FROM BUG LIFE — EVERYTHING SMALL NEEDS OUR HELP

Buglife Logo saving the small things that run the planet View this email in your browser Dear John Welcome to the September 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’re sharing some more great events, some fundraising opportunities, a quick look at some of our recent saving sites and campaign work and some interesting news stories from across the Buglife Team. We hope you enjoy, thank you for your ongoing interest and support of our work. We are live! Our GiveMatch Autumn Appeal, Help us raise funds for Buglife, is live! Your donation could help us: 🌼 Restore wildflower-rich habitats through our B-Lines network; 🪲 Relocate and protect rare and at-risk invertebrate populations; 📜 Raise awareness and influence policy to protect biodiversity long-term. This autumn, your support could have twice the impact. Thanks to GiveMatch, your donation could be doubled at no extra cost to you - more wildflowers for pollinators, more safe spaces for rare species, and more power to restore the wild places that invertebrates need to survive and thrive. Together, we can save the small things that run the planet, so please give what you can to help us protect the small things we all depend on. Find out more and double your donation today! Six-spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae) © Claire Pumfrey Six-spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae) © Claire Pumfrey Save Coul Links Coul Links is under threat once again. This beautiful habitat in the Scottish Highlands is home to rare and incredible wildlife, from the globally endangered endemic Fonseca’s Seed Fly (Botanophila fonsecai) through to the red listed Skylark. ⛳Threatened for the second time by plans for a golf course which would cause irreparable damage to this rare habitat. Join us in sending a message to Scottish Ministers urging them to refuse this damaging application. Coul Links © RSPB Scotland Find out more and add your voice… What makes Coul Links so special? The Save Coul Links Conservation Coalition has been working together to save a special corner of the Scottish coast and the amazing wildlife found there, since August 2016. It can sometimes be easy to lose focus on what is really being fought for in such impassioned campaigns to save nature. With the area being threatened, once again, it is timely to reflect on the beautiful landscape at Coul Links and the incredible wildlife that calls it home. In a blog, originally written prior to the inquiry in November 2024, Buglife Programmes Manager, Jamie, explores just what it is that makes Coul Links so special. Join him, as he discovers just some of the important habitats and special species that call Coul Links home. Read the Blog Coul Links © Bea Ayling 👏Thank you!👏 A huge THANK YOU to everyone who supports Buglife via easyfundraising.org.uk. 👍Just by taking an extra step when you shop online and collecting a free donation for us, we've currently raised over £224.06! Not one of our supporters yet? Please join today! Find out more… a dragonfly perched on a twig alongside the easyfundraising logo An Introduction to the Wonderful World of Wasps. Join Buglife guest blog author, Animal Behaviour graduate from the University of Exeter and Translating Science Writer for Another Way, Maria Giulia Checchi, in our recent blog An Introduction to the Wonderful World of Wasps: Meet the Heath Sand Wasp. Wednesday 24 September saw us celebrating World Wasp Day. But what comes to mind when you hear mention of wasps? A black and yellow insect with a bad temper, ready to sting with little or no notice? This common description hides the true beauty of wasp diversity, so let's see if we can enlighten and change your view of wasps. Scaly Cricket (Psuedomogoplistes vicentae) © Alex Hyde Ammophila sp. © Daniel Greenwood (iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0) Strandline Beetle (Eurynebria complanata) © Liam Olds Ammophila sp. © Daniel Greenwood (iNaturalist, CC BY 4.0) Read the blog Upcoming events Tuesday 30 September ~ Volunteers Needed! with Pollinators Along the Tweed (Melrose, Scotland) Wednesday 1 October ~ Bug Club! for Home Ed Families at Canvey Wick (Canvey Wick Nature Reserve, Essex) Wednesday 1 October ~ Earthworm Sampling Day with The Biological Recording Company (Galleywall Nature Reserve, London) Wednesday 1 October ~ Wellies on the Wick (Canvey Wick Nature Reserve, Essex) Thursday 2 October ~ Surveying for Pollinators with The Biological Recording Company (online) Saturday 4 October ~ Adder Action Walk with Coal Spoil Connections (Tonypandy, Wales) Saturday 4 October ~ Tayside Recorders’ Day 2025 with Tayside Recorders’ Forum (Perth, Scotland) Monday 6 October ~ Syrph-ing the Continents: Hoverflies, Our Unsung Agricultural Heroes with The Biological Recording Company (online) Tuesday 7 October ~ Earthworm Identification with Microscopes with The Biological Recording Company (Natural History Museum, London) Wednesday 8 October ~ Invertebrate Study Day with The Biological Recording Company (Natural History Museum, London) Wednesday 8 October ~ Walk the Wick! (Canvey Wick Nature Reserve, Essex) Monday 13 October ~ Getting to Know Weevils with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 15 October ~ Bug Club! for Home Ed Families at Canvey Wick (Canvey Wick Nature Reserve, Essex) Wednesday 15 October ~ Wellies on the Wick (Canvey Wick Nature Reserve, Essex) Wednesday 22 October ~ Walk the Wick! (Canvey Wick Nature Reserve, Essex) Saturday 25 October ~ Halloween at the Farm (Ballycastle, Northern Ireland) Monday 27 October ~ Terrestrial Harvestmen with The Biological Recording Company (online) Tuesday 28 October ~ Riverwoods Film Night with Buglife Scotland (Tain, Scotland) Tuesday 4 November ~ More Moths Please! Breeding and Reintroducing the Dark Bordered Beauty with The Biological Recording Company (online) Please do remember that our website Events Page is being updated all the time so, to keep up to date with both current and future Buglife events, as well as events from partners and supporters, be sure to visit regularly. Advanced warning of two exciting November events What’s the buzz? Declaration Issued to Halt UK Insect Declines Read the story… During September’s inaugural Wild Summit event, the UK’s leading insect conservation charities supported by organisations, institutions, and community representatives issued a united Declaration on UK Insect Declines, calling for urgent, coordinated action to address the steep and ongoing losses in the United Kingdom’s insect populations. The declaration, proposed by Buglife, Butterfly Conservation and the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and supported by over 50 signatories, urges governments, land managers, businesses, and the public to take immediate steps to reverse declines in insect abundance, diversity, and distribution. “Reversing insect decline is essential, not optional,” the declaration states, “for halting nature loss and achieving the UK’s climate and biodiversity goals.” Following the Buzz: Aberdeen Nectar Networks to expand pollinator havens across the city “Aberdeen Nectar Networks”, a new Buglife Scotland partnership project restoring up to eight hectares of wildflower-rich habitat across the city, is set to create a buzz for local pollinators and communities, expanding on the work of previous projects in the area. Aberdeen Nectar Networks marks the next chapter in the city’s journey toward a greener, more pollinator-friendly future; connecting communities, greenspaces, and promoting biodiversity within the urban landscape. Read the story… Volunteers sowing wildflower seeds across sites at RGU campus © Becca Petrie For all our latest news please visit our website News Pages. Buglife shop The Buglife Shop is open for all your invertebrate needs, offering more ethical options and ways for you to support bugs. Whether you’re looking for clothing, insurance, home accessories or gifts for a loved one; there’s something for everyone! a shopping bag with a picture of a firefly on it a packet of native wildflower seeds Visit the Buglife shop 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! The Buglife Team Join Buglife P.S. Please note that we are in the process of transitioning to new processes and systems, hopefully this will be without “computer bugs”. Your patience and understanding are hugely appreciated during this move. Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon Website icon Buglife Logo Copyright © 2025 Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you have previously opted in via our website, or kindly given us permission to contact you following becoming a Member, signing a campaign or donating to an appeal. Thank you. Our mailing address is: Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust Allia Future Business Centre London Road Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 8AN United Kingdom Company No. 4132695 | Registered Charity No. 1092293 | Scottish Charity No.SC040004 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FROM HUNT SABOTEURS ASSOCIATION AT THE LABOUR CONFERENCE — YES IT’S POLITICAL

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter HSA Hunting Act Campaign Continues at Labour Conference Yesterday, Monday 28th September, HSA representatives attended the Labour Party conference in Liverpool (well, we were outside actually, as it's very expensive to set up inside and we don't want to misuse our supporter's donations!), to show MPs and Labour Party attendees the depth of feeling around strengthening the Hunting Act. Set Up Outside the Conference Entrance We handed out hundreds of our 'Witness The End Of Hunting' booklets and cards which explain the legislative changes we require to really to stop illegal hunting and save wildlife. Ruth Jones MP showing their support We received an overwhelmingly positive response from delegates and look forward to a swift resolution of the consultation, followed by substantive and meaningful improvements to the Hunting Act. 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 — THE CHARISMATIC NATIVE RED SQUIRELL IS IN DANGER

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Red Squirrels threatened by renewable energy project The squirrels of the Bryn Arau Duon forest one of just three surviving colonies in Wales. TOM ANDERSON SEP 29 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP The Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales (WTSWW) has launched a campaign against a planned renewable ‘energy park’ that threatens one of the few remaining Red Squirrel populations in Wales. The Red Squirrels of the Bryn Arau Duon forest are one of only three surviving colonies in the country. Once a common sight in forests across the country, Red Squirrels are classified as Endangered throughout England and Wales. The population in mid-Wales is the only stable population that can sustain itself without artificial releases. This means that the squirrels of Bryn Arau Duon possess genetics that are unique to the area, making them even more important to protect. But Galileo Empower Limited’s proposed Bryn Cadwgan Energy Park threatens them and their fragile habitat. Along with Red Squirrels, the Galileo Empower project also threatens otters, pine martens, water voles, bats and several species of birds. A haven The Mid Wales Red Squirrel Partnership (MWRSP), now led by WTSWW has been looking out for red squirrels in Mid-Wales’ forests for decades. The partnership released a YouTube video of the creatures living in the Bryn Arau Duon forest, saying that many people “have an affinity to these animals” in the local community: Adam Dawson, Conservation Officer at WTSWW, said that the hidden cameras “have captured wonderful insights into the lives of these secretive squirrels and show what a stronghold this area is for this endangered species”. A threat to a vital habitat According to the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales the 1120-hectare Galileo Empower scheme - which would be built on land near Lampeter and Llanwrtyd Wells - would threaten Carmarthenshire’s remaining red squirrels. The group wrote: “If the proposed development were to go ahead, the clearing of trees would destroy and fragment their habitat. This along with disturbance from construction would force any surviving Red Squirrels into the wider area, making them vulnerable to the fatal squirrel pox virus carried by Grey Squirrels as well as predators.” The Scotland-based company’s plans include 19 wind turbines, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and solar energy and battery energy storage systems. The Bryn Cadgwan website claims that the plans will make a “significant contribution to decarbonisation of our electricity system” and benefit the local population. However Sarah Kessell, CEO of WWTSW says she: “understands the necessity for renewable energy developments, especially in the climate crisis we are facing, but we believe that development should not come at the expense of nature.” The project has been in the initial stages since 2021, but is currently at the statutory pre-application consultation stage. Galileo Empower is expected to submit a full application to the Welsh Government by the end of 2025. The proposed location for the project neighbours several Sites of Special Scientific Interest, nature reserves and Special Protection Areas. The company is trying to sweeten the pill for the local community by offering a £34 million ‘community wealth fund’ to fund local projects. However, according to Kessell of the WTSWW: “All development must be located, designed and delivered in a way that contributes to nature’s recovery, not its decline. We’re in a biodiversity crisis with 1 in 6 species at risk of extinction in Wales. We can’t risk losing another iconic species from our landscape.” Mitigation measures are insufficient Galileo Empower says it will create “new broadleaved woodland, providing food and corridors for red squirrels, with canopy bridges aiding movement across tracks”, and that it wants to work closely with WTSWW to “help achieve this balance”. However, WTSWW maintains that the planned mitigation measures for the project are nowhere near enough. Bryn Arau Duon Forest in Carmarthenshire is a fragile and irreplaceable natural habitat. The felling of trees and disturbance caused by the construction work could decimate the Red Squirrel population. The species needs mature conifers and contiguous tree cover to thrive. Newly planted conifers, which could be planted as a way to ‘mitigate’ the project, would not be sufficient for the squirrels to survive. It’s impossible to put a financial value on lives lost Wind energy can often be damaging to wildlife and biodiversity. Earlier this year conservationists and researchers reacted with dismay to the Scottish Government approving SSE Renewables’ offshore windfarm at Berwick Bank. The RSPB and others are deeply concerned that the project will negatively affect Puffins, Kittiwakes and Gannets. The windfarm will be close to Bass Rock, home to the world’s largest colony of Northern Gannets. The RSPB predicts that Berwick Bank will “be one of the most damaging windfarms for birds we are aware of anywhere on the planet”. The Scottish Government is demanding “seabed compensation” measures from the company, but Protect the Wild doesn’t think it’s possible to ‘mitigate’ or compensate for the tens of thousands of birds’ lives that are predicted to be lost. Looking at both the threat to Wales’ Red Squirrels and the seabirds of Berwick Bank, Protect the Wild’s Rob Pownall commented that dealing with climate change shouldn’t be at the expense of biodiversity: “Of course we need to tackle the climate crisis, but it cannot come at the expense of already vulnerable wildlife. Red Squirrels are clinging on in just a handful of places, and to bulldoze through their last habitats in the name of ‘green energy’ is both reckless and shortsighted. We’ve already seen the damage done by the Berwick project to puffins, kittiwakes and gannets, and now the government is pushing through a Planning and Infrastructure Bill that will mean even fewer checks and balances on developments like these. If we’re serious about a sustainable future, it has to work for wildlife as well as for people.” As the government steamrollers through changes to the planning system that will make it even easier to push through environmentally damaging projects (including reforms that Keir Starmer said in January would put an end to “challenge culture” and keep people from using the courts to “frustrate growth”), the Berwick Bank and Bryn Cadgwan schemes stand as reminders of how bad things could get for British wildlife. Please support the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales by signing the online petition to object to the Bryn Cadwgan Energy Park before 1 October. Find out more about the Wildlife Trust of South & West Wales’ campaign here. Labour’s proposed Planning and Infrastructure Bill will make it easier for developers to push through ecologically damaging projects like this one. Sign Protect the Wild’s e-petition calling for the government to scrap its plans and read our article on ‘Five reasons the Planning and Infrastructure Bill will be disastrous for British wildlife’. Andy Willis, Jonny Gios and Transly Translation Agency on Unsplash Help power the fight for British wildlife We’re funded entirely by kind people like yourself. We don’t have major donors or govt backing and so that’s why over the coming weeks you’ll see us doing all that we can to push our 2026 Wildlife Calendar. It’s just such a great way for us to raise funds and you get an awesome calendar in return! :) Packed with beautiful wildlife photos taken by our incredible supporters, like this one by Graham Brace for the month of September! Protect the Wild 2026 Calendar 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 PROTECT THE WILD — NORTH YORK MOORS ARE NOT SAFE FOR WILDLIFE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more North York Moors National Park - NOT a safe place for wildlife The 'park' is riddled with businesses supporting hunting and shooting CHARLIE MOORES SEP 26 READ IN APP As we enter another shooting ‘season’, Protect the Wild is publishing a series of articles about the key regions of the UK that attract both tourists who want to enjoy the wildlife and landscape, and hunters and shooters who have an altogether less healthy relationship with the countryside around them. The cubbing season began in August this year, and fox and stag hunting is currently in full swing. It’s already open season for Grouse, Partridges and Ducks, and the killing ‘season’ for millions of Pheasants starts at the beginning of October. The North York Moors National Park (NYMNP) is heavily involved with both hunting and shooting. On a visit we made to the park with local monitors in 2023 we were shown numerous businesses in Helmsley - the ‘Gateway to the Park’ - that actively support local hunts or shoots. Nearly nine million people visited the ‘national park’ in 2023, most from the north of England. We’d be willing to bet few of them realise just how much killing takes place in what the vast majority will think is a ‘safe space’ for wildlife... The Lonely Planet series of travel guides describes the Yorkshire Moors as a place of “desolate splendour” where “ridge-top roads climb up from lush green valleys to the bleak open moors, where weather-beaten stone crosses mark the lines of ancient roadways. In summer, heather blooms in billowing drifts of purple haze.” Lonely Planet’s main rival, the Rough Guide, lists the nearby North Yorkshire coastline as one of its top places to visit in England. However, there is a more sinister side to tourism on the Moors. As we’ve often said before, ‘National Parks’ are widely thought of as havens for wildlife. Sadly, this simply isn’t the case. The NYMNP website, for example, gives information about how visitors to the park can legally take part in shooting on private land in the park. They write: “Commercial shooting in the National Park is available on privately owned land and consists of seasonal grouse and pheasant shooting, with small volumes of partridge and duck shooting also available.” What this terminology doesnlt make clear is that millions of birds are BRED to be shot in the UK every year. Over 50 million Pheasants and 11 million Partridges are released for shooting annually. Most of them are reared for the purpose in inhumane factory farm conditions. The introduction of such an unnatural number of birds (only a fraction of which are shot) into the ‘National Park’ takes a devastating toll on NYMNP’s environment too. Killing protected species The NYMNP does advise potential visitors that shooting other species of bird is illegal. However, as we have previously reported, this hasn’t stopped the unlawful killing of protected species. North Yorkshire itself is acknowledged as a raptor persecution ‘hot spot’, regularly named as the worst county in England for crimes against birds of prey. There are numerous examples of raptor persecution in the region, but to list just one in 2023 Protect the Wild reported that a Buzzard had been shot and injured in the National Park. The bird was transferred into the care of Jean Thorpe, an internationally renowned raptor rehabilitator. Sadly after surviving the initial trauma the Buzzard died, prompting Thorpe to pen an emotional tweet reflecting on raptor persecution in the ‘national parks’ of Yorkshire: Jean Thorpe’s tweet after the death of a Buzzard, shot in 2023 After the death of the protected Buzzard in 2023, North Yorkshire Police announced a call for information about the shooting. Unsurprisingly, nothing ever came of it. In fact, the police force confirmed that three more Buzzards had been reported shot in that same four-month period. The Hartoft Mural’, painted by Nicky & Simon Johnston who live in the village of Hartoft in the North York Moors National Park. The mural overlooks a grouse moor. Featuring Hen Harriers, a Goshawk, a Red Kite, Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Merlin and a Buzzard, the artwork’s intent couldn’t be clearer.[ In fact, a joint investigation by Channel 4 and the RSPB found that two-thirds of all illegal killings of birds of prey happened on shooting estates like those in the NYMNP. A hotspot for fox and hare hunts too NYMNP is a hotspot for fox and hare hunting too. The park is frequented by the Saltersgate Farmers Hunt; Goathland and Glaisdale Hunt; Sinnington Hunt; Derwent Hunt; Cleveland Hunt; Bilsdale Hunt; the Ampleforth Beagles; and the Northern Counties Mink Hounds. They are occasionally joined by the Hurworth Hunt and the Middleton Hunt, foxhound packs that typically hunt elsewhere but occasionally come to hunt in the ‘National Park’. Hunts have little respect for the ‘NYMNP and the surrounding area. For example in 2024, the Derwent Hunt infamously trespassed on Chafer Wood, a Yorkshire Wildlife Trust (YWT) Nature Reserve just south of the park.. Still want to visit North York Moors National Park? We recognise the beauty of the Yorkshire Moors and don’t want to discourage anyone from visiting. But we think that pro-wildlife visitors to the national park will want to know which businesses are complicit in making NYMNP a ‘black-hole’ for wildlife. Protect the Wild has used data gleaned from our Blood Business database to create this list of businesses that support hunting with dogs or the commercial shooting of birds or mammals in the area. Read on to find out more... Gisborough Hall Hotel, Guisborough, North Yorkshire, TS14 6PT A hotel that shamelessly hosts an annual ball every February to mark the end of shooting ‘season’. The tickets to the event are sold by the fundraising manager of the Gamekeepers Welfare Trust, and cost £60 a pop in 2025. The Blood Business database editors wrote about the ball: “North Yorkshire is one of the worst areas in England for crimes against birds of prey, crimes committed almost entirely by gamekeepers. We’ll pass, thanks…” The Downe Arms Hotel, Wykeham, North Yorkshire, YO13 9QB The Downe Arms Hotel is part of the huge Dawnay Estate run by the 12th Viscount Downe who calls Wykeham Abbey home. Wykeham supports shooting and hunting. The Wykeham Shoot is “proud to offer some of the best game shooting in North Yorkshire”, and their grouse shoots on the Danby Moors “welcome visitors from the UK as well as international guests from as far afield as the Netherlands, Belgium and America”. The estate refers shooters to the Hotel for accommodation. On top of that, Wykeham Abbey was reported by East Coast Yorkshire Hunt Sabs to be the venue for the opening meet of the Derwent Hunt in November 2024, whose kennels at Snainton are almost within walking distance of the Abbey. The Golden Lion Hotel, Northallerton, North Yorkshire, DL7 8PP The Hurworth Hunt’s boxing day meet, regularly hosted by the Golden Lion - image provided by a supporter Describing themselves as a venue for “proper real ale pints with the guys”, the Golden Lion regularly hosts the Boxing Day meet of the Hurworth Hunt with pub staff serving the refreshments (the Hunt master thanked the pub for their hospitality in his speech in 2024 while a gaggle of bloodsport-supporting locals looked on). The Golden Lion also hosts hunt fundraisers for the Hurworth (and in the past the Bedale Hunt), including a Hunt Ball in January 2023 and a Domino Drive in December 2023. Duke of Wellington, Welbury, North Yorkshire, DL6 2SG “The Duke of Wellington is a family run pub, cask ales, great food, beer gardens, fires, all welcome!” That ‘all welcome’ - potential visitors may want to know - includes the Hurworth Hunt which is based in Northallerton a short drive away. Images of the hunt were posted in a gallery on the pub’s Facebook page in November 2024. A proud moment supporting a history of animal abuse captured for posterity. White Swan Inn, Pickering, North Yorkshire, YO18 7AA According to its website, “The White Swan Inn offers unique moments of discovery on the nearby royal grouse moor” including “superb shooting parties”. You won’t find any reference to shooting unless you know where to look because as so often with venues that don’t want to upset the non-shooters who may be tempted to visit them too, the info isn’t front and centre. You can find a page dedicated to Shooting Parties, which proclaims “And when waking up to the ‘Gateway to the North York Moors,’ you won’t want to wait around for a hearty breakfast, so we’ll have your shooting gun ready for a bright and early pick-up”. Shoots typically ply their clients with food and alcohol while they blast away at the local wildlife, but, still, how clever of the venue to market as an advantage a solution for keeping its more gun-obsessed clients well away from the kiddies at breakfast time. The Blacksmiths Arms, Lastingham, North Yorkshire, YO62 6TN The owner of the Blacksmiths took over in 2021 and “wanted to continue the strong links we have with local producers. Whether it’s game from nearby shoots, the beef from local farmers, or the gin and tonics behind the bar.” The pub was commended in 2024 by a lobby group of North York Moors grouse shoots for putting ‘grouse’ on the menu, despite admitting what a terrible breeding year it had been for these beautiful native birds (can’t let that stop the shooting industry from rolling on), and gratingly (but showing just where he expects his business to come from) Mr Moran names the three rooms available at his pub after the three species of bird his clients will be shooting dead. The Fylingdales Inn, Fylingthorpe, North Yorkshire, YO22 4TH “A stunning local family friendly pub on the North Yorkshire coast, 0.6 miles away from the beautiful Robin Hood’s Bay…In our spacious restaurant and garden area we can accommodate you, your children and your four legged friends.” Sounds friendly enough, but a Facebook post in February 2025 thanking the “wonderful local shoot” for the business they bring perhaps shows where they stand on blowing birds out of the air. Black Horse Inn, Kirkby Fleetham, North Yorkshire, DL7 0SH The mounted stag’s head looking wide-eyed from above the fireplace in the dining room might just be all the clue you need to guess how the owners of the Black Horse feel about bloodsports, but in case there’s any doubt the Inn hosts the Bedale Hunt’s annual ‘hunt ball’ fundraiser (and certainly used to host the Kirkby Fleetham Shoot dinner too, as a 2015 social media post shows) and is one of the Bedale’s regular meet venues. In fact, the pub was where a meet of the Bedale rode out from before killing a young vixen - highlighted in a HIT report posted on the Facebook page of the East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Sabs in February 2023. The Bedale Hunt is listed on the Kirkby Fleetham with Fencotes Parish Council website under ‘Clubs, Societies, Leisure Activities’ – their kennels are in Little Fencote, which is just a short ride from the Black Horse. The Coachman Inn, Snainton, North Yorkshire, YO13 9PL The Coachman advertises that it “is located in the village of Snainton, on the edge of the beautiful North Yorkshire Moors…The venue is ideal for weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, friends and family get-togethers, office parties, Christmas and New Year celebrations, hosting charity events.” Oddly the Coachman doesn’t include ‘hunt meets’ in that list. Odd, because the Inn is almost opposite the Derwent Hunt’s kennels and a quick search of the internet shows that the Coachman seems to offer itself to the Derwent on a regular basis – everything from hosting meets, an ‘Empty Saddles’ Dinner way back in 2012, all the way up to Hunt’s 2023 AND 2024 fundraising ‘Christmas Fayre’. A supporter emailed us in October 2024 confirming how hunt -centric the pub was, saying, “Had a meal there (didn’t know what it was at the time). When we went into the bar to pay it was full of people in hunting attire having a drink. Obviously they’d just been on a hunt.” The Wheatsheaf Inn, Borrowby, North Yorkshire, YO7 4QP Close to the national park. “The Wheatsheaf Inn is an authentic 17th Century Public House in the village of Borrowby, near Thirsk”. Yet another venue in North Yorkshire with bloodsport links, The Wheatsheaf has a long history of supporting the Hurworth Hunt (which is kenneled at West Rounton, 10 miles to the north). More recently the British Hounds Sport Association (hunting’s so-called governing body) promoted the annual pissed-up ‘rural singsong’ at the pub as recorded in a rather halting, slurred reel on Facebook. Is anyone other than sozzled ‘old boys’ singing nostalgic ditties about killing wildlife welcome at the Wheatsheaf? We don’t know and won’t be popping our heads around the door to find out. Egton Estate, Egton Bridge, North Yorkshire, YO21 1UY A 6,000 acre estate which dedicates nearly 5000 acres to pheasant and driven grouse shooting. Egton also offers accommodation and a venue for weddings. The estate, which boasts that it is within a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), advertises itself as a place for beginner ‘guns’ (or shooters): “Egton Pheasant Shoot can accommodate guns of all abilities with some high bird drives and some confidence builders but all set within outstanding countryside.” The estate’s website promises that “a special atmosphere is created with the ambience of roaring fires, local food and the idyllic river frontage setting”. However, let’s face it, who wants to hear the sound of wildlife being murdered when you’re exchanging vows? The Grainary/Keasbeck Hill farm, Harwood Dale, North Yorkshire, YO13 0DT Advertises itself as hosting a “working farm... which has diversified into a well-established and profitable commercial and leisure complex, providing a restaurant/tearooms, farm shop, plant centre, letting bedrooms, holiday cottages & wedding venue.” Hosted a meet by the Derwent Hunt in February 2024, on a day when East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Sabs’ drone recorded illegal hunting. government fails nature in not banning grouse shooting There are plenty of ways to enjoy the Moors without terrorising local wildlife or being complicit in the hunting and shooting industry. It’s time to reclaim the UK’s wild spaces from hunters and shooters, to take back our right to hike, camp and enjoy the moors while respecting the wildlife that lives there. Read ‘National Parks’ in Name only’, our recent article on how the shooting industry is running wild in Britain’s national parks Learn about the independent wildlife monitors keeping raptor persecution under close watch in the North Yorkshire National Park. If you have info about more businesses in North Yorkshire or elsewhere that are supporting hunting and shooting, you can tip us off here. NYMNP map via Lencer/Wikimedia Commons. NYMNP sign by Marcus British/Wikimedia Commons. Picture of sheep on moorland by Oeuvre personnelle/Wikimedia Commons. Help power the fight for British wildlife We’re funded entirely by kind people like yourself. We don’t have major donors or govt backing and so that’s why over the coming weeks you’ll see us doing all that we can to push our 2026 Wildlife Calendar. It’s just such a great way for us to raise funds and you get an awesome calendar in return! :) Packed with beautiful wildlife photos taken by our incredible supporters! Shout out to Martin Yelland for this gorgeous pic we chose for the month of March! Protect the Wild Calendar 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 — IT’S ALL ABOUT RODENTCIDES

Good morning, Today we bring you a Sunday newsletter (unusual for us) in which we share with you our thoughts on a new consultation on rodenticides from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), and we ask you to consider responding to it, please. A new consultation from the HSE on the subject of rodenticides (rat poison) closes very soon, on Tuesday 30th September 2025. In our opinion, it’s a pretty bad consultation – it’s restrictive, with a short timescale, and has limited focus on GB alternatives. It’s not particularly accessible or easy to digest. But we still need as many of you as possible to respond to it. Firstly, a bit of background… But more on that later – firstly, a bit of background… Rodenticides poisoning wildlife – where we’re at: Last year Wild Justice published a report about rodenticides called Collateral Damage – click here to read it. The report analysed the Government’s Rodenticide Stewardship Scheme, which was implemented to try and reduce rodenticide exposure in wildlife. We looked at data on rodenticide poisoning – specifically the use of Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) - in Buzzards and Red Kites to check if the scheme was working. Unsurprisingly it determined that it wasn’t. That, and another study from last month showing that 91% of Otters tested had been exposed to SGARs show us that the Rodenticide Stewardship Scheme is failing to reduce rodenticide exposure in wildlife (you can read several reports on the Wildlife Poisoning Research UK website – click here). A shoddy consultation: Now, the HSE - which controls the approval regime in the UK for rodenticides and decides what can be used and what cannot - has announced a consultation on rodenticides. The consultation looks at what alternatives to Second Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides (SGARs) are available. Although this is meant to be a ‘public’ consultation, there appears to have been very little publicity informing the general public or conservation bodies that this exercise is taking place. Of course, it’s likely the pest control industry and the chemical companies will have been informed and will be submitting responses. What’s the consultation about? If the HSE is going to continue approving these poisons it needs to argue that there are no other viable alternatives available to control rodents. There are lots of large chemical companies that want this to happen and to maintain the status quo; SGARs are highly profitable and we can expect producers of these poisons to be lobbying hard to make sure they can continue to make and sell them. As we know, current ineffective rodenticide regulation means the use of SGARs is causing widespread harm to wildlife, including Buzzards, Red Kites (as per our report), Foxes, Otters, and even Peregrine Falcons (see reports here). What alternatives to SGARs are actually available? Non-poisons: The best way to deal with a rodent problem is to prevent it in the first place. Prevention can include: clearing up waste food, sealing rubbish bins, removing rodent harbourage, not over feeding birds and clearing-up waste food encouraging wild predators and sealing rodent access points into buildings. You (and us) are ‘rodent controllers’ if you are using prevention rather than lethal means. If a rodent infestation is established, there are other non-poison-based lethal control options (which should always be a last resort). Poisons: SGARs are just one group of poisons. There are now a number of products that were once approved for use in the UK, for use in other countries, or will soon to be coming onto the market in other countries, which should have been included in this consultation. These include: Non-SGAR alternative rodenticides such as Cholecalciferol, with which the targeted rodent stops feeding once a lethal intake has been consumed (reducing risk of secondary poisoning of predators and scavengers). Zinc Phosphide - a highly effective acute rodenticide. DR8 - a product developed with the support of the New Zealand Government which is specific to rats and poses no apparent secondary poisoning risk. Carbon Dioxide gas (also known as Rat Ice). Contraceptive products such as ContraPest, which controls rat populations by restricting rodent reproduction. So, if there are alternatives, why is the use of SGARs allowed to continue despite the harm they cause? A toxic relationship: This is where it gets interesting. Perhaps the most critical word in this consultation is ‘availability’. Because, despite HSE being the body that approves different rodenticides for use, it’s actually the chemical companies that control the availability of products on the market. They do this by deciding which products they submit for approval. And of course, the decisions around which products they submit are likely based upon which are most profitable and not on their potential environmental impact. It just so happens that SGARs are the most profitable poisons around, so it’s highly unlikely that companies will be submitting other products for approval, unless regulation forces them to. So – chemical companies are effectively in control of what is and isn’t on the rodenticide market in the UK. Clearly, there is now a role for the regulator (the HSE) to control the market by limiting SGARs (or banning them entirely which we would prefer) in order to encourage chemical companies to introduce less environmentally damaging alternatives. Some companies making these poisons may suggest that there are no other alternatives (a situation which the companies themselves have created). But there are good arguments for restricting the use of SGARs: There is Increasing evidence of SGAR exposure in wildlife, including exposure in aquatic food chains and in non-rat eating predators (Otters and Peregrine Falcons). It does appear that however bad this situation gets, the HSE seems determined to ignore this evidence. There is also evidence that sub-lethal exposure to SGARs in a range of species reduces immunity and increases disease levels. In rats that have been exposed to SGARs and survive there are higher levels of Leptospira, which cause Weil's disease (Murray and Sanchez, 2021). Coincidentally, the need to control Weil’s disease is frequently one of the arguments used by the pest control lobby for the use of SGARs. Now it seems their use may be making the problem worse! This consultation really is awful… But this is an opportunity for you to add to the conversation around rodenticides. Anyone can legally go out and buy poisons, and no one checks how they are being used. The chemical companies will want people to believe that SGARs are essential and must be used without any further restrictions being imposed. It is likely that they will always downplay the level of harm SGAR exposure causes to wildlife. Wild Justice and other organisations are concerned that the timing and structure of this consultation process are not conducive to a fair assessment of alternatives to SGARs. There is a real concern that the HSE’s approach favours maintaining the status quo, potentially due to pressure from chemical companies who benefit financially from the continued use of SGARs. We suggest that you could usefully spend 20 minutes or so responding to this consultation. What you say is entirely up to you, but we’ve written a bit of guidance in a blog to help you navigate this shoddy consultation – you’ll find a link to the consultation, and our advice on filling it out, by clicking here. We would also like to say a big thank you to Dr Ed Blane (who runs Wildlife Poisoning Research UK), who has been immensely helpful in sharing background information, data and his valuable expertise on this subject - we wouldn't be doing this work without him. Thank you Ed! Thank you too for your help - we'll be back later this week with a newsletter about some of our other recent activities. Wild Justice (CEO: Bob Elliot. Directors: Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 252nd 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

SHROPSHIRE COUNCIL FACING BACKLASH FOR ALLOWING FOXHOUNDS ON LUDLOW’S STREETS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Shropshire Council faces backlash over Boxing Day hunt exemptions ROB POWNALL SEP 28 READ IN APP Image: Herefordshire Hunt Sabs Every Boxing Day, the Ludlow Hunt parades its pack of foxhounds through Ludlow town centre. Dozens of dogs run loose, weaving through crowds of people and children. Any ordinary dog owner who allowed this would be fined on the spot. But because it’s a hunt, Shropshire Council turns a blind eye. Last year, campaigners at Action Against Foxhunting (AAF) succeeded in blocking the Hunt from beginning its parade inside Ludlow Castle. Instead, the meet spilled out onto the streets — with the Council granting a road closure under an archaic Victorian law (the Town Police Clauses Act 1847). Before that, the Hunt had simply blocked roads without permission. At the same time, Shropshire has a Public Space Protection Order (PSPO) that bans dogs from running freely in public areas. Break the rules, and you face a £100 fine. Yet the Council has refused to apply the PSPO to the Ludlow Hunt’s hounds. AAF has repeatedly challenged this decision, raising concerns about public safety and fair enforcement. Their evidence shows that hounds at public events can pose hygiene risks and that the Council has been inconsistent in how it enforces the rules. Despite detailed correspondence, campaigners say their concerns have been dismissed with contradictory and inaccurate replies. One council response described the Ludlow Hunt as a “humane drag hunt” — yet the Hunt itself openly states it uses fox scent, making it a trail hunt, a practice the Government has already signalled it intends to ban. Other council replies suggested that hunting is akin to “farming activity,” despite hunts being private businesses. The result is a clear double standard: hunts appear to be given exemptions not available to anyone else. That’s why, ahead of this year’s Boxing Day meet, we are supporting AAF’s call for Shropshire Council to enforce its own rules. No unleashed hounds in town centres. No dangerous exemptions. No more privileges for hunts. 👉 Sign the petition now to tell Shropshire Council: Stop putting hunts above the law. Enforce the PSPO this Boxing Day. Sign the petition Together, we can make sure that Boxing Day in Ludlow is about community, not cruelty, and that the law applies equally to everyone. Help power the fight for British wildlife We’re funded entirely by kind people like yourself. We don’t have major donors or govt backing and so that’s why over the coming weeks you’ll see us doing all that we can to push our 2026 Wildlife Calendar. It’s just such a great way for us to raise funds and you get an awesome calendar in return! :) Packed with beautiful wildlife photos taken by our incredible supporters, like this one by Eve Aylott for the month of May! Protect the Wild 2026 Calendar SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

STAG HUNTING — FROM PROTECT THE WILD — THE POSH LOOK GOOD ENOUGH TO KILL

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Devon and Somerset Staghounds on another killing spree TOM ANDERSON SEP 25 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP On 13 September Devon and Somerset Staghounds (DSSH) once again showed just how ugly the face of stag hunting really is. The hunt separated a young stag from his companions, pursuing him until he was exhausted before killing him with a rifle. Members of North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs (NDHS) were on the scene. They commented on Facebook: "Today the DSSH showed no effort to disguise what was taking place. It was staghunting as it always was before the ban. No animal should be treated as this stag was today. This was not Research & Observation. For the hunt to argue differently is wholly untrue. Secondly for the authorities to believe the hunt explanation is tantamount to supporting the ongoing cruelty of twenty years since the ban." 'Research and observation' sham Deer are fully protected by the Hunting Act 2004, but stag hunts use the ‘Observation and Research’ exemption which allows hunting with two dogs "for the purpose of or in connection with the observation or study of the wild mammal." However - surprise, surprise - no peer-reviewed ‘research’ has EVER been published by any hunt. Supposed observation and research is just another way for hunts to get around the Act and carry on hunting just as they have always done, despite over two decades since the ban. Another loophole exploited by stag hunts is the rule regarding the 'flushing' of stags or hinds by a maximum of two hounds in order for them to be shot. Hunt groups routinely use relays of hounds - meaning that as the dogs tire they will be replaced with fresher ones, so the deer has little chance to escape. Separated from the herd This video from NDHS shows DSSH's hounds pursuing a herd of hinds and stags. Hounds eventually separate one stag, chasing him uphill until he is exhausted. He is then followed by DSSH's riders: The desperate stag can be seen in video footage being chased down to the Exmoor foxhounds kennels, then killed on the Two Moors Way by a Devon and Somerset Staghounds member. NDHS wrote: "The desperate stag, in his last minutes, ran right down to the Exmoor Foxhounds kennels and got boxed in as he tried to hide in the undergrowth surrounding the stream. As a gunman (in the bowler hat) went in for the kill, he made one final courageous break for it, but was brought to bay and killed along the Two Moors Way in Simonsbath” Another fatal chase at Winsforth Hill, via NDHS Two days earlier, another stag had been killed by the DSSH, this time on National Trust land at Comer’s Gate on Winsford Hill. Apparently a "historical easement" allowed hunting on the land. We will be contacting the National Trust to verify this. On both occasions, NDHS reported that their sabs were subjected to verbal abuse by DSSH riders and supporters. On 13 September a sab was "roughly handled" while on the Two Moors Way public footpath. This behaviour is completely unacceptable. On 15 September NDHS reported that they and Mendip Hunt Sabs witnessed the killing of another deer at Heddon Browside in Somerset, this time by Quantock Staghounds. The stag was cruelly chased to exhaustion for three long hours. On 16 September, the Devon and Somerset Staghounds were out again at Kingswood Gate in Molland near Exmoor but - thankfully - failed to achieve a kill. Thankfully DSSH failed to kill on 16 September, via NDHS Devon and Somerset Staghounds - along with the Quantock and Tiverton Staghounds - are one of three stag hunts who are still terrorising wildlife in the South-West of England. We need the government to strengthen existing laws, tighten up loopholes and end stag hunting for good. Sign our petition calling for a proper ban on hunting, and check out our proposal for a workable ban on the hunting of mammals with hounds. Make a donation to North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs and help them to protect stags and hinds from the likes of Devon and Somerset Staghounds. Check out our Protectors of the Wild page on ‘Assaults and the Law'. If you’ve been affected by violence from the hunt when out monitoring or sabbing it can be useful to get mental health support. We can put you in touch with a trained counsellor who can provide sessions fully funded by Protect the Wild. Click here to find out more. Check out Protect the Wild's explainer article on 'The Brutal Reality of Stag Hunting'. Check out Protect the Wild's pages on 'Deer Hunting' and 'Deer and the Law'. We’re off to a flying start! Almost 200 sold already! 🎉 The 2026 PTW Calendars are now available You can now get your hands on the fifth edition of the Protect the Wild Calendar and support our vital work fighting for British wildlife 💚 🦊 🦡 Protect the Wild Calendar 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 BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION TRUST

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Montage of images including bumblebees, people and flowers Hello, It's officially autumn! The weather might be cooling down as we move out of summer and towards the end of the growing season but bumblebees are still active and we are just as busy, working across the UK to bring about positive change for bumblebees. This month we bring you news of a big change to come from our Chief Executive Officer, Gill Perkins, alongside details of how you can help fight against the decline of bumblebees. We also bring you an update of our work across the UK and hands-on tips and ideas for how to help bumblebees in your garden or local green spaces. Read on to find out more 👇 A fond farewell to CEO Gill Perkins image of a bumblebee on a pale purple flower with a smaller of Gill Perkins In February 2026, our Chief Executive Officer, Gill Perkins, will be stepping down to take her well-deserved retirement. The Bumblebee Conservation Trust has been under Gill's dedicated leadership for ten years, during which time the Trust has grown to become the leading voice for bumblebee conservation in the UK. Reflecting on her time as CEO, Gill said: “Every day, I’ve been inspired by the people around me – the staff, volunteers, supporters – all of whom care deeply about bumblebees and our environment. I’ve always believed that people are the key to our success, and I’m proud to have helped nurture a love of bumblebees in so many. I feel privileged to have played my part in one short chapter of the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and I’m excited for my successor, who has the amazing opportunity to write the next part of the Trust’s wonderful story.” Angela Style, Chair of the Board of Trustees, paid tribute to Gill’s leadership: “Gill has been a visionary and compassionate leader, guiding the Trust through a decade of growth and impact. Her ability to connect people to our mission and inspire action has been extraordinary." The Trust is now beginning the search for a new Chief Executive Officer, who will join the organisation at a very exciting time as 2026 will also mark the 20th anniversary of the Trust. If you know someone who might be perfect for the position, please feel free to share with them. The deadline for applications is 2nd October 2025. Find out more about the CEO vacancy Declaration on UK Insect Declines Crisis Five people on stage at the Wild Summit event On 11th September we were delighted to join some of you at the Wild Summit in Bristol where, together with Buglife and Butterfly Conservation, we held a panel event to discuss how we can solve insect declines. During the event, we announced The Bristol Declaration on the UK Insect Declines Crisis🚨 Backed by over 60 organisations and influential people, the declaration calls for change across governments, land managers, businesses, and the general public because: 🐝 Insects are essential for our world to function. 🐞 They pollinate crops and wild plants, recycle nutrients, maintain healthy soils, control pests, and form the base of the food web for birds, bats, fish, and other wildlife. but 🐝 Bumblebees declined by almost a quarter (22.5%) in 2024 – the worst year on record since BeeWalk surveys began. 🦋 Butterflies also had their worst year on record in 2024 and have struggled to bounce back in 2025, despite ideal weather – a sign of deep environmental stress. 🪰 Flying insects have fallen by almost two thirds (63%) since 2021, based on Bugs Matter surveys. We can turn the tide on this if we all work together to 🌱 Restore insect-friendly habitats ⛔ Cut harmful pesticide use 🛡️ Protect key species and ecosystems 🔬 Invest in science and education 📈 Make the UK a leader in insect recovery Senior Science and Policy Officer, Darryl Cox, said, “This declaration is about coming together to say that insects are vital for nature to function, that there is already an overwhelming amount of evidence to show they are in crisis, and that we must act now to help them.” Will you join us in being part of the solution? Find out more about the Declaration🔍 Sponsor a Species 🐝 Bumblebees on purple flowers In the last century, the UK has lost 97% of its wildflower meadows, leading to the extinction of two bumblebee species. Today, eight species risk that same fate. With your support, we’re already leading the fight to save bumblebees but we need to do more. We’ve developed a Species Recovery Programme to help secure the future of rare bumblebees. Can you help? By sponsoring a species, you’ll be supporting our work to: 🐝Map the abundance and distribution of rare bumblebees in the UK 🔎Carry out scientific research and fund knowledge gaps 🆘 Define areas most in need of conservation, targeted at rare bumblebee species Sponsor a Species today ❤️ What should you do if you find an old, tired bumblebee? 🐝💤 Worn and shiny bumblebee on pink flower 📅 As the weather cools and the days shorten, we’re nearing the end of the bumblebee active period and this Common carder bumblebee is looking a bit tired and worn. ⚰️ The faded colours and missing hair are all signs that this old timer is approaching the end of its natural lifespan. Here’s how you can help: 🚫 If an old, tired bumblebee is resting in a place where they won’t get squashed, just leave them bee. Let nature gently take its course. There’s no need to take any action. 🌻 If they are resting somewhere they might get squashed, you can offer something, like a piece of kitchen paper, for the bumblebee to climb onto. Carefully carry it to a flower and let it crawl off to enjoy the last few sips of nectar peacefully. Discover more bumblebee FAQs Conservation round up Four people with bumblebee survey equipment in a park The Trust’s conservation and science projects span from Cornwall to the Outer Hebrides. Here’s a quick overview of the last few months. The Moss Carder Bee Recovery project is making headway on the ground in Cornwall, Kent and Northumberland, with bumblebee sightings across landscapes. We’re grateful to all our volunteers and project partners for their strong support so far. Our Species on the Edge team in the Outer Hebrides are helping to restore crofting land using innovative no-fence grazing collars to keep cattle where they need to be. They also hosted a successful wildlife festival with over 90 events. In Somerset, the Save Our Shrills: Somerset project is seeking new funding to continue vital work for the endangered Shrill Carder Bee. Watch this space… The Buzzing in the East End team is engaging communities in London, with flagship sites established and local community group partnerships flourishing. Project volunteers (see the photo above) have been busy surveying bumblebees across the area. Over the 2025 bumblebee season, 932 BeeWalk transects have been walked so far with more than 101,000 individual bees recorded. Vital data to understand how the bumblebees are doing! Training of our dedicated BeeWalk volunteers remains a key priority through our Skills for BeeWalk work. Both online and face-to-face bumblebee ID training have been popular this year with 765 attendees. In the Cairngorms, Skills for Bees: Scotland is thriving with new records of Bilberry bumblebees thanks to the ‘Bumblebee-bagging in the Cairngorms’ campaign. Although we are sadly saying goodbye to long-serving Project Officer Annie Ives, we are pleased to welcome Lucy Duerdoth to the team to take the project forward. Explore our projects Bee the Change for bumblebees 🐝 There may only be a few days of September left, but it's not too late to get in the garden with our fabulous September planting guide. This month, Yellow rattle is one of our top planting suggestions. Also known as hay rattle, rattle grass and the meadow maker this sometimes overlooked plant is a key part of wildflower habitats as it is semi-parasitic on grass roots, stealing away nutrients for its own use. This weakens grasses and prevents them from out competing the wild flowers that our bumblebees rely on. Why not add Yellow rattle to your meadow, whether it's a mini meadow pot or a larger area? It's easy to grow by scattering and treading, but not covering, the seed in to bare soil. To prepare the area, just use a rake to scrape back the surface vegetation in a few places. Discover more plants to grow in September in our FREE planting guide👇🏾 September planting guide Fundraising regulator The Bumblebee Conservation Trust is registered with the Fundraising Regulator. You can read more on our Fundraising Promise online. We will never sell or swap your details, and you can opt-out at any time. For further information please see our Privacy Policy. 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 PROTECT THE WILD — A CALENDAR FOR YOU WITH A BADGER IN FULL VIEW

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Exciting news! 15 year old photographer leads our calendar cover! We’re just launched the 5th edition of our Protect the Wild British wildlife calendar! ROB POWNALL SEP 24 READ IN APP We have just launched the 5th edition of our Protect the Wild British Wildlife Calendar and once again it is packed with absolutely breathtaking photographs from our incredible supporters. One of the highlights of my year is sorting through the entries. It is such a privilege and honestly one of the best parts of my job to see so many remarkable images of Britain’s wildlife, from foxes and badgers to owls and deer, all captured with such care and creativity. I am especially delighted that 15 year old wildlife photographer Shelby Grant has kindly allowed us to feature his stunning badger photo on this year’s front cover. It is a powerful reminder that the next generation is as passionate about protecting wildlife as we are !! :) But it is not just the cover that makes this calendar special. Every month is filled with brilliant images that celebrate the beauty and diversity of British wildlife. Importantly, the calendar is also one of the biggest sources of income for Protect the Wild, helping us to continue our vital work fighting wildlife persecution, supporting investigations, and pushing for stronger protections for animals. Every copy sold makes a real difference to the campaigns we can run and the change we can achieve. I’d love you to pick up a copy, we’ve priced them at £7.95 to try and make them as affordable as possible whilst also turning a good profit to fund the ongoing fight for British wildlife. Whether it’ll be your 1st time getting one or indeed your fifth, we really do appreciate it! Let’s see how many we can ship out to wildlife lovers across the country! Protect the Wild Calendar Protect the Wild Calendar SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

THE DEBATE ON BADGER CULLING WILL TAKE PLACE IN PARLIAMENT

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The Badger Cull Debate is Finally Here, Now We Need Your Help After many months of relentless campaigning and pressure, we finally have a date. ROB POWNALL SEP 23 READ IN APP After many months of relentless campaigning and pressure, we finally have a date. On Monday 13th October, Parliament will debate our petition to end the badger cull. This has only been made possible because of you. Over 100,000 of you signed, shared, and spoke up, pushing this issue onto the parliamentary agenda. Without your support, this debate would not be happening. Why This Matters Since the cull began, over 250,000 badgers have been killed, alongside nearly 280,000 cattle slaughtered, yet bovine TB remains uncontrolled. The government’s so-called “25-year strategy” is failing. The science is clear: culling does not work, and it must end. This debate is our chance to set the record straight. It is our chance to expose the cruelty, the waste of public money, and the government’s refusal to build a genuine cattle-focused TB strategy. The Challenge We Face Here is the reality. Out of 650 MPs, there are perhaps five we can truly trust to speak up for badgers and demand an end to the cull. That means every single supportive MP matters, and every one of them must feel the pressure from us to attend and speak out. If they do not show up, the government’s story goes unchallenged. If they do, we have a real chance to hold them accountable. What Happens Next Over the coming weeks we will be: Briefing supportive MPs with the latest evidence and arguments Working with campaigners and allies to make sure the truth is heard Mobilising supporters like you to reach out to MPs and ask them to attend This is where you come in. How You Can Help We have prepared a clear and powerful letter for you to send directly to the MPs who need to be in that debate. It only takes a couple of minutes, but if enough of us do it, they will not be able to ignore us. 👉 Send the letter now and ask MPs to attend the debate and speak out for badgers Send the letter in seconds Together, we have forced this debate onto the parliamentary timetable. Now we must make sure it counts. Want to support the fight for British wildlife? We work on a shoestring budget compared to the major NGOs but we are so proud of our output. Just some of the things we do: Undercover investigations Research, report writing, journalism Equipment and mental health support for animal activists Hard-hitting viral animations Online and offline campaigning - protests, petitioning, awareness And we do all of this without any major backing or big donors. Picking something up from our online shop is one of the best ways you can help us continue our vital work. We’ve got lots of lovely wildlife items and a £10 and under section too :) Support Protect the Wild Wildlife trio Tote Bag SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — BADGER CULL — THE CASE AGAINST

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The Post Office Scandal of Wildlife: Badger Cull Exposed as a Catastrophic Mistake Analaysis by Badger Crowd reveals "major howler" and that "culling would never have been sanctioned". CHARLIE MOORES SEP 22 READ IN APP The badger cull strategy, based on the results of the 1998 - 2025 Randomised Badger Control Trial (RBCT), put the wheels in motion for the widespread killing of badgers that has occurred over the last decade. Pushed by Defra and the NFU as the best way to control Bovine TB - a disease now widely acknowledged as spread by cattle to other cattle - the ‘strategy’ divided the country into three different bTB management zones. Killing badgers was greenlit in over 70 areas of England. Since 2013, hundreds of thousands of badgers have been killed. The current Labour government came into power acknowledging that the cull was ‘ineffective’ and vowing to bring it to an end. In June this year, Natural England approved nine supplementary licences for culls. Yet, all the evidence shows that culling DOESN’T work. That should come as little surprise after an explosive re-evaluation of the RBCT by Prof Torgerson et al showed that when "more plausible approaches" to data analysis are used, the RBCT data strongly suggest that "there is no effect" of culling on bTB in cows. As we wrote in December 2024, “Imagine this: for decades, an entire government policy causing mass death is founded on evidence that many scientists now say is deeply flawed. Like the infamous Post Office scandal, where innocent workers were blamed for crimes they didn’t commit, the badger cull hinges on a narrative that points the finger at badgers for spreading bovine tuberculosis (bTB) to cattle. The result? Over 230,000 badgers, a protected species, slaughtered since 2013 in what some researchers are now calling an unnecessary and misguided campaign.” Frantic face-saving has been taking place amongst the coterie of Oxford academics on whose recommendations the slaughter of badgers took place. They have put their faith in a review of the ‘evidence’ by Professor Charles Godfray that was supposed to have justified the use of RBCT data to determine culling strategy. Godfray was reappointed to lead the review despite his role in the previous 2018 review that gave cover for culling to continue. Godfray has now reported back, and a blog posted on The Badger Crowd has torn the results to shreds. In the blog they reveal ‘a major howler’ and confirmed that “badger culling would never have been sanctioned if the RBCT had got its statistics correct back in 2006”. Once again, the government’s badger cull 'policy' has been shown to be an utter mess. A quarter of a million badgers have been killed, and England is littered with the corpses of badgers who don't have Bovine TB and aren't to blame for spreading the disease anyway. The long-awaited ‘Godfray’ report, a review of scientific evidence since 2018 concerning bovine TB in cattle, was published on 4th September. Commissioned by Defra, it is supposed to feed into a ‘comprehensive new bovine TB strategy’ that was announced in August 2024 by the incoming Labour government. It is the science that the new policy should be based on, so it is an important – and needs to be sound. Panel epidemiologist: Professor James Wood Chapter 6: The Disease in Wildlife focuses on badgers. The report does not deal head-on with the Royal Society Open Science pre-publication review by Prof Mark Brewer. This claimed that models suggesting ‘badger culling works’ were ‘naïve at best’. Instead, a newcomer to the issue, statistician Prof Bernard Silverman (a colleague of Christl Donnelly at Oxford University) has tried to rescue the situation & restore statistical validity to show some positive disease benefit. Panel statistician: Professor Sir Bernard Silverman Silverman presents a new set of models. He confirms (para. 65) in a massive ‘wake-up’ finding that a paper by Prof Torgerson’s study group in June of this year did show that the key 2006 RBCT paper by Donnelly and others, in short, got the modelling wrong. This has massive implications for a wide number of papers that have used that paper’s calculations to build further models. It must cause a tsunami of scientific correction, or the retraction of dozens of publications that have been used to promote badger culling over the last 20 years. This is potentially one of the biggest shake-up’s in biological science, for a generation. The ‘perturbation effect hypothesis’ evaporates, for example. Panel member: Professor Glynn Hewinson Instead of the huge significance claimed in 2006 for badger culling, Silverman has tried to produce a model that ‘just about’ finds an effect from badger culling, providing ‘weaker evidence for a positive effect’. But nevertheless, at first glance, it might save Oxford’s blushes. The problem is that he gets to this position in a manner that is both unconvincing, and incorrect. Panel member: Professor Michael Winter Firstly, there has been Godfray ‘science’ report simply adds to the bovine TB chaos. Not just from Silverman but the two peer-reviewers asked to check his models, and Defra officials who supervised the process. Annex 4 of the Godfray report outlines the binomial model he has used, but gives the wrong information criteria (ic) outputs. These are standard applications that test how well the model fits the data. He claims to have used what is called Akaike, but instead presents Bayesian outputs. One assumes that this was not intentional, but rather a transcription error. However, in addition to this, he has failed to address the fact that for binomial models with small sample sizes (the RBCT was an experiment with a small sample size – just ten paired comparisons), his binomal approach should have used a particular type of Akaike information criteria. When applied, results suggest that models showing a benefit from badger culling are those least supported. The best supported models are those that do not include badger culling, indicating badger culling had no effect. Even if he had decided that the Bayesian approach was the correct way to evaluate the models, the small sample size variant should have been used and this too makes badger culling the wrong model to favour from a statistical, hence scientific perspective. So any ‘merit on both sides’ of the current modelling debate, the football equivalent of a score draw, does not apply as he had hoped. Torgerson’s analyses win handsomely on penalties and the RBCT is relegated. The implications of a flawed report to the Minister are huge for Defra and Godfray, who chose Silverman to try to rescue the unsavable. It looks such a crude attempt that the new Minister (Zeichner has now gone) will have some difficult explaining to do. Do farmers get their money back for doing something pointless for the last 12 years, and do wildlife charities get compensation for rightly fighting, at huge cost, a scientifically botched policy? It’s going to be interesting. And if culling doesn’t work, neither will badger vaccination or TVR, which appears to be Defra’s new direction of choice. The second Godfray report could potentially be seen as a back-covering exercise to try to protect Oxford University, but it has not succeeded. This is grounds for a major inquiry, with standards of scientific integrity and the impartiality of appointments under the spotlight. Badger culling would never have been sanctioned if the RBCT had got its statistics correct back in 2006. (Edited for length, the full version of this article can be found on The Badger Crowd blog.) In November 2024 Protect the Wild launched a government petition calling on the government to end the Badger cull and adopt other approaches to bovine TB control. Our petition passed the 100k signatures needed to trigger a parliamentary debate in May, and we have been told in the last few weeks that a debate has been scheduled for 13 October 2025. We welcome the opportunity. The government must be challenged over its decision to continue killing badgers in the face of mounting evidence that doing so is irrelevant to tackling bTB in cows. What has Protect the Wild been doing to tackle the cull? We called on the Labour government to honour its promise to stop the badger cull. Over 100,000 badger supporters signed the petition and a parliamentary debate is scheduled for 13 October 2025. We commissioned a series of powerful animations designed to highlight the cruelty and futility of the badger cull that have been viewed millions of times. Through our Equipment Fund we have been providing trail cams and night vision optics to front-line groups taking direct action in the field to protect badgers. We’re syndicating the blog posts of the Badger Crowd – a team of specialised ecologists and scientists who focus on badgers and the cull. We created Protectors of the Wild, a free resource that looks in detail at the laws protecting badgers and other animals. Protectors explains how we can Recognise, Record, and Report wildlife crime and help stop them taking place. Help fund our work at Protect the Wild by picking up a Badger pin badge :) Badger pin badge Sleeping Badger pin badge SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2025 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

THE HUNT SABS DO IT AGAIN — IT IS AN EXCELLENT READ

Saturday 13/9/2025 Cubbing meet Ledbury foxhounds. Joing us today we also had the company of one of our good friends from @Hereford hunt saboteurs, always lovely to see them. Hounds met at Underhill farm, Pendock. So, a 7am meet and a mounted field of 22 excluding the huntsman Peghead and his sidekick whip- also a rather small child perched precariously on a little grey Welsh mountain pony who who being held on a lead rein by a woman who should have known better as the little pony was clearly very exited by the whole thing!!! Today's pantomime set off with the inclusion of the terrier boy:s quad and so our morning began. This meet runs parallel to the M50, certainly not ideal for either them or us- made for difficult hearing at times! When hounds did enter covert it was clear they were blatantly hunting, plenty of saddle banging could be heard and the usual trying to whoop the hounds up into a frenzy!! Once they realised we were present the disappearing act was introduced- sabs however, being resourceful creatures soon reconnected with their adversaries - the huntsman's wife Vikki quick to get on her phone and warn hubby we were on the outside of the covert- wasn't long before out he and the hounds popped and off they ran!!! Clearly in a very short period of time -(we heard nothing which would indicate that hounds had rioted) Peghead could be heard trying to gather his hounds this went on and on!! Next we find the whip no longer mounted on his equine but on the back of a terrier quad, stopping periodically and peering over hedges and gateways- one suspects they have lost not just the plot but hounds!!! Sabs found a single lost hound a short while later it was completely indifferent to the horn calls from the whip, wouldn't come to us either eventually it turned around and ran up the hill but not in the direction of the whip!!! By 10.30 the only box that was left at the meet was the hunt lorry, it had at this point moved onto the drive so our assumption was they were now "All on" and were on their way back to kennels imminently. Horns and hollas.. the sabs with attitude.

CRUELTY RECORDED AND CONVICTIONS AND SENTENCES HANDED DOWN — TERRIERMEN CONVICTED

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Mid September hunting news update Norfolk terrierman convicted of animal cruelty and more TOM ANDERSON SEP 21 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP In this mid-September fox hunting news update we report on the conviction of a Norwich-based terrierman for not providing medical care to a Patterdale terrier under his care. In addition: On 26 February hunt monitor Chantelle Leach was assaulted by a hunt supporter. We reported at the time that Essex Police treated her case with a severe lack of care, with one cop ending a call by saying “I have crimes to deal with”. Now, the officer who dealt with her has been given a written warning for using misogynistic language in another case. The Royal Artillery Hunt was chucked off Salisbury Plain last year after the Ministry of Defence announced that it would not approve new licenses for hunting on its land. We take a look at the landowners who have been hosting the hunt since then. Norwich terrierman convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to a Patterdale terrier Daniel Eldridge (pictured in our header image) has been convicted of animal cruelty offences by Norwich Magistrates Court, after a case was brought against him by the RSPCA. The charges date back to 2021 and 2023 at Marshland St James, near Wisbech. Eldridge pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to Spud, a Patterdale terrier, when he failed to seek medical care for the dog after he sustained facial injuries. Spud had deliberately been sent undergroundto fight with badgers. The prosecutor in the case told the court that the seriousness of Spud's injuries should have been “obvious to any reasonable owner”. He said that Spud was in a “substantial level of pain”, but Eldridge failed either to take him to the vet or give him pain relief. In fact, the terrier needed facial surgery. Eldridge initially plead not guilty, but in the end admitted to the charge of causing unnecessary suffering, changing his plea to guilty on the day of the trial. Alongside failing to properly tend to Spud's injuries, Eldridge admitted to illegal tail docking too. Laughably, the defence barrister tried to excuse Eldridge's treatment of Spud by saying that he was finding the rapidly deteriorating public reputation of hunting difficult. Piers Walter, defending, said that his client was "struggling with cultural shifts over the rules and culture of hunting." Not an isolated incident This is by no means the first time that a terrierman has been convicted of failing to properly treat a dog's injuries. To give just one example, Robert and Jack Mills were convicted of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal at Folkestone Magistrates Court in December 2023 after they tried to tend to their dog's wounds with superglue. According to KentOnline, The men had glued up their terrier Fudge’s lip after he was maimed while fox hunting. The dog was also found to be missing a number of front teeth. Another dog, a lurcher called Rose, was discovered with an oozing nail bed, scars across her face, and a large part of her tongue missing. Protect the Wild has spoken to an anonymous source who said that Eldridge's conviction is linked to the case of Sam Staniland, who was given a suspended 26-month prison sentence in Norwich Crown Court on 10 April this year after himself pleading guilty to multiple charges of animal cruelty. Ex-Essex & Suffolk huntsman (ESH) Staniland's case was, like Eldridge's, brought by the RSPCA. Staniland pleaded guilty to several charges of allowing Patterdale terriers, foxhounds and lurcher dogs to fight badgers and foxes. Five dogs were confiscated and rehomed during the proceedings. At Protect the Wild, we think that hunting and so-called terrier work needs to be consigned to the trashcan of history sooner rather than later. Terrierwork makes cruel injuries inevitable Terriers are sent into fox earths by terriermen to flush them out, so that the hunt can kill them. Shockingly, terrier work isn't illegal under the Hunting Act, although allowing dogs to fight with wild animals is. Protect the Wild's Charlie Moores wrote: "It isn’t hard to imagine the cruelty of putting terriers below ground to go after foxes (or other wild mammals). The terrier is trained to display aggression towards the fox, while the fox [or, in this case, badger] ''is likely to return that aggression in self-defence. Although the law states that terriers aren’t to attack or injure the fox, because they are underground and beyond the direct control of terriermen, there’s no guarantee the two won’t fight. At that point, with terrier and fox attacking each other, it’s little more than literal underground dog fighting. Both fox and terrier can end up with horrific injuries as a result of their confrontation." Possessing badger remains Eldridge was also charged with illegally possessing the remains of a dead badger and with causing suffering to another Patterdale named Sam. The RSPCA eventually offered no evidence to these additional charges after Eldridge's defence team offered a 'Basis of Plea' (a kind of plea bargain). The court sentenced him to 120 hours of unpaid work and a 12-month conditional discharge. He was also ordered to pay £1000 court costs and is not allowed to keep dogs for the next two years. Earlier in the proceedings he had voluntarily surrendered nine dogs that were under his care. Protect the Wild's Rob Pownall says that Eldridge's case highlights the wider issues of cruelty linked to terrierwork: "Cases like Daniel Eldridge’s conviction highlight a much wider issue of the neglect and mistreatment of dogs used in terrierwork. Far too often, these dogs are pushed into dangerous situations underground, denied proper veterinary care, and treated as disposable tools rather than living animals." At Protect the Wild, we want to end the gruesome world of terrierwork. Sign our 'End Terrier Work petition and read Charlie Moores' article on 'Terrierwork, terriermen and the grotesque world of fox hunting'. Picture of Spud via RSPCA Cop accused of misogyny against wildlife defender given written warning for using inappropriate language Back in February, hunt monitor Chantelle Leach was assaulted by hunt supporter Tom Greig. Essex Police initially refused to take any action and Protect the Wild launched an e-petition calling for them to take the case seriously. Chantelle's complaint was eventually handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), but Chantelle felt she was treated inappropriately by PC Oliver Stovell, and that his actions felt like they had "misogynistic undertones". Now, Stovell has received an official reprimand related to another case for - amongst other things - using inappropriate, insulting, and misogynistic language about a colleague. Chantelle Leach speaking to Protect the Wild back in March On 26 February, Essex & Suffolk Hunt (ESH) supporter Tom Greig was filmed smashing hunt monitor Chantelle Leach’s phone and shoving her during the ESH’s meet in Little Bentley on 26 February. The assault escalated off-camera. Chantelle told Protect the Wild's Rob Pownall: “From nowhere, someone grabbed my phone from that my hand and flung it. And then he starts grabbing me. He starts throwing me around. Unfortunately, this is when the lady filming stops filming, and she didn’t get [footage] of my assault. So it’s really hard for people to understand what actually happened to me. You see one of the times he smashed my phone, but after that, he kept hold of my phone and he was grabbing me here [gestures to her collar area]. I remember my forearms hurting afterwards. I still have shoulder pains. I still have lower back pain. So he was shaking me down quite a bit." "This is how women are treated when they’re attacked" When Chantelle went to the police, their response was to treat her like the criminal, not Greig. Stovell ended one phone call with Chantelle by saying "I've got crimes to deal with". Essex Police initially wanted to deal with Greig by offering him a caution and an anger management course. However, Chantelle didn't think that a caution was enough. She told Protect the Wild: “It’s just going to give police a bigger task in the future, because this guy is just going to keep reoffending. So I just don’t want them to silence me or any other women, because, you know, there’s an there’s a national emergency with violence against women at the moment, and then this is how women are treated when they’re attacked, when they’re assaulted.” Chantelle told us that Stovell "didn't seem to care at all" about what she'd been through. She said that he repeatedly got her name wrong and even tried to get her to sign a version of her statement that he had heavily amended. Stovell refused to interview Chantelle and, after interviewing Greig, claimed that he had shown remorse and this was reason enough not to hand the matter over to the CPS. Chantelle said that the way Stovell treated her was "unprofessional" and had "misogynistic undertones". She has since made a complaint to Essex Police about his behaviour. Now, Stovell has received a final written warning in regard to another matter after he used insulting and abusive language about a detainee who had self-harmed. Stovell also watched football on his phone while on duty, and used insulting, inappropriate and misogynistic language about a colleague. The last communication that Chantelle had from Essex Police was that - after pressure from Protect the Wild and Chantelle's police complaint - the case has finally been handed over to the Crown Prosecution Service. She hasn't heard anything from the police or CPS since July. Chantelle's case highlights what wildlife defenders are up against when they try to get justice from a police force that, as Chantelle says, "doesn't care at all". The fact that Stovell has now been handed a final written warning for inappropriate and misogynistic behaviour in another matter underlines the fact that the matter has so far been treated with casual disregard by Stovell and Essex Police. Read Protect the Wild's original article on the assault by Greig and watch our video interview with Chantelle. Chantelle was acting as a hunt monitor for Suffolk Action for Wildlife. Consider donating to the monitors here. Any amount will be gratefully appreciated. Check out our Protectors of the Wild page on ‘Assaults and the Law'. If you’ve been affected by violence from the hunt when out sabbing it can be useful to get mental health support. Protect the Wild is in touch with a trained counsellor who can provide sessions to sabs, funded by Protect the Wild. Click here to find out more. What are the Royal Artillery Hunt up to now that they've been chucked off Salisbury Plain? Last year the Ministry of Defence announced that it would not approve new licenses for hunting on its land, following a long-running campaign by hunt sabs and Protect the Wild. As a result, the Royal Artillery Hunt (RAH) lost their access to Salisbury Plain, which had been their main hunting ground. So where did the RAH go next? A fox runs from Charles Carter of the Royal Artillery Hunt. A fox runs from Charles Carter of the Royal Artillery Hunt, via Salisbury Plain Monitors. The RAH are a notorious hunt, with a long record of both illegal fox hunting and violence against the public. Huntsman Charles Carter has been served with a Community Resolution Order (CRO) after assaulting a female hunt sab with a whip. Carter had previously been forced to resign from his role as a Tory councillor after making sexually inappropriate remarks to another female sab. Hunt monitors and saboteurs have repeatedly shown Carter and the Royal Artillery Hunt have acted in contravention of the Hunting Act too. On 24 December 2021, sabs found the remains of a recently killed fox in the same spot where Carter and the pack of hounds had been positioned just moments earlier. And three days later, on 27 December, sabs captured footage of hounds killing a fox on MOD land. They were also caught on camera blatantly hunting on 30 October 2021. In March 2023 Protect the Wild reported that Carter and RAH whipper-in Guy Loader were both issued official warnings by the Ministry of Defence (MOD) Police. The men violated a bye-law when they didn't keep their hounds under control while hunting on 22 October 2022. That time, Salisbury Plain Monitors filmed Carter taking no action as the RAH hounds chased deer across a field. So where are the RAH hunting now? Salisbury Plain Monitors have been keeping the RAH under close tabs, and this month the group reported that the hunt had met up on land owned by Lacock Dairy in Reybridge, Wiltshire - a regular meet point for hunts. The hunt has also reportedly met on land owned by Rew Farm Holiday Accommodation in Wiltshire. Rew Farm advertises itself as animal lovers but, according to Protect the Wild's Blood Business database: "We’d be hard-pushed to accept the term ‘animal lover’ applying to a beef farm as it is, but definitely not from somewhere willing to host on multiple occasions the notorious Royal Artillery Hunt (RAH). Having been given their marching orders from terrorising wildlife on Salisbury Plain it is disappointing that anyone would host this hunt – but as Salisbury Plain Hunt Sabs reported in September 2025, the unlovable RAH were back at Rew Farm almost a year since they were reported there in November 2024, when Rew Farm allowed the RAH to meet and hunt on their land from 12 noon to 3.30." Stokes Marsh Farm in Coulston, Wiltshire, boasts that it follows the "highest ethical standards". Owned by AT and TF Johnson, the farm's moral code didn't stop them from hosting a cubbing meet by the RAH last year. Salisbury Plain Monitors wrote in September 2024: "The Royal Artillery hunt were blatantly cubbing at 7.30 am behind electric gates, with no access, in this fortified farm. This time, we dread to think what happened to our wildlife this morning and go to bed with heavy hearts. Shame on you, Stoke Marsh Farm and all your customers.” Along with these businesses, the Royal Artillery Hunt has been relying on land provided by friendly landowners linked to the disgraced Avon Vale and Tedworth Hunts. It's landowners like these that enable the likes of the RAH to continue to kill wildlife, even though big public landowners like the MOD have stopped issuing them with licenses. If these businesses truly cared about animals and ethics they would have nothing to do with the Royal Artillery hunt. If you have info about more businesses supporting the RAH or other hunts you can tip us off here. Check out our Blood Business entry on Jumblebee, the online fundraising site that has been providing a platform for the Royal Artillery hunt to raise money through online auctions. You can write to them here and ask them not to provide a platform for the RAH and other hunts. Salisbury Plain Hunt Sabs have been at the forefront of the campaign against the Royal Artillery Hunt for years. You can support their work on Paypal. Support Protect the Wild with a small monthly donation Times our really hard right now for organisations like ours. We rely solely on the generosity of the public and don’t have any major funders behind the scenes. Despite being a relatively small group we are so proud of our output and it is thanks to every single person who chips in a few pounds a month that we can continue our vital work. We do everything we legally can to fight for British wildlife. From undercover investigations, animations, journalism, report writing, equipment and mental health support for activists, protests, pressure campaigning.. Our monthly goal is to find 100 new supporters each month who believe in our mission and can afford to give anything from £2/3 a month in the fight for British wildlife. We’re currently on 65 new supporters at the halfway point which is brilliant! :) Support Protect the Wild 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

END BOTTOM TRAWLING — IT KILLS NEEDLESSLY — A POST FROM CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST

View this email in your browser End Bottom Trawling in Marine Protected Areas Hello John Right now, we have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to protect Cornwall’s seas – but time is running out. There are only 10 days left to have your say and protect Cornwall’s seas. The Marine Management Organisation (MMO) is consulting on a ban of bottom trawling and dredging in 42 offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) across England – including 15 right here in Cornish waters. If approved, this would increase the protection of our seabed from bottom trawling from just 3% to 20% – a huge step forward for marine life. But we only have 10 days left to make our voices heard before the consultation closes on Sunday 29 September 2025. Respond now Bottom trawling is one of the most destructive forms of fishing, damaging fragile habitats like reefs, seagrass, and corals. Protecting these areas will give our seas the chance to recover – benefitting wildlife, fisheries, and our coastal communities. 📣 Please take a few minutes today to respond to the consultation. Your voice could make the difference. 👉 Find out more and take action on our website here This is an urgent and important moment for our seas. Let’s make sure Cornwall leads the way in protecting ocean life for generations to come. Thank you for standing up for Cornwall’s seas, Cornwall Wildlife Trust Find out more about MPAs in Cornwall P.S. Every response counts. Please don’t wait – the deadline is 29 September and once it passes, this chance to protect Cornwall’s seas will be gone. Header image: Thornback ray - Paul Naylor Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon © 2025 Cornwall Wildlife Trust. All rights reserved. Registered charity number 214929. Privacy Policy and T&Cs Our mailing address is: Cornwall Wildlife Trust Five Acres, Allet, Truro, Cornwall, TR4 9DJ Want to change how you receive these emails? You can unsubscribe from this list.

THIS POST IS FROM PHEOBE WESTON WRITING IN THE GUARDIAN. IT IS ABOUT BEES AND WE SHOULD TAKE NOTE

Support the Guardian Support us Fund independent journalism Down To Earth - The Guardian Bees flying around and landing on a tree branch. 18/09/2025 Why saving the honeybee could be bad news for other bees   Phoebe Weston Phoebe Weston Everyone wants to save the bees. Angelina Jolie put on a beekeeping suit for Guerlain and David Beckham proudly presented the King with a pot of honey from his bees in Oxfordshire. So many people wanting to do good have set up hives in their gardens or on roofs that they have become a symbol of sustainability. Of course, farming honeybees is a great way to make delicious honey, but there is a sting in the tail – keeping hives doesn’t help wild pollinators. Successful campaigns to “save the bees” have struck a chord with the public, but domestic honeybees don’t need saving because they are not in decline – setting up beehives is almost the equivalent of farming chickens to save wild birds. Meanwhile, there is a huge swathe of pollinators – about 270 species of solitary bee and 25 species of bumblebee – that are in real crisis and urgently need our help. Many of these threatened species are becoming rarer every year. More on what we can do to help, after this week’s most important reads.   Essential reads Human-made global warming ‘caused two in three heat deaths in Europe this summer’ Human-made global warming ‘caused two in three heat deaths in Europe this summer’ A tiny town in Idaho dodged incineration in 2024. Will the next wildfire take it out? A tiny town in Idaho dodged incineration in 2024. Will the next wildfire take it out? ‘You’re going about your day and suddenly see a little Godzilla’: Bangkok reckons with a giant lizard boom ‘You’re going about your day and suddenly see a little Godzilla’: Bangkok reckons with a giant lizard boom   In focus Various shrubs, some with purple and pink flowers, next to a succulent. Honeybees are essential for pollinating food crops (which we, obviously, need) but research suggests that when honeybee numbers boom, they negatively impact wild pollinators – especially in places where they are non-native such as Australia and America. High numbers of honeybees can actively harm wild bee populations because they outcompete them for nectar and pollen. They can forage further than other bees, but also there can be as many as 50,000 of them in a hive – far more than the nests that native bees live in. That’s not a problem when flowers are plentiful, but in environments where resources are limited, wild bees may struggle to find food. My reporting on this story this week led me to the work of Keng-Lou James Hung, an assistant professor of biology at the University of Oklahoma, who has been studying how this global bee battle is playing out on San Diego’s coastal scrub, where non-native honeybees have gone feral – living wild, not in a hive. Each spring, after the winter rains, this scrub landscape bursts into life. Sagebrush, white sage and buckwheat unfurl their leaves, throwing sweet aromas into the hot air. The landscape has all the hallmarks of a pristine ecosystem, but Hung’s research shows another story is unfolding here. In July, he published a study finding that 98% of bee biomass (the weight of all bees) in that area came from feral honeybees. They removed about 80% of pollen during the first day a flower opened, according to the paper, published in the journal Insect Conservation and Diversity. “Context is king,” Hung told me. “As our study showed, in places like San Diego, it seems likelier that they are exploiting food resources to the detriment of native pollinators. Species aren’t inherently “good” or “bad” but there are circumstances in which the introduction of species to certain locations could be problematic, just like goats and cats introduced to oceanic islands,” he added. Such high rates of pollen extraction leave little for the more than 700 species of native bees in the region, which need pollen to raise their offspring. Some of those species have not been seen for decades. Scientists are finding this kind of story elsewhere in the world, including an experiment on an isolated Italian island showing that honeybees were causing declines in wild pollinators (you’ll have to read my piece to find out more about that). “As a researcher, I always get asked whether all the bees are in trouble, which at least means that people have recognised invertebrates as species that they should be concerned about, so that’s a good start,” says Hung. “We can’t blame the managed honeybee PR machine for being so good at its job; we just need to step up the game on native bee conservation advocacy and education,” he says. How people see the issue will influence how they take action, says Hung. “People who mistake honeybees as conservation targets would donate to causes that support honeybee health research and vote for policies that support beekeepers; if they had all the correct information, they might have instead chosen to allocate some significant portion of those commitments to native bee research and conservation instead.” For people who want to help all bees, the best way to do it is to plant a variety of flowers that bloom from early spring right through to late autumn. Many “weedy” plants are rich sources of pollen and nectar, so ditch weedkiller. Leave areas undisturbed where solitary bees and bumblebees can nest. Also, be lazy! Mowing lawns less frequently can lead to an increase in bee abundance of up to 30%. “I am quite encouraged that all over the world, there is an increased awareness of native bees; and more and more people now know that honeybees are not native to many parts of the world,” says Hung. “Overall I’m optimistic that people are more willing to accept nuanced answers and diversify their conservation interests.” Read more: Wild bees visit different flowers to balance diet, study shows The best way to help bees? Don’t become a beekeeper like I did | Alison Benjamin I was terrified of bees – until the day 30,000 of them moved into my house | Pip Harry   Composted Reads The good news Fish mint, Himalayan chives and berry pickle: how wild ingredients are transforming school lunches in India Fish mint, Himalayan chives and berry pickle: how wild ingredients are transforming school lunches in India Scientists claim they’ve made ‘pivotal step’ in bringing back the dodo for first time in 300 years Scientists claim they’ve made ‘pivotal step’ in bringing back the dodo for first time in 300 years Powering up: how Ethiopia is becoming an unlikely leader in the electric vehicle revolution Powering up: how Ethiopia is becoming an unlikely leader in the electric vehicle revolution The bad news Google’s huge new Essex datacentre to emit 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year Google’s huge new Essex datacentre to emit 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year ‘It’s dying in front of our eyes’: how the UK’s largest lake became an ecological disaster ‘It’s dying in front of our eyes’: how the UK’s largest lake became an ecological disaster ‘Extreme nausea’: Are EVs causing car sickness – and what can be done? ‘Extreme nausea’: Are EVs causing car sickness – and what can be done? Read more on The Guardian right arrow The most important number of the climate crisis: 424.3 Atmospheric CO2 in parts per million, 14 September 2025 Source: NOAA   The change I made – Compostable bin liners Down to Earth readers on the eco-friendly changes they made for the planet A compostable bin liner on top of food waste in the opening of a wooden compost container. Melbourne-based reader Bruce Watt emailed to advocate for his simple way to better dispose of your stuff. “I use biodegradable bin liners and dog poo bags and I decline plastic bags in supermarkets where possible,” he writes, adding that it is “very irritating” to deal with plastic packaging. Do make sure you double-check your bags, however – in 2024, the Guardian reported that poor labelling allowed “massive amounts” of plastic, including non-compostable bin liners, to hit shelves. Let us know the positive change you’ve made in your life by replying to this newsletter, or emailing us on downtoearth@theguardian.com   Creature feature – Pronghorn Profiling the Earth’s at-risk animals A herd of pronghorn. Population: Around 1 million Location: Great Plains, US Status: Least concern Although down dramatically from their estimated population peak of 35 million in the 1800s, the pronghorn is thriving after centuries of fluctuation. According to the National Park Service, “coyote predation and reduction of winter range north of the park through development by private landowners” saw troubled times for the animals in the 1990s, but such is their growth in numbers, the animals (often wrongly called pronghorn antelopes) have been spotted exploring new territory. As Jeremy Miller reported for the Guardian in 2020, the animals “ventured into the sun-scorched lowlands of Death Valley national park” for the first time in living memory. For more on wildlife at threat, visit the Age of Extinction page here   Picture of the week One image that sums up the week in environmental news People carrying their belongings wade through a flooded street after overnight heavy rains in Legian, Badung, Bali. Credit: Dicky Bisinglasi/Reuters Bali, Indonesia, has this week faced its worst floods in a decade – with 17 dead and thousands more affected by heavy rain and landslides. As Matt Andrews reports, “this year’s monsoon season began unusually early after India’s wettest May in 125 years. Traditionally, the monsoon starts in early June and lasts through to September.” For more of the week’s best environmental pictures, catch up on The Week in Wildlife here   … there is a very good reason why not to support the Guardian Not everyone can afford to pay for news. That is why our website is open to everyone. 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