PROTECT THE WILD - THEIR FOURTH MONTHLY UPDATE OF ‘EYE ON THE WILD’

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Eye on the Wild - Your weekly roundup of British wildlife news Eye on the Wild #4 ELIZA EGRET JUN 21 READ IN APP Welcome to the fourth edition of Eye on the Wild, our new weekly roundup designed to keep you up to date with the latest stories concerning British wildlife. Each week, we’ll share important news, updates and stories from across the UK, including issues, species, and campaigns that may not always make the headlines. We’ll also highlight ways you can help and take action for wildlife. If you have a story you think we should cover, email us at contact@protectthewild.org.uk Natural history will soon be a GCSE subject! The government has announced news that natural history is one step closer to being taught in classrooms. One of the core aims of the GCSE is for students to acquire deep knowledge of the species and habitats that make up the natural world in the UK. The GCSE will include at least 20 hours of fieldwork, and pupils will develop hands-on research skills through documenting field evidence, using classification systems and analysing data. Pupils will learn the effect of destructive human activities on wildlife and habitats, and learn how to protect them. The government frames the new GCSE around advantages for the British workforce, stating that the GCSE will “grow next generation of green careers”. But at Protect the Wild, we believe the real value is simpler: children who grow up knowing nature, and therefore wanting to be proper custodians of it. If you’re a teacher, parent or pupil, the government wants your say on what’s in the curriculum. The consultation runs until 4 September. Make your voice heard and help shape a generation of young conservationists. Fill in the consultation Hazel dormice have been released into woodland More than 40 hazel dormice have been released into ancient woodland in Leicestershire. This was the second release of the dormice onto the Bradgate Park Trust estate, as part of a national reintroduction programme by the People's Trust for Endangered Species. UK populations have decreased by 70% since 2000. They are now locally extinct in 20 English counties. Loss of woodland and hedgerows, changes to traditional land management, and the effects of climate change, are all contributing to the hazel dormouse's decline. Dormice sleep through most of the day and come alive at night, climbing trees in search of hazelnuts, berries and insects. They spend five months of the year hibernating, and they even snore! Each release is a small but vital step in reversing the hazel dormouse's decline before it's too late. Dog guardians are responsible for the decline of Little Tern numbers at a key breeding colony People with dogs must act more responsibly as Little Tern numbers have fallen steeply at a key UK seabird colony. Populations have decreased by 50% at Seaton Carew near Hartlepool. Just 55 nesting pairs have been recorded, half the number volunteers had hoped for. In May, Tees Valley Wildlife Trust volunteer wardens recorded 427 cases where dogs were inside the exclusion zone. In June, there were 93 cases on one day alone. Even brief disturbances can cause adult birds to abandon their nests, leaving eggs and chicks vulnerable. Little Terns migrate thousands of miles from West Africa each spring to nest on UK beaches. Their numbers have fallen 39% since the 1980s due to habitat loss, disturbance and predation. Hartlepool Borough Council stated that dog guardians should: respect the dog exclusion zone, keep dogs on leads near the nesting area, respect the fencing and warning signage, give wildlife plenty of space. Of course, this advice applies at all beaches that are used as nesting sites in the UK. A top private school hunt has been caught illegally killing a hare with children present On 4 June, Stowe School huntsman Philip Kennedy pleaded guilty to hunting a wild mammal with dogs. A member of the public's drone footage caught the hunt in the act on 13 November 2025. Kennedy shook hands with hunt members while his hounds mauled the hare. He was fined a pitiful £258 and ordered to pay £585 court costs and a £103 victim surcharge. The hare’s life was practically worthless in the eyes of the law. Stowe School in Buckinghamshire is one of Britain's most exclusive boarding schools. In his role as huntsman, Kennedy was listed as part of the Games department on the Stowe School website. Just after he was convicted, the school removed the listing. Schools like Stowe, Eton College and Radley College are grooming the next generation of hunters and indoctrinating children into a world of violence. Kennedy's conviction follows a familiar pattern. It’s a token punishment that changes nothing for him or the hunt. The Hunt Saboteurs Association has released footage of the gruesome reality of stag hunting On 11 June, the HSA released footage of the Devon & Somerset Stag Hounds terrorising a hind, with hunt master Steve Coates in shot. You can view the video here. The HSA stated: “Her back leg is visibly broken or dislocated and is hanging uselessly as she cowers in deep water, desperately trying to hide against the bank. Two hounds are deliberately allowed to torment her at close range while she stands spent, trembling, and in total physical collapse – the so-called “at bay” moment so beloved of the stag hunters.” Stag hunting is possibly the UK’s most gruesome blood sport. Hunters use a variety of transport methods to murder deer, including quad bikes, motorbikes and on horseback. It is near-impossible for a stag to escape. When he is exhausted from an hours-long chase, he collapses. He is then shot by a gun-carrier, his throat is slit, and his body is divided up as different trophy parts. The HSA video is yet more proof that whoever is Prime Minister - Starmer or Burnham - they need to immediately act to protect wildlife from lunatics like those in the Devon and Somerset Stag Hounds. Dorset and Somerset Bassets huntsman has been convicted of illegal hunting On 18 June, huntsman Charlie Ford was convicted of hunting a hare. Ford was in charge of the pack and made no attempt to stop or recall the dogs from the hare. The incident took place in Bagber, Dorset, on 13 October 2024. This hunt, which routinely breaks the law as it terrorises hares, is owned by famous racehorse trainer Colin Tizzard. Ford was fined a measly £648, ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £259, as well as court costs of £650. Meanwhile, three members of the notorious Beaufort Hunt have been charged under the Hunting Act this week, after killing a fox on 20 December 2025. Charges and convictions damage hunt reputations. But reputational damage isn’t enough. Labour has the power to ban hunting for good, if it has the political will to do so. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing