandline Beetle in England was in 2002 at Braunton Burrows in North Devon. Optimistic conservation experts at Buglife are hoping to rediscover the beetle this year. Find out more.. Conservation charities step into set the record straight after PM wrongly claims spiders stopped 15,000 development Wildlife charities have refuted claims made by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer regarding the impact of conservation efforts on housing development in Ebbsfleet. In an editorial for The Telegraph, Sir Keir suggested that plans for 15,000 new homes had been blocked due to the discovery of a colony of critically endangered Distinguished Jumping Spiders (Attulus distinguendus). Find out more... The Grassland Gap Buglife has joined Plantlife and 41 other organisations to call on the UK Government to prioritise grasslands and commit to developing a Grassland Action Plan for England. From mountain pastures to floodplain meadows, grasslands cover more than 40% of land in the UK. They are a huge natural asset; vital for nature and people to thrive, for food production, and to combat climate change. Read the full letter... Buglife Shop The Buglife shop is open for all your invertebrate needs, offering more ethical options and ways to support bugs. Explore our catalogue for great gift ideas and more! From t-shirts to bug hotels, there is something for everyone. Shop Banner-R Shop Now And Finally... Don't forget you can stay up to date with the work of the Buglife team via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube ! Thank you for your continued interest in and support of our work; together we can save the small things that run the planet! Join Buglife Unsubscribe Company No. 4132695 | Registered Charity No. 1092293 | Scottish Charity No.SC040004 Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust is a company limited by guarantee Registered in England at G.06, Allia Future Business Centre, London Road, Peterborough, PE2 8AN FR

STAG HUNTING — THE SABOTUERS EXPOSE AGAIN THE CRUELTY OF IT

View this email in your browser Hi, Cruelty And Carve-ups: The Horror Of Spring Stag Hunting We are now several weeks into the Spring Stag Hunting season. As opposed to the trophy hunting of Autumn Stag hunting, Spring Stag hunting is all about the sport of the chase, with a young stag between one and three years old being selected. Without the weight of large antlers, heavy body mass, and the strain of the rut, young stags can run much faster. However they often lack the experience of the older stags, who will use various tricks to hide and throw off their pursuers. The young stag may just straight-line it away in terror, with no plan of where he will go. The large number of riders and followers often end up corralling the stag, giving him no opportunity for any rest. As a result, although the distance covered may be greater, it can actually be over quicker. Studies have proved that deer are not well adapted to run for long periods. Spring stag jumps across the road before being killed and carved up in a field ©WCA Spring stag hunting also sees the largest number of riders and followers as the fox hunting season comes to a close and those participants move to persecuting other animals. There can be over one hundred riders and just as many car followers, all tracking the stag’s every move. It’s a daunting prospect, but there are ways we can help. Our most important tool is our cameras: these can go a long way to curbing the very worst of their behaviour. The simplest aspect being that they are only allowed to use two hounds to hunt the stag. And when they’re being watched they have to stick to that. This severely limits them when it comes to finding the stag when he’s hiding and separating him off from the herd. They have been caught out a number of times with more than two hounds when they think they’re not being watched. Beautiful stag flees from the Quantocks Staghounds. They will also drive at the deer with vehicles, whip them and even manhandle them if they think they can get away with it. We’ve heard some truly horrific stories about what has gone on out there with no one watching. Of course, in the heat of the moment, when the red mist of the kill descends, nothing and no one will stop them getting their kill. But we’ve been there to expose their behaviour. Who will ever forget seeing the young stag laid down defeated in the river at Twitchen Mill before his brains were blown out at close range with a short barrelled shotgun. We all remember the heartbreaking sight of the Yeo Stag swimming for his life, then stood at bay exhausted with blood pouring from his nose. And of course, the stag shot next to the River Barle with a sab in the line of fire. Stag killed in front of Devon County sab, next to River Barle. We weren’t able to save those animals, but they will never be forgotten and each one is another nail in the coffin of stag hunting and can even save future stags’ lives. The fallout from the stag by the Barle is still ongoing and has resulted in at least one other stag being saved from certain death. This came about as the landowner was unhappy with the bad publicity that ensured from the stag’s brutal death and warned the hunt that they would lose access to the land if they made a scene in there again. A year later a young stag was at bay near the same spot, but with several sabs in the vicinity they didn’t dare to shoot him! Of course, they can be sabbed in more direct ways when the opportunity arises, but that is generally rare due to the vast areas they cover. Their own hound control is also abysmal making calling off the dogs in cry very difficult! However sometimes the deer can be diverted towards safety on land where hunting is not allowed. We have also hidden deer from the hunt when we’ve managed to arrive in the area before them and seen deer out in the open. Even if they are eventually found, valuable time has been lost, which is especially important when the days are short! Pitiful: this exhausted spring stag hides his face. He was shot dead moments later. So far this season we have attended three Devon & Somerset Staghounds meets. The first two we were pleased to have helped the stag escape when he entered the sanctuary of League Against Cruel Sports land. However, last Saturday's meet had a sad and shocking outcome. Not only was the stag chased to exhaustion and killed, we then witnessed a brazen carve-up in front of spectators including children, which ended with the huntsman blowing the horn call for a kill as the hounds were thrown pieces of the stag’s body as a reward. On reviewing the footage, we could also see a follower stashing his personal trophy of a piece of the stag’s liver in a plastic bag. Ironically while this was going on, another hunt member was telling us how they were hunting within the law and were taking a blood sample from the stag to test for TB! This was the first time we’d witnessed a carve up, usually they hide well away for it. They obviously wanted to show off in front of the extra attendees from the Tiverton Staghounds, whose hounds are currently out of action with kennel cough. Carve-up: hunt supporter with bagged-up stag liver. Although we are gutted that we were unable to prevent the death of this stag, documenting the barbaric practices and how the law is being brazenly circumvented, is all contributing to the strengthening of the Hunting Act as promised in the labour manifesto. We have no doubt that without the evidence being collected by sabs and monitors, stag hunting would have been overlooked with most people unaware it is even happening. Last year, for the first time ever, the stag hunters ended their season early due to the increasing number of sabs attending as the month went on and more groups became free as their own local hunts finished. We hope for an even bigger attendance this year, so let’s hope we bring about another early end to the season. Please support the brave North Dorset Hunt Sabs in their campaign against stag hunting: paypal.com/NorthDorsetHuntSabs Get involved! Find out how you can be part of our campaign to Strengthen The Hunting Act Take Action Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Logo Copyright (C) 2025 Hunt Saboteurs Association. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Hunt Saboteurs Association. Our mailing address is: BM HSA, London, WC1N 3XX, U.K. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — WILL WE EVER KNOW THE TRUTH ON BADGER CULLING

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Farming Minister's badger cull weak response to our concerns Daniel Zeichner sticking with Defra-appointed bTb review panel we think is clearly pro-cull. PROTECT THE WILD MAR 28 READ IN APP Six weeks ago (on February 16th), Daniel Zeichner, Minister of State (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), began receiving thousands of emails from signatories to a now-closed petition we had just set up after discovering the existence of a secret government review looking at the latest science on bovine TB (bTB) control with findings due in June. Instead of choosing independent experts, we learned that officials under Minister Daniel Zeichner had filled the panel with many of the same people who have spent years pushing for badger culling. Chair of the panel was Professor Charles Godfray, the Oxford academic whose previous role in the 2018 bTB review directly contributed to the continuation of mass badger killing. Oxfordshire Badger Group called the situation “a real Oxford scandal”, and it sounds to us very much like the ‘sham consultation’ on the badger cull Defra launched in April 2024. We wrote at the time that “We feel strongly that the government has already decided the outcome (to continue killing badgers) and is not interested in responses from individuals (it has already essentially said it will prioritise responses from ‘groups - ie the NFU).” This new ‘review’ sounds essentially similar. How - we asked Mr Zeichner last month - can we expect a panel stacked with pro-cull individuals to ever admit they got it wrong? The Farming Minister’s weak response: badgers In his email to us, Mr Zeichner began by acknowledging that “Defra has recently received a high volume of correspondence about Defra review of bovine tuberculosis (TB), in a campaign led by your organisation.” Good (and thank you to all the supporters who ‘corresponded’). The ‘high volume’ should help Defra realise how under scrutiny it is at the moment and Mr Zeichner would (surely?) frame any response to at least give the impression that he understands how much the public (especially a public motivated by a pro-wildlife organisation like Protect the Wild) loves badgers and is focussed on how this senseless cull is impacting them. Please sign our government petition Not a bit of it. Perhaps we shouldn’t have expected much else (this was an ‘official’ Ministerial response rather than a pitch to wildlife enthusiasts), but Mr Zeichner mentions badgers just three times in his email to us - and all three times it is with reference to culling, the panel, and business interests (for example, “to continue to drive down disease rates to save cattle and farmers’ livelihoods and to end the badger cull by the end of this parliament”). He does mention that he is aware of “the distress many people feel regarding badger culling“, but there is no empathy for the quarter of a million badgers already killed, and no acknowledgement of their protected status or of their importance to natural landscapes and ecosystems. To be frank, we find that unacceptable. The Farming Minister’s weak response: the panel Mr Zeichner’s support for his Defra-appointed panel of pro-cull academics is total. “I asked Defra officials to reconvene a panel of experts to consider whether there’s any substantive new evidence that might affect previous conclusions. I asked Professor Sir Charles Godfray to lead this panel, having previously led the 2018 strategy review, which I recommend all interested parties read. I chose him for his expertise and esteemed standing in the scientific community. He and the other panel members bring diverse knowledge from respected academic institutions, which is reflected in the balanced account of complex issues in the previous review. I do not share your view of the panel, nor do I believe they hold long-standing pro-badger culling positions.” We (respectfully? the jury is out on that…) disagree. The record speaks against Mr Zeichner on this. The group recommended the continuation of culling in 2018 leading to around 150,000 more badger killings. We see no reason why it will not be ‘more of the same’. We ask again, what is the point of a review packed with the same people who dispute or ignore the evidence that culling is ‘ineffective’ and which means that culling can take place for the rest of this decade? After all, as long ago as 2017 ecologist Tom Langton wrote in an article ‘Lies, Damn Lies, and Twisted Statistics” that “a robust reanalysis of the Randomised Badger Culling Trial (RBCT) data [the data on which the badger cull was based] reveals that culling is entirely ineffective” (ironically, ‘ineffective’ was the word Labour used in its own Manifesto to describe the cull it is now prolonging). More recently Tom, veterinarian and Prion Group director Iain McGill, and Born Free’s head of policy and veterinarian Mark Jones, co-authored a hard-hitting report which analyzed the impact of badger culling and cattle controls on bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cattle in the high-risk area (HRA) of England from 2009 to 2020. Published in March 2022 in VetRecord, the authors found no meaningful effect of badger culling on bTB incidence saying “Badger culling is likely not responsible for initiating the levelling off and downward trend” of herd infections in the HRA. The facts are widely available. As it stands, the make up of this panel looks suspiciously like a weak attempt to pacify the NFU and the farming industry than address the issues. We previously outlined six steps we want to see taken before we will be persuaded of the impartiality of this ‘review panel’ and we repeat them here: 1️⃣ Professor Charles Godfray must step down from the panel. 2️⃣ No Oxford academics should be involved in reviewing their own work. 3️⃣ No panel members should have a history of supporting badger culling. 4️⃣ Minister Zeichner must act decisively and appoint a truly independent review team. 5️⃣ The Chief Veterinary Officer and APHA leadership must be held accountable for their failures. 6️⃣ All badger culling must end—immediately. Please sign our government petition The Farming Minister’s weak response: conclusion Mr Zeichner concludes his email to us saying “I firmly believe the new strategy will mark a significant step-change in approach to tackling this devastating disease, charting a new direction that protects both the farming community and wildlife, and which delivers on the government’s manifesto commitment.” This is the same ‘farming community’ that caused bTb to spread when it ‘restocked’ after foot and mouth. Has continually ignored warnings about biosecurity. And has alienated many in both rural and urban areas by its continual attacks on wildlife and the environment. Yes, we’re fully aware that if government were a hotel, then Protect the Wild would be kept waiting in the lobby while Defra and the NFU would be sharing adjoining suites on the top floor. We also understand that in his role as Farming Minister, Mr Zeichner wants to keep the farming industry onside while trying to sound sympathetic to activists like us. But while yet another review and yet another ‘direction’ might seem like striking some sort of balance, Mr Zeichner should also be aware that the ‘farming community’ will never really back his government and that most pro-wildlife voters already feel substantially let down by it. When it came to power, many of us had hoped for a clear separation between the Labour government and the previous anti-wildlife Tory regime. Many of us have been disappointed. It appears generally supportive of commercial bird shooting, has not been nearly quick enough to ban so-called ‘trail hunting’, and - it seems - is now finding ways to look like it’s ‘doing something’ while protracting the inevitable end of the unpopular - and scientifically unjustifiable - badger cull. If Mr Zeichner (or more likely the officials that would have helped write it) had hoped that his letter to us would come across as moderate and mollify activists like us, he/they are mistaken. The truth is that we are far better informed and far more widely read than Mr Zeichner appreciates. The government must act faster, listen to independent experts like Tom Langton, and instead of using ill-defined phrases like “end the badger cull by the end of this parliament” needs to ditch the review and pledge to end the cull immediately. After the few weeks it has just had forcing through unpopular welfare reforms, this government really needs what friends it has left. And right now its friends are telling it that it needs to do far better, far quicker before any residual goodwill is lost entirely. Download a pdf of Mr Zeichner’s letter here. Adopt a Badger At Protect the Wild we are campaigning relentlessly against badger persecution and the ongoing badger cull using articles like this one, a series of hugely popular animations, and protesting outside Defra HQ itself. By adopting a badger with Protect the Wild you will help fund our efforts to protect badgers and help expose wildlife crimes committed against wild badger populations. As an adopter, not only will you be helping fund vital work, but you will also receive an exclusive Protect the Wild adoption pack including cuddly toy, glossy photo, and an information fact sheet. Please note, in line with many other organisations our adoptions are ‘symbolic’. By adopting an animal you will be supporting our work protecting these animals as a whole rather than one individual. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

DEAR ROAMERS — THE RESULTS ARE IN

Can't see this message? View in a browser   The Results Are In... Dear Roamers, A few weeks ago we launched our first supporter survey, with the aim of getting to know you better, learn more about the access issues you face, and to get your feedback on the direction of the campaign. Several thousand of you responded, so we got a great sample to learn from – as well as lots of helpful comments we’ll be taking on board. Without further ado, we’d like to share some of what we found… WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT YOU Over 50% of you live in the countryside, either in a fully rural area (31%) or a rural town (20.9%). That wasn’t a surprise to us: but it does challenge the claims of critics that access is a ‘townie’ issue being imposed on the countryside. In reality, as our polling suggests, it’s equally (very) popular across urban and rural dwellers alike. The biggest way a ‘right to roam’ would affect your life was removing the anxiety of confrontation when accessing the outdoors (71% selected): there’s sometimes a view that the only people calling for access reform are ‘adventure bros’ – people who are already confident and experienced in the outdoors. This indicates a much more complex picture. Many of you further felt a right to roam law would help unlock new access opportunities in your area (69% selected) and protect or restore access to areas where no explicit rights currently exist (67%). Indeed, nearly half of you (45%) had lost access to an area which had previously enjoyed informal access (a growing trend we call ‘micro-enclosure’), while 60% of you experienced a lack of safe routes to walk or cycle. 40% of you had sadly had an interaction with an aggressive landowner, and most of you had encountered obstructed rights of way (78%) as well as hostile signage (76%). YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE CAMPAIGN Many of you were hugely encouraging and supportive about the efforts of the campaign over the past few years and urge us to keep going! You recognise we’re up against some major opponents, but are glad the campaign is giving expression to the desire for a different kind of countryside. You overwhelmingly agree our primary policy aim is correct (adapting the Scottish model of a default right of responsible access to land and water). Over 75% of you felt this should continue to be our focus, though many were glad we’ve been defending existing rights too. A smaller percentage of you (15%) felt we should stick with the original campaign goal of extending the Countryside and Rights of Way Act to new areas. For more context on why we decided to switch to adapting the Scottish approach, check out our full briefing here. You welcome our efforts to mitigate genuine issues with access (e.g. our work on dog policy) and our collaboration with forward thinking parts of the farming and landowner community through AFFLO. You also wanted to hear more about the behind-the-scenes political efforts (for which: see this recent newsletter with an update from Guy). You also had some useful things to say about ways we might improve:- Our process for getting involved with local groups is a tad clunky and you’d like more ways to get involved in general. We appreciate establishing local groups can be a bit DIY at the moment. There’s a reality to our capacity but we’ll be investigating ways this process can be streamlined. We should say that actions which may seem minor, like writing to your MP and forwarding us the reply, do have a significant cumulative impact. We’ve been able to build a strong pro-access caucus within parliament because of it. You want more Northern events. Our team is now spread evenly across the country with several new local groups up and running in the north of the country, so expect action on this soon (in fact, see below…) You’re split on whether we’re a bit too, well, ‘hippy’ – some of you value the more soulful emphasis on the meaning of access, some of you think it’s potentially offputting to the mainstream. We’ll be aiming our communication efforts at the mainstream this year, while still holding on to the style and spirit which motivates us. Staying focused was another theme which came through: so that’s exactly what we’ll be doing. FINANCIALS Many of you were happy to donate to the campaign but first wanted us to be clearer what donations fund. There’s a brief summary on that at the bottom here (the short answer is: team time, running costs, events). The campaign is primarily funded by small monthly donations from our supporters and runs to pretty tight margins. We do everything we can to keep unnecessary costs down (e.g. we don’t pay for offices and keep a small, lean team). We’re also not the easiest campaign for larger funders to support: so if you can help us keep going, please do! You also wanted more control over your donations – we’ve now set it up so that you’re sent an automatic link when you donate so you can control everything yourself and cancel at any time. We’ve had lots of requests to sell merchandise to raise money. It’s something we’ve thought a lot about and, while we’re loath to put more stuff into the world that might end up in landfill, we are going to experiment with a shop selling the campaign’s popular artwork. We’re making sure this is done to an environmentally high standard. More on that soon. KINDER TRESPASS Apologies to those of you who didn’t receive our recent newsletter about Kinder (there’s an issue with our mailouts we’ve hopefully now resolved). You can read that here. The key information: join us at the annual Kinder trespass swim on April 27th, which you can find out more about here. FOOD IN OUR HANDS For those in the south that weekend, do join our friends at the Landworker’s Alliance on April 26th for ‘Food In Our Hands’, a march calling for the Right to Food and systemic change to our extractive food system. The march will gather from 12pm at Vauxhall Pleasure Gardens in London (SE11 5HL). More details here. RIVER ACTION RIVER KIT The fearsome campaigners over at River Action have just released this brilliant River Kit, with advice and tools covering everything you need to start serving as a guardian of your local river. The example of grassroots river campaigners has been central to the vision we outlined in Wild Service, with connection converting to protection all across the country. It’s a fabulous, inspiring resource. Check it out! Wishing you all bluebells and blackthorn blossom, Jon, On behalf of the Right to Roam team Illustration from the chapter on 'Guardianship' in Wild Service (Credit: Nick Hayes) Take Action Visit our social accounts Check out our site   This email was sent from this site. If you no longer wish to receive this email, change your email preferences here.