FROM PROTECT THE WILD

 PUTTING AN EYE IN THE SKY

The Protecting the Wild Equipment Fund was set up in Summer 2023 to help put ‘eyes in the field‘ (and ‘eyes in the sky’!), supporting and empowering people to protect British wildlife. We use the fund to provide equipment like body cams, trail cams, night vision kit, and video cameras to monitors and activists working on the front line.

While we do approach groups ourselves, we were delighted to be contacted by an independent group of activists who have been doing great work across Cheshire since 2017. Cheshire’s Independent Hunt Monitors (or ‘Cheshire Indies’ as they’re widely known) focus on the Cheshire Hunt, Cheshire Forest Hunt, and the notorious Wynnstay Hunt (a Hunt that has featured on Protect the Wild numerous times eg see here). They work alongside other sab and monitor groups from across the northwest of England, and have also been involved in fighting the badger cull in their area.

The group requested a drone – a serious purchase for us to make bearing in mind the cost and the fact that Protect the Wild has a responsibility to our supporters and their donations. However, a few phone calls later and assurances that the group would receive drone training, and we were delighted to help out!