DIRTY RIVERS AND WHO REALLY CARES - I DO AND SO DOES LEGAL JUSTICE

 Good morning! This newsletter is about the unsavoury subject of discharging sewage into rivers. 

 

It's been in the news a lot recently and we expect that when you've heard about it you've thought 'That sounds terrible. Somebody should be doing something about that'. That's what we thought too and so we got our legal team to dig into the question of who has the responsibility - is it Defra, is it Ofwat or is it the Environment Agency?

 

Did one of these bodies, funded by the taxpayer, leap forward and say 'Leave it to us - we'll fix it'? No. All three seemed to think that one of the others should be dealing with this issue. It was a bit like this;

 

 

 

 

We think Ofwat is unlawfully failing to discharge its responsibilities under the Urban Waste Water Treatment (England and Wales) Regulations 1994 (UWWT) and section 94 of the Water Industry Act 1991. We've written to them as the first stage in legal action on this matter - you can see our Pre-action Protocol letter and read more about this issue on our blog - click here.

 

We were expecting a response from Ofwat early next week but yesterday we heard from them that they need more time to explain themselves. We'll keep you updated on this matter.

 

Wild Justice said: It’s not so much Ofwat as Ofwhere? They are missing in action. Our rivers and their wildlife need Ofwat to get active.

 

Carol Day, solicitor at Leigh Day said: While the public are rightly frustrated with the Environment Agency for an apparent reluctance to prosecute water companies for breaches of permits, there’s an underlying question as to whether our Victorian sewage treatments plants are still fit for purpose. The responsibility for ascertaining the position on that – and for requiring action where they are not – lies with Ofwat, but it appears to be doing nothing to solve that underlying problem. Our clients hope that highlighting Ofwat’s duties in this regard will ensure the necessary steps are taken to upgrade our outdated sewage plants.

 

If you like what we are doing, please consider making a donation through PayPal, bank transfer or a cheque in the post - see details here. Our work is funded solely by donations. 

 

Thank you!

 

Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).

 

The Right to Roam in Parliament - we are all enclosed

 REWILDING AND THE ABILITY TO ROAM FREELY AND WITH RESPONSIBILITY. NICK HAYES AND GUY SHRUBSOLE ARE SAYING IT TOO. NICK’S LATEST ON TRESPASS WILL BE ARRIVING TOMORROW. THIS IS A LATEST POST.

MPs are speaking up for our Right to Roam. But is yours?

Dear all,   MPs are speaking up for our Right to Roam. But is yours?   In a great sign that our campaign is gaining ground, more and more MPs are signing up to a new motion calling for a greater Right to Roam.   A new Early Day Motion tabled in Parliament by Caroline Lucas MP calls on the UK Government to “bring forward legislation to extend the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 to include rivers, woods and Green Belt land.”At the time of writing, 22 MPs have signed it, from almost every party.But that still leaves plenty of MPs yet to sign – is yours amongst them?   We need to get more MPs signing the motion to support a greater Right to Roam – can you ask yours?   Simply find your MP’s email address here and send them a one-line email saying: “As your constituent, I ask you please to sign EDM 1068, in support of a greater Right to Roam.” Remember to include your address so they know you’re a constituent.   Now is a good time to be challenging MPs to stand up for access to the countryside. We’ve all felt the importance of being able to get outdoors over the past two years, and how much nature means to us. With the 90th anniversary of the historic Kinder Scout Mass Trespass looming, the Right to Roam campaign has been helping spark a series of mass trespasses and marches across the country.   But if you can’t make one of the planned trespasses, don’t worry – we absolutely still need your help. And one way you can help out is by contacting your MP and asking them to sign EDM 1068. Because ultimately, we don’t want to break the law; we want to change it. And together, we’re going to.   Much love, Nick, Guy, Jon & the rest of the Right to Roam crew Attachments area

THE OLD STORY OF LEAD SHOT IN GAME MEAT> WHO CARES? DO ANY SUOERMARKETS?

 

Good morning! Just one subject today, the ongoing story of lead levels in Waitrose game meat.   We have tested game meat from a variety of outlets over the last couple of years - click here, here, here and here. The issue is that lead is a poison and yet no maximum levels are set for lead levels in game meat - despite the fact that maximum levels are stipulated for other meats (such as beef, pork and chicken) and lead is the commonest ammunition (by far) used to shoot game such as Pheasants, Red Grouse, Red-legged Partridge, Rabbits and more.   We have found, as have others, that lead levels in game meat are high - usually much higher than would be legal for meat that is not killed by having a toxic metal shot into it.    Does this matter? Well, lead ammunition is toxic to wildlife and people. The impacts of lead ammunition on waterfowl populations are well studied and have led to lead ammunition restrictions for waterfowl shooting in many countries. But other predatory and scavenging species can ingest lead too - think of all those Pheasants that are injured and then scavenged.  A recent paper demonstrated population level impacts of lead ingestion by European raptors - click here. And remember, the scale of Pheasant shooting is massive in the UK compared with most other countries in Europe.   When it comes to us, the  Food Standards Agency warns against eating large quantities of game shot with lead ammunition and advises pregnant women and those trying to become pregnant to avoid eating such meat and that it should not be fed to young children. Ingesting lead can have a variety of physiological impacts on different parts of the body but the emphasis on children is because the central nervous system is susceptible to lead.  Decreases in the IQ scores of children are associated with increases in blood lead level. Health authorities consider that there is no safe threshold level of exposure to lead, below which there is no risk of harm.   Our most recent tests of lead levels in Waitrose game meat are reported in more detail on our blog today - click here.  We found that Woodpigeon and partridge (species unknown) meat on sale in Waitrose stores had high levels of lead just like their Pheasants do. This is disappointing because Waitrose promised to go 'lead-free' in their game meat and haven't been able to deliver on that promise.    We met Waitrose a few weeks ago and told them about these new results and suggested to them that they needed to do similar testing themselves - after all Wild Justice is a tiny organisation whilst Waitrose is  a multi-billion pound outfit - why are we having to tell them about the lead levels in the meat they are offering for sale?   But at heart, this is not a Waitrose failure (although so far they have failed) but a regulatory failure. An expert group, convened by government, recommended the phasing out of lead ammunition in a report in 2015 - click here (although it's not an easy read) - and this government has sat idly by doing nothing on the subject since then. There is now, largely because of parallel action in the EU, a move perhaps to ban lead ammunition some time in the future. That's pathetic.   Wild Justice's testing of lead levels in game meat has been a source of embarassment to the shooting industry and, perhaps, to government too. We will keep on testing lead levels in game meat and we are working collaboratively with others to investigate other aspects of lead in the environment and in our lives.   If you like what we are doing, please consider making a donation through PayPal, bank transfer or a cheque in the post - see details here. Our work is funded solely by donations. Studies such as the one described here cost a few thousand pounds each time: employing someone to travel around supermarkets, the cost of the meat samples, postage and packaging and then laboratory costs of analysis.   Thank you!   Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).     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).

 

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LEGAL JUSTICE POSTED THIS ON WOODCOCK SHOOTING - LETTER FROM gwct.org.uk

  

Our Woodcock letter to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

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Dear Secretary of State,

We are aware that the campaigning group Wild Justice have recently written to you about the woodcock shooting season and requested a shortening of the open season to aid the conservation of this species. In the letter they cite GWCT research to support their argument.

The GWCT has undertaken more research into woodcock ecology and conservation than any other organisation in the UK. We do not believe that a restriction on the woodcock shooting season would help recover our resident woodcock, in the long term, for three reasons.

First, there is an indication, at a national scale, of a reduction in hunting pressure over the last 20 years, with many people deciding voluntarily that they no longer wish to shoot woodcock.

Second, a ban could remove the motivation for many landowners to manage their woods in ways that will maintain suitable habitat for woodcock. The importance of this ‘enlightened self-interest’ in delivering practical, privately funded conservation should not be underestimated.

Third, parts of western Britain have no history of breeding woodcock, but host large numbers of migrants, so shooting in these areas early in the season does not put residents at risk except during cold spells when residents might move south and west.

However, until we better understand the reasons for the decline in our breeding woodcock and the effects of shooting, we believe it is prudent for those that intend to shoot woodcock to:

1. Improve their understanding of their local woodcock populations before shooting
We advocate improving local knowledge about both the presence of resident breeders and the numbers of woodcock typically present at different times during the winter. For instance, on the east coast of Scotland the largest numbers of migrant woodcock are often present in November, whereas in southern England migrant numbers are typically highest in January.

2. Show restraint even where resident birds are absent
Restraint when shooting woodcock makes sense even in areas where there are no local breeders, because we know from our satellite tracking and annual ringing of woodcock that the majority of migrant woodcock are extremely faithful to the same wintering site year on year. Overshooting will therefore break the migratory link with a shoot and is likely to lead to fewer woodcock being seen in future.

3. Shoot flight lines with caution
We urge local caution when shooting woodcock flighting from woodland at dusk owing to a higher risk of overshooting.

4. Curb shooting in freezing weather
We have conducted research to better understand the effect of cold weather on woodcock. Every effort should be made to reduce additional mortality when woodcock are at higher risk of starvation and predation during freezing spells. We are aware that most shoots stop shooting woodcock before a statutory cold weather suspension comes into force after 13 days. Our current advice is that shooters should stop shooting woodcock after four days of frozen conditions and allow the birds at least seven days to recover after the end of the cold period before shooting recommences.

In recent years, we have been heartened by the approach that responsible shooters have taken with regard to the sustainable harvesting of woodcock and we are firmly of the view that a shortening of the shooting season would not benefit the conservation status of our resident breeding woodcock. It could, in fact, be counter-productive by removing the incentive to undertake pro-active conservation work in our woodlands. We would be delighted to discuss woodcock conservation in more detail with you if that would be helpful.

Yours sincerely 

Dr Roger Draycott
Director of Advisory, Education and Gamebird Policy

PEAK DISTRICT RAPTOR MONITORING GROUP

 I thought I would put details for this group on my blog. They deserve every help we can give them. Raptor Persecution UK have a guest blog from them on their site. It’s criminal what is going on our moors. JE

Welcome

Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group, are a small but dedicated group of volunteer field workers, who under licence from the BTO and Natural England monitor and ring birds of prey and owls in the Peak District and surrounding areas. Our aims being to monitor the birds, participate in national surveys and identify real and potential threats as they arise.

Most of the work done by Peak District Raptor Monitoring Group, is done during the breeding season between March and September each year, we try to cover as much of the area as possible in the time available but invariably we probably won’t manage to locate all the birds breeding in the area. Birdwatchers and other members of the public are invited to help us by reporting any raptors seen at these times of the year (please be aware that special licenses are required for visiting some species of birds), please include as much detail as possible including (if possible) the approximate time, date and location via the Contact Us page, we appreciate that not everyone can identify all birds but whatever information you might be able to provide is very much appreciated.

To encourage the co-ordinated monitoring and surveying and to 

THE MOUNTAIN, MONNEGRE, ALICANTE WILL REVEAL MORE THIS SPRING

 Open Friday8th April we decided to give the area around the village of Montnegre another go. We have had a real soaking but it now seems that we are back into Spanish weather. We wanted to check on any warblers that could be there.

 In Gran Alacant a male Black Wheatear - Collalba Negre was giving it full volume from the roof tops. Full view, full light and in full voice and so close. It was said ‘we hope that it is not a bird of the day’?

We did our usual route upwards without seeing much. We located another four Subalpine Warblers - Curruca Carrasquena  and with not one being accommodations. So, no pictures again, but good fun trying to get a clear view of one. 

The area around Rio Monnegre will be good but it appears we are a tad early. On a our way through and up we had our last views of Black Restarts - Colirrojo Tizon before they all go north. Such a smart bird and it will be autumn until they return. We located one Black-eared Wheatear -  Collalba  Rubia that was yet to be a full summer plumage and we have yet to see a Northern one.

We had one solitary Rock Sparrow - Gorrión Chillón  where the Trumpeters - Camachuela Trompetero can be but. It today. At one location a large shadow turned out to be a Grey Heron - Garza Real descending to the river. 

Still not a raptor anywhere until we got to the top. There were three Griffons - Buitre Leonado and with Bryans incredible eyes there was a Peregrine Falcon - Halcón Peregrino parked high on the ridge. It was confirmed with a facial marking. And that was that. We searched took our time and enjoyed the mountain. 

The full sun will bring out more flowers and with it butterflies. We had four today - a  Scarce Swallow-tail, one we could not identify , a Skipper? And one or two small whites. Crossing the road, to soon disappear, was one snake. About a metre long and our thinking was a Bastardo - Montpelier snake. They don’t hang around for long. 

We will have a look at Maigmo but where to next? 

LEGAL JUSTICE - NEWSLETTER 105

 Good morning! 

Once again, we’ve had quite a lot going on, so here’s a roundup of various happenings (or not-happenings) from this week. 

We’ll be covering a few topics; including Woodcock and Badgers, but firstly… we have a BIG ANNOUNCEMENT!
 

Hen Harrier Fest 2022:

Here is your official Save the Date for our slightly different event this year – Hen Harrier Fest will take place onSunday 24^th of July, in a yet-to-be-revealed location in Cheshire, England. We’d love you to join us, Chris, Ruth and Mark, for a day celebrating upland wildlife, and speaking out against raptor persecution. It’ll be family-friendly, celebratory and fingers crossed a great day out. 

Please put the date in your calendar, and spread the word. We’ll be back with more information, the venue announcement and full line up very soon.
 

Woodcock

We’re still awaiting a response following our correspondence with both DEFRA and DAERA regarding Woodcocks last week. In our letters, Wild Justice asked George Eustice (DEFRA) and Edwin Poots (DAERA) to exercise their powers to change the seasons for Woodcock shooting across the UK. 

As of this morning, we’ve not yet received a response. There has been, however, a statement issued by GWCT in response to our letter. In it, they stated that it wasn’t clear how Wild Justice’s proposals would ‘enhance the population status of our resident woodcock’. A statement which seems to ignore that their own policy, listed on their website, recommends shooters operate in the very same way we’re requesting be changed in law.
 

Northern Ireland General Licences

This will be a short and sweet update – as there’s nothing to update on! We’re still waiting for DAERA to announce their public consultation on General Licences in Northern Ireland. This was originally due in early February and the last promise was for March 21, but there’s still no sign of it… 

 

Badgers in Northern Ireland

At the end of March, we also heard news of the proposed cull of Badgers in Northern Ireland being formally announced. This could commence as early as July this year, so we need to act fast in challenging the cull.

Thank you to each and every one of you for supporting our fundraiser to date – we’ve been blown away and have so far raised over £38,000 towards our challenge. Now’s the time to act, so please do consider donating if you’ve not already.

 

That’s it for today – we’ll be back in touch soon.

 

Thank you!

 

Wild Justice (Directors: Mark Avery, Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay).

 

Wild Justice newsletter 105.

THE RIGHT TO ROAM - NICK HAYES - LOVE THIS IMAGE

 KINDER IN COLOUR

Hi everyone

 

We hope you are really well

apologies for not being in touch for so long, we've been really busy.
We have expanded our team and have been preparing for the 2022 Year of Trespass. The aim this year is to get people out there, over the fences, demonstrating that public access to nature is not only something we need for our health, but something that will improve the health of nature as well.

 

Much more to come on this, but first we must tell you of our initial action, to kick off the year of trespass.

 

KINDER IN COLOUR

Access to nature in England is not only paltry, it is unequal. Last year, Black and people of colour (BPOC) made up only 1% of visitors to national parks. Just 39% of “BAME” people lived within a five-minute walk to green spaces compared to 58% of white people (Thomas Reuters Foundation). Additionally more than two-fifths (42%) of people from ethnic minorities live in England’s most green space-deprived neighbourhoods, compared with just one in five white people (The Guardian).

 

But recently groups such as Muslim Hikers and Black Girls Hike have been creating safe spaces for people of colour to gather and walk. They show us that the right to roam in England is much more than recreation, it is in fact the Right to Belong.

 

For our first action, we will be gathering on Kinder Scout to commemorate the Kinder Trespass, but also to highlight how much more work needs to be done. Because of the work of Benny Rothman and the other 400 trespassers in 1932, we will not be trespassing any forbidden ground, but instead crossing the invisible barrier that blocks so many people of colour from the countryside - the atmosphere that BPOC are unwelcome in English nature.

 

So, on the 24th April hundreds of us will be meeting in Edale in the morning, and scaling Kinder Scout with song, ceremony and joy, to celebrate that England is in fact for all of us.

 

1) please share this tweet with your networks

https://twitter.com/nickhayesillus1/status/1509858286107086854

2) please come along - BPOC people will be hosting this walk, but white accomplices will be welcome to join and support. sign up here to get further details

https://kinderincolour.land/

 

This is just the start of a very busy year, but for it to work, we are really gunna need your help. Turning up, trespassing, and sharing our perspective on social media all really help to raise this urgent debate of communities and access to nature. We hope to see you out there on forbidden land...

 

xx

 

 

 

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