FROM PLANTLIFE’—READ ABOUT THE BRILLIANCE OF THE LUGG MEADOWS IN HEREFORDSHIRE

Explore Lugg Meadows with us View this email in your browser Donate Join Shop John, this autumn, we want to invite you on a virtual adventure to one of our most ancient nature reserves, Lugg Meadows. This stunning site running alongside a river in Herefordshire is steeped in history and heritage, sharing connections with the community that go back centuries. In fact, these meadows were even recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086! Even today, Lugg Meadows still feels ancient. It's managed using some traditional techniques passed down through generations. So step back in time with us, meet our Nature Reserve Manager, and members of the community who cherish their connections with this special place. John, we've created this 2-part series to explore this incredible meadow, will you join us? There's a chill in the air and the nights are drawing in, we're all missing the warmth of summer already. So sit back, grab a cuppa and let's take a virtual walk through a summers meadow! Part 1: Join the people who love Lugg Meadows and experience why this place is so special. The first part of the series above, delves into the community connection with Lugg Meadows. Hear from people who have grown up near this special place, learn about the farming heritage of the area, the common grazing and the historic hay auction. Part 2: Join our Nature Reserves Manager to hear all about the conservation and management of the meadow. In the second part above, you can hear from our Nature Reserves Manager Joe Costley, as he shares more about the conservation and management of the meadow. Joe says: "You're sort of walking on history. And you've got the big sky, sweeping expanse of grassland, it's sort of invigorating to be here. And you're part of that history really." We hope you enjoy this virtual visit to our nature reserve! Don't forget, our nature reserves are the perfect way to connect with nature, spring, summer, autumn or winter! If you ever take a trip to Lugg Meadows, or any of our other 23 reserves, we would love to see - make sure to tag us on social media. Thank you, Charley Adams Plantlife Nature Editor Follow Plantlife on: Instagram Instagram Facebook Facebook 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.

UPDATE FROM CORNWLL WILDLIFE TRUST

View this email in your browser Gif of nature photos ncludng a close up of a horse with a sky background OCTOBER UPDATE As the seasons change and autumn takes hold, there are all kind of opportunities to connect with Cornwall's wildlife, support conservation, and get involved in your local community. Here's what to read, listen, and watch out for, alongside some nature news from this month. SPOTTER’S GUIDE & RESERVE TO VISIT Think Halloween is all ghosts and ghouls? Join our Wild Halloween event at Five Acres nature reserve on Saturday 24 October and learn about some of the fascinating creatures making this spooky season really wild. Five Acres will come alive with woodland trails, wildlife, and crafts. October is packed with autumnal favourites, from fungi and migrating birds to the spiders that often start appearing in our homes at this time of year. Check out our October spotter’s guide to plan your next wildlife encounter. October spotter’s guide Wild Halloween at Fives Acres IMPACT REVIEW 2025-2026 We’ve just released our 2025-26 Impact Review, a story of collection action, practical solutions, and hope. From releasing beavers into the wild to securing £3.3 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for our catchment scale Tor to Shore project, there’s a lot to feel optimistic about. But this is also a call to action, because every one of us has a role in delivering a future Cornwall where our landscapes, coastlines, and seas are alive with the sights and sounds of wildlife. Read the Impact Review 2026 PHOTO COMPETITION LAUNCH EVENING TICKETS ON SALE Be the first to see the 2026 Wildlife Photography Competition finalists’ exhibition and join us as we reveals this year’s winners. Presented by wildlife photographer and conservationist George Cook, tickets are available now via the link below for this special evening at Truro Cathedral on Wednesday 28 October. Book your ticket Some of our finalists. READ, LISTEN, WATCH Read: Secrets of Joy by Jane Thomas with Mary Frampton-Price This month's recommendation comes from our Content Marketing Officer, Becks. Secrets of Joy is a beautifully illustrated festive tale following two friends on a magical adventure filled with generosity, friendship and festive wonder. A heartwarming read for all ages, it captures the spirit of Christmas while encouraging readers to appreciate the people and wildlife around them. “If you have children or grandchildren, Secrets of Joy is a wonderful way to inspire conversations about kindness, caring for wildlife and finding joy in the natural world.” (available via the Cornwall Wildlife Trust shop) Listen: On Borrowbox If you’ve not discovered it yet, then Borrowbox is a great digital library service available in Cornwall. If you head to their Environment & Conservation category there are some great audiobooks available, including The Lie of the Land by Guy Shrubsole, recommended by our team. Discover Borrowbox Watch: Our new film This month, we think you should be watching our latest film, which has been selected as a finalist at the world’s biggest sustainability film festival, The 2026 Big Syn. We’re also grateful to WTW Cinema’s for playing our film as a trailer during October and November. Watch it today via the link below. Watch now 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.

CHRIS PACKHAM SAYS WHERE IS THE BAN AS THE QUORN HUNT EXPOSED

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Smokescreen Saturday Exposed: Chris Packham Blasts The Quorn Hunt Over Sickening Fox Cruelty That Blows Apart Trail Hunting’s Biggest Lie When we showed wildlife campaigner Chris Packham the sickening footage of the Quorn Hunt, his response was damning: “Another bloody year, another bloodied body, another animal tortured and torn to pieces to gratify the bloodlust of savages. Where is the damned consultation and where is the damned ban?” Chris Packham condemns the Quorn Hunt footage. The footage lays bare the brutal reality of cub hunting - the practice of using foxes to train young hounds to hunt and kill. WARNING: DISTURBING FOOTAGE Cub hunting is not some isolated activity. It is the preparation for the hunting season ahead. Throughout the autumn, young hounds are taught what to chase, what to kill and how to respond to the huntsman’s commands. What they learn - or fail to learn - during these crucial weeks sets the tone for the entire season. This is what makes the Quorn Hunt footage so damning. It shows hounds being deliberately encouraged to seize and tear at a fox, with hunt staff repeatedly intervening to reinforce that behaviour. On the eve of National Trail Hunting Day aka Smokescreen Saturday - as the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) and the Countryside Alliance prepared to showcase so-called ‘trail hunting’, the Quorn Hunt provided a horrifying glimpse of the reality behind the myth of trail laying. On Friday 16 October, 2026 Northants Hunt Saboteurs visited The Quorn Hunt’s kennel meet at Kirby Bellars, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. The Quorn has a long history of royal connections. King Charles regularly rode with the hunt when he was Prince of Wales. His association with the Quorn came to an end following the emergence of footage showing hunt members pulling a fox cub from its den and throwing them to the hounds to be torn apart. The footage begins with the saboteurs’ drone approaching a group of barns stacked with bales. Mounted riders are positioned around the outside of the covert - a classic cub hunting tactic designed to frighten fleeing foxes back into cover, where the hounds can kill them. Riders surround the covert which forces the fox back towards the barns. As the drone circles to the far side of the barns, a group of hounds comes into view. A quad bike can be seen approaching, alongside another rider. More hounds appear on the track, along with a riderless horse. Two terriermen jump off the quad bike and run towards the hounds, which have gathered in a narrow passageway between two barns. Trapped. The fox is between the two barns. What the drone captures next is utterly horrific - and exposes the brutal reality behind the hunting industry’s claims about scent trails. The huntsman is already on foot, surrounded by excited hounds. He is swinging something towards them, encouraging them to grab hold. As the footage unfolds, it becomes clear that he is swinging a fox. First the huntsman is alone shaking the fox to excite the hounds. The hounds are repeatedly encouraged to seize the fox. Eventually, several begin to grab hold, and the huntsman encourages them further, pulling and tugging against them as though playing a game. The huntsman blows on his horn over the hounds reinforcing the sound of the horn call with the kill. When the hounds finally take the fox from him, he bends over them as they tear at it and then blows his hunting horn - most likely sounding the traditional call for a kill, reinforcing the hounds' association between the horn and their quarry. He then gives one of the terriermen a thumbs-up. Thumbs-up. When the hounds begin to lose interest again, the terrierman picks up the fox’s body and repeatedly shakes it in front of them, encouraging them to take hold once more. He appears to push the fox towards the hounds jaws. The terrierman also has a go with the fox - shaking the body into the hounds jaws. When the dogs finally grip it, he pulls against them in a grotesque tug-of-war. Once the hounds take the fox from the terrierman, the huntsman again blows his horn over them. As more hounds join in, the terrierman pats one of the dogs. But as he does so he appears to hear the drone and looks up. The terrierman suddenly notices the drone. Too late. Suddenly everything changes. The fox’s body is hurriedly retrieved from the hounds, and the two terriermen scramble to stuff it beneath the hay bales. The men stuff the body under the haybale with their feet and put their hoods up The huntsman immediately exits towards his horse, while the terriermen pull their hoods up to conceal their identities. The BHSA and defenders of so-called trail hunting want the public to believe these same hounds will spend the season following scent trails. Yet here they are, being trained on foxes. The footage strikes at the very heart of the trail hunting smokescreen. A HSA Spokesperson said: “While the BHSA and the Countryside Alliance are desperately trying to save so-called ‘trail hunting’ from a ban, rolling out carefully choreographed publicity events for pro-hunt MPs and peddling the same tired claims about trails, the Quorn Hunt has been caught on camera showing a very different reality. Hounds are actively encouraged to seize and tear at a fox during ‘cubbing’. The huntsman gives a thumbs-up. Terriermen playing tug-of-war before attempting to hide it once they realised they were being filmed. These hounds aren’t simply acting on instinct. The footage shows the lengths hunt staff go to in order to encourage them to seize and kill the fox. No amount of PR spin or carefully stage-managed events can ever erase what hunt saboteurs are capturing on camera, week in, week out, at hunts around the country.” You can support Northants Hunt Saboteurs here and follow them 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

FROM PROTECT THE WILD THE CRUEL BEHAVIOUR OF FOX HUNTERS CA` PTURED ON DRONE FOOTAGE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more This is the gruesome moment Quorn Hunt staff incite hounds to tear up fox ELIZA EGRET OCT 20 READ IN APP Northants Hunt Saboteurs’ drone has captured this harrowing and damning footage of the Quorn Hunt. On 16 October, the sabs filmed the hunt at a kennel meet in Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire. They caught the huntsman and two terriermen repeatedly inciting the hounds to latch onto and rip a fox they had just killed, in a violent tug-of-war. The terriermen and huntsman then realise they are being filmed, so try to hide the evidence of the mauled fox and attempt to cover their faces. But it’s too late: the sabs have already caught every second of their criminal act. Northants Sabs said: “This is the reality of cub hunting. There is no ambiguity, just the callous indifference of those dedicated to the continuation of blood sports. As we wait for our government to stick to their manifesto pledge to end the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’, this evidence serves as a timely reminder of the vicious and illegal intent of the hunters.” The sabs continued: “The brutal savagery they displayed in the death tug-of-war with the fox’s body should act as the final nail in the criminal coffin of hunting with hounds in the UK.” Indeed, this footage is a brutal reminder that hunts will stop at nothing to kill wildlife. Yet the government has still not revealed how it plans to fix the failed Hunting Act. It needs to close all current loopholes (such as trail hunting) and make sure no new ones (such as drag hunting) are introduced. Support the sabs! The vital work of Northants Hunt Sabs deserves our support. Without them, horrific incidents like this would remain entirely hidden behind closed doors. In a landscape where illegal hunting frequently goes unpunished, sab groups act as the primary shield for wildlife. They continue to force accountability where authorities fall short. Donate to Northants Sabs here. Support the sabs! SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start your Substack

FROM WILD JUSTICE. THE KILLING OF HEN HARRIERS ON GROUSE MOORS AND I AM WEARING THE ´T´SHIRT

Good morning, In today’s newsletter we bring you some upsetting recent news which relates to the illegal killing of five Hen Harrier chicks on a grouse moor in northern England. Although this incident happened in 2024 it’s only just come to light now as a result of a Freedom of Information request. For anyone who is new to this subject and our recent followers, we’ve included a brief overview of raptor persecution, summarising why it happens and its significant link to gamebird shooting. Raptor persecution – what is it? All raptors (birds of prey) in the UK are protected by law. Despite this, across the UK they are being illegally killed. These crimes are intentional, often pre-meditated and when highly toxic poisons and illegal traps are used, can pose significant threats to wildlife, domestic animals and the general public. The majority of these crimes take place on land managed for gamebird shooting. This includes Pheasant and Partridge shooting and Red Grouse shooting. Detected raptor persecution incidents represent only a fraction of the overall number committed as these are happening in remote upland areas or inaccessible parts of the country (including Pheasant and Partridge shoots). It is also challenging as those committing these crimes will go to great lengths to ensure they don’t leave any evidence. Persecution has stalled the recovery of a number of species (many of which are still recovering from historic persecution) and hampered significant conservation efforts, including White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle reintroduction projects. Why? Those killing protected birds of prey do so to remove any potential threat of predation to their gamebird stocks to try to maximise the numbers available during the shooting season and therefore increase the profitability of the shoot. For those who kill these birds, the financial incentive outweighs the risks of being caught. Who? The majority of people convicted of bird of prey persecution are gamekeepers working on gamebird shooting estates. Just this year, three gamekeepers were convicted for raptor persecution crimes which all took place in 2024. A gamekeeper was caught on camera bludgeoning to death a Buzzard in a cage trap on a Pheasant shoot in North Yorkshire. Also in North Yorkshire, a head gamekeeper was caught, along with two co-workers, trying to kill a Hen Harrier at a roost on a Grouse shooting estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. And in Scotland a gamekeeper was caught on camera on a shooting estate beating a Goshawk to death in a cage trap. These crimes have been happening on gamebird shooting estates for decades. The evidence is stark. Hen Harrier persecution The Hen Harrier is a breeding bird of the uplands which typically nests on the ground on open moorland. It is the most heavily persecuted species in the UK and as a result one of the most vulnerable. The majority of Hen Harrier persecution incidents have been recorded in northern England on land managed for Red Grouse shooting. These crimes have supressed their numbers in England and Scotland to just a fraction of their potential. A study by Natural England revealed that Hen Harriers are ten times more likely to die or disappear on land managed for grouse shooting. Another study by the RSPB revealed that the pressure of illegal killing of Hen Harriers on grouse moors has reduced the average survival of young birds to just 4 months post fledging, meaning that most don’t make it to breeding age. The crimes In recent years several Hen Harriers have been found shot, trapped or poisoned on grouse moors and chicks killed in the nest. These crimes are often brutal and barbaric. Today we are highlighting an extremely disturbing Hen Harrier persecution incident which has just come to light after a Freedom of Information request was submitted to Natural England. Please read on with care. The following paragraph contains some extremely distressing information. In June 2024, on a grouse moor in County Durham, Natural England fieldworkers that were monitoring Hen Harriers found five very young Hen Harrier chicks dead in the nest. Post mortem analysis revealed that all of the chicks had injuries consistent with being stabbed multiple times by a sharp implement through the body. Evidence ruled out shooting, disease and predation. The pathologist concluded that all five chicks had been intentionally and illegally killed and were the victims of persecution. To read more about the case, and to see the post mortem reports for all five chicks (which include some very distressing images of the dead chicks) read the latest Raptor Persecution UK blog here. The crime took place on a grouse moor in County Durham in June 2024. Although Natural England, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (and its Hen Harrier Taskforce) and Durham Constabulary were all aware of this incident, it was kept from the public. There has been no media coverage, no public appeal for information and no one held to account for the illegal killing of these chicks. Why there has been total silence from the authorities is a mystery. A similar incident happened in 2022, also at a nest monitored by Natural England. In that instance four chicks aged between 8-12 days old were stamped to death in the nest during the night. North Yorkshire Police concluded that this had been deliberately done by a person. You can read more about this here and listen to this Guardian podcast by following this link. Incidentally, the chick’s mother, Susie, was later found dead on a different grouse moor with gunshot injuries. The illegal killing of birds of prey in the UK on land managed for gamebird shooting is unrelenting. In the case of the Hen Harrier, it is the main cause directly preventing this species from recovering. We should be able to see Hen Harriers across much of our uplands, but as a result of these crimes it is one of our most rare species in the UK. Without significant change these crimes will continue. Changes to policy, government initiatives and heightened enforcement efforts over recent years have all failed to put a stop to raptor persecution. Deterrents are weak and financial incentives for those who work in the gamebird shooting industry can be substantial. The person who killed these five chicks and the vast majority of those killing protected birds of prey are committing these crimes with little fear of detection or retribution, and so the killing continues. We need your help In September, Defra announced a Call for Evidence on the impact of gamebird shooting. The government is asking for anyone who has experiential evidence of the impacts of gamebird shooting to submit information. This is open until 1st November 2026. If you have been upset or angered by this horrific crime, other persecution incidents, or bird of prey persecution in general, please respond to this Call for Evidence. This is an important and rare opportunity to have your voice heard on this matter. Please use this chance to make a difference. You can fill in the form online or, if you’d rather, you can write an email directly to Defra Gamebirds@defra.gov.uk (include ‘Call for Evidence’ in the subject line). We’ve written some helpful guidance along with the link to Defra’s webpage which you can access here. Thank you, Wild Justice (CEO: Bob Elliot. Directors: Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 276th 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

FROM BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION TRUST—WE CAN ALL HELP THESE BEES

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Bumblebee on willow branch with yellow flower and blue sky It may be October, but with the fine weather, there is still so much we can do for bumblebees! We have some top tips on how to provide hibernation spots for new queens, plus bumblebees 'bank' a big win this month. And, as October marks the last month to submit your BeeWalk data this year, now is a good time to get those records in!🍂 Rare bumblebee found at historic London site All black bumblebee on a purple and lilac flower The scarce Ruderal bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus) has been discovered at Lesnes Abbey Woods in Southeast London! Famous for its 12th century abbey ruins and rich ancient woodland, the discovery was made by local volunteer Jason Lok. This sighting in the Buzzing in the East End (B.E.E) project area shows just how important urban green spaces can be for wildlife. Read the full news story 📰 It's official: bumblebees are 'noteworthy'! Graphic mock up of bank notes with bumblebee graphic and text saying 'Bumblebees bank a big win' Last week, the Buff-tailed bumblebee was chosen to feature on the new Bank of England banknotes and received the most public votes! From a shortlist of 18 UK wildlife species, the Buff-tailed bumblebee attracted an unbelievable 360,399 votes. A big thank you to everyone who voted for this iconic insect. Why not find out more about the Buff-tailed bumblebee 👇 The Buff-tailed bumblebee 🐝 Create a safe place for hibernating bumblebees Bumblebee walking over leaf and grass debris In autumn, new bumblebee queens search for places to hibernate while the rest of the colony comes to a natural end. New bumblebee queens are looking for a safe place to spend the winter. Leaving areas of soil, leaf litter, long grass and logs undisturbed can provide valuable hibernation spots. Autumn/winter guide 🍂 iam McArthur, MSP surveying for bumblebees in Orkney How will we know if nature is recovering? A new Scottish parliamentary motion, lodged by Great Yellow bumblebee Champion Liam McArthur MSP, has highlighted the important role the Trust's BeeWalk volunteers play in monitoring biodiversity and nature's recovery. Full story 📰 Two people with clipboard and pen walking through field Have you completed your October BeeWalk? BeeWalk is the Trust's national recording scheme. Submitting your October data promptly makes sure it can be included in the latest BeeWalk picture and helps the Trust guide conservation work where it is needed. Submit data 🖊️ Bee inspired with some pumpkin magic 🎃 Person with jumper showing pumpkins and a mug with foliage in background Bumblebee season may be drawing to a close, but there are still plenty of ways to support the UK’s bumblebees this autumn, including purchasing one of our bee-rilliant pumpkin-inspired designs. Add a little spice and all things nice to the season by browsing our new range. Every purchase helps to support vital conservation work all year round! Shop autumn designs 🛒 Photo credits: TMB Photography, Nick Owens and Teresa Farr. Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Registered Charity No: 1115634 / Scottish Charity No: SC042830. © 2026 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—THE SHOOTING INDUSTRY DOES NOT WANT YOU TO SEE THIS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The shooting industry doesn't want you to see this PROTECT THE WILD OCT 19 READ IN APP The government is asking what shooting really does to birds, wildlife and the countryside. If just the shooting industry answers, nothing will change. For years, those of us who care about the birds bred and released for shooting have been told the same thing: this is a rural tradition, it is well regulated, and the people who know best are the people who do it. Blah, blah, blah. We don’t believe a word of it, of course, and for the first time in a generation, the government is asking all of us to tell them what is really going on in the countryside. On 4 September, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) opened a Call for Evidence on Gamebird Release, Shooting and Welfare during Rearing in England. It wants evidence on the environmental and animal health and welfare impacts of the whole industry: breeding and rearing, release into the countryside, and shooting. That covers the cage, the incubator, the release pen, the shoot day and everything that happens to the birds afterwards. Defra says the responses will help the government understand current practice and welfare problems in the ‘gamebird’ sector, as part of its Animal Welfare Strategy for England. It has also said that any future change in policy would begin with exactly this kind of evidence gathering. In other words, what Defra hears now will shape what it does next. The call for evidence is open to all of us. It closes at 11:59pm on Sunday 1 November, so please treat the end of this month as your deadline and do not leave it to the last day. Become a Game Changer Why it matters who responds A call for evidence is not a vote, but it is shaped by who turns up. The shooting industry knows this. Its organisations have staff, press officers, membership lists and years of practice at telling government what it wants to hear, and they are already lobbying their supporters to respond. If the only evidence Defra receives comes from people who make their living from shooting, the picture it builds will be a familiar one: well managed, good for conservation, good for the rural economy. Nothing to see here, in other words. That picture will then sit behind government policy for years to come. What will be left out is what many of us have seen with our own eyes. Millions of pheasants and partridges are bred and released into the English countryside every year to be shot for entertainment. Behind that number are breeding birds kept in cages, eggs and chicks dumped as waste, foxes, crows and other wildlife trapped and killed to protect the ‘stock’, birds of prey persecuted, injured birds left to die in hedgerows and on roads, pheasant carcasses dumped in pits, lead shot scattered across the land, and the very real risk of spreading disease, including bird flu. None of that will reach Defra unless we send it. What counts as evidence Defra says it welcomes many kinds of evidence, from published research and NGO reports to monitoring data and well-documented operational or experiential evidence. That last phrase opens the door to all of us. No matter who we are or what our job is, our experience counts. Defra will give more weight to evidence it can check. So the more specific we can be, the better: what we saw, where, and roughly when. A dated photograph of pheasants dumped in a ditch. A note of a trap found on a footpath and what was in it. A record of injured birds on local lanes in the days after a shoot. Problems we have had walking a public right of way through a shooting estate. Even a single, carefully described incident can be valuable. Please be accurate. We need to be precise about what we’ve experienced. Describe anything suspected as being illegal as a suspicion unless it has been established. Honest, careful evidence is far harder to dismiss. What we will submit We will be sending Defra our own evidence, drawn from the reports published in our Investigations series this summer. Those posts documented what goes on out of sight on ‘game farms’: birds in filthy breeding cages, the incubators and brooders where chicks begin their short lives, chicks handled like items on a conveyor belt, and the breeding birds discarded once they are ‘used up’. Become a Game Changer Our investigators found skips and trailers filled with dumped pheasant eggs, with live chicks among them, and wild birds scavenging from those dumps, raising serious questions about the spread of bird flu. We also documented what Larsen traps mean for the wildlife caught in them. We will present that evidence to Defra with its sources and context. But we cannot be everywhere, and we cannot tell your story for you. Our submission will be far stronger if it sits alongside hundreds or thousands of others. Protect the Wild has made it easy You do not have to work out Defra’s questionnaire on your own. Protect the Wild has published a simple guide and email tool here: protectthewild.org.uk/defra-call-for-evidence The page explains the kinds of things worth reporting, from wildlife persecution and predator control to injured or discarded birds, environmental damage, disease and welfare concerns, and the effect of shooting on local communities. It shows which of Defra’s questions each one relates to. Most usefully, it gives you a ready-made email to Defra: just add your own experience and any photos or documents, and send it. If you would rather complete Defra’s full online survey yourself, you can do that on the Defra consultation page, which also includes Defra’s own guidance documents. Please act now This is a genuinely rare chance to put the reality of bird shooting on the government’s record, in front of the officials who will advise on what happens next, and in a process it set up. If we stay silent, the shooting industry will be the only voice in the room. Go to Protect the Wild’s guide and use the email tool. Add what you have seen, with as much detail as you can. Send it before 11:59pm on Sunday 1 November, and ideally by the end of October. Share this post with anyone who walks, rides or lives near a shoot. The birds cannot give evidence. We can. Submit your evidence in seconds Join the movement. Become a Game Changer. We have been hard at work. Months of undercover work. Hundreds of hours of footage. Farms across the UK exposed. We are making a difference. But we are only just getting started. Many of you have already become a Game Changer, standing with us as we take this fight forward, week by week, piece by piece, until the public, the media and the politicians can no longer look away. We are extremely grateful. We are reaching a larger audience all the time, though, many who won’t know that Game Changers helps us fund investigations, take on staff, and make us more effective. So we are going to repeat the call here - this is just the beginning, please be a part of it. Become a Game Changer SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start your Substack