LEGAL JUSTICE WITH THEIR UPDATE OF THE GOVERNMENT’S RESPONSE TO SHOOTING OF WOODCOCK

 I keep a file on this wonderful winter woodland bird and have used this species as an inspiration to develop and to write poetry. If only I could do more!

ANOTHER REPORT FROM LEGAL JUSTICE CONCERNING WOODCOCK

Woodcock petition: We have passed 25,000 signatures and have lots of promotion ready to roll, but events have meant that petitions on the Westminster parliament website are now frozen for a while.

 

However, there are two bits of progress that have already been made. The less important is still worth mention; you may remember that in the last newsletter we expressed our view that the response to the petition by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs was inadequate and that we had complained to the Petitions Committee. Well, the Petitions Committee agreed that DEFRA's long response was inadequate. DEFRA was rapped on the knuckles and has to re-do its homework. Such an order from the Petitions Committee is unusual, and we thank them for it. It's a small thing, but we believe important. If government can respond with disdainful nonsense to a public petition that is a serious matter. DEFRA has been made to think again.

 

More importantly though, on his last day, in fact his last few hours, as Secretary of State for DEFRA, George Eustice wrote to us giving ground, as follows:

 

I am considering taking this thinking a step further and will engage with key stakeholders and the Devolved Administrations to review the protection we afford to wild birds and in particular establish whether the list of species of birds in Schedule 2 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 should be revised - to ensure that shooting certain species for recreational purposes is sustainable and does not undermine their recovery. This might, as with your proposal concerning woodcock, include amending the close seasons for native species. 

 

While my department is still in the process of gathering evidence to confirm the level of benefit that our native woodcock may derive from extending its close season, I trust this response will demonstrate the Government’s commitment to help protect declining species.

 

It's a pity that the word 'considering' is in the first sentence, but it is pretty clear that DEFRA is rethinking its position on this matter - pretty fundamentally. It may be that a review of shooting seasons may produce some changes we don't like, as well as some we do, but the prospect of shaking up the legislation and regulations which shape recreational shooting is a welcome one.

 

We thank you if you wrote to your MP about the DEFRA position after the last newsletter - that will have made a difference.  You will probably, in due course, get an update from your MP that confirms this news.