PROTECT THE WILD — UNBLOCK NESTING HOLES FOR COMMON SWIFTS TO AVOID FURTHER DECLINE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Swifts face death after Network Rail fills nesting holes with mortar ROB POWNALL APR 13 READ IN APP Swifts travel thousands of miles from Africa to Britain every year, returning with remarkable precision to the exact same nesting sites they have used for generations. Not just the same building, but the same tiny gaps in stonework. These spaces are not optional. Without them, swifts do not breed. At Chapel Milton in Derbyshire, some of those spaces have now been deliberately sealed. During a £7.5 million refurbishment of historic railway viaducts, at least three known swift nesting holes were filled with mortar. This was done despite local campaigners identifying at least nine nesting sites and submitting 38 pieces of evidence showing exactly where these birds were nesting. That information was shared directly with Network Rail. And still, the holes were blocked. Sign the petition Network Rail says its initial ecological checks found no evidence of swifts. It says it later worked around nesting birds. It says it may install nest boxes. None of that changes the reality. Known nesting sites were sealed when they did not need to be. This was not unavoidable. It was a choice. Swifts do not simply move on when their nest is destroyed. They return to the same entrance year after year, and when that access is gone, many fail to relocate and stop breeding altogether. This is how a species disappears, not in one dramatic moment, but through a series of decisions like this. Swifts have declined by 66% in the UK since 1995, largely because the spaces they depend on are being removed. Roofs are sealed, buildings are repaired, and the gaps they rely on are quietly erased. What makes this case so infuriating is that it was completely preventable. The evidence was there. The locations were known. The solution was simple. Leave the gaps open. Instead, those spaces have been filled, and swifts are now returning from Africa to find the entrances they depend on gone. Deb Pitman and Jason Adshead stand under a blocked swift hole on the railway viaduct at Chapel Milton. There is still time to fix this, but only if Network Rail acts immediately. The birds are just beginning to arrive, and the blocked nesting holes can be reopened before the breeding season is lost. This is not complicated. It is not expensive. It just requires the decision to put it right. Network Rail has said it is willing to work with local groups and improve the site for swifts. If that is true, then it should start by undoing the damage that has already been done. Future nest boxes do not replace destroyed nest sites, and they do not help birds returning right now. This should never have happened. But it can still be put right. We are calling on Network Rail’s Chief Executive to act immediately and reopen these nesting holes before it is too late. If you want to see that happen, add your name to the petition and demand action now. Sign the petition SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

PROTECT THE WILD COMMENT ON GOVERNMENT DECISION TO KILL OR NOT TO KILL CERTAIN SPECIES

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The Government Is Deciding Which Birds Can Be Shot And You’re Supposed to Stay Quiet PROTECT THE WILD APR 12 READ IN APP Defra (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) has just released details of a consultation titled “Protecting wild birds: Consultation on Amending the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which allows certain species of wild birds to be killed or taken outside of their close seasons”. The consultation will assess all wild bird species listed on Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Schedule 2.1 is the part of the Act which sets out which species “can be legally killed or taken outside the close season” - ie shot for ‘sport’. The consultation aims to identify those species listed under Schedule 2.1 that “are potential candidates for a change in status with respect to the schedule”. In other words, those species which should be given better protection under a law that - in theory - should already protect them! The consultation opened on 23 March 2026 and runs until 17 May 2026. Why is the consultation taking place? On a page headed Background, Defra explains that the consultation has arisen from a previous review carried out in 2023 in England by Defra and Natural England (NE), and similar reviews carried out by NatureScot and Natural Resources Wales in Scotland and Wales. “This review was carried out to ensure that shooting certain species of wild birds is sustainable and does not undermine their recovery. This was in line with the Secretary of State’s species abundance target to improve the status of threatened species in England by 2042 and to halt species decline by 2030; the Scottish government’s targets to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and restore and regenerate biodiversity by 2045; and Wales’ objectives as stated in the Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP), since several of the species on Schedule 2.1 are experiencing declining populations and appear on conservation priority listings.” a duck floating on top of a body of water Northern Pintail. Photo by Daniil Komov on Unsplash Which species are involved? Nine species are included in the consultation: one goose, three ducks, three shorebirds (or waders), Wood Pigeon, and Coot. A table outlining the proposed changes is published on a page titled Overview. Not everyone will be familiar with all of the species, of course, but all have declining populations - though Defra has noted that Wood Pigeons, though not rare are being shot under a General Licence ‘for fun’ rather than for reasons tied to the licence. We have looked in more detail at these species on our End Bird Shooting substack. a brown and white bird standing on top of a grass covered field Grey Partridge. Photo by Lukáš Kadava on Unsplash Defra states that some species that many of us would like to see better protected are covered by other legislation, so are not part of the consultation. This includes Grey Partridge, a native species now Red-listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern in the UK due to steep population decline linked to agricultural intensification, but covered by the Game Act, meaning their ‘protection’ is not under consideration. Proposed changes As the table above shows, there are some welcome changes being proposed, but they don’t go far enough in our opinion. In their press release (which includes the dread phrase “recreational shooting of European White-fronted Goose”) Defra says “The new rules would restrict the shooting of species including the iconic woodcock, and distinctive pintail, goldeneye and pochard ducks – to ensure they have far greater protection. These species are all classed as under threat and have seen their populations fall sharply in recent years, with some native population numbers now numbering in the hundreds. The proposals include fully prohibiting the recreational shooting of the European white-fronted goose.” That’s good news for White-fronts, which should never have been put on quarry lists in the first place, but what does shifting the start of the shooting ‘seasons’ actually do? It’s more important to realise what it doesn’t do: Extending close seasons doesn’t stop birds being killed, just delays when they are shot. There is no extra limit on the number that can be killed And no limit to how often shooters can go out during the ‘shorter’ season. brown bird on brown stick Common Snipe. Photo by Julian on Unsplash Killing snipe One of the more ridiculous changes proposed is to the ‘season’ when Common Snipe can be killed. The consultation suggests that the season will be changed for animal welfare reasons. That sounds great, but read Defra’s press release: “The UK and Scottish governments are considering extending the close season for the common snipe on the grounds of animal welfare, meaning the species can no longer be shot in the breeding season so their chicks are no longer left motherless during this critical period.” It is unlawful to intentionally damage the nests or eggs of any wild bird, but shooters can still kill Common Snipe in August when birds - especially in Scotland where colder northern temperatures and higher altitudes can delay the start of the nesting season compared to warmer lowland areas in the south - may still be breeding. How utterly ridiculous is that… Open to all of us even if Defra doesn’t appear to think so… Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding the natural environment, supporting the food and farming industry, and sustaining the rural economy. For many of us, though, it is a department that again and again prioritises the so-called ‘rural economy’ over protecting the natural environment. To prove the point, under ‘Why your views matter’, Defra states: “These changes would directly affect anybody who participates in the shooting of any of the species listed above.” No, Defra, apart from directly affecting the birds that are shot these changes would also directly affect the millions of us who loathe seeing shooters blasting birds out of the air for ‘sport’. Millions of us love and value birds, and are appalled that shooting is ‘protected’ by government after government, and that the lives of millions of birds are seen purely in terms of income generation and ‘tourism’. Filling in the consultation The consultation runs until 17 May and is open to everyone. It is 25 pages long and has multiple-choice questions on most of those pages. Pages 20-23 ask about providing Welsh language options and submitting your responses. It takes about 30 minutes to complete. There are examples (the Woodcock is one) where the choice is extending the close season or leaving it as now, with no option to ban shooting altogether. A question on Page 26 (“6.2. Should other amendments (for example an extension or shortening of a close season be made with regard to any other species listed on Schedule 2.1 in England, Scotland or Wales?”) does allow for comment, though. Our thoughts Clearly, the way to give ‘iconic’ birds proper protection is to stop shooting them full stop. There is zero reason to shoot these birds, other than some people with guns ‘enjoy’ it. That’s not a reason to allow them to kill wild birds - whether they are ‘iconic’ Woodcocks, ‘distinctive’ Pintails, or ‘ordinary’ Coots. Shooters will almost certainly be lining up to keep the seasons open for as long as possible. So if you have time, please do have a look at the consultation. The consultation doesn’t give us the opportunity to ban the shooting of these wonderful birds, but it would be a missed opportunity if the ‘men with guns’ were the only people to respond. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

HUNT SABOTEURS SAY WE HAVE 10 WEEKS LEFT TO MAKE HUNTING HISTORY — BANNED FOR GOOD

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter TEN WEEKS LEFT TO MAKE HUNTING HISTORY! It’s been just a couple of weeks since the government opened the consultation into banning the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ in England and Wales. And, although the fox and hare hunts have temporarily finished for the Summer, the grotesque cruelty of stag hunting continues unabated, with hunt sabs capturing some truly heart-rending images in recent days. Caught on the wire: the horror of stag hunting. © Mendip Hunt Sabs For over twenty years hunts have hidden behind the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ and have exploited the loopholes and exemptions that are in the current Hunting Act. The consultation consists of 29 questions. The HSA have provided guidance to assist you in formulating strong responses that can be written quickly and easily. It is extremely important that your answers are not copied and pasted, but that each question is answered individually and where appropriate consists of any personal experiences you may have had. A recent demonstration of ‘trail hunting’ by the Cottesmore Hunt. © Northants Hunt Sabs The HSA has over sixty years of experience in the field and week after week sabs all over the country document the cruelty that continues to take place. We have applied our extensive knowledge of hunting to the guidance we have provided to ensure that a watertight ban is finally implemented. It is imperative that there will be no loopholes or exemptions, and it is important that other activities associated with hunting are included, such as terrier men with spades and quads, as well as violence and aggression towards people who are filming their illegal activity in a public space. Perhaps you have experienced hunt havoc in your local area? © West Midlands Hunt Sabs The consultation will close on Thursday 18th of June so please ensure you have submitted your response by this date. Now is the time to finally bring hunting to an end and ensure that our wildlife is protected from those who wish to inflict pain and suffering through hunting with hounds. READ THE HSA’S GUIDANCE HERE. 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

ROB POWNALL DRESSED AS A GANNET IS REFUSED ENTRY TO THE LAUNCH OF A MANIFESTO IN SCOTLAND

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I Tried to Gatecrash the Scottish Tory Manifesto Launch as a Gannet ROB POWNALL APR 9 READ IN APP This probably won’t surprise you after yesterday’s email. Because I said I was going to do whatever it takes to get this issue onto the political agenda and I meant it. So on Tuesday, I turned up to the Scottish Conservatives’ manifesto launch in Edinburgh dressed as a Gannet. The plan was simple: walk in, speak to the press, and present what I’m calling the “Ganifesto” a one-policy campaign to end the Guga hunt. I didn’t get very far. Security weren’t particularly keen on letting a giant seabird into the building for some reason. But that’s not really the point. Inside, politicians were launching their vision for Scotland. Outside, I was standing there representing a bird that is still legally killed in this country for the sake of tradition. And that contrast says everything. Because while parties talk about priorities, every year Gannet chicks are still being snatched from their nests and killed before they can even fly. Not because we need to. Not because it’s necessary. But because the law allows it to continue. That’s what this campaign is about. Sign the petition One ask. One change. Remove the exemption. End the Guga hunt. And now we’re taking this directly to those asking for your vote. We are asking the Scottish Conservatives and every other party standing in the Scottish Parliament elections a simple question: Will you commit to ending the Guga hunt? No more silence. No more avoidance. A clear answer. Because the public is already there. Polling shows the vast majority of people in Scotland support ending this. The momentum is there. What’s missing is the political will to act. So if turning up in a Gannet costume to manifesto launches helps force that conversation, then that’s exactly what I’ll keep doing. Because this shouldn’t still be happening. And the more attention we bring to it, the harder it becomes to ignore. We’ve set up a petition calling on all major parties to adopt a policy to end the Guga hunt which you can sign here. Sign the petition Support Protect the Wild. We’re not afraid to try everything in the fight for British wildlife - from undercover investigations and viral animations, to protests, hard-hitting reports, political lobbying, and even standing for public office. We believe in doing what others won’t. In trying what hasn’t been tried. And in saying things exactly as they are. And we’re powered entirely by you. We don’t rely on big donors or hidden backers. Our strength comes from thousands of ordinary people giving a few pounds a month - and together, that becomes unstoppable. Right now, our goal is 200 new monthly supporters. We’re already at 49 in just the first week of this month. If you believe in what we’re building and want to be part of one of the fastest-growing animal protection movements in the UK, please consider joining us and chipping in a few pounds a month. Thank you for standing with us. Support Protect the Wild SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

PROTECT THE WILD’S ROB POWNALL DRESSED AS A GANNET TO WOO SCOTTISH VOTERS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I’m standing for Scottish Parliament…as a Gannet ROB POWNALL APR 8 READ IN APP This probably isn’t an email you were expecting to receive today, and it’s not one I ever thought I’d be writing. But here we are. I’m standing in the Scottish elections as a giant Gannet. Yes, really. I’m officially in the running to become a Member of Scottish Parliament. Why? To force one issue out of the shadows and into the political spotlight: the Guga hunt. Here’s where you come in. We’ve created a simple e-letter you can send to every party standing in the election, with one clear demand: commit to ending the Guga hunt in the next parliamentary term. It takes less than a minute to send, but it pushes this issue onto politicians’ radars at an absolutely critical moment. TAKE ACTION Right now is a rare opportunity. With the elections approaching on May 7th, parties are deciding what they stand for. They are especially sensitive to public opinion - and paying close attention to what voters care about. So let’s make sure they know this matters. Every autumn, Gannet chicks are snatched from their nests and bludgeoned to death for nothing more than a tradition. That clearly shouldn’t be happening, especially not in the middle of a biodiversity crisis. And the public agrees - polling shows the vast majority of people in Scotland want it to end. Yet it continues because of a narrow legal exemption under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). That’s what this campaign is about: removing that loophole and finally ending the UK’s last seabird hunt. TAKE ACTION That’s why I’m doing something a bit different. Yes, walking around Edinburgh in a giant bird costume has felt ridiculous at times. But if that’s what it takes to get people talking about protecting Gannets, then that’s what I’ll do. So please take one minute to send the e-letter and ask every party to commit to ending the Guga hunt. If enough of us do this, they simply won’t be able to ignore it. So please, add your name now. TAKE ACTION We do things differently at Protect the Wild. We’re not afraid to try everything in the fight for British wildlife — from undercover investigations and viral animations, to protests, hard-hitting reports, political lobbying, and even standing for public office. We believe in doing what others won’t. In trying what hasn’t been tried. And in saying things exactly as they are. And we’re powered entirely by you. We don’t rely on big donors or hidden backers. Our strength comes from thousands of ordinary people giving a few pounds a month — and together, that becomes unstoppable. Right now, our goal is 200 new monthly supporters. We’re already at 46 in just the first week of this month. If you believe in what we’re building and want to be part of one of the fastest-growing animal protection movements in the UK, please consider joining us and chipping in a few pounds a month. Thank you for standing with us. Support Protect the Wild SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM THE HUNT SABOTEURS ASSOCIATION — HELP THEM GET TRAIL HUNTING BANNED AND BUY A ‘T’

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Hare Today – Gone Tomorrow! With a distinct feel of spring in the air, the HSA is today launching the first merchandise items to feature our new hare logo. There is a one-size-fits-all beanie hat and a T-shirt available in the usual range of sizes. And, in a refreshing change from our usual ‘sab black’, both items come in khaki green with text picked out in white and our running hare rendered in a lighter shade of green. T-shirt and hat by HSA, sunglasses model’s own. Hare hunting takes several forms. In the traditional hunt sense, there are three varieties: packs of harriers which are hunted by staff on horseback, beagle packs and basset hound packs, both of which are hunted on foot. These are all scent hounds, and they work as a pack to find, follow and then kill the hare. The Hunting Act banned this kind of hunting in 2005, but hunters continue much as they did before, hiding behind the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ and other loopholes, such as claims that they are hunting rabbits. Sadly, hares also face other threats from depraved coursing gangs and organised shoots. Our model engrossed in a copy of HOWL. Once you have bought your hat or T-shirt, please remember to complete the government’s consultation on banning so-called ‘trail hunting.’ This is your chance to help make hunting history: the HSA has produced guidance to ensure this can be done quickly and efficiently. Don’t mess with the hares. And remember, as you would expect, HSA merchandise is designed, picked and packed by our all-volunteer team. This means that all profits from your purchase are ploughed straight into the HSA’s direct-action campaign against hare hunting and all other bloodsports. You can start shopping here: Buy our HSA Hare Beanie Buy our HSA Hare Tee The government has launched a public consultation on Trail Hunting – this is our chance to stop cruel hunting for good. You can read the HSA’s guidance and take part in the consultation here. The deadline is 18th June 2026 – make sure your voice is heard. Take part in the Trail Hunting Consultation now: Have your say 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 PROTECT THE WILD — LET’S GET LEGISLATION RIGHT — END THE CRUELTY OF HUNTING WITH DOGS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Most important email we will ever send to end hunting for good PROTECT THE WILD APR 6 READ IN APP For more than 20 years, hunting wild mammals with hounds has supposedly been banned. And yet foxes are still chased. Deer are still run to exhaustion. Hares are still torn apart. Not because the law was meant to allow it but because it has been too weak to stop it. Loopholes, vague definitions, and poor enforcement have allowed hunts to carry on under the guise of “legal” alternatives. Now, there is a real opportunity to change that. The Government has launched a consultation on banning trail hunting. But this is about far more than trail hunting alone. It is about whether hunting with hounds is finally ended properly or whether it continues for another 20 years under a different name. Trail hunting was never what it claimed to be. It has been widely used as a smokescreen for illegal hunting, with repeated evidence showing that trails are often not laid at all. If this consultation results in weak legislation again, hunts will simply adapt and continue. We have already seen this happen in Scotland, where new laws still allow loopholes like “flushing to guns.” Wildlife is still being chased and killed. The lesson is clear: if the law leaves gaps, they will be exploited. A proper ban must be simple and enforceable. It should not rely on proving intent, which has consistently failed. Instead, it should focus on whether it is reasonably foreseeable that hounds may locate, chase, or kill a wild animal. It must also recognise that hunting is a group activity and hold everyone involved accountable — including organisers and landowners. Crucially, it must close all loopholes. So-called alternatives like drag hunting and clean boot hunting still involve packs of hounds moving through areas where wild animals live. The risk of those animals being chased is not hypothetical — it is inevitable. This is a rare opportunity to finally get this right. We have gone through the consultation in detail and created clear guidance on how to respond to each question, so you can submit a response that pushes for a real ban — not another compromise. You can read the guidance and submit your response below. We’d recommend opening up two tabs to have our guidance on hand. Read our guidance Respond to the consultation Consultations like this are decided by volume as much as argument. The hunting lobby will respond. If those who want to see an end to hunting do not, nothing will change. This is the moment to close the loopholes and end hunting with hounds for good. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing