HEN HARRIER DAY

 HEN HARRIER DAY SATURDAY 7TH AUGUST 2021.

Yes, I listened and watch, was absorbed by the content and enjoyed the presentations. Ten issues introduced one by one ending with the destruction of Hen Harriers near driven grouse moors. It is a tale of death.

I have recently been to UK with one aim being to see what farming was like and where I stayed in North Leicestershire I found the environment wonderful and I began to re-balance my thoughts from conservation with a sustainable farming economy. It’s a mix; it’s a balance. We all have to be able to live together. Following on from my thoughts Chris Packham spoke of being able to discuss with the ‘opposition’ and working all of us together. The previous sentences are my interpretation of his views. Diversity, for me, is not an option.

In LEGAL JUSTICE No. 73 they say this and I have ‘lifted’ it.

Did you watch the Wild Justice Hen Harrier Day broadcast on Saturday? If so, we hope you enjoyed it, if not, then you can catch up with it any time and we've produced a guide to how to find your way through it - click here.

 

The feedback has been wonderfully positive. Martin Simpson's Sky Dancers song has had rave reviews, the story of the Golden Eagle in Scotland was a moving hit with many and Olivia Blake MP talking with passion and obvious knowledge about upland issues touched many people too.  But it was the variety of people, the breadth of issues and the mixing of art and science all wrapped up and tied together by the eloquent Chris and Megan which made it such a success with many. At least, that's the feedback we've had.

 

Thank you to all those who donated as a result of watching the broadcast. You're right, such an event takes a lot of work and there are real costs in filming and editing the footage even though the people speaking to camera were all volunteers or their expenses were paid by their organisations. If you'd like to donate to Wild Justice's work then you can through PayPal, bank transfer or a cheque in the post - click here - thank you!

 

But what we'd really like you to do, please, is to sign the e-action that we launched on Saturday which calls for a better future for the UK uplands - for people, for the climate and for wildlife.  Our aim is to get as many signatures as possible but certainly for all elected politicians, in each of the UK's parliaments, to receive several emails from their constituents giving them a nudge. Please sign here. Thank you.

 

Many thanks! Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay.

This is the PS at the end of their post.

PS A 'report' funded by the shooting industry is doing the rounds of the media and is mentioned in today's The Times where Wild Justice's Mark Avery is quoted. Here's the full quote we gave the newspaper, 'This report pretends that every proven fault of driven grouse shooting is in doubt: wildlife crime, greenhouse gas emissions, flood risk, damage to protected habitats, increased water treatment costs. It's a report from an industry in denial.  But, no matter, Scotland is already moving to license grouse shooting and muirburn, and even in England DEFRA is reducing heather burning. We laughed to read that grouse shooting brings the social classes together. We'll have a game of dominoes down the pub with the Duke of Westminster any time he likes'.

Comment from me: while in England I bought the three available copies of the Shooting Times - to read what the shooters/hunters are saying. Nothing is too obvious that is obvious and so I will be reading and checking the content. Dr. Mark Avery has picked up on the comment “that grouse shooting brings the social classes together.” But in a world of ‘fake-news’ anyone seems to be able to say what they prefer to say. I will be watching the media outlets to see how the headline ‘the Glorious Twelfth’.