MY HOME TURF SO TO SPEAK — FROM THE HEREFORD HUNT SABS — REAL PEOPLE SEEKING THE LIES

𝗟𝗲𝗱𝗯𝘂𝗿𝘆 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗵𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝘅 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆 Saturday 25th Jan 2025 - The Farm, Bosbury The Ledbury met at The Farm, Bosbury yesterday, hosted by Sarah Hawkins who owns the majority of the land hunted during the day. The hunt have clearly made themselves hugely unpopular in this area, with car drivers, walkers, cyclists, and others tipping us off as to the hunt's whereabouts throughout the day or expressing their displeasure at the hunt's presence more directly. Lack of country to hunt meant the hunt didn't bother second horsing and hounds were back at the meet by 2.45pm. A far cry from the Ledbury of old who would regularly hunt on into darkness. The day started with the hounds being cast into a scrubby, newly planted covert directly adjacent to the busy B4214. Hunt chaos involving horses, hounds, quads and passing cars naturally ensued and we will be looking at our footage with a view to reporting this incident to West Mercia Police. The entitlement of this hunt knows no bounds. Sabs kept on the hounds well throughout a mostly blank day, with hounds only speaking on a couple of occasions, apart from when they put up a fox from Bowley Coppice. A fox fled from here with hounds less than 20 metres behind, sabs rated the hounds getting the heads up of the lead hounds, buying the fox precious seconds but quickly had to stop for fear their shouts would just encourage the hounds on. The fox broke covert directly in front of huntsman Mark Melladay's partner Vikki and a whipper in was nearby but no attempt was made to stop the hounds. Hounds ran across four large fields having crossed the road near Cold Green Farm. The chase was so fast that one young rider fell and their riderless pony was careering wildly around a field. Hounds checked, no longer in cry, in newly planted woodland behind Lower House (also owned by Sarah Davies) and then were gathered by huntsman Mark Melladay in a stubble field. The fate of the fox is unknown, but the hunt did return to the area behind Lower House later in the day suggesting the huntsman thought the fox might still be in the area. Thanks to Welsh Borders Hunt Sabs who joined us for the second half of the day, and also thanks to the young lad on a quad who confirmed our suspicions that Ross Loader (Malvern based tree surgeon – one to avoid) is back as terrier man for the Ledbury. In 2016 Ross Loader was interrupted by sabs from Bristol and Three Counties while digging out a badger sett at the Ledbury post-Christmas children's meet. (Hunting parents – take a long hard look at yourselves and the criminality you are involving your children in). He violently attacked sabs and was later charged with affray. We noted he had donated a raffle prize to the hunt a couple of years later so knew he was still hanging around, no surprises that a group that organises violence against wildlife will continue to welcome those with a record for violence against people into their midst. Thank you to everyone who has sent us info recently, so much coming in at the moment. Thank you as well to everyone who has donated, and an extra thank you to those who have pledged to donate a monthly amount. However small a monthly donation this gives us the security to know we can cover ongoing vehicle costs (tax, insurance and secure storage ) during the summer months.

FROM BUGLIFE — IT’S A GREAT READ — I WILL BE LOOKING FOR THAT BLUE BEETLE IN CORNWALL TOO

BugBytes Image - Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus) © John Walters Dear John Welcome to the first edition of Buglife's e-newsletter, BugBytes, in 2025! Keeping you up to date with invertebrate news, interesting snippets of information and so much more. Over the last month there has been a flurry of exciting news for both Buglife and invertebrates – almost too much to fit in one newsletter! Kicking off the new year with such a positive start has us excited for all that’s to come over the next 12 months. Thank you for your ongoing support and interest in saving the small things that run the planet! We hope you’ll continue to follow along! Victories for Nature! Buglife is delighted to confirm that the London Resort project, a proposed £2.5 billion theme park on the Swanscombe Peninsula, has officially been terminated. Swanscombe Peninsula, in North Kent, is home to a remarkable mosaic of grasslands, coastal habitats, brownfield features, scrub and intricate wetlands. Thousands of invertebrate species can be found in the area, including over 200 species of conservation concern. Buglife joined Save Swanscombe Peninsula, Kent Wildlife Trust, CPRE Kent, the RSPB, and local campaigners five years ago in the fight to save Swanscombe Marshes from development for the good of wildlife and the local community. Together we have ensured that this unique site will continue to thrive as a natural sanctuary. Read more... Conservation organisations celebrate the end to the London Resort project Shortly after receiving the news about the London Resort project, we found out that another of Buglife’s ‘Saving Sites’ campaigns achieved a significant milestone - Norfolk County Council withdrew the planning application to build the Norwich Western Link. Our primary concern has always been the damage the road would have on the network of ancient woodlands, grasslands, chalk streams, floodplains and veteran trees in the countryside west of Norwich. This includes the River Wensum Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC) which provides habitat for the likes of the Globally Endangered White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) and Globally Vulnerable Desmoulin’s Whorl Snail (Vertigo moulinsiana), as well as a rich assemblage of freshwater invertebrates, including beetles and mayflies. Following the withdrawal, the future of the road is in doubt, allowing these vital habitats to remain undisturbed and continue to provide homes, not just for invertebrates, but also the last known super colony of Barbastelle Bat and thriving populations of owls, Linnet, Yellowhammer and other wildlife. Read more... Norwich Western Link update - a win for wildlife! (1) It’s been a big week for our wildlife and all of those who have worked tirelessly to save these sites from development. Thank you to everyone who has supported these campaigns, you helped make this happen! Blue Ground Beetle Hunt We’ve relaunched our Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus intricatus) Citizen Science survey! Have you ever seen what you think might be a Blue Ground Beetle whilst out walking? If you have a photo of it, no matter how long ago it was taken, we’d love it if you could share it with us! We are particularly interested in receiving more sightings and records from Cornwall. Who knows, by taking part, you might help us discover new populations of the beetle across Cornwall, Devon, Wales or even elsewhere! Join the Hunt! Carabus intricatus Blue Ground Beetle (c) Laura Larkin Blue Ground Beetle (Carabus Intricatus) © Laura Larkin What does being a River Guardian mean? You may have heard us talk a lot about Guardians of our Rivers over the last two years and as we step into 2025, you'll probably hear us talking even more about Guardians of our Rivers: Next Steps. We're delighted to share a guest blog from Gerry Hough, volunteer catchment co-ordinator for the Guardians of our Rivers invertebrate monitoring programme for the Aberdeenshire Don. Join Gerry as he shares his journey from fly-fishing to becoming a volunteer River Guardian. Read more... Guardians of our Rivers bringing communities and bugs together Thinking about fundraising for Buglife this year? Maybe you’d like to raise money by running in a world-famous marathon or half marathon. Or perhaps you fancy something more adventurous, like hiking to Everest Base Camp? We have teamed up with Choose A Challenge and Realbuzz to help support you whichever challenge flutters your wings. Don't forget to let us know that you're fundraising! We're on hand to help. Visit our Fundraising Hub Running Shoes © Josiah Mackenzie (Flickr, CC BY 2.0) Running Shoes © Josiah Mackenzie (Flickr, CC BY 2.0) Upcoming Events Saturday 1 February ~ Training Workshop – Identifying Ferns for complete beginners Murlough NT NNR (Murlough National Nature Reserve, Northern Ireland) Sunday 2 February ~ Training Workshop – Using Poland & Clements “The Vegetative Key to the British Flora”, Murlough NT NNR (Murlough National Nature Reserve, Northern Ireland) Tuesday 4 February ~ Using Bioturbation Behaviour To Create New Functional Groups for Earthworms with The Biological Recording Company (Online) Saturday 8 February ~ Bee Bank Creation at Wembury Point (Wembury Point, Devon) Saturday 8 February ~ Training Workshop – Identifying Ferns for Complete Beginners, Drumnaph Nature Reserve, Maghera (Drumnaph Nature Reserve, Northern Ireland) Sunday 9 February ~ Training Workshop – Using Poland and Clement “The Vegetative Key to the British Flora”, Drumnaph NR (Drumnaph Nature Reserve, Northern Ireland) Monday 10 February ~ Bumblebees of the UK Part 1 with The Biological Recording Company (Online) Wednesday 12 February ~ Walk the Wick! (Canvey Wick, Essex) Wednesday 12 February ~ Species on the Edge – Winter Talk Series: Small Blue Butterfly with Mike Slater (Online) Thursday 13 February ~ Shelter for Wildlife: Simple Steps to Boost Biodiversity with The Biological Recording Company (Online) Friday 14 February ~ Wetland Habitat Improvement Day (Seaton Park, Aberdeen) 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 Buglife and Kent Wildlife Trust Winner of 2024 Amazon Web Services IMAGINE Grant UK for Non-profits Bugs Matter, our citizen science survey which monitors flying insect abundance, is going international! We, along with Kent Wildlife Trust, were delighted to be selected as a winner of the 2024 Amazon Web Services IMAGINE Grant UK for Non-profits, which will support us to launch the ‘Bugs Matter’ app in the US, Australia, France, the Netherlands and the Republic of Ireland. Find out more... Complete ban on bee killing pesticides moves forward A complete ban on the use of bee-killing neonicotinoid pesticides moved a step closer on Saturday 21 December, as the government set out its plans to deliver a key election pledge. Despite being banned from general use in the UK, the last government authorised the use of neonicotinoids every year for the last four years via a process known as emergency authorisation. Find out more.. Buglife Shop The Buglife shop is open for all your invertebrate needs, offering more ethical options and ways to support bugs. Why not make the most of the FREE UK shipping offer in our Teemill store from Friday 31 January, until midnight Sunday 2 February? So whether you've got 'Ants in your Pants' or your 'Going At a Snails Pace', by visiting our shop you'll help bugs in the process! 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

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — THIS ONE IS ABOUT VETS WHO WANT TO HUNT AND KILL

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Revealed: Vet group Fighting to Bring Back Hunting and Badger Gassing What is the Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management and what does the group stand for? Protect the Wild investigates. PROTECT THE WILD JAN 28 READ IN APP A group of veterinarians have been banging the drum about badgers in recent years, blaming the wild animals for causing bovine tuberculosis (bTB) in cows to an even greater extent than the government typically does. Indeed, they have criticised the country's bTB policy for not focusing on badgers enough. This policy has seen hundreds of thousands of badgers killed since 2013 in the name of tackling the disease in cows. These vets belong to the Veterinary Association for Wildlife Management (VAWM). So, what is VAWM and what does the group stand for? Protect the Wild investigates. Vets for Hunting VAWM began life as an entity called Vets for Hunting. The veterinarian and researcher Richard (Twink) Allen, who hunted with the Thurlow Hunt, founded the group in 1999, alongside Dr Lewis Thomas. Allen was known for his deeply controversial work on animal breeding – mainly involving horses – and passed away in 2021. As ethical campaigner Matthew Simpson has explained, much of Allen's work focused on developing 'assisted reproductive techniques', meaning interventions aimed at guaranteeing successful pregnancies. To this end, Allen variously implanted horse and zebra embryos into other horses, donkeys, and even rabbits, in his research projects. Simpson pointed out that Allen shared his views on domesticated animals like horses with a House of Lords Committee in 2002. The researcher told the committee that a domesticated animal "is man’s product, essentially for man’s use." This viewpoint was certainly reflected in Allen's treatment of horses. As Simpson put it, Allen "decided to produce" them "in every possible way, with or without the natural co-operation of the animals." Unsurprisingly, echoes of Allen's perspective on domesticated animals are found in VAWM's ideology, despite its focus on distinctly non-domesticated wild animals. The group effectively argues that because human actions have shaped and damaged the countryside, more human actions – in the form of "effective and humane wildlife management" – are necessary to clean up the mess. In other words, while Allen argued for control of domesticated animals by 'man', VAWM advocates for people to control wild animals. Only the reasons for why that control is warranted differ in each case. Hunting Connections Since its beginning, VAWM has argued for hunting to form part of wildlife control. This has not wavered through the years, even as the group has expanded its scope in relation to promoting human domination – aka management – of wildlife. Taking a look at key figures in VAWM, and the group's connections, it's clear to see why hunting advocacy remains a priority for the group. David Renney is chairman of VAWM. He owns Nimrod Veterinary Products, which is based at the same business village that VAWM is registered to. Nimrod has proudly sponsored point-to-point racing across several West Mercian counties. Point-to-point racing is an amateur horse racing event associated with hunts and Renney used to be a point-to-point racer himself. As the pro-hunting lobby group Hunting Kind also highlights, which counts Renney as one of its 'pack', the VAWM chair has "hunted since childhood." VAWM is among the pro-hunting groups that have given their backing to Hunting Kind, according to the Fieldsports Channel. Hunting Kind is a group that wants hunters to be recognised as a minority group and their 'beliefs' protected under the Equality Act. Other VAWM team members include committee member Liz Rhys-Jones, who previously served as secretary for a now disbanded beagle pack hunt. Hunter Aoife Byrne, who runs Bakonyi & Byrne Equine Vets in Ireland, is VAWM's secretary. Meanwhile, hunter Louisa Cheape is a VAWM committee member. In 2023, Cheape set up her own bloodhound pack in Fife to hunt the 'clean boot', meaning hunts where dogs follow human runners' scents. The pro-hunting Countryside Alliance endorses VAWM. In 2015, it said: "VAWM provides a crucial scientific pillar in the campaign for a proper understanding of wildlife management, including hunting, and deserves strong support." The CA also described VAWM's AGMs as "always more than just a meeting, usually beginning with a trail hunt earlier in the day." VAWM appears to represent a relatively small proportion of the veterinary community in the UK, considering there are over 30,000 practicing vets in the country. Although the group doesn't publish its member numbers, it reportedly had around 550 in 2004. Fast forward to 2023 and VAWM's Cheape managed to secure the signatures of just over 100 vetsfor an anti-Hunting Act open letter to ministers. litter of dog on grass field Photo by Jason Wolf on Unsplash Nothing natural about hunting VAWM says hunting should be part of wildlife management because it is humane and 'natural'. Back in 2000, VAWM founder Thomas summed up the group's latter contention in response to a paper that characterised hunting with dogs as cruel. He argued: "Man if he is able and he is through hunting, has an obligation to cull the weak, the sick, the injured and the starving." Put another way, Thomas claimed that the fittest wild animals are able to escape hunts, therefore mirroring the natural dynamic often seen between predators and prey in the wild. The argument that hunting is 'natural' in this way – as it is practiced in the UK – has been regularly debunked. For instance, Wildlife Guardian published the following statement in 2011, written by anti-hunt campaigner John Bryant: "there is nothing ‘natural’ about sending people out at night to block up fox earths and badger setts so that foxes found by the hounds are forced into long exhausting chases and cannot do what comes ‘naturally’ and dive down a hole. Neither is there anything ‘natural’ about sending terriers down any hole to attack a fox that finds a hole missed by the Hunt’s earth-stoppers." A hunt monitor who gave evidence during hearings in parliament in 2002 – when hunting was still legal – provided an example of just how grotesquely unnatural the experience is for foxes, due to ruthless behaviour by hunters. He said: "I have seen a fox, bleeding from terrier bites inflicted when it was dug out, bagged and then released for the dogs to hunt. To help them follow the scent, the huntsman when holding the fox, before it was dropped in the sack, bowed its head to its brush to make it soil itself with urine." Outrageous cruelty The monitor described this situation and others he had witnessed as 'outrageously cruel'. This brings us to VAWM's other key contention, namely that hunting is humane because animals like foxes die quickly when killed by hounds, compared to other methods of persecution like shooting and snaring. The Burns Inquiry, a probe into hunting set up in the late 1990s by the then Labour government, essentially found the opposite to be true. All four members of the inquiry, aside from chairman Lord Burns, had links to pro-hunting institutions. Nonetheless, even they determined that the hunting of foxes, hares, and mink, "seriously compromises" their welfare. The inquiry's findings ultimately contributed to hunting with dogs being banned. The Burns Committee further noted that "most scientists agree that deer are likely to suffer in the final stages of hunting," although it did not draw conclusions on precisely when the welfare of deer was "seriously compromised" during a hunt. Cambridge University animal behaviour expert Professor Patrick Bateson was among the scientists who agreed that hunting caused suffering for deer. He published a study in 1997 which showed that hunting is physiologically detrimental to the animals, in relation to the chases that form part of it. By delving further back into the hey days of hunting, the cruelty of deer hunting becomes even clearer. In the late 1940s, a private members bill sought to ban the hunting of several animals, deer among them. In a debate on the bill, MPs noted that hunting advocates claimed deer hunting was humane, using arguments that are similar to VAWM's. Namely, proponents said that dogs chased and brought deer 'to bay', meaning they forced the deer to stop and turn towards them, before a huntsperson would shoot the deer. In other words, hunting advocates claimed that deer kills were clean and quick. But MPs recounted harrowing examples of dogs mutilating deer before they were shot. In one instance, hounds tore out a stag's scrotum, while another stag "had its tail, with several inches of the spinal cord, torn from its living body." In a further example, they recalled: "a hind, which cannot defend itself, being pulled down by the hunt and eaten alive, so that by the time the huntsmen arrived the bones had been picked clean." VAWM MIA on bird shooting Of course, hundreds of hunts still exist in the UK and many of them continue to chase and kill wildlife. So, there is no need to look back in time to understand that hunting is cruel. Consider the staghound pack that reportedly attacked and killed a pregnant alpaca in January 2024. Or recall the fox who had her leg ripped off by hounds in November that year as she tried to escape into brambles from a foxhound pack. More recently, sabs reported a fox literally being torn in two by hounds in early January. Despite all this, VAWM would have it that hunting is humane compared to alternatives like shooting. It describes shooting as "intrinsically fallible and inevitably produces a percentage of animals that are wounded." Protect the Wild agrees that shooting is inhumane. But we find it curious that the shooting section in the 'animal welfare' page on VAWN's website relates only to foxes and contains no mention of the shooting of millions of birds each year for 'sport', considering the group's position on the use of firearms to kill wildlife. As the League Against Cruel Sports highlighted in a written submission to the Petitions Committee in 2016, shooting industry insiders have said that some 40% of birds shot at for sport are wounded rather than killed outright. Yet this dire welfare situation, caused by the fieldsports fraternity, doesn't appear to be a focus for the vets at VAWM. Blaming badgers However, VAWM has taken issue with the shooting of badgers in the cull. In a response to the 2018 Godfray Review of the government's bTB strategy, VAWM argued that methods utilised in the cull, namely trapping and shooting, had "serious shortcomings" with regard to badgers' welfare. The main method of culling is so-called free/controlled shooting, where badgers are shot at without being trapped first. This method has been widely condemned as inhumane, yet officials have repeatedly sanctioned its use in the cull, including the now Labour government. To be clear, VAWM does not take issue with the culling of badgers. Its members, which includes ex-DEFRA veterinary staffers, have persistently painted badgers as the key cause of bTB in cows, despite an ever-growing, scientific evidence base that shows badgers are nothing more than scapegoat. On this basis, VAWM is adamant that badgers must be 'managed'. But it has called for change in the method of badger culling. In its Godfray Review response, VAWM suggested that the development and targeted delivery of a "fast acting, humane fumigant" into infected setts could "potentially" overcome the welfare shortcomings of current methods. In other words, VAWM has promoted the gassing of badgers as a method of culling. This has been done before, back in the 1970s. Badgers were gassed for years with cyanide before the policy was ultimately scrapped because research showed it to be a highly cruel way of killing the wild animals. Discussions in parliament at the time illustrate how inhumane this culling method was, as politicians decried the fact that thousands of badgers: "have died painful or miserable deaths from starvation or slow asphyxiation, during which period the public have been led to believe that this was a humane method of destruction." Reciprocity not oppression Taken together, VAWM's views on wildlife 'management' reveal that its members are distinctly preoccupied with the past. In relation to hunting in particular, and badger culling to an extent, they advocate for a relative return to how things used to be done. Turning back the clock will tackle the issues of the present, according to VAWM. For instance, the group says fox hunting is necessary to protect prey species amid the current biodiversity crisis. Indeed, the group paradoxically suggests fox hunting is necessary to protect foxes themselves. VAWM's 2023 anti-hunting act open letter pointed out that fox populations have dropped in recent decades. It argued that this is due to too much persecution since the act came into force, such as over zealous shooting by landowners. VAWM presented hunting with hounds as a solution to the crisis for fox populations and their welfare. Unsurprisingly, it failed to point out that where fox declines have occurred, the culpability of hunters must be considered alongside landowners, because many hunts have continued to chase and kill foxes despite the hunting ban. VAWM selectively acknowledges that the present is a product of the past in its advocacy. It says farming, human habitation, and "numerous damaging activities" have impacted the countryside. But it discusses 'wildlife management' as if it's a new idea, when it clearly is not. Throughout the UK's history and into its present, people have persistently manipulated, controlled, and persecuted wildlife, including through cruel hunting practices. Alongside other factors, this 'management' has contributed to the UK being among the most nature-depleted on Earth. Protect the Wild firmly believes that we need to do away with the damaging idea that wildlife is ours to 'manage'. We advocate a relationship with Nature that is centred on reciprocity not oppression. Needless to say, we see hunting and badger culling as having no part in a better, kinder future for wildlife. Want to watch our founder dismantle the Countryside Alliance on national radio? Look no further! Our latest video is an animated version of Rob’s heated Radio 5 Live debate with a hunt supporter. Watch the video SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM WILD JUSTICE IN THEIR ATTEMPT TO BAN DRIVEN GROUSE SHOOTING

Good morning! In the last few days our petition - click here - to ban driven grouse shooting has passed 50,000 signatures and now stands a little below 52,000 signatures. Thank you! There are just under four more months to go until the petition closes on 22 May. Today's newsletter introduces you to some of the facts about raptor persecution - the crime that underpins the hobby of driven grouse shooting. We've produced blogs on Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and Hen Harriers which spell out the scale of the killing. The grouse shooting industry is out of control and it's had plenty of chances to reform but has failed miserably. Each of today's new blogs documents population impacts at a landscape scale in areas where grouse moors predominate. Go to the grouse moors of eastern Scotland and you will find few Golden Eagles, few Hen Harriers and few Peregrine Falcons, and all three species have low breeding success on grouse moors. The same is true in northern England too (where Golden Eagles are absent). And these three species are simply the best studied - a range of other raptors, mammals and other birds are illegally killed on grouse moors. We'll be bringing you examples of the horrific crimes against wildlife carried out on grouse moors as our campaign builds. See what you think by reading our blogs on Golden Eagles - click here, Peregrine Falcons - click here, and Hen Harriers - click here. Here, as a reminder, are four blogs we posted last week. What driven grouse shooting is - and why we want it banned: read this blog for a simple introduction to the issues - click here. Our petition is flying: last week's standing of constituencies across the UK and how many signatures they have provided - click here. We'll update this blog every now and again but as of today it's almost a week out of date! Why doesn't the RSPB actively support this petition?: thank you to all who have contacted the RSPB and told us what they said to you. We're in discussion with the RSPB and it's best that they explain their position to you, particularly if you are an RSPB member. The RSPB has produced an excellent video explaining the range of problems with driven grouse shooting - they think it makes the case for licensing, we think it makes the case for a ban of this industry which is 'out of control' - watch the video and find out how to contact the RSPB on this subject - click here. We'll come back to this subject later. The initial government response to our petition: the initial Westminster government response to our petition was disrespectful to the 47,000 people who had signed our petition (now over 51,000) and looks very much like the responses from Conservative governments in the past decade or more. Wild Justice wrote to the Petitions Committee pointing out a gross error and asking the Committee to require Defra to correct it. Read our letter - click here. We've now had a response saying that the Committee will investigate this matter - we'll let you know what happens. Of course, the best response to the government is to get this petition over the line of 100,000 signatures and ensure a parliamentary debate on this subject. You can expect regular updates through this newsletter on how our petition is going, but it's not the only thing we are doing so we'll update you on a number of legal cases when we have more to say. That’s it for now! We won't get to 100,000 signatures without your support so please spread the word. Thank you. Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 223rd 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 PROTECT THE WILD — HUNTS FOUND WANTING WITH ANIMAL CARE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Over 500 incidents of hound neglect and mistreatment this season already CHARLOTTE SMITH JAN 25 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP For years, the welfare of foxhounds has been a topic of debate, yet until now, there has been little data to quantify the incidents affecting these animals. At Protect the Wild, we’ve worked tirelessly throughout this hunting season to compile concrete evidence showcasing the welfare challenges foxhounds face. The South Dorset Hunt roughly and inappropriately lifts an adult hound by the scruff of their neck, credit: Weymouth Animal Rights, 12/10/2024. By analysing every hit report published by hunt monitoring and saboteur groups, we have documented 537 incidents of welfare concerns affecting foxhounds from August 10th 2024 to January 20th 2025. These incidents span 75 hunts and cover a range of minor to severe welfare issues. To provide clarity, we categorised the welfare concerns into eight groups: Hounds stuck in fencing (34): Instances where hounds became trapped in fencing, leading to potential injuries and distress. Stranded hounds (53): Situations where hounds were left stranded, facing threats like dehydration, harsh weather, and traffic accidents. Hounds hit or kicked (12): Reports of physical contact causing injury and psychological harm. Hounds hit by vehicles (10): Incidents where hounds were struck by cars, resulting in minor injuries, serious injuries and in some cases fatalities. Hounds with visible injuries (39): Cases of visible wounds or injuries, minor and severe, that occurred during the hunt meet. Hounds being roughly handled (18): Reports of hounds being lifted, restrained or thrown inappropriately. Other incidents (84): This category includes various situations, such as hounds falling from heights (thought about linking the bridge story here), becoming trapped in dangerous conditions such as deep/flowing water, being taken out during severe weather warnings, and running dangerously on roads. Hounds out of control or lost (287): The most frequently reported issue, highlighting risks to the hounds themselves, as well as the harm they may cause to wildlife, livestock, or private property when out of control or lost. This data not only sheds light on the challenges foxhounds face but also raises critical questions about the lack of accountability within the hunting community. Members of the public face stringent regulations regarding dogs deemed “out of control,” yet hunts consistently evade scrutiny despite the clear welfare risks to their animals and the members of the public affected. Beaufort Hunt hounds are filmed out of control, trespassing on private property, Wiltshire Hunt Sabs:18/01/2025. But we are not stopping here. Protect the Wild is committed to continuing this work by gathering further data and producing comprehensive reports covering each hunting season spanning 2022, 2023, and 2024. These reports will document the welfare concerns in greater detail and provide deeper insights into the challenges and hardships foxhounds endure. We will also continue to advocate for these animals and call on hunts to rehome, rather than shoot foxhounds that do not meet the requirements for hunting, those who are too old to hunt, or those injured in ways that allow for recovery. Injured foxhounds, if treated, can retire and be rehomed to live a comfortable and fulfilling life. (See here for our Rehome the Hounds project that proves just that!) Our aim is clear- to ensure foxhounds are treated with the care and respect they deserve while shedding light on practices, and the hunts, that are failing them. Protect the Wild remain dedicated to speaking up for these animals and ensuring their welfare is prioritised and discussed. Essex and Suffolk hunt hound is caught in barbed wire. Credit: South Norfolk Hunt Saboteurs, 18/1/25. Whilst Protect the Wild remains dedicated to helping foxhounds, hunts across the country are weaponising them to oppose a hunting ban, claiming it would leave their future uncertain. This fearmongering tactic deflects accountability away from the hunts, which have had 20 years to adopt legal trail-laying practices but have instead continued illegal fox hunting. It is the responsibility of the hunts to act now and stop shooting foxhounds, cease training them to hunt foxes, and prioritise rehoming. They should prioritise this, rather than using foxhounds as a means to resist a full ban on hunting and manipulate animal lovers. Watch our latest video unpacking the secret deal between the Warwickshire Hunt and Warwickshire Police Watch now A guest post by Charlotte Smith BSc Animal behaviour and Training. MSc Animal Welfare Science, Law and Ethics. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION TRUST

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Montage of images including bumblebees, people and flowers January is the perfect month to start dreaming of warmer days and the buzz of bumblebees visiting our gardens and local green spaces! A little forward planning at this time of year can create vibrant spring and summer havens to help support these precious pollinators. Choosing a variety of bee-friendly flowers means you will provide sources of nectar and pollen throughout the bumblebee season and, if you leave some suitable space, may even attract a queen bumblebee to set up her nest. This month we bring you news about winter active Buff-tailed bumblebees, inspiration from volunteer Kevin Henry and a mystery gift for new members you won't want to miss! Have you spotted your first bumblebee of 2025? 👀 Buff-tailed bumblebee mid flight towards pussy willow It might be January, but there have already been sightings of our beloved bumblers this year. While we usually associate bumblebees with the sound of summer, some species like the Buff-tailed bumblebee (Bombus terrestris), can be active through the winter months, especially in urban areas. Keep your eyes peeled next time you’re out on a winter walk! If you’re lucky enough to spot one and would like to add to our understanding of where and when bumblebees are active please submit your sighting on iRecord 👇 Don’t forget to share your bee-rilliant photos and videos with us on Instagram and Facebook. Submit your sightings to iRecord 🐝 Bee the Change - plan for pollinator success Bumblebee on purple flower No matter where you live - whether in the heart of the city or the countryside - there are plenty of ways you can help bumblebees thrive in your local area. These charismatic insects are vital for our ecosystems, and even small actions can make a big difference! This year, you can 'Bee the Change'. Start by planting bee-friendly flowers in your garden, balcony or window box. If space is limited or you don't have a garden, you could share our resources on social media, or perhaps become a volunteer to help spread the word. For more inspiration and advice, explore our downloadable resources on our website. From step-by-step guides to blogs, we're here to help you take micro-actions for bumblebees. Together we can create a better world for bumblebees - starting right in your local area! Bee the Change resources 🏵️ Blog - How I've set up bumblebee nest boxes in my garden For over 10 years, volunteer Kevin Henry has been trying to encourage bumblebee queens to nest in his garden by providing a variety of bumblebee nest boxes. Tree bumblebees in flight entering bird box Inspiring seasonal flowers for bumblebees 📹 Bumblebee coming into land on purple crocus Bumblebees need a constant supply of nectar and pollen rich flowers from March to October. Discover what you can plant to help feed bumblebees across the seasons! 🌱☀️ Visit our YouTube channel 🎥 To new bee-ginnings! Join us in 2025 Illustration showing flowers and bumblebees with content of member pack with black writing 2024 was the worst year on record for UK bumblebees 💔 Our BeeWalk data shows that on average bumblebees were down 22% nationwide. We need to change this. By becoming a member of the Trust you help us: 🌻 Create and restore wildflower habitats. 🤝 Work with landowners and farmers to create more habitat for bumblebees. 📊 Study the effects of climate change on bumblebees and research ways to reverse their decline. 🪧 Influence decision makers to prioritise pollinators not pesticides. 🐝 Lead the fight to secure a future for bumblebees. Join today and get a FREE mystery item in your welcome pack! Become a bumblebee member❤️ Did you know you can subscribe to our YouTube channel and follow our projects on X: @nikkigammans @BuzzingWales @BuzzingShrill @BuzzingScotland YouTube icon Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Registered Charity No: 1115634 / Scottish Charity No: SC042830. © 2025 Bumblebee Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this newsletter because you are already a member, subscribed via our website, an event or when becoming a volunteer. We hope you enjoy reading it! Registered address: International House, 109-111 Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8JA; Correspondence address: Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Beta Centre, Stirling University Innovation Park, Stirling FK9 4NF Unsubscribe

FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH — NO MORE TOXIC PESTICIDES

View in browser Dear John, At last, the UK government denied the emergency authorisation of a bee-harming neonicotinoid pesticide yesterday. Halting the 4-year cycle of government-sanctioned use of this banned pesticide on England's sugar beet crops. But the UK’s pesticides plan is nowhere near strong enough to protect our pollinators properly. And the loophole that allows emergency use of the nasty neonics must be closed once and for all. With your support, we’ll keep up the pressure on the government to go even further than this pesticide ban. You can help us keep making a buzz for our bees and stop nature from being ignored today. Please join us with a monthly donation to help us demand the government makes nature a priority. I'D LIKE TO JOIN The government has recently committed to “deliver for nature” with new policy and action to promote biodiversity. And we need to hold them to it. We’re a member of the Pesticides Collaboration alongside over 60 other charities and organisations. Together we’re campaigning for a strong national action plan on pesticides. One that includes the commitment to stop bringing back these bee-harming chemicals for good. And we’re continuing to campaign for a new law to secure everyone’s legal right to live in a healthy environment. As well as a new law to hold UK companies accountable for abuses to our rights and natural world, both here and overseas. But this is only possible with your support. So please, if you can, strengthen our campaign today with a monthly donation. I'LL JOIN TO PROTECT POLLINATORS Bees are incredibly important for our survival – pollinating many of our food crops and playing a critical role in sustaining ecosystems that we and nature rely on. The government's rejection of a request to allow the use of these bee-harming neonic pesticides is a step in the right direction. But it must go further and develop a national pesticides plan that protects our wild species and provides the greener, fairer future we all deserve. By supporting us, you’re playing a crucial part in the fight to protect nature and wild species. Thank you for donating anything you can today. Best wishes, Paul de Zylva Senior Sustainability Analyst, Friends of the Earth 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

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — COLLUSION EXPOSED

View this email in your browser Secret deal between hunt and police force finally revealed After months of investigation, the secret agreement between the Warwickshire Hunt and Warwickshire Police has finally come to light. In today’s video, I delve into the details of this deal and explore its implications for trust in policing moving forward. Watch here 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 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden London, London WC2H 9JQ United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — TWO CUMBRIA HUNTS WARNED — BUT WILL IT BE ENOUGH

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Lake District hunts served with Community Protection Warnings PROTECT THE WILD JAN 23 READ IN APP Cumbria Constabulary has sent Community Protection Warnings (CPWs) to two Cumbria hunts, after receiving complaints from the public. We asked Cumbria Constabulary about the contents of the CPWs. They told us that: The Community Protection Warning informed the [hunt] groups that we have received numerous reports regarding issues relating to them, including antisocial behaviour, noise nuisance and the detrimental impact on the community. It is a formal warning which, if not heeded, could result in further action, including via prosecution. CPWs are issued under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014, and have often been used against hunts. Hunts and hunters can be prosecuted if they don't follow the warning, and are found in breach of a subsequent Community Protection Notice (see below). However, as Protect the Wild has previously shown, the practical effects of CPWs are variable to say the least. A history of abuse Both the Melbreak and Blencathra Hunts have a history of abusing wildlife, and ignoring wildlife protection legislation. In October 2024, Cumbria and Lake District Hunt Saboteurs filmed Blencathra's hounds damaging a badger sett, while they were pursuing a fox. The hounds were trying to dig out a sett, where a fox had taken refuge: Badger setts are protected under the 1992 Protection of Badgers Act, as badgers are an endangered species. On the day, hunt saboteurs spoke to Blencathra Chief Whip Kenny Stuart and asked him to to stop the hounds interfering with a badger sett, but to no avail. Huntsman Barry Todhunter was also reportedly seen beating the hounds with a stick later that day. Lake District Hunt Saboteurs has gathered three reports of foxes being chased by the Blencathra Hunt since the start of this hunting season. Chasing foxes is prohibited by the 2004 Hunting Act. In fact, the Blencathra Hunt openly admitted to the Lake District National Park Authority that they had killed foxes at 9% of their meets between 2012 and 2019. They used the dubious excuse that the deaths were accidental, as the foxes had “jumped up” or got into the path of the hounds of their own accord. This admission clearly suggests that Blencathra Hunt is going out with the intention of killing foxes, under a thin guise of trail hunting. In addition, Lake District Hunt Saboteurs reported three instances of the Blencathra Hunt trespassing, twice on Cumbria Wildlife Trust land and once on land owned by the Lake District National Park Authority. Melbreak Hunt have also been seen chasing a fox this season, and Lake District Hunt Saboteurs reported eight instances of trespass, including on Forestry England and National Trust land as well as into private residential gardens. Ignoring requests from local landowners In fact, the Melbreak Hunt has a proven history of ignoring requests not to trespass on land. On 12 June 2023 Melbreak Huntmaster Christopher Nixon was convicted of assault on Lake District landowner Darren Ward. Nixon assaulted Ward in early January 2023, after Ward asked him to stop hunting on his land, something he and other Lake District landowners had repeatedly asked him not to do. The short video below does not show the actual assault, but does show aggression and swearing: Nixon was fined £945 for the assault on Ward. The problem of hunts trespassing has been so severe that a group called Landowners Against Hunting With Dogs has been set up, to prevent the hunts carrying out blood sports on private Lake District lands. Complaints ignored for years Tony Locke, of Cumbria Hunt Watch told local journalists from the Cumbria Crack that his group and others have been making complaints about the Melbreak and Blencathra hunts for years, and have been either ignored or not taken seriously. Locke said he was pleased to see that the police have now taken steps against the hunts, but that “we will have to wait and see" whether the CPWs are followed up. “We would encourage anyone witnessing what they believe to be illegal hunting or being subject to unacceptable behaviour or trespass by a hunt to contact Cumbria police immediately to report the incident," said Locke. What are Community Protection Warnings? And how effective are they? But are the police warnings given to the Blencathra and Melbreak hunts likely to be effective? CPWs are just the first step in the process of issuing a Community Protection Notice (CPN). CPWs outline behaviour that an individual, business or organisation is required to take, or refrain from. The police say that CPWs are an opportunity for behaviour to be modified "without any formal sanctions being taken". The next step that the police can take is issuing a CPN, which has more teeth in terms of formal sanctions available. If the recipient is found in breach of a CPN, they can be prosecuted, issued with a Fixed Penalty Notice. Courts can also compel those found in breach of a CPN to surrender possession of any item used in the failure to comply with the Notice. So the Melbreak and Blencathra Hunts are just at the start of this process, and are not at risk of action being taken unless the police decide to issue them with a CPN and they are found to be in breach. In order to move to the next stage and actually issue a CPN, police will need to receive evidence that the CPW has not been heeded, which means receiving more complaints from local people. They will also need to be ready and willing to issue the CPNs, and to enforce them. This is by no means always the case, not least because the links between police and local hunts are often close. Protect the Wild's Eliza Egret pointed out that, in August 2023, Warwickshire Police's pro-hunt bias prevented the enforcement of a CPN against the Warwickshire Hunt. Egret explained that what really needs to happen is a change in the law. She wrote: It is obvious that if hunting legislation was effective, CPWs and CPNs would not be needed to police hunts. In its manifesto, Labour promised that it would strengthen the Hunting Act, getting rid of loopholes that are currently being exploited. The widespread issuance of CPWs and CPNs on hunts should be yet another reminder to politicians that hunts are out of control and need to be stopped once and for all. DEFRA restates its commitment to a ban on trail hunting In a statement to the Press Association last month, a Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) spokesperson confirmed that the government was "committed to a ban on trail hunting", commenting that the practice "is being exploited as a smokescreen to cruelly kill foxes and hares". We can see from the activities of the Melbreak and Blencathra Hunts that the current loopholes are being used to harm not just foxes and hares but, as the video above shows, badgers too. Its high-time that the government keeps its promises to outlaw trail hunting. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

PETITION TO BAN DRIVEN GROUSE SHOOTING REQUEST FROM LEGAL JUSTICE

Good morning! Today our petition to ban driven grouse shooting reaches two months of life - four more months to go until the petition closes on 22 May. Today's newsletter is all about our campaign. We've produced four blogs to keep you up to date and to introduce the subject of driven grouse shooting to new audiences. What driven grouse shooting is - and why we want it banned: stop someone in the street today and ask them about driven grouse shooting and they probably won't know that it is a niche hobby for rich people which causes environmental damage and is underpinned by wildlife crime - read this blog for a simple introduction to the issues - click here. Our petition is flying: after two of the six months allocated to these petitions we are close to half way to the 100,000 signatures needed to generate a parliamentary debate (we have passed 47,000 signatures already). Of the 620 live petitions (on subjects from taxation to abortion, and immigration to children's access to social media) our petition is the 11th most signed and the top environmental petition on the list. This issue energises the public and they want to see change - read this blog to see the spread of signatures across the UK from Shetland to Land's End and from East Anglia to Northern Ireland - click here. Why doesn't the RSPB actively support this petition?: we're in discussion with the RSPB and it's best that they explain their position to you, particularly if you are an RSPB member. The RSPB has produced an excellent video explaining the range of problems with driven grouse shooting - they think it makes the case for licensing, we think it makes the case for a ban of this industry which is 'out of control' - watch the video and find out how to contact the RSPB on this subject - click here. The recent government response to our petition: we were waiting for weeks after our petition passed 10,000 signatures for the Westminster government response and it was simply dreadful. Frankly, the response was disrespectful to the 47,000 people who have signed this petition and looks very much like the responses from Conservative governments in the past decade or more. This government promised change - and yet it seems as though it is in thrall to the toffs of the grouse shooting industry. That impression is strengthened by the inclusion of a statement about heather moorland extent that is regularly trotted out by the shooting industry - and here we find government using just the same falsehood. Wild Justice has written to the Petitions Committee pointing out this gross error and asking the Committee to require Defra to correct it. Read our letter - click here. Of course, the best response to the government is to get this petition over the line of 100,000 signatures and ensure a parliamentary debate on this subject. We'll be bringing you more news as the petition progresses but that’s it for now! We won't get to 100,000 signatures without your support so please spread the word. Thank you. Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 222nd 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

LABOUR GOVERNMENT REJECTS BAN ON DRIVEN GROUSE SHOOTING — FROM PROTECT THE WILD

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Government fails Nature again, rejecting call for grouse shooting ban The government reveals it has no plans to ban driven grouse shooting, despite admitting that evidence shows it is linked to raptor persecution PROTECT THE WILD JAN 21 READ IN APP The government has rejected a call from the Wild Justice team to ban driven grouse shooting. In a parliamentary petition, the Wild Justice founders said a ban was needed because the practice is "bad for people, the environment and wildlife." In response, the government revealed that it has "no plans" to ban driven grouse shooting, despite acknowledging that evidence shows it is linked to raptor persecution. Wild Justice's Chris Packham, Ruth Tingay, and Mark Avery, started the petition in late 2024. In it, they presented multiple reasons for banning driven grouse shooting. They highlighted that management of grouse moors involves the intentional burning of moorland, which "contributes to climate breakdown." Management practices also include land draining that "leads to flooding and erosion," they added. Further, grouse moor management involves the "wholesale extermination of predators," the Wild Justice team stressed. This persecution occurs to ensure that grouse are not predated by other wild animals, as the industry wants as many of them around as possible for people to shoot. But this has a "disastrous impact" on ecosystems, the petition warned. It pointed to "the criminal practice of raptor persecution" as another issue, which is consistently linked to the shooting industry. However, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) rejected the idea of a ban, despite grouse shooting's harms. It said: "The Government considers that well-managed shooting activities can bring benefits to the rural economy and can be beneficial for wildlife and habitat conservation. We will continue work to ensure a sustainable, mutually beneficial relationship between shooting and conservation. The Government has no plans to ban grouse shooting." An industry incapable of responsible management DEFRA's choice of language is telling. It says 'well-managed' shooting 'can' be beneficial for wildlife and conservation. What it fails to address is whether shooting is well-managed to ensure it is beneficial for wildlife and conservation? The answer to this question is a resounding no. In 2021, the then Conservative government introduced a partial ban on peatland burning in England. It took this action to protect some of the country's most sensitive peatland places after asking landowners to voluntarily stop burning. As DEFRA noted at the time: "This voluntary approach failed, primarily owing to the reluctance of landowners to adopt more sustainable practices." A 2022 investigation by Greenpeace's Unearthed revealed that landowners continued to resist changing their unsustainable behaviour, even after the prohibition was introduced. The Unearthed investigation identified over 250 peatland burning incidents in the first burning season following the ban. One in five of these identified incidents were on precisely the sensitive peatland that the prohibition aimed to protect. The burning season occurs from 1 October to 15 April in upland areas and 1 November to 31 March elsewhere. The RSPB carried out a probe that season too. It found that over 270 burns reportedly took place, mostly on important Nature sites, with 70 of them "in clear violation of the new rules." In other words, the shooting industry is neither well-regulated in practice nor has it demonstrated that it is capable of good, responsible management. As a result, the industry and its activities are not beneficial for wildlife, conservation, or the climate. brown and white bird on brown grass during daytime Photo by Chris J Walker on Unsplash Not beneficial to raptors The issue of raptor persecution is another case in point. The shooting industry's precise involvement in this persecution is hard to quantify. But the RSPB's Birdcrime reports repeatedly show that most raptor persecution is linked to the industry. For instance, the latest report revealed that the shooting industry was connected to 75% of the 57 convictions for raptor persecution between 2009 and 2023. This low number of convictions reflects how difficult it is to identify and prosecute perpetrators, as over the same period, at least 1,344 birds of prey were illegally killed, according to the report. In its response to the petition, DEFRA acknowledged that evidence exists which points to links between grouse shooting and "crimes against birds of prey." It also highlighted the National Wildlife Crime Unit's efforts to tackle wildlife crime perpetrated by anyone and insisted that any "proven perpetrators" should face "the full force of the law." But again, it avoided confronting the reality on the ground. The existing evidence shows that grouse moors are most certainly not 'well-managed' to ensure they are beneficial to raptors, regardless of the laws in place. Needless to say, the management of these moors is not beneficial to the many other wild animals who are legally killed on them either. A shabby response As Avery pointed out in his response to DEFRA's position, the hefty numbers of signatures on multiple similar petitions over recent years show that public support for change on this issue is high. This petition alone has attracted over 46,000 signatures so far. Signatories may have hoped that the Labour government would take action because, as Avery highlighted, some of its shadow ministers promoted reviews or licensing of grouse moors when the party was in opposition. As the Wild Justice co-founder put it, what people got instead was a DEFRA response that: "rates as just as bad as the responses from previous Conservative Defra ministers – in fact it could easily pass as a response from a Conservative administration looking as it does, as if it were actually written by the shooting industry." The petition remains open for signatures. If it reaches 100,000, it could secure a debate in parliament. This would mean the government can be grilled on this shabby response and what it plans to do instead of a ban – if anything –to tackle the harms of the shooting industry. Protect the Wild would certainly like to see the government held to account on this issue. If you would too, sign and share the petition! Our latest video unpacks why the rise of Reform is not good news for animals.. WATCH NOW SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM RIGHT TO ROAM

Can't see this message? View in a browser   "Get On Our Land!" Meet Right to Roam's Access Friendly Farmers Dear Roamers, Every January in Oxford two huge farming events happen side by side. There’s Oxford Farming Conference, bastion of conventional/industrial/conservative agriculture, and there’s Oxford Real Farming Conference, which provides a much-needed progressive, regenerative and participant-led counter-narrative. We were at ORFC to talk about access. Without an ability to responsibly cross the 67% of England taken up by agriculture, we can’t get to many of the places where more extensive rights should apply: woodlands, rivers and coasts, downs etc. What’s more, farmland access will help get pedestrians off rural roads, where more than 100 die a year and hundreds more are injured, not to mention the economic benefits of allowing people to simply walk in nature close to home (ill health related to sedentary lifestyles currently costs the economy more than £8 billion a year). But how would having more people on the land affect farmers? The NFU and CLA habitually scapegoat the public for systemic damage to the countryside in which they are deeply complicit, and boasted about getting right to roam taken out of the Labour manifesto last year. But with decent education and infrastructure, there is far more for farmers to gain than to fear. We know this, because for the past year or so, a group of Access Friendly Farmers and Landowners (AFFLO), has been helping us explore both the challenges and opportunities of access. AFFLO began with an email from Debra and Tom Willoughby, two farmers who agreed with the objectives of the campaign. We knew they couldn’t be the only ones and set about finding more. The group now includes farmers, landowners and estate managers from across England, and a few from Wales. We’ve discussed dogs, legal liability, the costs of access infrastructure and public education among other themes, and these conversations have helped inform our campaign asks and actions, for example see our dog policy proposals last year which were also covered here. And in September last year we brought 60 people to the Willoughby’s farm for our Wild Service in Action workshop weekend. It’s not easy for farmers to speak out in opposition to the noisy blowhard lobbyists, especially now when many feel beleaguered, isolated and dependent on each other. But the access debate is far less tribal than it may seem, and counter-narratives are powerful. Some of you may have seen Patrick Barkham’s feature in the Guardian, featuring four of brilliant AFFLOs. Then, last Thursday it was an honour to introduce an open-hearted and hugely well received panel discussion at ORFC. Great conversations ensued in the pub and we’ve come away with yet more AFFLO members. So, massive thanks to the organic sisterhood of Debra Willoughby, Sarah Langford and Romilly Swann, and to Guy Thallon of Castle Howard Estate for the panel, to Debram Guy and to Jo Clark of On The Hill in Devon for being interviewed, and Martin Lines of the Nature Friendly Farmers Network for great advice and introductions in Oxford. Legends, all of them. What next? The group is ready to expand, so if you’re an access friendly farmer or land owner, or know one, do get in touch via hello@righttoroam.org.uk. We’re planning to set up a twinning scheme between AFFLO and local Right to Roam groups. Meanwhile, you can also help by remembering the power of conversation, especially if you meet farmers on your roamings: many of them need to reconnect with their communities as much as we need to reconnect with nature, and the land is naturally where we meet. LOCAL GROUPS It was such a pleasure to join the inaugural event organised by our newest Local Group, Right to Roam Leeds, Bradford, West Yorkshire. 25 brilliant humans gathered in Ilkley and strode out on the Moor (some daringly baht ‘at), admiring the misty views over Wharfedale and the enigmatic rock art, enjoying a lunch stop at the Twelve Apostles stone circle and gathering several bags of trash along the way. Great conversations were had, connections made. Indoor meetings and trespass adventures are in the offing. Join them if you’re local or give them a follow and warm welcome on Instagram and Facebook. WILD SERVICE BOOK CLUB After a wee hiatus, the Wild Service book club is back! This week Nadia spoke with the brilliant ecological artist Bryony Ella, author of the chapter on Belonging. Her work explores the intersection of human-nature relationships, science and spirituality. You can catch up with their conversation on our YouTube channel here. We’re planning to do a lot more video content this year to bring the campaign to a wider audience, so do give our YouTube channel a subscribe – there should be much more to come. FOR THE READING LIST We’ve got three pieces for the attention of roamers this week. -First, check out this beautiful long read about the Right to Roam campaign and the wider land issues it raises, by the environmental journalist Samuel Firman. It does a brilliant job of putting the campaign in its historic and ecological context. -Following on from our investigation on inaccessible monuments, Matthew Shaw from Stone Club has written this fantastic op-ed for The Great Outdoors magazine about the significance of access reform for archaeological enthusiasts and all those seeking to connect with the prehistoric world. -Finally, another interesting long read on the Scottish right to roam in Backpacker Magazine from U.S author and park ranger, Ken Ilgunas. It really captures the consensus in Scotland: that access reform has worked well, and, far from fomenting rural divisions, has brought the countryside closer together. As Ken puts it “The right to roam, I came to see, can make a whole country more neighborly.” We'll be back in touch soon with a recap, a welcome to our new followers, and a supporter survey to capture your thoughts about how the campaign is going. Sending love to you all, Amy, on behalf of the Right to Roam team ---------- For the latest campaign updates, follow us on Instagram & Bluesky To get involved, check out our website here. Can you help keep us running? Head to ‘Donate’ here. Right to Roam Leeds, Bradford & West Yorkshire meet for their inaugural walk! 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.

A STUNNER FROM PROTECT THE WILD ON VIDEO CONDEMNING THE RSPCA

 

View this email in your browser We need to talk about the RSPCA.. This is one of those videos I wish I didn’t have to make, but here we are. You may have noticed that in recent months, both Chris Packham and Brian May have stepped down from their roles at the RSPCA. But why? That’s exactly what I’ll be discussing in today’s video. I’ll share an honest look at what’s going wrong within the RSPCA and why they need to do so much more for animals. I’d love to hear your thoughts, so please share your feedback in the comments—I’m genuinely interested in what you have to say. You can watch the video here. Watch here 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 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden London, London WC2H 9JQ United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

JOIN PLANTLIFE NOW

 

Dear John Become a Plantlife member and receive a FREE Plantlife Calendar as a welcome gift. Here at Plantlife we are working to secure a plant-rich world. We are the only UK membership charity dedicated to conserving wild plants and fungi in their natural habitats and helping people to enjoy and learn about them. In 2024 we... brought Rosy Saxifrage back from Extinction in the Wild (pictured above) expanded our Ryewater Farm nature reserve led the first ever conservation attempt for One-flowered Wintergreen represented wild plants and fungi on the UK and Global stage called for a ban on the use of peat in gardening and horticulture. We couldn't have done this without our members and supporters. And there's more exciting and innovative conservation work to come - from improving our newly acquired land in Dorset to advising landowners in our temperate rainforests to carrying out a comprehensive survey of Tufted Saxifrage - one of our most threatened mountain plants. We will also continue to create and restore wildflower meadows and lead the recovery of our threatened wild plants and fungi. 2024 was an incredible year, let's see what we can achieve together in 2025...

Join Plantlife and receive FREE Calendar

Why become a Plantlife member?  By becoming a Plantlife member you will support wild plant and fungi conservation in the UK and across the world, as well as joining a group of like-minded passionate people determined to solve the biodiversity, climate and societal crises. You'll receive: Our stunning Plantlife magazine, three times a year A handy Identification Guide Information on how to grow your own wildflower meadow in your garden Updates on our work and ways you can help Invitations to Member Events Family members also receive a Budding Botanist activity pack per child with each magazine and in your welcome pack

SPECIAL OFFER for you. We are exclusively offering email subscribers a FREE Plantlife Calendar as a welcome gift when you join. *See below how to claim

I want to become a Plantlife member

How do I join Plantlife? You can join as a member here. *Limited number of calendars available* By becoming a Plantlife member you are helping secure a world rich in wild plants and fungi. Over a year: £3.25/month could pay to cut 3250m2 of hay meadow, an essential part of meadow management. £5/month could create 60m2 of suitable bare ground for juniper regeneration, which is at risk of extinction in Southern Britain. £10/month could build 10 metres of deer fencing to protect temperate rainforest.

Join now and receive your Free Calendar