FROM CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST — HELP REBIRTH OF TEMPERATE RAIN FORESTS BY LEAVING A WILL

View this email in your browser Hi John Imagine yourself walking through a quiet Cornish valley. The air is cool with moisture - ferns spill over moss-covered stones, and a nearby stream trickles. Birdsong carries through the trees. You’re standing in temperate rainforest. Once common in Cornwall, this habitat is now incredibly rare. Yet thanks to a remarkable gift in a supporter’s Will, there is hope. West Muchlarnick Farm was left to Cornwall Wildlife Trust with a simple wish: that it would benefit wildlife. Today, it’s the heart of our 50-year Temperate Rainforest Project, restoring much of the land to this rare and beautiful habitat. As a member, you’re already helping create a Cornwall where nature thrives - and we’re so grateful. Some members choose to make that impact last for generations. Not every gift in a Will is a farm. But every single one helps shape the future of Cornwall’s wildlife. Learn about Gifts in Wills here Free Wills Month You may have seen other charities promoting free Will-writing at this time of year. But planning for the future shouldn’t be limited to one or two months in a year. That’s why we’ve partnered with Cornwall based Lacuna Wills and the award winning Make a Will Online, both of which can offer supporters a free Will-writing service, all year round. If you choose to leave a gift in your Will to Cornwall Wildlife Trust, you can help protect and restore precious wild places – and the wildlife that depends on them – so future generations can enjoy them as much as you do. Start your free Will here A lasting gift to Cornwall’s wildlife Many of the people who choose to leave a gift in their Will are members, just like you. They’ve spent years walking Cornwall’s coast paths, exploring rockpools and wandering in ancient woodland - and doing what they can to tackle the growing threats to Cornwall’s wildlife. Including a gift in their Will can feel like a natural next step - a way to protect the places they love long into the future. Every gift, no matter the size, makes a lasting difference. Nature really does bring so much joy. It’s up to all of us to make sure future generations can enjoy it too. Request your free Gifts in Wills brochure here Get in touch - we’d love to hear from you If you’re interested in leaving a gift in your will, or you’re already planning on leaving us a gift, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We'd love to get to know the generous people who choose to remember us in their Will. With warmest wishes, for now and in the future, Tom Mercer Individual Giving Officer Cornwall Wildlife Trust tom.mercer@cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk P.S. If you’ve already chosen to leave a gift to Cornwall Wildlife Trust in your Will, thank you so much. If you’re happy to let us know, we’d love to thank you properly and keep you updated on the difference your future gift could make. Please note: Cornwall Wildlife Trust works with a number of independent will-writing providers to help supporters who wish to make a Will. There is no obligation to leave a gift to Cornwall Wildlife Trust in order to use any of these services. Full details can be found here. Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon © 2026 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.

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — CONVICTIONS FOR HUNTERS. ARE WE GETTING SOMEWHERE WITH LAW & ORDER

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Hunting Update - Two hunters found guilty of assaults on sabs and more TOM ANDERSON MAR 6 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP February 2026 saw several hunt members convicted for violence against wildlife and wildlife defenders alike. Meanwhile - as we wait for the Labour government to make good on its promise to ban the facade of ‘trail hunting’ - UK hunts have recently been caught on camera killing hares, foxes and deer. As usual, their actions show a complete disregard for the Hunting Act. Also in this update: Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan is calling on the government to tighten up all the loopholes in the Hunting Act, not just some. We name and shame the worst UK hunts, according to the statistics. In late January, Northants Hunt Saboteurs caught terriermen hired by the Cottesmore Hunt red-handed as they were digging out a badger sett. This shameful action came barely a month after the British Hound Sports Association caved to pressure and issued guidance that fox hunts should not engage in terrierwork. Hunts across the UK continued to cause havoc on the roads as their hounds ran out of control. One dog was tragically killed in Teeside while a hunt in North Wales abandoned another. February 2026 saw several convictions for hunt-related violence On 19 February Protect the Wild reported the dramatic conviction of Philip Saunders, huntsman for the Pipewell Foot Beagles, who admitted breaking Section 1 of the Hunting Act after encouraging hounds to kill a hare. Footage taken by wildlife defender Emma Reed went viral, leading to Saunders’ arrest. Saunders even had his hunting horn confiscated by the court. But the charges that had been brought against master and whipper-in Rachael Lenton as well as the Pipewell Foot Beagles Limited as a body corporate were dropped. The prosecution against Sam Jones of the Cottesmore Hunt, however, was unsuccessful. Jones was on trial for an incident on 18 January 2025 where he is heard “doubling” his hunting horn, urging the pack on toward a fox. His acquittal by Leicester Magistrates Court on 5 February prompted Northants Hunt Saboteurs to write that “the law is not fit for purpose and is continuing to fail wildlife.” During February there have been two other hunt-related convictions for violence against wildlife defenders. Nathan Goulding, joint hunt-master of the Cotswold Vale Farmers Hunt, was found guilty of assault and battery after he rode his horse at two female hunt saboteurs during a hunt meet on 21 January this year. His case was heard in Cheltenham Magistrates Court on 20 February. The Hunt Saboteurs Association wrote: “Hunts should know that the days of assaulting sabs with impunity from the law are over, and that the internet has a very long memory. Well done to Welsh Border Hunt Sabs for pursuing this conviction.” The court ordered Goulding to pay £676 in court costs and issued him with a six-month conditional discharge (essentially a slap on the wrist). Banned from using a shotgun Toby Flemming, Convicted of common assault, image courtesy of Suffolk/Norfolk Hunt Saboteurs. On 4 February, Norfolk/Suffolk Hunt Saboteurs (NSHS) reported that Toby Flemming - the owner of Eastgate Farm in Marham - was ordered to pay a fine of £1536 after being convicted of common assault on a lone female wildlife defender. Flemming also had his shotgun license revoked. NSHS wrote on their Facebook page: “We hope not to see him with a shotgun shooting hares. We will be watching you.” The group told Protect the Wild: “All of us at Norfolk and Suffolk Hunt Sabs welcome the conviction of Toby Flemming. There are far too many attacks on Sabs that are ignored or cases messed up or lost. We are glad the right outcome happened here. We are also happy his shotgun license was revoked so he can’t kill any more hares this year.” Hunt sab headbutted The cases of Goulding and Flemming are by no means isolated incidents. In fact, yet another hunt member was arrested on 24 January. Beds & Bucks Hunt Saboteurs (BBHS) were working that day with Peterborough Hunt Sabs, trying to prevent wildlife crimes by the Fitzwilliam Hunt. BBHS described on their Facebook page how Fitzwilliam huntsman Shaun Parish: “became highly agitated and abusive after he was prevented from hunting and proceeded to dismount his horse and act in an aggressive manner” At the same time, Fitzwilliam rider George Kennedy used a horse as a weapon to pin a sab up against a tree. The whole incident was filmed by sabs and Parish was arrested by officers from Cambridgeshire Police after he headbutted one activist, then took off his riding hat and hit them in the face with it. The three convictions above, together with the violence by the Fitzwilliam Hunt, show once again the menace that hunts pose to our wildlife and to members of the public. As parliament dithers over when to hold the consultation over Labour’s long-promised ban on ‘trail hunting’, hunts are left to run wild. If you’ve been affected by violence and abuse from the hunt it can be useful to get mental health support. Protect the Wild is funding a trained counsellor who can provide sessions to monitors and sabs. Click here to find out more. Check out our Protectors of the Wild page on ‘Assaults and the Law’. Donate to Welsh Border Hunt Sabs here. Help Norfolk/Suffolk Hunt Saboteurs buy more body cameras, to enable them to pursue convictions like the one against Toby Flemming. Click here to donate. Support Beds & Bucks Hunt Saboteurs. Labour’s Neil Duncan-Jordan calls for an end to the falconry exemption The government has confirmed - in answer to a written question by Montgomery and Glyndŵr Labour MP Neil Steve Witherden - that it has made “no assessment” of the effectiveness of the falconry exemption, which governs the use of birds of prey in fox hunting, and it has no plans to close up the loophole. The 2004 Hunting Act’s falconry exemption states that “flushing a wild mammal from cover is exempt hunting if undertaken… for the purpose of enabling a bird of prey to hunt the wild mammal”. Unlike other exemptions contained in the Hunting Act, this one doesn’t contain a two-dog limit. As a result, a full pack of hunting hounds is legally able to flush out a fox or hare for a bird of prey to then kill. Since 2004, ‘falconry’ has provided a ready-made smokescreen for hunts to get away with hunting with hounds. In 2005, DEFRA noted its concern that many hunts were rushing to buy raptors, as the presence of the birds at a hunt is a sure-fire way to establish plausible deniability over whether hunts are intending to flout the law. In 2018, the falconry exemption was tested out in court in 2018 when huntsman George Adams and falconer John Mease of the Fitzwilliam Hunt found themselves in the dock. Adams was convicted of illegal hunting, but Mease was acquitted on the grounds that the hounds on the day were not his responsibility. Minister confirms that exemption will not be reviewed Witherden had asked what assessment has been made by DEFRA of the effectiveness of exemptions permitting the use of birds of prey in fox hunting activities; and whether it planned to review its policies. Dame Angela Eagle - Labour minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs - replied that: “The department has made no assessment of the effectiveness of exemptions permitting the use of birds of prey in fox hunting activities and has no plans to review those provisions.” From Neil Duncan-Jordan’s Facebook page. Duncan-Jordan: ‘This loophole has got to go!’ Poole’s Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan has expressed concern to the Minister over the response. He wrote: “The falconry exemption is a classic smokescreen for hunting with hounds. You wouldn’t fox hunt with a falcon - the British Hawk Board warns against even attempting it. A hunter was even caught on tape calling the exemption “a good wheeze”. This loophole has got to go! We need a truly watertight ban that removes the covers used to kill wildlife. I’ve warned ministers for months: a narrow focus on trail hunting alone won’t cut it.” According to Protect the Wild’s Rob Pownall: “It’s absurd that the government says it won’t even look at the falconry exemption when hunts routinely hide behind exemptions like this to continue their sordid activities. If we’re serious about a watertight ban on hunting, every exemption and every loophole must be properly examined and closed.” Use Protect the Wild’s automated tool to email your MP and demand that they ensure that Labour follows through with enacting a proper ban on hunting, including closing ALL the loopholes. Foxes, deer and hares killed by hunts during February Hunts have continued their cruel bloodsport over the last month, and it’s not just foxes that have fallen victim. The Rural Crime Team at Cambridgeshire Constabulary is investigating the killing of a hare by the Thurlow Hunt on 26 January at Horse Heath in Cambridgeshire. North London Hunt Saboteurs released this GRAPHIC FOOTAGE: On 9 February, the Thurlow’s hounds killed another hare, this time near Weston Colville in Suffolk. Deer fall victim too On 21 February, Northants Hunt Saboteurs reported that the Cottesmore Hunt’s pack ripped apart and killed what appeared to be a muntjac deer. Huntsman Sam Jones, undeterred by his recent brush with the law, disposed of the animal’s body. They wrote: “Jones can be seen dismounting his horse to pick up the dead animal and toss it over the saddle of his horse. We can’t be 100% sure that this wasn’t a fox but what we can be certain of is that the Cottesmore killed a wild mammal and have been caught out again! A life is a life and the Cottesmore have sadly taken another.” https://scontent-lhr6-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t39.30808-6/638949465_1313139297513939_3205214613719368077_n.jpg?_nc_cat=109&ccb=1-7&_nc_sid=7b2446&_nc_ohc=mCN_m4Hz3qUQ7kNvwF-B4Vn&_nc_oc=Adn-ts2hRZPFIuqRu-LTCPp__kGgvXo7ZNHDLkEpywuVGBQZeYAe8DyWDWXgpvj15Nk&_nc_zt=23&_nc_ht=scontent-lhr6-1.xx&_nc_gid=IANC1oKUEGJiicINdvobag&_nc_ss=8&oh=00_AfxKtgkAcYbHGim7kZmLFGWacZ789rh6wQMA1pkVNSVdbg&oe=69ADEF89 Sam Jones hoists the body of the muntjac onto his saddle - courtesy of NHS The Middleton Hunt’s pack also mauled a deer on 31 January, and police were called to put the animal down. Calder Valley Hunt Saboteurs wrote angrily: “Is no animal safe from these killers?” Fox’s tail ‘a sick trophy’ Several foxes were killed too in February. On the same day as the muntjac was killed, Herefordshire Hunt Saboteurs caught the Herefordshire and Clifton Hunt’s terriermen blocking up a badger sett. They were dismayed to find that they had arrived too late. A fox’s brush lay on the ground like “a sick trophy of the kill”. That day, Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch, Bristol Hunt Saboteurs and Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs also sabbed the Beaufort Hunt, who blocked up badger setts, terrorised wildlife, and killed yet another fox. As Labour continues to sit on its hands, wildlife is paying the price. Please help North London Hunt Saboteurs carry on the fight against the likes of the Thurlow. They are currently fundraising money needed for their 4x4s. You can make a donation to their ongoing work here. Donate to support Northants Hunt Sabs to protect wildlife from the menace of the Cottesmore. Check out Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch. Make a contribution to Herefordshire Hunt Saboteurs and/or to Calder Valley Hunt Saboteurs. Which are the worst hunts in the UK? Ever wondered which hunts are the biggest menace to wildlife and wildlife defenders in the UK? Protect the Wild was asked this question by a supporter recently. We put together these statistics from the data we’ve been collecting since 2023, gathered from open-source reports shared by hunt saboteurs and monitors. hunt supporter punches campaigner boxing day 2025 Violence is common at hunt events. This picture shows a hunt supporter punching a wildlife defender on Boxing Day 2025. Here’s what we came up with... The data below shows numbers of foxes chased, foxes killed as well as major and minor attacks on wildlife defenders and other members of the public. As you can see, some of the UK’s worst hunts are: Gloucestershire’s Beaufort Hunt, King Charles and Camilla’s old hunting crew, who Protect the Wild and the Hunt Investigation Team filmed shooting their hunting hounds in the head after they were no longer deemed of use to the hunt. North Dorset based Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt (BSV) are consistently high up on the list too. They shocked Channel 4 viewers in 2024 when the tearing up of a fox in a residential garden at Pelsham Farm the previous year hit the headlines. Four of them were convicted under the Hunting Act last year. They are notoriously violent to members of the public too - in 2024, Dorset Police Rural Crime Team arrested two men associated with the BSV Hunt after a string of attacks against hunt sabs and their property. The East Midlands-based Cottesmore are up there as well. They have become infamous for hiring thugs to attack sabs and their vehicles. Dorset’s Cattistock Hunt is also worth a mention. They were caught red-handed last year killing a fox at Abbotsbury Swannery and narrowly escaped conviction in 2023 after chasing a fox onto a railway line. Finally, last ‘season’s’ top three included Devon’s Eggesford Hunt, who shocked wildlife defenders last year when they began 2025 by killing a fox and a deer at two separate meets. Cheshire’s Wynnstay Hunt - another group that has been hiring thugs to attack sabs and monitors - was observed killing the highest number of foxes last ‘season’. They were caught in the act 11 times, according to Protect the Wild’s figures. These six hunts stand out when you look at the number of foxes that sabs and monitors have observed being chased and killed over the past three years, coupled with reports of violence toward wildlife defenders and other members of the public. However, there are sadly plenty more who are worthy of mention for other reasons. The figures speak for themselves really. We thought they might be a handy guide for those of us who aren’t up for waiting for parliament to finally act and tighten the loopholes to allow this barbaric bloodsport to continue. Hunt saboteurs and wildlife monitors are the frontline defence for our wildlife. If you’re not already in touch with your local group, why not make 2026 the year to get involved. Check out the Hunt Saboteurs Association’s list of local sab groups. Cottesmore terriermen caught red-handed on a dig-out Despite the British Hound Sports Associations’ (BHSA) December 2025 ruling that ‘terrierwork’ should be separated from supposed ‘trail-hunting’, the Cottesmore Hunt has been carrying on business as usual regardless. Terriermen flee from a dig out, after being caught red-handed by Northants Hunt Sabs - photo courtesy of NHS. During the Hunting Office’s leaked Zoom webinars held in 2020, Mark Hankinson (then Director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association) described terriermen as the “soft underbelly“ of so-called ‘trail hunting’. Hankinson used the phrase because it is impossible to justify the presence of terriermen - whose traditional role is to ‘dig out’ foxes - during a ‘trail hunt’. The BHSA made their ruling at the end of last year, in a move that smacked of desperation. Their decision came as the government was renewing its promises to hold a consultation on a ban on ‘trail hunting’ and in the wake of the arrests of members of several hunts, following the filming of a dig out at a meet organised by the Coniston Foxhounds. Cottesmore terriermen flee On 20 January, Northants Hunt Saboteurs (NHS) caught the Cottesmore Hunt’s balaclava-clad terriermen busy trying to dig a fox from a badger sett. NHS described the reaction of the terriermen: “Hunt terrier-men, so desperate not to be identified fled the scene leaving their poor bloodied terrier behind. The terrified abandoned terrier eventually ran away.” This bloodied terrier was abandoned at the scene - picture courtesy of NHS. NHS wrote on their Facebook page: “Hunting cannot regulate itself, in our recommendations for the amended Hunting Act we are calling on the government to bring an end to all current exemptions.” Terriermen were a regular feature of hunt meets during February 2026, despite the BHSA’s supposed ban in late 2025. Check out the HSA’s recent report, What Terrier Man Ban? At Protect the Wild we also oppose the cruelty of ‘terrierwork’. Please check out our campaign to end ‘terrierwork’ here. 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. And here’s another reminder to donate to support the awesome Northants Hunt Saboteurs if you can. Foxhound killed on the road in Teeside In the last month several hounds have been lost, injured or killed on the roads, showing once again that hunts couldn’t care less about them. Zetland Hunt Hound killed on road - Via TABS On 28 January, Teeside-Anti Bloodsports (TABS) reported that a hound belonging to the Zetland Hunt had tragically been killed on the High Coniscliffe-Piercebridge Road. On top of that, Northants Hunt Sabs videoed a hunting dog being hit by a car as the Fitzwilliam Hunt’s pack pursued a fox across a road on 31 January. Hound abandoned by the hunt Wildlife photographer Richard Bowler was surprised to find a lost foxhound on his property on 01 February in North Wales. Despite shouting “Does anyone want their hound back” repeatedly, he couldn’t find the hunt. It seemed clear that they weren’t looking for the lost hound. Eventually, Bowler was able to return the dog to people who knew the local hunt. The reports of killed, injured and lost hounds are all too common. Hunts treat dogs as tools, not like the sentient beings they are. Bowler wrote angrily on Facebook: “This is another reason why hunting with dogs needs to be banned, I’ve lost count of the days I had to protect our property from this gun pack. Only last year I had to see a fox to safety being chased by their hounds.” Check out Protect the Wild’s Hunt Havoc website, detailing the road chaos caused on a regular basis by hunts across the UK. Image of Boxing Day Hunt violence via Screenshot/Glen Black. Picture of Toby Flemming via Norfolk/Suffolk Hunt Saboteurs. Image of Kestrel perching on gloved hand via David White/Unsplash. Picture of Zetland Hunt Hound killed on road courtesy of Teeside-Anti Blood Sports. Video of abandoned hound in North Wales from wildlife photographer Richard Bowler’s Facebook. Image of Sam Jones and the slain muntjac deer courtesy of Northants Hunt Saboteurs. Thanks again to all the wildlife defenders who have let us use their footage and pictures. Sabs and monitors often put themselves at significant personal risk to get these images. We appreciate and admire all of the groups and individuals working to end the cruelty of hunting. A guest post by Tom Anderson Journalist for Protect the Wild Subscribe to Tom SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

INTERESTING — LAWYERS FOR ANIMALS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more This might be the biggest news for animals in years ROB POWNALL MAR 1 READ IN APP For more than a decade, I have dedicated my life to protecting animals. I have stood on the streets at demonstrations. I have lobbied online. I have spoken to camera when cruelty was ignored. I have grown Protect the Wild from a small idea into a team working every day through investigations, journalism, campaigning and public pressure to defend animals in every way possible. And through all of that work, one thing has become painfully clear to me. The missing piece has been consistent legal enforcement. Animal welfare legislation in this country is not perfect. It is not where many of us ultimately want it to be, and organisations like ours will continue working to improve it. But the laws that already exist should, at the very least, be properly applied. Laws only protect animals if they are enforced. Time and again, evidence of potential breaches emerges, particularly in large scale commercial settings, and yet prosecutions remain rare. In 2024, the Animal Law Foundation found that just 2.2 percent of reported violations on farms resulted in prosecution. That figure alone suggests that enforcement is inconsistent. For years, grassroots groups have exposed cruelty and raised awareness. Public concern is clear. In 2025, the RSPCA reported that 71 percent of people in Britain identify as animal lovers, and more than three quarters believe individuals and businesses should be responsible for animal welfare. The evidence exists. The public support exists. What has been less developed, however, is a coordinated and dedicated effort focused specifically on reviewing evidence and, where appropriate, pursuing private prosecutions in cases that extend beyond companion animals, including complex or systemic cases. This is why the launch of Lawyers for Animals matters so much. I am incredibly proud to say that I am a trustee of this new charity (Charity number: 1215659) and have spent the past several months helping to ensure it could be established on strong and responsible foundations. For me, this is the most exciting development in animal protection that I can remember. Lawyers for Animals is a community of barristers and solicitors with a clear and focused purpose: to support the proper enforcement of existing animal protection laws in England and Wales, including private prosecutions where appropriate. Support Lawyers for Animals This work is not about campaigning or advancing a political objective. It is about the rule of law. Any decision to pursue a private prosecution will be based strictly on the evidential test and the public interest test that underpin criminal proceedings. Cases will be assessed carefully, independently and in line with established legal standards. Image from Lawyers for Animals’ website Lawyers for Animals is currently reviewing evidence from more than 100 investigations across England, examining potential breaches of animal protection law. Where the legal threshold is met, and where it is considered to be in the public interest, private prosecutions may be pursued. In just five months, more than twenty barristers and solicitors have come together to build a coordinated legal initiative dedicated to this work. This has been achieved on less than £10,000, demonstrating both the commitment within the legal community and the potential for this to grow. For me personally, knowing that there is now organised legal expertise focused specifically on enforcement gives me renewed energy. It brings a sense that evidence does not have to end with exposure. It can be assessed, tested and, where justified, brought before a court. If you share that sense that proper enforcement matters, I encourage you to support Lawyers for Animals by subscribing to their Substack. It costs nothing. It builds the community around this work. And it helps ensure that the laws already on the statute book are treated as more than words on paper. Animals already have legal protection. Now there is a dedicated community of lawyers working to ensure it is applied. Support Lawyers for Animals Disclaimer: This article is written in my personal capacity as founder of Protect the Wild. While I am a trustee of Lawyers for Animals, the views expressed here are my own and do not constitute formal statements on behalf of the charity. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — OBSERVATIONS BY HUNT SABS ON STAG HUNTING THEM TO DEATH

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Devon & Somerset Staghounds: Researching Deer To Death Graphic Content Throughout As we reported two weeks ago, members of a covert HSA intelligence unit attended a number of West Country staghound meets in Autumn 2025. Last week we exposed the Tiverton Staghounds; today we focus on the Devon & Somerset, who were infiltrated back in September 2025. Stag killed by the Devon & Somerset Staghounds on 2nd September 2025. Like the two other stag hunts, the Devon & Somerset routinely switch between different loopholes as required, but they chiefly rely on the ‘Research and Observation’ exemption of the Hunting Act. This states that two dogs can be used if: “the hunting is undertaken for the purpose of or in connection with the observation or study of the wild mammal.” In a competitive field, this is surely the most outrageous claim of any hunt in the country. The stomach-churning spectacle of the Devon & Somerset Staghounds pursuing stags with relays of two hounds, together with a gang of screaming thugs on quad bikes, is about as far from scientific research as it is possible to get. Indeed, in the two decades the pack has been exploiting this exemption only one – yes, one – piece of supposedly scientific ‘research’ has been produced. Stag ‘researched’ to death by the Devon & Somerset Staghounds. An operative from the covert unit attended the Simonsbath meet on 30th August 2025 to witness the brutal hunting and killing of a fine Exmoor stag. Supporters were keen to point out that this very animal had been hunted to exhaustion just a few days before by the Tiverton Staghounds. No doubt broken by that earlier pursuit, the stag was easy prey for the Devon & Somerset Staghounds. A week later, other members of the unit were back at the Devon & Somerset to witness another healthy, mature stag be hunted to exhaustion and killed. This animal should have been entering the rut - leading a herd, passing on strong genetics, and playing his role in a stable ecosystem. Instead, he was run for ‘sport’, surrounded, and killed so the hunt could celebrate another killing in what one supporter called their “best season ever.” Hounds feast on the stag’s entrails, 23rd September 2025. As at the Tiverton, our operatives witnessed the ritual butchering of dead stags, with the huntsman ripping open the abdomen so the hounds could gorge on the intestines. Once again, this investigation revealed how determined, extremist stag hunters are constantly adapting to evade accountability or charges: a ban on ‘trail hunting’ – though urgently needed – will not be enough in itself to stop these hardened hunters in their tracks. Only our comprehensive set of proposals – based on over sixty years of sabotaging all types of bloodsports - will really end hunting with hounds. Join the Hunt Saboteurs Association! Support our vital work by becoming a member. Join The HSA Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Logo Copyright (C) 2026 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 PLANTLIFE — THEY SAY IT IS WORLD WILDLIFE DAY

World Wildlife Day 2026 View this email in your browser Donate Join Shop Hi John, Did you know that today is World Wildlife Day? And this year - plants are in the spotlight! In many dictionaries wildlife is defined as animals that are not domesticated - and plants and fungi are almost always left out. But this year, World Wildlife Day is shining a light on the critical role that plants play with the theme of 'Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Conserving Health, Heritage and Livelihoods'. We know that life on Earth depends on its extraordinary diversity of plants and fungi - they underpin the health of our environment. They can help us to resolve the climate, ecological and societal challenges which we face. It's clear to see that we all rely so heavily on plants and fungi, perhaps sometimes without realising it. So, we're sure you'll agree that learning more about them is very important. From habitats, to the threats they face and fun facts to folklore, follow the link below to discover more about the species you might spot. Explore Plants and Fungi From providing food, life-saving medicines, financial security and shaping our history – plants and fungi are at the heart of our communities around the world. Here are just some of the ways that plants are vital to our way of life: 60,000 plant species are estimated to be used globally for medicinal purposes 25% of all pharmaceuticals come from plants 1 in 5 people rely on wild plants, algae and fungi for their food and income Medicinal and aromatic plants are humanities oldest healthcare system Conserving medicinal and aromatic plants helps preserve traditional knowledge Find Fascinating Facts About Plants and Fungi We hope that you will join us today - and everyday - in celebrating our incredible fauna, flora and funga! Happy World Wildlife Day. Thank you. Charley Adams, Plantlife Nature Editor Follow Plantlife on: Instagram Instagram Facebook Facebook Twitter Twitter YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn Website Website Copyright © Plantlife All rights reserved. Plantlife International is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity in England and Wales (1059559) & Scotland, (SC038951) Registered Company in England and Wales (3166339) Registered Office: Brewery House,36 Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2AP, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1722 342730 enquiries@plantlife.org.uk www.plantlife.org.uk Plantlife respects your privacy. You can read more about how and why we use your personal data at www.plantlife.org.uk/privacy-notice Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

FROM PROTECT THE WILD & THE DECISION REGARDING PROTEST BLOCKED BY THE HOUSE OF LORDS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Judicial Review Launched Over Public Order Act Amendment ROB POWNALL MAR 3 READ IN APP On 4 February, the House of Lords voted not to block the Government’s changes to the Public Order Act, expanding the definition of “key national infrastructure” to include animal testing facilities. That vote came after months of campaigning by Camp Beagle, Animal Aid, Naturewatch Foundation, Protect the Wild, and others. Tens of thousands of emails were sent to MPs and peers. People travelled to Westminster. Legal concerns were raised repeatedly and placed firmly on the record. Despite strong opposition, the regulations were approved. It was a setback. But it was not the end. Lawyers for Animals, alongside co-claimant Maria Iriart from Camp Beagle, are now pursuing a judicial review challenging the decision to classify the life sciences sector, including animal testing facilities, as key national infrastructure A judicial review allows the High Court to examine whether the Government acted lawfully in introducing these regulations. It looks at whether ministers remained within their legal powers, whether proper reasoning and evidence were provided, and whether fundamental rights such as the right to protest have been unlawfully restricted. If the court finds the regulations are unlawful, they can be quashed. The claim argues that extending these powers goes beyond what Parliament intended under the 2023 Act. Maria Iriart, bringing this case as co-claimant alongside Lawyers for Animals, has spoken about the uncertainty these new powers create: “I have dedicated a significant part of my life to peacefully protesting against the use of animals in regulatory tests. The fact that I do not know what kind of behaviour will now constitute ‘interference’ makes the prospect of continuing to protest quite scary… I have no idea if holding up a placard, using a loudspeaker, making the wrong kind of gesture, wearing a costume, or even posting on social media, could now be a serious criminal offence.” That uncertainty is exactly why this case matters. We also want to thank Maria for stepping forward as a co-claimant in this challenge. Bringing a case like this as an individual against the Government is not a small decision, and it plays an important role in ensuring these powers are properly tested. Camp Beagle has kept attention on this issue for years. Campaigners across the movement refused to let these regulations pass quietly. Supporters helped fund the this legal challenge. All of that effort has led to this moment. We recently introduced Lawyers for Animals to you and explained why their work is so important. This judicial review is a clear example of that work in action. When Government power expands, it must be examined through the courts. That is how accountability functions in practice. If you want to stay in the loop, understand how the judicial review unfolds, and read developments as they happen, subscribe for free to Lawyers for Animals on Substack. They will be sharing updates as the case progresses. And we’d urge you to follow Camp Beagle on Instagram and support their tireless campaigning. We will continue to update you at key stages as well. The parliamentary debate may be over. The legal challenge has begun. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

AN INFORMATIVE UPDATE FROM WILD JUSTICE — NOT ALL GOOD NEWS AS THERE ARE DELAYS

Good morning! Today we bring a few updates, including some good news for Wild Justice, some legal challenge updates, and two campaigns you might like to support. Good news – Co-Director Ruth Tingay named among top Changemakers of 2026 Each year, Big Issue magazine compiles a list of 100 people and organisations driving change in their communities. The Changemakers are voted for by Big Issue readers and this year, Wild Justice's co-director Dr Ruth Tingay has been recognised in the Environment and Climate category — both for her work with Wild Justice and for her award-winning Raptor Persecution UK blog. Congratulations, Ruth! More good news – we finally have a new date for our postponed Badger legal challenge Our long-awaited legal challenge against Natural England's supplementary Badger cull licences has faced two delays: once last summer, and again in December 2025. We're pleased to say we now have a confirmed date for the substantive hearing - 16 June 2026 - nearly two years after we first launched the case! It's been a long road but we're ready to see it through, alongside our co-challengers at the Badger Trust. Dartmoor – still waiting for news… On the subject of waiting, we're also yet to receive a judgement in our legal challenge against overgrazing on protected areas of Dartmoor, which was heard in court in July 2025. Eight months on, we’re still waiting — but we'll update you the moment we hear anything. Shooting industry challenges gamebird releases near Special Protections Areas Last year BASC (British Association for Shooting and Conservation) applied to the High Court for permission to challenge Natural England in relation to the release of non-native gamebirds (Pheasants and Red-legged Partridges) on or near Special Protection Areas (SPAs) in England. This is a subject Wild Justice has campaigned on quite extensively; indeed, it was our earlier work that led to new restrictions on gamebird releases on and near to SPAs, and our recent work has shown that in some locations, unsurprisingly, the new regulations are being ignored. We applied to the High Court for permission to either intervene in the case, or be given Interested Party status, but last week the court refused our application. We considered appealing this decision but have made a strategic decision against it and will instead look for opportunities to support Natural England with its defence. A substantive hearing is expected to take place later this year. Help a community group buy some common greenspace: Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons are areas of protected greenspace, close to Tunbridge Wells. Together they cover over 300 acres, providing a substantial green corridor running through and around the town. They are treasured and valued areas of greenspace, used by local communities for leisure and exercise on a daily basis. The commons are SSSI-designated primarily for their lowland heathland habitat, being home to active Badger setts, multiple bat species, reptiles (including Slow Worms, Adders, Grass Snakes and Common Lizards), 18 species of nationally scarce or rare hymenoptera (bees and wasps), and rare plants such as Coralroot and Royal Ferry. Recently The Guardian newspaper covered a bid by the Friends of Tunbridge Wells and Rusthall Commons to purchase the Commons – see here - which are now up for sale. This is a unique opportunity for a local community group to take on management of a nature-rich space and to protect it longer term from development. The Friends of the Commons are exploring this possibility and are asking supporters to pledge to support a future bid to purchase the Commons, and to do this before 26 March. If you’d like to do so, you can pledge via their website – click here. Please note – The Friends of the Commons are not asking for a donation at this stage, just an indication (pledge) that you would be willing to consider making a donation at a later stage. A petition for you to sign to help birds of prey Friends of the Dales (a registered charity based in the Yorkshire Dales) is asking the government for important law reform to stop the criminal killing of birds of prey. Many of you will be aware that the Yorkshire Dales is a national hotspot for illegal raptor persecution, particularly on the privately-owned grouse moors within the National Park. Friends of the Dales is calling for the introduction of sentencing guidelines and the strengthening of penalties for offenders, the establishment of a National Wildlife Crime Database, and more effective regulation for those industries committing these wildlife crimes. We agree that all of these proposals would be beneficial, and so we’re asking you to consider signing the petition. You can do so by clicking here. That’s it for now, we’ll be in touch with a further update very soon. Thank you, Wild Justice (CEO: Bob Elliot. Directors: Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 262nd 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). 124, City Road London Greater London EC1V 2NX UNITED KINGDOM Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options