THE PIPEWELL FOOT BEAGLES CONVICTEDOF HUNTING & KILLING A BROWN HARE BUT THERE IS MORE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Pipewell Foot Beagles huntsman pleads GUILTY after pack kills hare Pack guilty of killing a hare on Boughton Estate GLEN BLACK FEB 19 READ IN APP Planned for three days, the trial of the Pipewell Foot Beagles and two of its members ended dramatically less than an hour into day two after the huntsman changed his plea. Philip Saunders, huntsman for the Pipewell Beagles, admitted breaking Section 1 of the Hunting Act after encouraging hounds to kill a hare. He was sentenced to £5000 in fines and costs. However, the charges against master and whipper-in Rachael Lenton as well as the Pipewell Foot Beagles Limited as a body corporate were dropped. The trial began on a dramatic note after Judge Community Protection Warning (CPW) lawyer Neil Sands and district judge Amar Mehta raised the possibility of the hunt forfeiting its hounds should it be found guilty. This gave the defence pause for thought, but it decided nonetheless to continue with not guilty pleas. The wheels on the defence’s case began falling off almost immediately after two witnesses for Boughton Estate - where the killing occurred - stated the hunt only had permission for hound exercise and not for trail hunting. Though not explicitly stated in court, had there been guilty verdicts all round, Boughton Estate may have also have been liable under Section 3 of the Hunting Act. Sam Rees and former huntsman George Whittaker, estate manager and security manager respectively, protected the estate by distancing itself from the Pipewell Foot Beagles. On day two, defence lawyer Stephen Welford initially cross-examined Lenton, during which the master-whip twice stated “absolutely not” to questions of whether the huntsman had encouraged hounds to pursue the hare. Lenton also said she didn’t see the hare even after the hounds had killed the creature. Instead, she claimed to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer Sands that she and Saunders were trail hunting an artificially laid scent made of Scoot, a fox repellant, which huntsman Saunders had variously claimed during his testimony on day one both was and was not mixed with rabbit scent. Lenton attempted to clarify this confusion by saying the hunt once used a synthetic rabbit scent but now uses “pure Scoot”, although at no point on day one or two was it clarified why they allegedly used fox repellent as a scent mixture. However, the inconsistency Lenton attempted to smooth over was only part of the problem. Saunders’ testimony on day one had been contradictory throughout. The huntsman wasn’t able to explain why during his initial police interview he didn’t name the ten hunt supporters who witnessed the incident. He also failed to name four of the five alleged trail layers on the day, and had only named the fifth person a week before the trial. Had the trial gone ahead when initially planned in November 2025, there would have been no names at all. Saunders even stated that he didn’t know what was happening when the hounds were huddled together in the middle of a field despite also having said he’d been involved with hunting since before the Hunting Act. Crucially, he also said he hadn’t reported the kill to the British Hound Sports Authority (BHSA) as required by the organisation’s own rules. It was this detail around reporting to the BHSA that ultimately unravelled the case. “There are consequences to their actions” Sands picked up on an inconsistency in Lenton’s testimony regarding this detail. He questioned whether she was familiar with the BHSA’s rules regarding reporting ‘accidental’ kills. Lenton confirmed she did. However, when Sands asked whether she had done so, Lenton’s reply produced confusion amongst both Sands and Judge Mahta. Lenton at first stated she’d reported it twice to the BHSA. After further questioning by Sands, though, she clarified that the two times were: By phone the day after the incident, to let the BHSA know about the presence of an anti-hunt monitor, though she also claimed that she wasn’t aware of a dead hare at the time so couldn’t have mentioned a kill to them. When the BHSA sent Welford to support her in her police interview (three months after the incident) regarding the kill, by which time she was aware of the dead hare, and believed Welford was present on behalf of the BHSA and would therefore report back the details to the organisation. This led to a sudden break in proceedings, initiated by Sands and resulting in Welford leaving the courtroom alongside convicted former huntsman and current head of the BHSA, Julian Barnfield, who was sitting in the gallery throughout the trial. Sands and Welford returned several minutes later with the defence lawyer requesting that the judge hear Saunders’ plea again. This time, less than an hour into day two of the trial, Saunders plead guilty to his charge of breaching Section 1 of the Hunting Act by killing a hare. As a result, Judge Mahta ordered Saunders to pay a £1000 fine, £3600 in court costs due to the late plea, and a £400 victim surcharge. In summary, Mehta stated that: “A strong message must go out to those who engage in this activity, that the courts and public will not tolerate when animals are harmed. That was the whole point of the Act coming into force.” Significantly, following a request by Sands, the judge also ordered Saunders to forfeit his hunting horn for destruction. In making the order, Mehta said: “This instrument was used in the demise of a protected animal and it’s important that those who watch these proceedings understand there are consequences for those actions. … The hunting community will understand there are consequences to their actions.” Saunders guilty plea also resulted in the CPS dropping charges against Lenton and the Pipewell Foot Beagles Ltd. The latter was necessary because, at the time of the incident, only Lenton was a director of the company, so dropping charges against her meant the company was no longer liable. Image taken by Emma Reed So what happened? Following the trial, Sands explained that Lenton’s testimony had implicated Welford himself. By claiming she believed Welford was acting on behalf of the BHSA and that she had expected him to report back to the organisation, the defence lawyer had become a witness in his own case. Furthermore, police inquiries during the investigation hadn’t resulted in any evidence that Lenton had contacted the BSHA about the incident in any way. As a result, Welford would need to be cross-examined in the trial, but Lenton’s claim was new evidence, which would have required entirely new proceedings to be undertaken. It is likely Welford would also have had to state that Lenton’s claims were false, meaning he would testify against his own client. To avoid this, Welford protected himself and the hunt as a whole by having Saunders change his plea. As huntsman, Saunders was primarily responsible for the hounds and therefore the most culpable. Having given a stumbling and convoluted testimony on day one, during which he made various claims as to his innocence, Saunders was put in a position of having to take the fall for Lenton, the Pipewell Beagles Limited, the BHSA and even Welford himself by admitting he was lying under oath. A unique and symbolic conviction This is only the second beagle pack to have had its members face legal consequences for illegally hunting hares. The previous case was back in 2010, when police cautioned the Wick and District Beagles, with the hunt calling it quits the following year. A huntsman later reformed it as the still-active Severn Vale Beagles. Whilst fox hunting is the headline-grabbing form of hunting, hare hunting lurks in the background as its lesser-known but oftentimes more lethal sibling. Overshadowed in public discourse by hare coursing, there are nonetheless approximately 60 active packs of beagles and bassets across England and Wales. In our report on the 2024/25 hunting season, Protect the Wild found 23 reports of foot packs chasing hares and a further two killing hares (including the Pipewell Foot Beagles incident). However, this figure masks a truer figure due to beagle and basset packs receiving much less attention than fox hunts. Protect the Wild therefore concluded that a conservative estimate for hares persecuted during the season was 6522. With that number in mind, for there to have been just one conviction in 20 years of the Hunting Act reflects how significant the conviction against the Pipewell Foot Beagles really is. Following the trial, Emma Reed, who filmed the footage that convicted the hunt, told Protect the Wild: “I am very pleased with the guilty verdict and and how it has exposed this hunt’s actions and behaviour. The myth of trail hunting has once again been undermined. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the CPS, which has been very professional and committed to obtaining this conviction. “At a time when the government are supposedly consulting over the introduction of a ban on trail hunting, this is yet another example of why it can’t come quick enough. Wildlife is being terrorised and killed week in, week out, and we have to say enough is enough. Pressure must be applied to the government at every opportunity so it acts on their manifesto pledge to ban this barbaric pastime properly and forever.” The conviction finally shows that hare-hunting foot packs aren’t immune to the law. Whilst the conviction was gained at the loss of two equally significant charges, the outcome sets a precedent that beagle and basset packs can’t hide behind their fox hunting counterparts forever. Judge Mehta’s order to destroy the hunting horn is a symbol of how both public opinion and the law are finally catching up with all hunts two decades after the ban was introduced. We asked Emma if there was a group she’d like us to give a shout-out to, and she suggested Animals in Need Northamptonshire 😊 If you’d like to support their brilliant work, you can donate here SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION — THE HAIRY FOOTED BEE AND MORE

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Early bumblebee in flight above white crocus with the words 'February 2026' in bottom left hand corner February brings more rain and a winter chill, but there are welcome signs of spring in the air. Crocuses are beginning to push through the soil, adding splashes of colour, and more importantly, nectar for emerging queen bumblebees. As the days lengthen and nature begins to stir, there's plenty to look forward to🌷 Meet the Hairy-footed flower bee 🐝 Solitary bee in flight with greenery and purple flowers This is one of the first solitary bees to emerge in spring. People often confuse them for small bumblebees, although their quick darting flight is a good way to tell them apart. Seen from February through to June, they are frequent visitors to lungworts, primroses, dead-nettles and comfrey. Hairy-footed flower bee🐝 Get ready to count the UK's bumblebees 🐝 Person writing on form on clipboard while looking at flowers with a friend to the right BeeWalk is our national citizen science scheme keeping tabs on the UK’s bumblebees - showing us which species are thriving and which are in trouble. If you can identify the basic bumblebee species, you’re ready to take part. Simply choose a one mile route, walk it once a month from March to October, and record the bumblebees you spot. That’s it - simple, powerful science! Be prepared! By registering and setting up your transect now, you'll be ready for bumblebee season, and ready to provide important data to our science team to help detect early signs of population declines. Find out more 🐝 Growing bumblebee-friendly schools🥇 Group of young children with teacher smiling in area of wildflowers In 2025, our Bumblebee-friendly Schools Award had a fantastic impact: schools across 24 UK counties took part, with 3,000 students learning about bumblebees, 79 flower species planted on school grounds, and 500 bumblebees recorded by students! It’s been brilliant to see young people taking action to help pollinators thrive, and we want to continue spreading the buzz in 2026. If you’re an educator, or have links with a school or home-educated groups, we'd love you to share the scheme and help us inspire the next generation of bumblebee champions. PLUS there's an exciting award announcement on the horizon - watch this space! Apply today 🏆 'Bee' ID ready this spring Person sat on ground with book looking at bumblebee in pot with selection of items in circles to right Bumblebee season is on the way, so why not give your ID skills a quick polish with one of our brilliant bumblebee guides? Starting at just £2, we're sure you'll find the perfect item for spotting your local bumblebees. Every purchase helps support our vital work for bumblebees. 🐝💛 Shop our ID guides 🛒 Bumblebee in the spotlight 🔎 Bumblebee in flight approaching a purple flower with two sparkles The Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) is one of the 'Big Eight' common and widespread bumblebees. Let's take a closer look. The Tree bumblebee Bee the change - where actions begin! Illustration of a hand and seedball with resource in background on green background Creating seed balls is an enjoyable activity for all ages, whether you’re planting just a few or many in your outdoor space. Growing seeds in your garden helps provide essential food for bumblebees and other key pollinators. By planting these seed balls in bare soil it will add a splash of colour to your space! Download resource Snapshot of the guide in a flower shape with yellow background Pretty bedding plants like begonias and busy lizzies may look great, but they offer bumblebees little to no food. Swap them for bumblebee‑friendly blooms with our handy planting list - perfect for community groups and home gardeners. Our guide also lists plants by flowering time, so you can keep bumblebees fed all year long. Download resource 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 — STAG HUNTING A CRUEL & EXHAUSTIVE WAY TO DIE

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Stag Hunting: The Forgotten Bloodsport Graphic Content Throughout In March the practice of spring stag hunting in the West Country will start again – though, in reality, it is only for a few short summer months that stags and hinds are left in peace. Over the last few years, hunt sabs have taken unprecedented action against the three West Country stag hunts, saving lives and exposing the depravity of the hunting, killing and ritual butchery of stags and hinds in our national parks. Stag killed and trussed up by the Tiverton Staghounds, 8th October 2025 In September and October last year the HSA launched an undercover operation by infiltrating all three of these hunts: the Tiverton Staghounds, the Devon & Somerset Staghounds and the Quantocks Staghounds. Aside from the obvious cruelty involved, this investigation exposes the way that loopholes in the Hunting Act are cynically exploited to allow the continued hunting of deer, twenty years after it was banned. Devon & Somerset Staghounds feast on the stag’s entrails. 23rd September 2025 In particular, the investigation will reveal the way that stag hunts switch between multiple Hunting Act exemptions – on the same day and even during the same hunt – in the pursuit of their quarry. One minute they claim to be ‘trail hunting’, the next minute they are flushing to guns, rescuing an injured animal or – most absurdly of all – engaged in scientific research. It would be funny if it were not so sickeningly cruel. Another victim of the Quantocks Staghounds. 29th September 2025. The hunters are constantly adapting to evade accountability or charges: our investigation will reveal why a ban on trail hunting – though urgently needed – will not be enough in itself to stop these hardened, committed hunters in their tracks. Only our comprehensive set of proposals – based on over sixty years of sabotaging all types of bloodsports - will really end hunting with hounds. Join the Hunt Saboteurs Association! Support our vital work by becoming a member. Join The HSA Spread the word! Please share our news Share via email Facebook icon Instagram icon Twitter icon Logo Copyright (C) 2026 Hunt Saboteurs Association. All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Hunt Saboteurs Association. Our mailing address is: BM HSA, London, WC1N 3XX, U.K. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FROM CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST — IT’S AN UPDATE ON THE GOOD WORK BEING DONE

View this email in your browser FEBRUARY NEWS Despite the (extremely) wet weather this year so far, spring is just around the corner! Across Cornwall, the days are slowly lengthening and the first signs of new life are beginning to stir. Even after the wildest winters, nature keeps moving forward. And with a little help from all of us, those small seasonal shifts can turn into lasting change for wildlife. Thank you for your continued support! Your membership allows our team and volunteers to work on vital projects to help create a Cornwall where nature thrives. NATURE NEWS Rainy days, wild ways Cornwall has just experienced its wettest January since 1836, with places like Bodmin seeing almost double their usual rainfall, according to the BBC. While the prolonged storms have caused disruption, the fallen trees and damp woodlands they leave behind also create valuable new habitats for fungi, insects and the wildlife that depends on them. If you’re braving the weather and heading out, watch out for flashes of scarlet, as the bright red cups of scarlet elfcup fungi emerge from moss and fallen branches. Combined with the mild weather, several flowers are also beginning to appear several weeks early, with daffodils and primroses lighting up hedgerows, woodland edges, and grasslands. BEAVER FEVER In case you missed it, Cornwall Wildlife Trust recently celebrated a milestone achievement after years of hard work: the first licenced wild release of beavers in Cornwall! Want to jump on the beaver bandwagon? Our guided beaver walks at the Cornwall Beaver Project are on sale now! Book your space now You can also read more about our landmark beaver release here. Wild beavers released in Cornwall EVENTS Superlative Seabirds of the South West Wed 18 Feb | 7pm - 8.30pm | Online Join our guest speaker Samuel Wrobel, Senior Marine Policy Officer at the RSPB, and find out more about our fantastic Cornish seabirds and how to spot them. Seagrass Restoration in Cornwall Thu 5 Mar | 7pm - 8.30pm | Online Find out more about the enigmatic intertidal seagrass and what we're doing to restore it. An online discussion with our seagrass restoration team and guest speaker, Justin Hean. Beaver Walks at Woodland Valley Farm April - Sept | 7pm - 9pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust for a guided walk around our fantastic beaver project at Woodland Valley Farm. See all events FEBRUARY SPOTTERS GUIDE February may be one of the coldest months of the year, but it is full of quiet signs that spring is on its way. Late winter is a busy time for birds. Rooks gather noisily in treetops as they begin nesting in large colonies, while grey herons return to their heronries to repair nests ahead of spring egg laying. Look out for them in their nests, perched high up in the treetops. Across the lakes, great-crested grebes transform into their breeding plumage. As evenings grow milder, common toads wake from hibernation and begin their journeys back to breeding ponds. These damp, moonlit migrations are one of February’s most hopeful wildlife moments, reminding us that the seasons are turning, whatever the weather has brought so far. See the full guide CALENDARS STILL AVAILABLE There’s just a few copies left of the Wild Cornwall 2026 charity calendar, now available at half price. Filled with beautiful images celebrating Cornwall’s wild places and wildlife, every purchase helps support our work - a small way to keep nature close all year round. Shop 2026 calendar sale JOIN OUR TEAM We have a number of exciting job roles available as part of our Tor to Shore project, including: Farm Adviser Helman Tor Reserves Officer Youth and Inclusion Officer Be quick - jobs close on Fri 20 Feb. Find out more and apply Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon Images: Frogspawn (header image) - Nick Upton Alder - Ange Hale Scarlet elfcup - Mark Robinson Gull - Charlotte O’Neill Beaver - Jo Noon Great crested grebe - Steve Waterhouse Tor to Shore - Ben Watkins © 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 — A NICE STORY FOR A CHANGE — DESTROYING THE MYTH ON REHOMEING HOUNDS

 

	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more A life beyond the hunt: Exposing the lie of the "can't be rehomed" foxhound How one abandoned foxhound exposes the myth that these dogs cannot live safely and happily beyond the hunting industry CHARLOTTE SMITH FEB 16   READ IN APP   The hunting industry repeatedly insists that foxhounds cannot be rehomed and that once they are no longer useful, their lives are effectively over. We wanted to challenge that narrative. So we went looking for the truth. We found it in one dog, his name is Alfred. It is believed Alfred was picked up by a member of the public after being left behind by a hunt in Lincolnshire. He was not microchipped. No one came forward to claim him. Another hound written off. Another life treated as disposable. Alfred entered the rescue system carrying no paperwork, no history, and no explanation only the quiet weight of whatever he had already endured. But Alfred’s story didn’t end there. Thankfully, he wasn’t in rescue for long. He landed on all four paws and was given what every dog deserves safety, care, and a loving home. His caregiver remembers Alfred’s first night vividly. “He found a safe corner of my bedroom the furthest corner of the house from the front door. He was quiet. He didn’t howl or even bark.” This was not a dog grieving the loss of the hunt. This was a dog seeking refuge. “He very rarely makes any noise at all,” his caregiver explains. “Only sometimes in the garden at night, if he can hear other dogs or wildlife in the neighbourhood.” For the first week, Alfred wouldn’t go outside. “He didn’t want to venture into the garden at all. He was completely on his guard leaving his spot in my room as though he was afraid of going outside.” Fear, not ferocity. Caution, not conditioning. Alfred has never “gone into cry” the behaviour hunts so often claim defines these dogs. Instead, he has discovered something else… “He gets excited and really enjoys going on hikes through the countryside and into the mountains.” Out on walks, Alfred moves with his nose to the ground, constantly reading the land: “He walks with his nose down all the time, following scents. Only when he meets other dogs, humans, or even the occasional fox does he lift his head.” What Alfred loves is not the chase, but the world itself. “He loves his walks because the trees, the birds, the scent of the wildlife that’s his enjoyment.” There is no aggression. No fixation. No desire to harm. “Not an ounce of discontent. He’s just a normal dog.” And perhaps most telling of all, “He lives for the scent of life as opposed to destroying it.”  Alfred is not an anomaly. He is proof.  Proof that foxhounds are not broken. Proof that they are not incapable of family life. Proof that the industry narrative that these dogs cannot be rehomed is a convenient lie used to justify their disposal. Proof that what the hunting industry calls “instinct” is in fact something shaped, narrowed, and trained into a single purpose. Chasing. Cornering. Killing. Alfred shows us the truth beneath that training. He lives for scent, but not for the chase. He reads the land, not to pursue a target, but to experience the world around him. The trees, the birds, the trails left behind by wildlife. His joy is in discovery, not destruction. And Alfred is also proof of something else: foxhounds do not need the hunt to survive. They need safety. They need patience. They need someone willing to see them not as tools, but as dogs. Once Alfred was given that, he did exactly what foxhounds have always been capable of doing. He lived. He loved. He settled into a home that does not force him to become a hunting machine, but allows him to exist as he always should have been allowed to. Like any other dog. We know there are more foxhounds like him, dogs who have been abandoned, rescued, rehomed, and allowed to live full lives beyond the hunt. Their stories deserve to be heard. If you or someone you know has rehomed a foxhound from a hunt and would like to help challenge the myth that these dogs are unrehomable, we want to hear from you. Please send your story to foxhounds@protectthewild.org.uk. Together, we can show that foxhounds are not disposable, and that life beyond the hunt is not only possible, but necessary. Support Protect the Wild with a small monthly donation We only ask for a few pounds a month because our strength isn’t big donors or hidden backers. It’s thousands of ordinary people chipping in small amounts. Together, that becomes unstoppable. Your support powers everything we do to defend British wildlife: undercover investigations, hard-hitting animations, fearless journalism, detailed reports, equipment and mental health support for activists, protests, and pressure campaigns that hold the powerful to account. Our goal is 300 new monthly supporters. We’re currently at 101 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

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — THE BADGER BLAME GAME CONTINUES

 

	Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The Badger blame game isn’t over. It’s just being rebranded. PROTECT THE WILD FEB 11   READ IN APP   Dame Angela Eagle has responded to our petition calling for an immediate halt to the final badger cull in Cumbria, Area 73. Her letter is polite. It acknowledges that many people find the killing of badgers deeply upsetting. It repeats Labour’s manifesto commitment to end the cull. It speaks of a new course in the fight against bovine TB. But the cull continues. After more than 250,000 badgers have been killed over the past decade, the central question remains unanswered. Where is the clear evidence that this policy worked? The Minister explains that the final licence in Cumbria will be subject to annual review before any decision is taken on its continuation in 2026. That may sound reassuring. It is not an end. It is not a suspension. It is simply a continuation under softer language. If a policy has resulted in a quarter of a million wild animals being shot and still cannot demonstrate clear success, the burden of proof no longer lies with those calling for it to stop. It lies with government to justify why it should continue. The letter also makes clear that Defra is scaling up badger vaccination, stating that studies show it is effective in controlling disease in badgers. The wording matters. Effective in badgers is not the same thing as reducing TB in cattle. The question has always been whether targeting badgers meaningfully reduces disease in cattle herds. There is still no clear, large scale evidence that widespread badger vaccination leads to measurable reductions in cattle TB breakdowns. Vaccination may sound kinder than culling, but if it keeps wildlife at the centre of the blame narrative, it does not fix the underlying problem. The Minister also refers to whole genome sequencing evidence and says that transmission runs both ways between cattle and badgers. Of course it can. Infection can pass between species. No one is denying that. But showing that disease can move between cattle and badgers is not the same thing as proving that badgers are driving the epidemic. Genetic studies can show that animals share similar strains of TB. They can suggest that infection has moved between species at some point. What they do not clearly show is how much of the ongoing crisis is actually being caused by badgers rather than by cattle infecting each other. That distinction matters. Because if the main engine of this epidemic sits within cattle farming systems, then targeting wildlife will never solve it. Even within the scientific literature, estimates vary. Different studies reach different conclusions. Many include important caveats. That is the reality of a complex disease. But it means this evidence cannot simply be treated as definitive justification for killing or vaccinating wildlife on a national scale. For over a decade, badgers have been cast as the villain in a story that is fundamentally about intensive cattle farming. About high density herds. About cattle movements. About testing failures. About an industry that expands and intensifies while wildlife is blamed for the consequences. We do not accept that framing. Our position is clear. Bovine TB is rooted in the structure of animal farming itself. Badgers have been scapegoated to protect a powerful industry. This is not about finding a middle ground between culling and vaccination. It is about ending the narrative that wildlife must suffer to prop up a farming system that refuses to confront its own structural failures. That is why we are continuing to push to end the badger blame game completely. We recently released a powerful new animation narrated by the brilliant Chris Packham, setting out the case plainly and unapologetically. The film makes one thing clear. This crisis did not begin with badgers. It began with cattle farming. And badgers have paid the price. More than 250,000 of them. The government says wildlife measures are only a small part of the broader strategy. If that is truly the case, then ending the final cull should not be difficult. If wildlife is not central, stop targeting wildlife. What we have seen for twelve years is distraction. A political choice to focus on wild animals rather than confront the uncomfortable realities of intensive animal agriculture. Replacing culling with vaccination while keeping wildlife in the frame risks continuing that distraction. Labour promised to end the cull. The public expects clarity. An annual review is not clarity. It is hesitation. If the government truly wants to chart a new course, it should halt the final Cumbria cull immediately, remove wildlife from the centre of this debate, and confront the real driver of bovine TB head on. We will continue to campaign. We will continue to speak plainly. And we will continue to challenge the idea that killing or medicating wildlife is the answer to a crisis created by industrial farming. The badger blame game must end. Not softened. Not rebranded. Ended. Support the ongoing fight to protect Badgers  Want to help fund our work? You can pick up a limited edition Badger pin badge today (designed by talented animator Ben Sinclair from Fire Lily Studio) and help power our campaigning.  🦡 Pin Badge   SHARE     LIKE COMMENT RESTACK   © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ  Unsubscribe