FROM PROTECT THE WILD — IT’S ALL ABOUT ILLEGAL HUNTING — THREE CHARGED & DUE AT COURT TOMORROW

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Hunting news update - Three fox hunters charged and more TOM ANDERSON APR 18 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP Labour has finally begun its consultation on banning ‘trail hunting’, almost a year after it initially announced it. Protect the Wild has published guidance for people submitting their answers. While the consultation is going on, the government has been busy going back on their other animal welfare policies. Labour is set to backpedal on its manifesto commitment to end imports of foie gras and also won’t stop fur imports. Meanwhile, it’s been business as usual for hunt groups around the UK. The fox hunting ‘season’ has now ended, but that doesn’t mean a break for wildlife. The handful of remaining UK mink hunts are gearing up to terrorise our waterways once again, while the three operational staghound packs have been killing at an alarming rate. Three members of the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers Hunt have been charged with illegal hunting. The move by Avon & Somerset Police Rural Crime Team comes after Somerset Sabs caught them on camera chasing a fox at Chilton Trinity near Bridgwater last November. Also in this update, a couple of bits of good news: A vegan hiking group happened across a hunt, and sabbed it. A new hunt sab group has been set up in Oxfordshire. Three hunters charged Ross Cordery, Wayne Greggory and James Parish of the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers Hunt have been charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs - an offence under the Hunting Act 2004. The action by Avon & Somerset Police Rural Crime Team comes after Somerset Hunt Saboteurs‘ drone caught the hunt chasing a fox at Chilton Trinity on 26 November last year. Blatant hunting at Devon’s Chilton Trinity on 26 November 2026 - this drone footage from Somerset Hunt Sabs was shown on Channel 4. The three will have their first appearance in Taunton Magistrates’ Court on 20 April. A ‘miracle’ that the fox survived Somerset Sabs described what happened on 26 November on their Facebook page: “we watched Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers Huntsman ‘Wingnut’ hunt his hounds around scrub then encourage hounds onto the line of the fox. By some miracle the fox made a huge leap across a ditch and evaded the hounds. But they were seconds behind and no one called them off.” The sabs told Protect the Wild: “After watching them blatantly hunt all season it’s a relief to see them finally being held accountable. Hoping for more convictions to follow.” According to Protect the Wild’s Rob Pownall: “Caught on camera, chasing a fox, and now finally facing charges, this is exactly what hunt groups are still doing across the country. The law is being ignored, and wildlife is paying the price. If this government is serious about animal welfare, it must strengthen the Hunting Act and end these loopholes once and for all, we’re glad to see the public consultation is now live and we urge people to respond.” Show Quoted Content “Caught on camera, chasing a fox, and now finally facing charges, this is exactly what hunt groups are still doing across the country. The law is being ignored, and wildlife is paying the price. If this government is serious about animal welfare, it must strengthen the Hunting Act and end these loopholes once and for all, we’re glad to see the public consultation is now live and we urge people to respond.” As the government’s consultation on banning ‘trail hunting’ takes place, hunters are still up to their old tricks. Our wildlife’s first line of defence against them is - as always - the UK’s sabs and monitors. Why not join your local sab group? Check out Protect the Wild’s Page on ‘Foxes and the Law’. If you’re able to support Somerset Hunt Sabs’ efforts please use this link. And don’t forget to fill out the government consultation on ‘trail hunting’. You can refer to Protect the Wild’s advice here. As the consultation goes on, hunts are still killing The Devon and Somerset Staghounds (DSSH), Tiverton Staghounds, Quantock Staghounds and the Beaufort Hunt have all killed again during March and April 2026. On 6 March, Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs‘ (WHS) eye-in-the-sky caught Gloucestershire’s Beaufort Hunt killing a fox. As the Hunt searched hedgerows close to Commonwood Farm in Wiltshire, the drone captured images of the kill. Huntsman Will Bryer picked up the mangled body and handed her to a female rider who “unceremoniously” placed her in a bin-bag.] The Beaufort Hunt’s terriermen set up artificial earths and tempted foxes to take refuge there. They blocked them up on the morning of the kill to ensure that the ill-fated fox had nowhere to hide. Photo courtesy of Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs. Police confiscate wildlife defenders’ equipment Wiltshire Police officers, rather than deal with the obvious wildlife crimes that were being committed, looked the other way as members of the Hunt pursued another fox. WHS wrote on their Substack page: “Enter PC Plum W79, he really didn’t know his arse from his elbow when it comes to drones, but he sure knew how to make a phone call and picked his moment during the next fox chase - in which a fox had been flushed from New Covert, and was in the process of being chased hell for leather by a terrier-man (or whatever the masked thugs with terriers want to be called) as the hounds were being encouraged to ‘hunt for it’, to well…decide that the ‘powers that be’ demand the drone be seized.” Show Quoted Content “Enter PC Plum W79, he really didn’t know his arse from his elbow when it comes to drones, but he sure knew how to make a phone call and picked his moment during the next fox chase - in which a fox had been flushed from New Covert, and was in the process of being chased hell for leather by a terrier-man (or whatever the masked thugs with terriers want to be called) as the hounds were being encouraged to ‘hunt for it’, to well…decide that the ‘powers that be’ demand the drone be seized.” Police seize evidence of illegal hunting from sabs. They were forced to give it back after a week-long campaign. Photo courtesy of Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs Officers seized the equipment and evidence from the sabs. However, after a week-long pressure campaign the force was thankfully forced to return it. WHS have made a complaint to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) about the incident. A spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said: “Once again, prolific fox killers, the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt, seem able to avoid police scrutiny even as wildlife crime is unfolding. This hunt, repeatedly filmed hunting and killing foxes this season alone, has been the subject of numerous police investigations. While police drag their heels, sabs are in the fields and skies doing their best to prevent wildlife crime and provide evidence to the often lackadaisical officers who attend. We will continue until a proper ban is in place and until it is properly enforced by those paid to uphold the law.” Show Quoted Content “Once again, prolific fox killers, the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt, seem able to avoid police scrutiny even as wildlife crime is unfolding. This hunt, repeatedly filmed hunting and killing foxes this season alone, has been the subject of numerous police investigations. While police drag their heels, sabs are in the fields and skies doing their best to prevent wildlife crime and provide evidence to the often lackadaisical officers who attend. We will continue until a proper ban is in place and until it is properly enforced by those paid to uphold the law.” We recently called out the Beaufort Hunt as one of the UK’s worst hunts, in terms of the number of animals chased and killed and frequency of attacks on sabs, monitors and other members of the public. In 2022, Protect the Wild and the Hunt Investigation Team filmed the Beaufort, who are - incidentally - King Charles and Camilla’s old hunting crew, shooting their hunting hounds in the head after they were no longer deemed of use to them. Stag hunts on the rampage It’s stag hunting ‘season’ again, and England’s three remaining stag hunts have been on a killing spree over the past month. Stag hunts often avail themselves of the ‘Research and Observation’ exemption in the Hunting Act 2004. In reality, no research has ever been published, and this is yet another smokescreen for illegal hunting. A hound chasing a stag - courtesy of North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs. Stag hunts have been caught killing or chasing stags on several occasions over the last month: On 2 March, sabs from North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs (NDHS) and Mendip Hunt Saboteurs (MHS) were able to SCUPPER the Quantock Staghounds’ attempts to make a kill near Crowscombe Park Gate in Somerset. On 5 March, a stag miraculously OUTRAN the hounds and horses of the DSSH to safety near Winsford in Somerset. On 7 March, DSSH chased and killed a stag near Cheriton in Somerset. On 9 March a stag was killed by Quantock Staghounds near Hurley Farm in Crowcombe, Somerset. On 12 March a young stag - known as a pricket - managed to ESCAPE the DSSH. NDHS wrote: “What possible excuse could they have for chasing this fit up-and-coming stag? And in storm conditions too. Certainly nothing lawful. Stag hunting for sport, not an exemption in sight.” On 14 March, NDHS reported that DSSH and their quadbikes hunted and killed a stag near Molland in Devon. This wildlife crime took place as officers from both Avon & Somerset Constabulary and Devon & Cornwall police watched idly. Mendip Hunt Sabs reported that Quantock Staghounds killed a stag near the A39 on 16 March. They wrote on their Facebook page: “Eventually hitting [a] fence by the A39, the stag reached his limit and could not jump or run to escape. Our sab interrupted the hunt as they were about to shoot him, but instead of letting him go, they heartlessly chased him away just far enough from our sab that they could discharge the weapon. Seconds later, the stag was killed just a few feet from our sab.” On 19 March, Quantock Staghounds killed an exhausted stag after meeting close to Taunton Vale & Banwell Harriers kennels in Huish Champflower in Somerset. On 21 March Devon and Somerset Staghounds and Tiverton Staghounds chased a stag to exhaustion and killed him near Winsford on Exmoor. Quantock Staghounds and Tiverton Staghounds killed a stag on 23 March after meeting at Firebeacon Hill near Crowcombe in Somerset. They hunted him across the land of Forestry England and the National Trust, both of which have banned hunting on their land. On 31 March NDHS sadly reported that DSSH had misused an exemption in the Hunting Act which enables mammals to be hunted for the purpose of ‘rescue’ to ‘relieve suffering’. Horrifyingly, the hunt used this loophole in the law to hunt a disabled stag for over an hour before killing him. On 1 April South Wessex Hunt Saboteurs together with members of several other groups witnessed DSSH chasing and killing another stag in Exmoor National Park. On 2 April, NDHS reported that a member of the Quantock Staghounds, who was wearing a mask and motorcycle helmet, assaulted a sab who was trying to monitor the hunt chasing a stag, in breach of the Hunting Act. On 4 April DSSH met at Cussicombe Post. Five sab groups turned out in an attempt to stop them from killing. Sadly they weren’t able to stop the Hunt from chasing a stag from Somerset’s Barton Wood and pursuing him over a period of more than three hours. He was finally killed near the river at Leworthy. NDHS posted a shocking video on their Facebook page. After the killing, DSSH prepared to carve up the murdered stag. However, their efforts were foiled by sabs who made clear that they weren’t willing to allow this further desecration to happen. On 7 April, MHS reported that the Quantock Staghounds’ riders rode their horses at a stag. They wrote: “As the stag was chased out of Little Quantock Combe, the riders shouted at and rode at him to try to turn him and stop him from crossing the Macmillan Way towards Forestry England-owned Rams Combe. Incredibly, the stag held his nerve and continued past the screaming riders towards safer ground. There are no Hunting Act exemptions that permit a howling group of riders to charge at a hunted stag on their horses. Yet the stag hunts continue to flaunt various exemptions to absurdly claim that their behaviour is legal.” This beautiful stag was chased down mercilessly and killed by the Tiverton and Quantock Staghounds on 23 March - Image courtesy of North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs. End the cruelty! We need a real ban in order to end this cruelty once and for all. Please remember to take the time to fill out the government consultation. Check out Protect the Wild’s pages on how to pressure the National Trust and Forestry England, to persuade them to enforce their own policies banning stag hunting and ‘trail’ hunting on their lands. Read Protect the Wild’s page on ‘Assaults and the law’. Support Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs. Donate to South Wessex Hunt Saboteurs. Click here to support Mendip Hunt Saboteurs. Make a donation to help North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs keep the pressure up on the Southwest’s remaining Staghound packs. Read the Hunt Saboteurs Association’s new piece of undercover research on stag hunting. Hunts gear up to terrorise mink mink on unsplash july 2025 A mink in a burrow, via Unsplash. Minks are hunted from March all the way through to September, coinciding with their breeding season. Hunts often leave young mink - known as kits - motherless and sure to perish. The UK’s mink hunts are the successor to the banned otter hunts, which were disbanded after that species was declared endangered. After the 1978 ban on hunting otters, several otter hunts began hunting mink, whose river habitats are similar to those of otters. Mink live in rabbit burrows, tree roots and brush along waterways. They established themselves in the UK in the 1950s after being released from fur farms. Minks are covered by the Hunting Act, and hunting them with dogs is illegal. Dove Valley Mink Hounds’ huntsman Will Shaw after being sent packing by sabs last year - via Northants Hunt Saboteurs. Mink hunts operate by thrashing through vegetation along waterways, accompanied by dogs. They try to masquerade as ‘just doing surveys’ - but the telescopic poles they carry to knock minks out of trees are sure signs that they are intent on killing. Support your local sabs and monitors to put an end to this cruel bloodsport once and for all. Make sure you tip off your local sabs or monitors if you see mink hunting going on in your area. Read our explainer on mink hunting. Check out our report from 2024, and this one from last ‘season’. Make a donation to Northants Hunt Saboteurs. Support your local sabs and monitors to put an end to this cruel bloodsport once and for all. Check out our report from 2024, and this one from last ‘season’. Make a donation to Northants Hunt Saboteurs. New sab group set up in Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Hunt Saboteurs (OHS) is a new group that has just sabbed its first season. OHS was set up to “support the furry inhabitants of the area”. Protect the Wild caught up with them to ask them how the new group is going. We asked OHS what motivated them to start a new group in Oxfordshire. They said: “There are around two hundred active fox hunts in the UK, and that’s not counting all the beagle packs, stag hunts, and other forms of organised hunting across the country. Of those, at least ten are known to hunt in Oxfordshire. The Hunt Saboteurs Association works tirelessly to bring these cruel, barbaric practices to an end, and hold accountable those who break the law, slaughter wildlife, cause havoc across the countryside and are a danger on public roads. But while many counties have their own dedicated sab group, despite the prevalence of fox hunting in our area, Oxfordshire [did] not have one. And while there are some fantastic, hardworking groups that do their best to protect our wildlife, like the Three Counties and the Cotswolds Hunt Sabs, they’re covering a lot of ground, taking on many different hunts. Effectively, there’s a line of activists protecting our wildlife, but the line is stretched thin, with other groups forced to over-extend themselves. For a long time, we’ve seen a gap in the line… A gap we felt an obligation to fill.” Show Quoted Content “There are around two hundred active fox hunts in the UK, and that’s not counting all the beagle packs, stag hunts, and other forms of organised hunting across the country. Of those, at least ten are known to hunt in Oxfordshire. The Hunt Saboteurs Association works tirelessly to bring these cruel, barbaric practices to an end, and hold accountable those who break the law, slaughter wildlife, cause havoc across the countryside and are a danger on public roads. But while many counties have their own dedicated sab group, despite the prevalence of fox hunting in our area, Oxfordshire [did] not have one. And while there are some fantastic, hardworking groups that do their best to protect our wildlife, like the Three Counties and the Cotswolds Hunt Sabs, they’re covering a lot of ground, taking on many different hunts. Effectively, there’s a line of activists protecting our wildlife, but the line is stretched thin, with other groups forced to over-extend themselves. For a long time, we’ve seen a gap in the line… A gap we felt an obligation to fill.” OHS was initiated by a “small group of activists tired of letting these thugs on horseback get away with breaking the law and killing helpless creatures.” We couldn’t “sit back and do nothing” OHS told Protect the Wild: “Some of us were experienced sabs from other groups who recognised the need for an Oxfordshire group. Others were concerned members of the local community who never wanted to don the sab flag and dedicate their free time to traipsing across the countryside chasing fox hunters, but could not in good conscience sit back and do nothing. We work closely with a network of other animal rights groups, doing our bit to make the local area a safer place for animals.” Show Quoted Content “Some of us were experienced sabs from other groups who recognised the need for an Oxfordshire group. Others were concerned members of the local community who never wanted to don the sab flag and dedicate their free time to traipsing across the countryside chasing fox hunters, but could not in good conscience sit back and do nothing. We work closely with a network of other animal rights groups, doing our bit to make the local area a safer place for animals.” We asked OHS how their work had been going so far. They told us: “We’re a small group, but growing already after just one hunting season! And while it’s difficult to find people willing to risk their safety to be bullied and ridiculed by members of the local hunts and their supporters, we’ve found that an overwhelming number of people are eager for the hunters to be held accountable, and are out there, rooting for us, encouraging us, supporting in other ways, and even sending in tip-offs about illegal hunting in the area.” Show Quoted Content “We’re a small group, but growing already after just one hunting season! And while it’s difficult to find people willing to risk their safety to be bullied and ridiculed by members of the local hunts and their supporters, we’ve found that an overwhelming number of people are eager for the hunters to be held accountable, and are out there, rooting for us, encouraging us, supporting in other ways, and even sending in tip-offs about illegal hunting in the area.” The group is looking for new comrades to join them in whatever capacity they can. According to OHS: “[The] new group offers locals a chance to do something to help protect the furry inhabitants of the area. Their involvement doesn’t have to be on the front lines: some of our volunteers help with fundraising or organisational work. Some help with our social media presence or public outreach. Some join our network to share information about illegal hunting happening in their area. If you’re looking for ways to protect animals, please get in touch, and help us to show the hunters in the area, whether they’re with the Heythrop, Kimblewick, Warwickshire, Vale of the White Horse, Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase, Old Berks, Grafton, or any of the other hunts that have crossed our borders that there are consequences for animal abuse, and let the world know that such cruelty has no place in civilised society.” Show Quoted Content “[The] new group offers locals a chance to do something to help protect the furry inhabitants of the area. Their involvement doesn’t have to be on the front lines: some of our volunteers help with fundraising or organisational work. Some help with our social media presence or public outreach. Some join our network to share information about illegal hunting happening in their area. If you’re looking for ways to protect animals, please get in touch, and help us to show the hunters in the area, whether they’re with the Heythrop, Kimblewick, Warwickshire, Vale of the White Horse, Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase, Old Berks, Grafton, or any of the other hunts that have crossed our borders that there are consequences for animal abuse, and let the world know that such cruelty has no place in civilised society.” You can follow Oxfordshire Hunt Saboteurs here, and donate to support their work here. Vegan hiking group sabs hunt Members of Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs (NHS) were out rambling with the Vegan Hikers Club in Devon, close to Bellever Forest on Dartmoor, when they happened across a hunting hound straying across their path. Their sabbing instincts soon kicked in. Photo courtesy of Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs. They soon realised that they had stumbled across the South Devon Hunt and set out to confront them. The Hunt didn’t know what had hit them as they were faced by over 30 vegan hikers. NHS wrote: “It appeared they did not know what to do in the face of such strong opposition, hunting for only about ten minutes with the hounds briefly ‘in cry’ before gathering them up after they spilled onto Forestry Commission land; land the hunt are explicitly banned from.” The hikers - including the sabs - soon came across members of South Devon Hunt Saboteurs who were more than happy for the extra numbers. Unsure what to do, the Hunt soon packed up and went home. NHS continued: “After this embarrassing display, the hunt returned to the meet [point] and packed away with several hours of daylight still left.” Protect the Wild spoke to Norb, one of the hunt saboteurs present on the day. He said: “Whilst hiking I often experience the dark side of our countryside - the sounds of a shoot nearby, deadly traps, and even dead sheep in fields. It was only a matter of time before I stumbled upon a hunt too. Instead of letting it ruin our enjoyment of the day, it was a great opportunity to protect wildlife and introduce a group of animal lovers to the world of hunt sabotage.” Show Quoted Content “Whilst hiking I often experience the dark side of our countryside - the sounds of a shoot nearby, deadly traps, and even dead sheep in fields. It was only a matter of time before I stumbled upon a hunt too. Instead of letting it ruin our enjoyment of the day, it was a great opportunity to protect wildlife and introduce a group of animal lovers to the world of hunt sabotage.” Vegan hikers get stuck in - image courtesy of Newcastle Hunt Sabs. It’s heartwarming to see another hunt sent packing through people power! Support South Devon Hunt Saboteurs by clicking here and Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs by clicking here. Find out how to join the Vegan Hiking Club. Help get Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs vehicle back on the road before the next fox hunting ‘season’. Thanks again to all the wildlife defenders who have allowed 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

BUGBYTES CAMAPAIGN SPECIAL — IT’S ABOUT INVERTEBRATES — EVERY LITTLE HELPS

View this email in your browser Dear John We’re excited to share that Buglife has once again been selected to participate in Big Give’s Earth Raise; this year our campaign is "Invertebrates: The Backbone of Species Recovery." A week long event where every donation made via our Big Give web page, from midday on Wednesday 22 April until midday on Wednesday 29 April, will be doubled thanks to the Garfield Weston Foundation. Find out more and save the date! Invertebrates: The Backbone of Species Recovery This year our campaign focus is species recovery! The UK is home to over 40,000 terrestrial invertebrate species - vital to a healthy planet and for the free services they provide, many are in trouble and at risk of extinction. We urgently need funding to understand, communicate and take action to save our special invertebrates on the edge of extinction. Our species recovery work raises awareness of the importance of invertebrates, carrying out research to better understand their needs, and restoring habitats to provide safe havens for threatened species. Through our species recovery work, we take actions to safeguard priority invertebrates that are on the edge of extinction; benefitting other animals and plants too! This programme of work will benefit a number of priority species across the UK from the Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum) to the White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) and many species in between! Liz Oldring releasing a rescued White-clawed Crayfish with Nick Mott © Karim Vahed Will you help us raise awareness and take actions to safeguard priority invertebrates that are on the edge of extinction? 👀 Keep your eyes peeled, check out our socials next week and be sure to share with family and friends as we share more details about some of the amazing species we are working with, and for. Our supporters are amazing and we would like to "thank you" now, for supporting our work and our appeal in any way you can; whether that's by making a donation, forwarding the email you’ve received on to a friend, even liking or sharing our social media posts. It all helps. Whatever you can give, no matter the size, every donation will make double the difference, supporting our invertebrate species recovery work. ✅ Add a calendar reminder to your diary; ✅ Save this email, or the link and the donate button will appear on when the campaign starts at midday on Wednesday 22 April . Together we can save the small things that run the planet! The Buglife Team Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon Website icon Buglife Logo Copyright (C) 2026 Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive Member communications electronically following becoming a Member. Thank you. Our mailing address is: Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust Allia Future Business Centre London Road Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 8AN United Kingdom Company No. 04132695 | Registered Charity No. 1092293 | Scottish Charity No.SC040004 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FANTASTIC ROB FROM PROTECT THE WILD WAS ON ‘HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU’ DRESSED AS A GANNET

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Have I Got News For You… yes, that was me ROB POWNALL APR 17 READ IN APP So… if you happened to be watching Have I Got News For You last night, you might have seen the segment explaining how I’m running for Scottish Parliament dressed as a giant gannet. What they didn’t explain, though, is why I’m doing it. If you’ve been following our work over the past few weeks or months, you’ll already know. This is about one thing: bringing attention to the Guga hunt and finally ending it. Every year, a group of men travel to a remote Scottish island and kill gannet chicks, known as “guga.” They are taken from their nests and bludgeoned to death, all in the name of tradition and as a so-called local delicacy. It’s something most people don’t even know is happening. And right now I am calling on all major Scottish parties to commit to a policy of ending it. Sign the petition If you want to learn more about the Guga hunt, and read our latest article uncovering some shocking findings through Freedom of Information requests, you can do so here. I’m really glad the BBC picked up on the story. I’m more than happy to be the butt of a few jokes if it means shining a light on something that urgently needs public attention. Have I Got News For You pulls in around 4 million viewers. That’s 4 million people who may have seen that clip, picked up their phones, and searched, “Why is someone dressed as a gannet running for Parliament?” And that’s exactly the point. Because that’s how this issue breaks out of the bubble and reaches people who would never normally come across it. That’s how campaigns grow. We want to do more of this. More ideas that cut through. More ways of reaching the mainstream. More moments that force people to stop, question, and learn, especially when it comes to protecting wildlife. If you like the sound of that, I would really appreciate it if you chucked in a few pounds each month to support our ongoing work fighting for British wildlife. Support Protect the Wild Rob 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 — AN UPDATE ON WHAT THEY DO AND A REQUEST FOR DONATIONS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Help me build the largest wildlife protection movement in Britain ROB POWNALL APR 16 READ IN APP I’m going to be completely honest with you. Things are bad. Animals are still being hunted, shot, trapped and killed across this country every single day. Most of it happens out of sight, without consequence, and if I’m honest, I’ve been sick of watching it for years while so many of the organisations that are supposed to be protecting wildlife just don’t act with the urgency that’s needed. Everything feels too polite, too careful, too focused on not upsetting the wrong people, while wildlife continues to suffer and decline. We cannot afford that anymore. I need your help to build the largest wildlife protection movement in Britain. Not for the sake of it, but because that is what it will take to actually force change. That’s why I set up Protect the Wild in 2020. I wanted to build the kind of organisation I would support. One that says things clearly, doesn’t sit on the fence, and actually does things. And right now, things are starting to move. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve sat down with the Defra minister and challenged them directly on the badger cull, making it clear that the government knew it was never working and hearing first-hand that the cull will be ending. At the same time, I’m running for Scottish Parliament to raise awareness of the Guga hunt, which has already led to over 30 pieces of press coverage in just two weeks across virtually every major Scottish paper. Yesterday we asked you to respond to the public consultation on hunting, and at the time of writing this over 11,000 of you have already done it. All while our content has been seen by over 15 million people in that same period. A couple of years ago, numbers like that would have taken months of constant effort to even get close to. Now it’s happening in days. That doesn’t happen by accident. But we are under no illusion. Animals are still being killed and ignored every single day. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is that we are starting to build something that can actually fight back. We are doing all of this on an annual budget that some organisations bring in every month. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved with that, but it also shows what is possible if we scale this properly. Right now, just over 7,000 people are backing us financially on a monthly basis, and everything we’ve done so far has been built off that. Not big donations from a handful of people, but thousands of people contributing a small amount each month. A few pounds. No one stretched. But together, it adds up to something that has real weight. Become a monthly supporter That’s how we brought in a full-time campaigner for Scotland. That’s how we’ve driven over 250,000 signatures on ending the Guga hunt, secured regular national press coverage, and pushed this issue into the spotlight. This is not abstract. This is what impact looks like. And this is just the start. This email is going out to 238,560 people. If even a small fraction of you decide to chip in £2.50 a month, it completely changes what we’re capable of. Our goal is to reach 10,000 monthly supporters. Not as a vanity number, but because that’s the point where this becomes very difficult to ignore, where we can properly scale investigations, campaigns and political pressure. If you’ve read this and you’re thinking this is exactly the kind of organisation you want to support, then join us. Let’s get to 10,000. Be one of the 10,000 PS. I know many of you reading this already support us financially, buy from our shop, or simply aren’t in a position to give right now. Thank you. It genuinely means a lot. We use Substack because it allows us to reach hundreds of thousands of people at no cost, but it also means we can’t filter emails like this for existing supporters. I hope you don’t mind hearing from me again. 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 — AMAZON ARE SELLING GLUE TRAPS — IS THAT NECESSARY AND LEGAL?

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Amazon UK Is STILL Selling Glue Traps Despite Evidence of Illegal Use CHARLOTTE SMITH APR 16 READ IN APP It takes seconds. Seconds to find glue traps for sale on Amazon UK. Seconds to buy them. Seconds to scroll through the reviews and see the reality. These products may be marketed for insects, but there is clear evidence they are being used on rodents in the UK. Within just a few listings, there are videos and images showing the truth. Mice and rats, living animals, stuck on glue traps purchased from Amazon UK. Panicking. Struggling. Suffering. This is happening in the UK, in plain sight, on listings hosted on Amazon UK’s platform. And in much of the UK, the use of glue traps is illegal. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps A rat that was sadistically named Fred before being caught and then killed in a glue trap purchased from Amazon UK less than two weeks ago. Let’s be absolutely clear about the law: In England, under the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022, it is a criminal offence to use glue traps unless you are a licensed professional operating under strict and exceptional conditions, yet anyone and everyone can buy them from Amazon UK and use them unlawfully. In Wales, the law goes further. Under the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023, glue traps are completely banned. In Scotland, the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 will ban the use, possession and sale of rodent glue traps from 1 July 2026. The direction of travel across the UK is unmistakable. These devices are being recognised for what they are: cruel, indiscriminate, and unacceptable. And yet Amazon UK continues to sell them freely. This highlights a clear gap between the law and what is happening in practice. This is a platform making these products easily accessible, despite evidence they are being misused. Amazon UK is one of the UK’s largest e-commerce platforms. It has the power to restrict products by location, to enforce compliance, and to remove harmful items. Yet these products remain available without restriction. And that choice has consequences. Glue traps are one of the most inhumane devices still in use. Animals caught on them do not die quickly. They suffer for hours, sometimes days. They fight to escape. They tear their own skin, break their own limbs, suffocate, starve, or die from sheer exhaustion and fear. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps Video taken and uploaded to Amazon UK on the 30th of January last year, after they were made illegal in England and Wales. This is prolonged, preventable cruelty and these products continue to be sold through Amazon UK. The evidence is not hidden. It is on their own website. There are recent posts, including from late March 2026, showing live rats and mice stuck on glue traps sold through Amazon UK. And it does not stop there. You can purchase these traps yourself, even while living in England, where their use is heavily restricted by law. There are no warning messages. No restrictions. No safeguards. It takes less than 20 seconds to complete a purchase. Whether through oversight or policy, the current system allows these products to be purchased without restriction. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps Video taken and uploaded to Amazon UK on the 14th of February last year, after they were made illegal in England and Wales. It shows, beyond doubt, that Amazon UK cannot regulate how these products are used. And yet it continues to sell them anyway. Even the RSPCA has stepped in. On 5 April, on instagram they urged the public to report the sale and use of glue traps to the police via 101. That should be a wake up call. When a major animal welfare organisation is telling people to report a product, why is it still being sold by the UK’s largest online retailer? This is not just a reputational issue. It raises serious legal and moral concerns. By allowing unrestricted sales, Amazon UK is actively undermining the intent of UK law and allowing the continued availability of products linked to serious animal welfare concerns. Yet, the solution could not be simpler: Amazon UK could stop this today. A basic postcode restriction would prevent glue traps being sold to England, Wales and Scotland. Listings could be removed from the UK platform entirely. These are standard controls. Amazon UK already has the infrastructure to do this. And glue traps are low value items. Removing them would have no meaningful financial impact. But the impact on animals would be enormous. Thousands of animals could be spared prolonged suffering and unlawful deaths. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps Screenshot showing someone using glue traps bought from Amazon Uk to catch and kill mice, February 6th 2026. Amazon UK has already faced scrutiny for failing to control the sale of harmful products. This is another moment where it must decide what kind of company it wants to be. Will it continue to profit from animal cruelty it can see happening on its own platform?Or will it act? We are calling on Amazon UK to do the right thing - stop the sale of glue traps to England, Wales and Scotland. Implement postcode restrictions. Remove these products from your platform. And end this cruelty. Now. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps Adopt an Animal and support our work By adopting an animal with Protect the Wild, you are directly supporting frontline campaigns that protect some of Britain’s most persecuted species. Our fox adoption symbolises our fight to finally end fox hunting for good. Our badger adoption represents our determination to stop the badger cull and protect wildlife from government-sanctioned killing. Our peregrine falcon adoption stands for our work exposing the bird shooting industry and defending birds of prey from persecution as we work to take that industry down. Adopt an Animal SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST — CORNWALL COUNCIL WANT TO USE GLYPHOSATE ON ROAD SIDES

View this email in your browser pavement plants on a Cornish street - mexican fleabane which is great for pollinators Hello John, We’re writing to update you on recent proposals by Cornwall Council to reintroduce the use of glyphosate‑based weedkillers on ‘urban highways’ - and to explain what Cornwall Wildlife Trust is doing about this. Town and Parish Councils across Cornwall have been notified that glyphosate spraying may resume on roads and pavements unless they formally opt out. Councils received this notification at very short notice and are being asked to make decisions with significant environmental, financial, and governance implications under very tight timescales. What Cornwall Wildlife Trust is doing We have significant concerns about the potential impact to wildlife from this move, amidst mounting evidence that glyphosate can be harmful, particularly to invertebrates and freshwater species. We have: Written formally to Cornwall Council asking that the planned reintroduction of glyphosate on urban highways be delayed Asked that the timescales for Town and Parish Councils to decide on their approach be extended, allowing for proper local consultation and engagement Raised concerns about the potential impacts on biodiversity and the apparent conflict with the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy What you can do If you’re concerned about this issue there are constructive ways to show your support locally: Attend your local Town or Parish Council meeting. This is an opportunity to express your concern about the rushed timetable and the importance of protecting health, nature and local environments. Find more info about your local council here. Sign a petition. There are two key petitions active in Cornwall and you can find links to both via our website. Further information We’ve shared more detail on our website, including more information on what glyphosate is and why there are concerns, alongside a ‘Glyphosate Myth Buster’ produced by Pesticide Action Network UK, which addresses some of the most common questions and concerns. We’ll continue to keep you, our members, updated as this develops. Thank you, as always, for standing up for Cornwall’s wildlife and helping us create a Cornwall where nature thrives. More information 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 — GOOD NEWS (I HOPE) FOR SWIFTS AT VIADUCT CHAPEL MILTON

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Progress for Swifts at Chapel Milton Following Public Pressure ROB POWNALL APR 17 READ IN APP Swifts face death after Network Rail fills nesting holes with mortar There has been an important and encouraging development in the campaign to protect swift nesting sites at Chapel Milton viaduct in Derbyshire. More than 12,800 people signed Protect the Wild’s petition calling on Network Rail to take action after known swift nesting holes were filled during refurbishment works earlier this year. That public response, alongside the tireless efforts of local campaigners on the ground, has clearly helped shift the situation. A Positive Step Forward In its initial response, Network Rail defended its actions and focused on installing swift boxes as a future measure. However, in an email sent to Protect the Wild the other day, Network Rail confirmed it is now taking further steps. These include: Seeking permission to reopen nesting holes in the areas identified by campaigners Planning to install conservation-approved swift boxes Working with local authorities and conservation organisations including the RSPB and Swift Conservation Moving quickly to support a decision ahead of the swifts’ return This is a significant step forward. Reopening nesting holes was not part of the original plan and is now being actively explored. Swift Bird Facts | Apus Apus Why This Matters Swifts are a red-listed species in the UK and have declined dramatically in recent decades, largely due to the loss of nesting habitat. They return each year to the same nesting sites, and when those sites are blocked, breeding can fail. Reopening these nesting holes gives returning birds the best possible chance of breeding successfully this season. While this is a positive development, the outcome is not yet confirmed. Permission is still required, and the timing is critical as swifts begin to return from migration. The coming weeks will determine whether access can be restored in time. What is clear, however, is that this issue has moved forward because people took action. Thank You This progress is down to the local campaigners who raised the alarm, gathered evidence, and refused to let this be ignored. It is also down to the 12,800 people who signed Protect the Wild’s petition and helped turn concern into pressure. That collective action has helped shift the response from defence to action. We will continue to follow this closely and push for the best possible outcome for these birds. For now, this is a reminder that when people come together and take action, it can make a real difference. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing