PROTECT THE WILD - GIANT ROB POWNALL’S GANNET GRABS THE HEADLINES IN SCOTTISH POLITICS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more We Didn’t Win the Election - But We Changed the Conversation How a giant Gannet running for parliament forced Scotland to talk about the Guga hunt. DEVON DOCHERTY MAY 9 READ IN APP Yesterday, we lost the election. But we won the moment. Because as millions of eyes across the country watched the results being announced, they saw a massive Gannet seabird on stage, unfurling a placard that read “END THE GUGA HUNT.” A few months ago, the idea sounded ridiculous. Run for Scottish Parliament dressed as a giant Gannet? But sometimes the only way to force people to confront an uncomfortable truth is to make it impossible to ignore. And that’s exactly what we did. Over the course of this election campaign, our founder Rob stood as an independent candidate in Edinburgh Central - the seat of power in Scotland, home to the Scottish Parliament itself to demand an end to the Guga hunt. If you didn’t know already, the Guga hunt is an annual tradition where ten men travel to the remote island of Sula Sgeir in northern Scotland, take baby gannets from their nests and bludgeon them to death for a local delicacy. Hundreds of years ago, this practice began as a matter of survival in times of food scarcity. Today, it survives only because of tradition - protected by a special exemption buried within Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act. A single sentence in law which we are determined to change. Out of the shadows, and into the headlines Only a few months ago, it felt like hardly anyone knew that the Guga hunt was happening in Scotland. But our elections campaign has received widespread media coverage that has propelled it into the spotlight. From the original articles announcing that a man dressed as a giant seabird was running for parliament, to coverage of our attempted gatecrash of the Scottish Tory manifesto launch (apparently they weren’t interested in our “Ganifesto”) and then Have I Got News For You featured us on a segment, putting the campaign in front of over four million average viewers. We then made headlines again as Scots “flocked to the polls” on elections day, including front page coverage in the Edinburgh news. Then came the moment we had been waiting for. As millions watched the election results coming in live, they saw a Gannet standing on stage unfurling a placard reading: END THE GUGA HUNT. That message was broadcast on BBC News at Six. It appeared again on BBC News at Ten and also a ITV News at Ten. It was seen by millions of people across the UK and beyond. And the next morning, it was splashed across newspapers, websites and social media pages all around the country. To be honest, there’s now almost too much media coverage to keep track of. But perhaps the most extraordinary part was how perfectly everything aligned. Edinburgh Central became one of the most closely watched seats in Scotland after SNP veteran Angus Robertson lost his seat to Scottish Greens candidate Lorna Slater - making history as the first Scottish Greens MSP ever to win a constituency seat. And because candidates stand alphabetically on stage, Rob - whose surname begins with “P” - ended up positioned directly beside them both, which meant when the placard came out, it was directly in frame at the centre of one of the biggest moments of the night. This campaign was never about getting votes. It was about putting the Guga hunt into the public eye and onto the political agenda. And we believe we’ve achieved that. We’re delighted that Lorna Slater won the seat, with the Scottish Greens currently the only mainstream political party to have publicly committed to ending the Guga hunt. We hope to work with Lorna and other MSPs on this issue in the coming months. The public is paying attention Since yesterday’s coverage, Google searches for “End the Guga Hunt” have surged. Our petition calling on NatureScot not to issue this year’s licence is climbing rapidly - now surpassing 166,000 signatures and continuing to grow. SIGN THE PETITION A campaign with a tiny budget and only two people working on it managed to put a centuries-old hunt onto front pages, prime-time television, and in front of a nation’s eyes. What’s next? The election may be over, but the real work starts now. The new Scottish Parliament has formed, and we’ll soon be meeting with MSPs and stepping up direct political campaigning to put an end to this outdated activity once and for all. Our ask is clear: Remove the exemption from the Wildlife and Countryside Act that allows the Guga hunt to continue. The government petition to end the Guga hunt received more than 100,000 signatures and is expected to be revisited by parliament shortly. Combined with the growing national attention around the issue, we’re entering this next phase with real momentum. We’ll also continue scrutinising NatureScot and pushing them not to issue this year’s licence in light of the evidence and overwhelming public concern. The truth is this: We are closer than we’ve ever been to ending the Guga hunt, but without more people powering this fight, we cannot finish it. That’s why today we’re asking for your help. Adopt a Gannet! Become a monthly supporter of Protect the Wild and power the fight to end the Guga hunt. You can also choose to make a one-off donation. ADOPT A GANNET As a thank you, we'll send you a Gannet plush toy - a small, soft reminder of a bird worth fighting for. We’re not sure how many we will stock - so don't wait around! 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FLIGHTS OF FANCY—THE BIRD GAME SMOKESCREEN FOR FOXHUNTERS

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Six Weeks to Make Hunting History! Flights of Fancy - The Bird of Prey exemption At the end of March, the government launched its long-awaited consultation on how to ban ‘trail hunting’. This is a once in a generation opportunity to finally blow away that smokescreen and close the many loopholes in the 2004 Hunting Act. Just another smokescreen for illegal hunting. But there are now just six weeks to complete the consultation, which closes on the 18th June 2026. To make sure your voice is heard, the HSA has produced guidance on completing the consultation which you can find here. This beautiful bird is stuffed in a box so he can go fox hunting. One of the most outrageous loopholes is the so-called Bird of Prey exemption, which was included in the 2004 Hunting Act to allow the bloodsport of falconry to continue once hunting with hounds had been banned. Incredibly, some hunters have used this loophole to continue fox hunting for over twenty years. The hunt simply carries on as it did pre-ban but take along a bedraggled bird of prey which they claim will used to kill any foxes flushed by the hounds. It would be funny if it were not so utterly cynical and cruel. If you believe this, you’ll believe anything… Even the Hawk Board, falconry’s governing body - which has strong links to the Countryside Alliance - state that foxes are not a recognised quarry. They further state that by exploiting this loophole, hunters create serious welfare concerns for both the bird and the hounds. Although this loophole is not widely used, the fact that it is used at all shows the utterly ruthless determination of fox hunters to exploit any loophole they can find – it is for this reason that the HSA is calling for the removal of ALL exemptions in addition to many other measures. Please help make hunting history by completing the consultation today. The government has launched a public consultation on Trail Hunting – this is our chance to stop cruel hunting for good. You can read the HSA’s guidance and take part in the consultation here. The deadline is 18th June 2026 – make sure your voice is heard. Take part in the Trail Hunting Consultation now: Have your say 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

CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST — DOING THINGS FOR WILDLIFE

View this email in your browser Dear [first name] On Wednesday 20 May, Cornwall Wildlife Trust invites you to join our annual panel discussion to explore the state of nature in Cornwall — and the reasons for hope. Date: Wednesday 20 May Time: Doors from 6.30pm with event starting at 7pm Location: Burrell Theatre, Truro School, Trennick Lane, Truro, Cornwall, TR1 1TH Tickets: £5 Chaired by BBC Radio Cornwall presenter Julie Skentelbery, join us for a thought‑provoking evening exploring the pressures facing Cornwall’s wildlife — and whether inspiring conservation efforts are enough to reverse the decline. 👉 Book your place today Book Now Join us for an evening of conversation and debate, with pasties and drinks & nibbles beforehand, and the opportunity to stay on afterwards to meet the panel and team. Free event parking. 🎟 Tickets are just £5 - but already selling fast. 🥟Order by May 12 to get a free pasty with your ticket Book your place today You may also like: Open Gardens Various Dates | 2pm - 5pm Join us and celebrate the 15th anniversary of Open Gardens this year. With 8 gardens across Cornwall flinging open the garden gates, come for the gardens - stay for the tea and cake! Looe Island: Birds, butterflies & more Thur 21 May | 9am - 12.30pm This is a small-number experience offering access to our island nature reserve — ideal for wildlife lovers, photographers, and those seeking a peaceful morning immersed in nature. More dates available. Reptile Spotting Weds 27 May | 10am - 11am Come on an adventure around Penhale dunes to look for some of our amazing reptiles including adders, slow worms & grass snakes. Beginner’s Botany Sat 30 May | 10am - 4pm St Columb Major This workshop from the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall & Isles of Scilly will help you identify the wildflowers that we find in Cornwall, to family or species level. See more events Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon © 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 — BLOOD SPORT ON KILLING FOR ‘FUN’ — BLOOD ON THEIR CHARACTERS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Undercover footage aired by ITV exposes cruelty at the heart of the bird shooting industry Our undercover investigation launches on national television CHARLIE MOORES MAY 6 READ IN APP Shooting. They call it “sport”. Dress it in the language of tradition, countryside stewardship, and conservation. Wrap it in tweed and tie it with the reassuring ribbon of British heritage. But what Protect the Wild’s investigators found behind the gates of a British farm tells a very different story - one the shooting industry has spent decades and millions of pounds keeping hidden from public view. Earlier this evening ITV aired footage from our undercover investigation. We are very grateful they listened to us, looked at our evidence and decided to cover it. If you missed it or would like to watch again, here it is: Become a Game Changer The shooting industry produces tens of millions of pheasants and Red-legged Partridges every year for the gun. Birds are crammed into wire pens, unable to express natural behaviours, suffering injuries that go untreated, living short and brutal lives from hatchery to gun barrel. The scale is staggering. The indifference is worse. The footage is shocking. Distressing. Already, the reaction has been one of shock and disgust from ordinary people across the country seeing, for the first time, what is done to prepare living creatures for “sport”. We’ve been receiving emails from people who knew things were bad - just not THIS bad. But it was far from the worst of it. It was just a few minutes. A glimpse. What ITV showed was just a fraction of the evidence we collected. We recorded hundreds of hours. Multiple breaches. Across many farms. “…Sounds cruel…” Over the past 12 months, Protect the Wild’s undercover investigators placed hidden cameras at half a dozen farms across the UK. What we recorded over months and months of painstaking work tells the same story everywhere we looked. Suffering on an industrial scale. The shooting industry has spent years selling the public a lie. That it cares. That ‘welfare’ is baked into the operations. Heart of England scrambled to release Facebook post just after the broadcast claiming “Welfare is at the heart of everything we do.” Nonsense! It is part of a sprawling, greedy industry that has normalised mass suffering. This is big business, operating in plain sight, propped up by decades of countryside mythology and political cowardice. Politicians from the current Labour government actually describe this system as ’sustainable’. Tell that to the birds… Become a Game Changer “They just get stuck and die” Over the coming months, Protect the Wild will be releasing many more findings from this investigation. We will be documenting the conditions, the cruelty, the casual suffering treated as an acceptable cost of doing business. We will be examining the legal frameworks that allow this industry to operate in ways that would be unacceptable in any other context. We will be asking why birds that would be protected under animal welfare law in almost every other setting are excluded the moment they become “game.” “…high welfare standards…” The industry’s response to ITV’s programme on our investigation was just what we expected: denial, deflection, and a shrug of the shoulders. But this isn’t about a few rotten apples. We found pain and suffering everywhere we looked. The shooting industry has friends in powerful places. It has lobbying groups, friendly ministers, and a carefully curated public image built on country fairs and charity shoots. What it does not have - what it has never had - is a convincing answer to the question of how what our cameras recorded can be described as anything other than industrialised cruelty. The birds you saw on ITV last night have no voice. The investigators who risked their safety to expose this have given them one. And we at Protect the Wild will not stop until the full picture is understood, the public debate is had, and those responsible are held to account. Please share this article. Share our socials. Follow us for updates. Follow End Bird Shooting on Substack Stay with us. There is much more to come. Join the movement. Become a Game Changer. We are at the beginning of something. Months of undercover work. Hundreds of hours of footage. Farms across the UK exposed. And we are only just getting started. But investigations alone do not end industries. People do. We are asking you to become a Game Changer. To stand with us as we take this fight forward, week by week, piece by piece, until the public, the media and the politicians can no longer look away. The first 500 people to sign up will receive a limited edition pin badge. This is the beginning. Be part of it. Become a Game Changer SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

REVEALED ON NATIONAL TV TONIGHT ON THE PRODUCTION OF GAME BIRDS FOR THE ELITE RICH

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Tomorrow Night Britain Will Be Taken Inside the Bird Shooting Industry PROTECT THE WILD MAY 5 READ IN APP Tomorrow night, 06 May 2026, ITV News will broadcast footage that the bird shooting industry has spent decades hoping the British public would never see. It comes from Heart of England - one of the UK’s largest breeders of pheasants and partridges for the gun. It was recorded by undercover investigators working for Protect the Wild, as part of the largest investigation ever undertaken into British gamebird breeding farms. We commissioned the investigation because we knew what was happening behind the locked gate was horrendous suffering and neglect. Now the country will see it too. We are urging every one of you to watch. ITV has done its job responsibly and professionally, and we are grateful this investigation is receiving the national attention it deserves. But you need to understand something. What you will see tomorrow night is a fraction of what our investigators recorded. A news broadcast can’t show the full scale of what we found in a few minutes. Our cameras were recording for many weeks. The footage we captured runs to hundreds of hours. We witnessed routine suffering, casual cruelty, and injuries left untreated. The birds at this ‘farm’ lived and died in conditions that would shock anyone who believes living creatures deserve basic dignity. This is not one rogue farm caught on a bad day. What our investigators recorded at Heart of England is the everyday reality for tens of millions of birds bred for shooting across Britain every year. The industry’s own economics demand it. You cannot run these operations any other way and still turn a profit. The suffering is not incidental. It is structural. Our End Bird Shooting campaign is going to expose this vile industry like never before. ITV has opened the door. Over the coming months, Protect the Wild will take you through it and right into the heart of the industry. We won’t pretend our footage is easy to watch. It isn’t. You may want to turn away. Please don’t. The birds on farms across the UK don’t have that option. They lived those conditions every hour of every day, from hatching to death. The discomfort you feel watching is nothing compared to what they endured. Make that discomfort the first spark of the anger that changes things. Tomorrow’s broadcast is the opening move in a much longer campaign. In the weeks and months ahead, we will be publishing detailed footage, legal assessments, and evidence that goes far beyond what any news bulletin will show. ITV will air the footage at 6:00pm on ITV Anglia, Central, Meridian, Tyne Tees, West Country, and Yorkshire - a combined audience of between 3 and 4 million viewers! Journalist Nick Smith, who is presenting the programme, will also be LIVE on ITV Central for a studio chat. The take down of the vile bird shooting industry starts tomorrow, 06 May. Please watch ITV’s footage. Share what you see. Share our socials. Don’t let this become a news story that fades by the weekend. Subscribe to our End Bird Shooting Substack for much more! We’re building a movement to end bird shooting and this is just the beginning. Become a subscriber to our End Bird Shooting Substack and help us. Upgrade to paid Join the movement. Become a Game Changer. We are at the beginning of something. Months of undercover work. Hundreds of hours of footage. Farms across the UK exposed. And we are only just getting started. But investigations alone do not end industries. People do. We are asking you to become a Game Changer. To stand with us as we take this fight forward, week by week, piece by piece, until the public, the media and the politicians can no longer look away. The first 500 people to sign up will receive a limited edition pin badge. This is the beginning. Be part of it. Become a Game Changer SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

BUGBYTES FROM BUGLIFE APRIL’S NEWS. IT’S ALL ABOUT INVERTEBRATES AND THEIR IMPORTANCE

Buglife Logo saving the small things that run the planet View this email in your browser Dear John Welcome to the April edition of Buglife's e-newsletter, BugBytes! This week sees the exciting conclusion of Buglife’s Big Give Earth Raise campaign, Invertebrates: The Backbone of Species Recovery. Citizen Science Month may also be coming to an end but there are still plenty of activities you can get involved with too. So, let’s buzz on over and take a look. Invertebrates: The Backbone of Species Recovery This week we have been absolutely blown away by your support and with just 24 hours to go we are currently sitting at 94% of our campaign target. Can you help us with one final push to achieve our fundraising goal? Double my donation today! Our supporters are amazing and we would like to "thank you" now, for supporting our work and our appeal in any way you can; whether that's by making a donation, forwarding the email you’ve received on to a friend, even liking or sharing our social media posts. Good to know: Once our campaign target has been reach, donations will no longer be doubled, but they will enable us to do more and possible secure additional funding in the future - so every penny counts and it all helps! Beyond Citizen Science Month It's a brilliant time to explore the great outdoors, spend time with family and become a Citizen Scientist, if you aren't already! There are lots of fantastic bug-gy activities to get involved with; check out some of our suggestions below: Bugs Matter Will the lack of insects be a hot topic again this year? There are a number of ways you can help support anecdotal discussion with science and data, starting with our very own Bugs Matter! (open 1 April until 30 September) Bugs Matter Search for the Strandline Beetle Heading to the beach in the South West? Keep your eyes peeled and let us know if you spot one of these strandline scuttlers. (open year round) Join the search Be a BeeWalker If you have a few spare hours every month, want to enjoy a short walk and help monitor the abundance of bumblebees with the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, this is the survey for you! (open March until October) Be the Bees Knees Bilberry Bumblebee (Bombus monticola) © Charlotte Rankin Short-necked Oil Beetle (Meloe brevicollis) © Peadar O’Connell Oil Beetle Hunt Have you spotted a strange looking blue-tinged beetle whilst out walking? Be sure to take a picture and log your sighting. Whilst our Buglife Scotland Team are keen for reports of Scottish Oil Beetles, records can be submitted from across the UK! (open year round) Join the hunt PoM Scheme FIT Counts No running required! Help monitor how pollinator populations are changing with PoM Scheme Flower Insect Timed (FIT) Counts! With your help data is being gathered on a wide range of flower-visiting insects. All you need is a flower and 15 minutes. (open April until 30 September) Let’s get counting! Marmalade Hoverfly (Episyrphus balteatus) © David Price (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0) Nature Connectedness at Night The University of Derby are currently running two surveys, Buglife Safari and Curious Craneflies, exploring how nighttime nature experiences affect our wellbeing, environmental awareness and our relationship with the natural world. (now open) Step outside after dark… Ham or Jam? Bring a little Citizen Science to your summer picnic with this quick survey brought to you by Professor Seirian Sumner. Learning about the type of food wasps are after tells us about their life-cycle and predicting behaviours may help us live together more harmoniously. (open soon) Find out, is it Ham or Jam? Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) © Sid Mosdell (CC BY 2.0 DEED) Yellow-legged Hornets making the headlines The media are once again sharing information about sightings of the non-native Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina), here in the UK. As a result of these early sightings conservationists feel that it is highly probable the hornets have overwintered and may now be successfully breeding in the UK. A native to Asia, this Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS) was first recorded in the UK in 2016. Since this time sightings have increased and during 2025, 544 credible sightings were recorded. As the Yellow-legged Hornet has now been reported as active, we would like to ask our followers to report any suspected sightings as soon as possible; vigilance is particularly required in southern parts of England, Northern Ireland and Wales and around major ports, but they could be found anywhere across the UK. Reporting sightings is easy to do and can be done either via the Asian Hornet Watch App or via an online form. Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) © Gilles San Martin (Flickr, CC) Identifying a Yellow-legged Hornet Learn more… Visit the map Exciting opportunities for Buglife supporters! We will shortly be starting our first One Million Steps 2026 challenge and we’re inviting you to join us! Walk, jog, run, hop or dance your way to a million steps in 100 days. That's 500 miles or the distance from London to Zurich, Switzerland BUT it's just the 10,000 average a day; or, if you need another comparator or two: 🗺️ Brighton to Inverness, Scotland; 🚶‍♀️ More than 18 marathons. It really is something to be proud of and to add a bit more incentive you could help us save the small things that run the planet by taking part and asking others to sponsor you! Go solo or sign up with friends to support each other to that finish line! Take the first of One Million Steps… Giveaway details: As a thankyou to you, our supporters, we have a small number of FREE entries remaining to help you along your way. Just sign up via the One Million Steps website and enter the code Buglife50 when asked for payment details. Get in there quick to avoid disappointment - registration closes Monday 18 May 2026! Browse our Bug Directory Did you know that we have almost 200 invertebrate species profiles on our website, and counting? Let’s meet one of the species that you’ll like be seeing a lot of at the moment! St Mark’s Fly (Bibio marci) © Jaybee www.phocus-on.co.uk This month we’re taking a look at the St Mark’s Fly (Bibio marci), so called because they emerge around St Mark’s Day, on 25 April every year, and can be seen in flight in May. The St Mark’s Fly is a species of true fly, known as Hawthorn Flies. Found around woodland edges, hedges, rough grassland and wetlands the St Mark’s Fly can be seen throughout the UK in spring, these flies are quite distinctive. Males are around 12mm in length with clear wings, have large eyes and long dangling hind legs whilst the females are around 14mm in length, with smoky brown wings and much smaller eyes and legs. ℹ️ Did you know: The male’s eyes are divided by a groove and have separate connections to the brain; this allows the males to use the upper eye part to look out for females and the lower part to monitor their position in relation to the ground, allowing them to hover in the same position. For more information about this not so speedy fly with an eye on the calendar, visit our Bug Directory. Take me to the Bug Directory! Which bug would you like to see added to the directory next, there's plenty to choose from! ICYMI ~ When does protection mean protection? Earlier this month a report from Wild Justice made headlines when it revealed that the Government’s environmental advisor Natural England has stopped designating Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). ...there hasn’t been a single new SSSI designated in England since 2023! While SSSIs are often called ‘the backbone of our protected sites network’, do they actually serve the needs of the creatures without backbones – the invertebrates – that Buglife is dedicated to protecting? Join Buglife Programmes Manager, Jamie Robins, as he explores this question in our latest blog, "When does protection mean protection?" Read the blog… Swanscombe © Julie Preston Upcoming events Friday 1 May ~ Plantlife’s No Mow May begins Sunday 3 May ~ Spring Community Celebration at Brockwell Park with Brockwell Park Greenhouses (Brockwell Park London) Thursday 5 May ~ Orbweb Spiders with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 6 May ~The Bug Bunch! For Home Ed Families (Canvey Wick, Essex) Wednesday 6 May ~ Invertebrate Study Day with The Biological Recording Company (Natural History Museum, London) Thursday 7 May ~ Pollinator FIT Count workshop with Bright Green Nature and Buglife Scotland (Selkirk, Scotland) Tuesday 12 May ~ Bookworms! preschool story time at Canvey Island Library (Canvey, Essex) Wednesday 13 May ~ Walk the Wick! Spring 2026 (Canvey Wick, Essex Thursday 14 May ~ Blue Ground Beetle Identification at Bovey Valley Woodlands with Moor Invertebrates (Bovey Tracey, Devon) Monday 18 May ~ Blue Ground Beetle Identification at Dart Valley Woodlands with Moor Invertebrates (Newbridge Hill, Devon) Wednesday 20 May ~ The Bug Bunch! For Home Ed Families (Canvey Wick, Essex) Wednesday 27 April ~ Walk the Wick! Spring 2026 (Canvey Wick, Essex) Thursday 28 May ~ Underexplored Freshwater Habitats in Ireland: Case Studies Using Riverflies with The Biological Recording Company (online) Tuesday 2 June ~ Friend, Foe, or Freeloader? The Flower Crab Spider with The Biological Recording Company (online) a person holding up a cell phone displaying the words Bugs Matter Please do remember that our website Events Page is being updated all the time so, to keep up to date with both current and future Buglife events, as well as events from partners and supporters, be sure to visit regularly. What’s the buzz? Anger as potential Site of Special Scientific Interest sand dunes are destroyed Wildlife experts have been left devastated by the continued intentional destruction of dune habitat on the Ardeer Peninsula in Ayrshire by its landowners – despite the dunes being ear-marked as part of a potential Site of Special Scientific Interest. Local community groups and national wildlife organisations called on Scottish Government agency NatureScot to designate the special habitats of the Ardeer Peninsula as part of a Garnock Estuary SSSI back in 2022, building on a long-running local campaign to protect its wildlife. Report front cover: The effects of veterinary tick and flea treatments on freshwater invertebrates and ecosystems Damage to Ardeer Peninsula Read the story… Open letter, veterinary parasiticides in the environment March Brown Mayfly (Rhithrogena germanica) © Richard Bartz (CC BY-SA 2.5) Earlier in April Buglife joined many other voices, writing to the Environment Minister Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to raise concern about chemicals in common flea and tick treatments contaminating the UK’s rivers, lakes, ponds, and wildlife. Together with SongBird Survival, WildFish, we stand alongside leading environmentalists, academics, and veterinary professionals calling for action. Find out more and read the full letter Read the story… For all our latest news please visit our website News Pages. Buglife shop The Buglife Shop is open for all your invertebrate needs, offering more ethical options and ways for you to support bugs. Whether you’re looking for clothing, insurance, home accessories or gifts for a loved one; there’s something for everyone! a packet of native wildflower seeds Nurture the Night Shift Jute Bag Visit Buglife’s shop Adopt a Bug Exciting shop news: In addition to our usual offerings our Spring/Summer Brochure, brought to you in partnership with Red Robin, is here! From stationary to home furnishings, bee hotels to clothing - bring a little cheer to your home and support Buglife in the process! Spring/Summer Brochure Don't forget you can stay up to date with the work of the Buglife team via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube! Thank you for your continued interest in and support of our work; together we can save the small things that run the planet! The Buglife Team Donate Join the Buglife Community Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon Website icon Buglife Logo Copyright © 2026 Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive Member communications electronically following becoming a Member. Thank you. Our mailing address is: Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust Allia Future Business Centre London Road Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 8AN United Kingdom Company No. 04132695 | Registered Charity No. 1092293 | Scottish Charity No.SC040004 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

FROM MARINE CONSERVATION—WHAT GOES IN THE WATER GETS INGESTED

Help us stop harmful chemicals causing more damage View in browser A bottlenose dolphin and its baby are swimming in the ocean. A yellow smear appears on the mother dolphin and in the water surrounding it, to represent harmful chemicals. Text overlaid reads: Stop the Ocean Chemical Crisis Hi John, What do sea otters, bottlenose dolphins, northern gannets and polar bears all have in common? Exposure to harmful forever chemicals, otherwise known as PFAS. These beloved species are being damaged by human-made chemicals, but we're determined to put a stop to it and protect the ocean for generations to come. A sea otter floats on its back on top of water. There is a lurid yellow smear overlaid on the otter's fur to represent harmful chemicals You'll hopefully recognise the adorable, fluffy sea otter. Sadly, these beautiful animals are struggling to fight off infection because their immune systems have been damaged by exposure to forever chemicals. And they're not the only species affected. Forever chemicals have been shown to disrupt reproduction, thyroid activity, metabolism and development in fish. They've also been linked to neurological impacts in polar bears, which could impact behaviours from searching for food to mating. Perhaps most shocking of all is the fact that PFAS have been shown to pass from sea birds to their eggs, pre-polluting the chicks inside before they've even been born. But hope is not lost. If we work together, we can stop the ocean chemical crisis. We're asking for a universal restriction on PFAS to be introduced by 2030, to stop more of these harmful chemicals polluting the ocean and the marine life that calls it home. With your donation to our Big Give appeal, John, we'll have more funds to be able to lobby the UK Government for change. We'll also be able to research both the continued impacts of PFAS, and other solutions needed to tackle them. Donate now to help protect marine life from the ocean chemical crisis, and remember that your donation will be doubled for this week only! Double your impact and donate today Thanks so much for your support. Francesca Policy and Advocacy Manager (Chemicals) Marine Conservation Society Test your PFAS knowledge Put what you've learnt to the test with our PFAS quiz. Find out if you're a PFAS expert - here's the first question to get you started: First things first, what actually are PFAS? Natural chemicals found in seaweed that are rich in nutrients and primarily used as fertilizers Human-made chemicals used in a wide range of consumer and industrial products Text speak for Piranha Fish Are Scary Donate Contact us Unsubscribe The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG.

PROTECT THE WILD—THE SAVAGERY EXPOSED OF THROWING LIVE FOXES TO THE HOUNDS AND FILMING IT

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more They filmed it and shared it like a trophy. ROB POWNALL APR 26 READ IN APP I need to tell you about three foxes. The first was in Norfolk. A fox, cornered in a private back garden. Nowhere to run. Hunt supporters looked on as the hounds closed in and tore them apart. In someone’s garden. A place that should have been a sanctuary. The second was in Wiltshire. Footage filmed by hunt supporters and shared in WhatsApp groups showed the Avon Vale Hunt throwing two foxes directly to their hounds. Not a mistake. Not an accident. A deliberate act carried out by people who filmed it and shared it like a trophy. This is what fox hunting actually is. Not a tradition. Not a sport. A blood ritual carried out by people who believe they are untouchable. This week, the hunting season officially ended. For the first time in years, we go into the off-season on the front foot. The government is now formally consulting on banning trail hunting for good. We helped force that moment. Viral animations seen by millions. Groundbreaking undercover investigations and reports. Years of lobbying. Millions of campaign emails. Hunt saboteurs and monitors supported in the field, season after season. That is what got us here. But here is what I need you to understand. The hunts are not done. They are regrouping right now. Lobbying quietly. Waiting for the consultation to pass without delivering a proper ban. They have money, they have lawyers, and they have friends in high places. What we have is you. Today I am asking you to adopt a fox. Adopt a Fox Every adoption directly funds the final push, the work that turns a government consultation into an actual ban. In return you will receive a soft toy fox, sent straight to your door. These also make a perfect gift for any fox lover in your life. A reminder of exactly who we are fighting for. We are closer than we have ever been. But close does not finish the job. Thank you for standing with us. Rob Pownall Founder, Protect the Wild SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — SWIFT NESTING HOLES RE-OPENED BUT AT WHAT COST

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more VICTORY! Network Rail to reopen nesting holes for Swifts! ROB POWNALL APR 25 READ IN APP I have some brilliant news to share! Network Rail has confirmed it will reopen the swift nesting holes at Chapel Milton viaduct and work is already under way. High Peak Borough Council has confirmed that listed building consent is not required to reopen the three holes identified by campaigners. Network Rail says it is now mobilising contractors to carry out the work as quickly and safely as possible. Swift boxes are also being installed on the viaduct to provide additional nesting habitat. This is the outcome we campaigned for. The nesting holes will be reopened before the birds return. None of this would have happened without you. Local campaigners raised the alarm, gathered evidence, and refused to let this issue be dismissed. More than 12,800 people signed Protect the Wild’s petition and turned concern into real pressure. Network Rail has acknowledged that pressure directly, recognising the strength of feeling both locally and across the country. Swifts are one of the UK’s most rapidly declining species. They return each year to the same nesting sites, and when those sites are blocked, they cannot breed. Getting these holes reopened before nesting season was always the priority and that is exactly what has been achieved. There is still work to be done to ensure swifts are properly protected during future infrastructure works. But today is a day to recognise what collective action can accomplish. Thank you to everyone who signed, shared, and spoke up for these birds. This one is yours. Adopt an Animal and support our work By adopting an animal with Protect the Wild, you are directly supporting frontline campaigns that protect some of Britain’s most persecuted species. Our fox adoption symbolises our fight to finally end hunting for good. Our badger adoption represents our determination to stop the badger cull and protect wildlife from government-sanctioned killing. Our peregrine falcon adoption stands for our work exposing the bird shooting industry and defending birds of prey from persecution as we work to take that industry down. Adopt an Animal SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM AMY AT MARINE CONSERVATION

Your donation will be doubled for this week only View in browser Hi John, Our work to stop forever chemicals reaching the ocean will not only benefit amazing wildlife, but you too. From walks along the beach and birdwatching by the coast, to rock pooling, beach days and surfing in the waves, we'll all be enjoying healthier seas. A few of our staff and ocean ambassadors, including Zoe Lyons, (and a little cameo from budding marine biologist, Henry) have recorded a special message for you. Watch our super-short videos to find out what they have to say: Our goal of seeing a universal restriction on PFAS by 2030 will also future-proof the seas for the next generation, so that children will be able to experience an ocean filled with wonder for years to come. Please donate to our Big Give appeal today. You can double your impact for this week only, as every donation is doubled by matched funding. Donate today Thanks so much for your support. Amy Marine Conservation Society Donate Contact us Unsubscribe The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG.

FROM THE SABOTUERS —- JUST EIGHT WEEKS TO GO? TO MAKE HUNTING HISTORY

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter EIGHT WEEKS TO MAKE HUNTING HISTORY! A month ago, the government launched its long-awaited consultation on how to ban ‘trail hunting’. This is a once in a generation opportunity to blow away the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ and close the many loopholes in the 2004 Hunting Act. This poor fox was hunted and killed on the anniversary of the Hunting Act. This leaves you just eight weeks to complete the consultation, which closes on the18th June 2026. To makes this process quick, easy and effective the HSA has produced guidance which you can find here. One of the key things to remember is that your submission should be individual and, where possible, capture your direct experience of hunts. By way of example, we reproduce below three accounts from the hundreds we receive on our Tip-Off line every year. Because of the violence endemic in the hunting world, we have removed any identifying information. We regularly hear from country people who are traumatised by the sudden arrival of the hunt into their area: “The hunt - several men on horses and around fifty hounds - were in the little scrap of woodland just west of XXX Farm just outside the village. There was a lot of shouting, hounds were manic, baying crazily and we heard the most terrible screaming of I can only assume a fox being ripped apart. We were on a footpath close-by walking our dog. The animal screaming only lasted a minute or two but all I could think of was to get away. I’m sorry I didn’t get a picture, but my old dog was also really frightened and to be honest I was afraid for her. So, we legged it. We felt afraid, upset and so incredibly sad for the fox as well and bloody angry that this barbaric activity still goes on.” "We heard the most terrible screaming..." It is also common for people out enjoying the peace of the countryside to have their experience totally ruined when the hunt shows up: “We saw a large fox hunt, all in uniform. Two foxes ran past us, followed closely by the hunt. They ran past us and I shouted at them, they said they were following a pre-laid trail and it’s not their fault if the foxes get in the way. They had about 30 dogs with them, hunting calls being used and multiple split up horse groups. The dogs were yapping and very excited, with many people stopped on the roads watching, looking like they were watching for the fox.” Hunts cause havoc and upset wherever they go. Every year, we receive reports of companion animals being terrorised or even killed by hunts: “Hunt arrived unannounced into the village. A single male rider was trying to control 20+ dogs with just a horn. The dogs were out of control and running into gardens and private land that residents house their horses in. Residents were frightened for their animal’s safety and had to rush to get chickens locked away. They were running and pushing my husband on the playing field, and it was lucky that children weren’t playing unsupervised as it would have been frightening. They were seen chasing a fox that lives in the village out into some residential gardens then out into the field.” The Western Hunt hounds rip a beloved cat to pieces, March 2021. If you have had any similar experiences with hunts – and we know many of you have- please record them when you complete your consultation. Your contribution is important – please complete the consultation today! Have your say 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 AMY AT MARINE CONSERVATION ASKS CAN YOU HELP THE BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS

Donate to our Big Give appeal and your donation will be doubled View in browser Banner image: Right: A northern gannet is looking down at her nest which has an egg in it. The egg and the gannet have a lurid yellow smear on them. Text: Stop the Ocean Chemical Crisis. Hi John, Happy Earth Day! Our Big Give appeal to Stop the Ocean Chemical Crisis is now live. For this week only, any donation you make will be doubled by the Big Give and our generous partners at Sonardyne and the Marsh Charitable Trust. This means your £5 becomes £10, £10 becomes £20 and £25 becomes £50, at no extra cost to you. Donate today A short video clip of a bottlenose dolphin swimming playfully above coral Credit: vkilikov Because it's Earth Day, I thought I'd share some facts about one of my favourite marine mammals: the highly sociable bottlenose dolphin. Did you know that when they breach the water, they can leap up to 5m above the waves? They're also incredibly clever. One study placed marks on two dolphins’ bodies; both dolphins used a mirror to investigate the marked parts of their bodies, suggesting that they can recognise their own reflection. How incredible is that? Unfortunately for the bottlenose dolphin, they're one of the many marine species that are being impacted by the ocean chemical crisis. Exposure to harmful 'forever chemicals', called PFAS, means they're struggling to fight illness because their liver, kidney, blood and immune systems aren't working effectively. I find it utterly heartbreaking to think that animals are suffering because of humans. At the Marine Conservation Society, we've been campaigning for a universal restriction on PFAS. We've been making great progress, with the UK Government announcing their PFAS Plan in January of this year. We know we can do more, but we need your help, John. You can double your impact by donating to our Big Give appeal today. Every donation we receive will enable us to continue demanding change for our ocean, as well as provide us with funding for vital scientific research to better understand how PFAS affect the health of our ocean and the marine life that call it home. Stop the ocean chemical crisis poisoning dolphins. Donate today. Thanks so much for your support. Amy Marine Conservation Society Donate Contact us Unsubscribe The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG.

PROTECT THE WILD — CAN YOU HELP IN YOUR OWN AREA

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Help us fight for wildlife near YOU ROB POWNALL APR 23 READ IN APP Hi everyone :) A few months ago we brought on a dedicated Scottish campaigns manager (Devon Docherty) and it got me thinking about how we can better represent wildlife across all of the UK. To help us tailor our campaigns and close the gaps where British wildlife needs more voices, could you tell us where you’re based? We’d love to know how many of you are from each corner of the British isles and beyond! :) It’s just a single question Google form and takes five seconds :) The responses will be incredibly valuable in helping shape our future work. Respond SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST UPATES US AS TO WHAT IS GOING ON

View this email in your browser APRIL NEWS Spring has truly arrived, and across Cornwall, hedgerows are bursting into bloom, splashes of colour are appearing on clifftops and woodland floors, and birdsong is once again filling the air. There’s no better time to head outdoors and reconnect with Cornwall’s stunning countryside and coast. Read on to discover what species to keep an eye out for, the latest news wildlife news, and ways you can help care for the wild places we all love. Last chance to offer your feedback! As a valued member of Cornwall Wildlife Trust, we’d love to hear your feedback on what your membership and the work that it supports means to you. Take the 10-minute survey NATURE NEWS Cornwall Council U-turn on glyphosate We're delighted that Cornwall Council has voted to delay the planned reintroduction of glyphosate based weedkillers. Councillors voted 61 to seven to challenge the decision, following public protests, concerns raised by organisations including ourselves, and more than 13,000 petition signatures from Cornish residents. We’re hopeful this extended timeframe will now allow for proper public engagement and exploration of safer alternatives. Thank you to everyone who got involved and helped make your voices heard! Read the full article NEW BIRD FEEDER GUIDANCE Changes in how and when we feed garden birds can have a big impact on their health. New guidance from the RSPB encourages us to feed seasonally to help reduce disease risk - notably against trichomonosis, which has already caused serious declines in species like greenfinch and chaffinch - affecting their ability to swallow food, and can be fatal. From May to October, stop feeding seeds and peanuts to prevent crowding and disease risks, instead offer a small amount of mealworms, fat balls or suet year-round. Natural food is plentiful at this time of year, but disease risk is higher. From November to April, feed seeds and peanuts in moderation, when the benefit to birds are likely to be greatest. The guidance also suggests weekly cleaning of feeders and moving them after a clean to clear debris underneath, as well as changing drinking water daily and cleaning baths weekly will have a big impact on bird health. Find out more about their new guidance here. EVENTS Smuggler’s Cottage Holidays 06 May - 09 May | Looe Island Immerse yourself in Looe Island’s nature and unwind to the sound of lapping waves in the quaint and cosy Smuggler’s Cottage, or get grounded in simplicity in our Bell Tent. Beaver Walks at Woodland Valley Farm - with BBQ! Thu 7 May | 6pm - 10pm Join us a locally sourced BBQ, followed by a guided walk around our fantastic beaver project at Woodland Valley Farm. Biological Recorder’s Conference 2026 Sat 9 May | 2pm - 9.30pm | Penryn Campus Join us for the annual Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Biological Recorders Conference 2026, exploring the theme Nature in the Dark. See all events OPEN GARDENS Bolts Quarry Farm near Bodmin opens its door and kicks off the Open Garden season this weekend. Join us for some tea and cake, a wander amongst the flowers, and go home with plenty of gardening tips and maybe even a plant or two… By coming along, you’ll not only enjoy a wonderful day out but also supporting Cornwall’s wildlife and wild places for future generations. DATES FOR YOUR DIARY Bolts Quarry - Sun 26 April | 2pm - 5pm | Bodmin Lavethan Manor - Sun 17 May | 2pm - 5pm | Bodmin Higher Trenedden - Sun 7 June | 2pm - 5pm | Pelynt Hole Farm - Sun 28 June | 2pm - 5pm | Liskeard Meadowside - Sun 19 June | 2pm - 5pm | Redruth Trelan - Sun 9 Aug | 2pm - 5pm | St Ives South Bosent - Sun 23 Aug | 2pm - 5pm | Liskeard Pedn Billy - Sun 13 Sept | 2pm - 5pm | Mawnan Smith APRIL SPOTTER’S GUIDE Expect your wildlife sightings to soar this April, with migrant birds arriving back to our shores and spring flowers attracting a wealth of pollinators and insects. Do you know your swifts from your swallows? Look out for the long boomerang wing of the swift versus the long fork of the swallow’s tail. Sand martins are the smallest of the bunch and are usually nest in sandy banks, whereas house martins are more commonly spotted around our towns and villages, as their name suggests. Read the blog See the full guide Images: Robin - Gillian Day Looe Island - David Chapman Bat - Dale Shut/2020VISION Beaver - Jo Noon Snorkeller - Shorereach Finals Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon © 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.

INVERTEBRATE SPECIES RECOVERY — FROM BUGLIFE — AND IT WORKS

View this email in your browser Dear John Did you know that today is Earth Day? With a theme of “Our power, our planet”, what better day for Buglife to launch our 2026 Big Give Earth Raise campaign! A week long event where every donation made via our Big Give web page, until midday on Wednesday 29 April, will be doubled thanks to The Garfield Weston Foundation! Double your donation today! Invertebrates: The Backbone of Species Recovery This year our campaign focus is species recovery! The UK is home to over 40,000 terrestrial invertebrate species - vital to a healthy planet and for the free services they provide, many are in trouble and at risk of extinction. We urgently need funding to understand, communicate and take action to save our special invertebrates on the edge of extinction. Our species recovery work raises awareness of the importance of invertebrates, carrying out research to better understand their needs, and restoring habitats to provide safe havens for threatened species. Through our species recovery work, we will take actions to safeguard priority invertebrates that are on the edge of extinction; benefitting other animals and plants too! This programme of work will benefit a number of priority species across the UK from the Bog Hoverfly (Eristalis cryptarum) to the White-clawed Crayfish (Austropotamobius pallipes) and many species in between! Buglife Changing Chalk Conservation Officer, Alice, about to release a Wart-biter Bush-cricket © Karim Vahed Establishing new populations to help secure species’ future Late last year, as part of the Changing Chalk partnership, which is supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, Buglife worked with Natural England and Sussex Wildlife Trust to relocate thirty-two Wart-biter Bush-crickets (Decticus verrucivorus) to establish a new population in the South Downs, Sussex. A carefully orchestrated capture and relocation mission was not only made possible by dedicated volunteers who spent countless hours surveying existing populations through the Changing Chalk project, but by the generous support of our donors, Members and funders. Translocation techniques aren’t just hopeful thinking – they work. A similar project ten years ago, which Buglife was involved with, has created a flourishing population of Wart-biters that continues to expand beyond its original release area, proving that these conservation interventions can deliver lasting results. Wart-biter Bush-cricket (Decticus verrucivorus) © Frank Vassen (Flickr, CC BY-2.0) Wart-biter Bush-cricket (Decticus verrucivorus) © Frank Vassen (CC BY-2.0) Can you help us raise awareness and take actions to safeguard priority invertebrates that are on the edge of extinction? Double your donation today! Our supporters are amazing and we would like to "thank you" now, for supporting our work and our appeal in any way you can; whether that's by making a donation, forwarding the email you’ve received on to a friend, even liking or sharing our social media posts. It all helps. Together we can save the small things that run the planet! The Buglife Team Red Mason Bee (Osmia bicornis) © Ed Phillips Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon Website icon Buglife Logo Copyright (C) 2026 Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive Member communications electronically following becoming a Member. Thank you. Our mailing address is: Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust Allia Future Business Centre London Road Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE2 8AN United Kingdom Company No. 04132695 | Registered Charity No. 1092293 | Scottish Charity No.SC040004 Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe

PROTECT THE WILD ASK ARE TAX PAYERS MONEY WASTED ON GUGA RESEARCH BY NATURE SCOTLAND

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Exposed: Thousands in Taxpayer Cash Being Spent on the Guga Hunt New figures reveal over £72,000 already spent this year managing the slaughter of Gannets in Scotland. DEVON DOCHERTY APR 22 READ IN APP Scotland’s official nature body is using public money to prop up the slaughter of seabird chicks. I wish I was exaggerating. I’m not. New figures obtained by Protect the Wild reveal that NatureScot has spent more than £72,000 of taxpayer money in just the first three months of 2026 on matters relating to the Guga hunt. SIGN THE PETITION Where is the money going? Not into nature restoration. Not into biodiversity recovery. Not into protecting the countless species in Scotland that are genuinely in crisis. Here’s where it went: Nearly £30,000 on research that will be used to assess how many Gannet chicks can be killed this year. Thousands more on legal advice tied to licensing the hunt. Tens of thousands on hiring additional security and repair costs, driven by protests and the growing tide of public opposition. And here’s the kicker - these figures don’t even include staff time or other regular expenses. NatureScot has admitted it doesn’t record that separately. Which means the true cost to you, the taxpayer, is infinitely more. We are paying for the privilege of watching a nature agency licence the killing of native seabirds by 10 men. Every year, the ‘Men of Ness’ travel to the remote rocky island of Sula Sgeir, where thousands of Gannets are about to take their first flight. They snatch the chicks from their nests using long poles, beat them to death, and take their bodies back to the Isle of Lewis to sell and eat as a local delicacy. This brutal practice is known as the Guga hunt, and it has been allowed to continue for far too long. NatureScot blames protests - like the recent rooftop occupation - for rising costs. But protest is a symptom of the problem, not the cause. If the Guga hunt continues, so will the resistance. SIGN THE PETITION A nature agency should protect wildlife - not facilitate its killing Call me naïve, but I think an organisation that exists to “protect and promote Scotland’s nature” should actually do exactly that - not facilitate its destruction. There is a clear, reasonable expectation that public money given to a nature authority is used to safeguard wildlife. That's their job. That's the whole point. Gannets are a protected native species and Sula Sgeir is a Special Protection Area. If we allow the slaughter of a protected species inside a Special Protection Area, then what is actually being protected, besides the interests of a few hunters? These designations risk becoming meaningless. TELL NATURESCOT - STOP THE GUGA HUNT And let me be absolutely clear about something, because NatureScot would prefer you didn’t understand it. The licence for the Guga hunt is entirely discretionary. The Scottish Government has confirmed that NatureScot has the power to not grant licences at all. That means continuing to license the Guga hunt is an active choice by NatureScot, and one that is becoming increasingly costly not only to the taxpayer, but to our already struggling wildlife. What you can do right now NatureScot has said that when this year’s licence is received, it will be brought before its board for decision. The next board meeting is May 14th. We need as many signatures as possible by that date to force this onto their agenda. So here is what I’m asking you to do today: Sign our petition if you haven’t already. Share it with everyone you know who cares about wildlife. Talk about this. Tell people where their money is going. Most of them have no idea. STOP THE GUGA HUNT We cannot let this continue any longer Gannet travel thousands of miles to nest. They raise just one chick a year. They battle everything nature throws at them to keep that chick alive. Then their chick gets clubbed over the head while they circle helplessly above. This is legal. It is licensed. And your taxes are paying for it. We are fighting to end it for good and we’re doing absolutely everything we can to make sure it does. Please donate today and help us protect British wildlife. 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 Start writing

PROTECT THE WILD, LEAGUE AGAINST CRUEL SPORTS, CHRIS PACKHAM,MEGAN MCCUBBIN & OTHERS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more May 9th: Stand With Us in London: End Trail Hunting for Good CHARLOTTE SMITH APR 21 READ IN APP On May 9th, 3.15-4:30pm, in Central London, something powerful is happening. Wildlife lovers, campaigners, rural residents, and people from all walks of life will come together for one clear reason: to demand an end to the cruelty that continues under the false banner of “trail hunting.” This rally, organised by the League Against Cruel Sports, is more than just a gathering. It’s a line in the sand. Because despite the Hunting Act, foxes, deer, and hares are still being chased and killed. Not by accident. Not by mistake. But under the cover of loopholes in the Hunting Act 2004, that have been exploited for far too long. And the public has had enough. With Chris Packham and Megan McCubbin in attendance, this will be a moment of unity and urgency. A moment to show the government that people across this country are not fooled by the smokescreen anymore. We see what’s happening. And we want it stopped. Protect the Wild will be there to stand in solidarity and show our unwavering support. Will you? RSVP on Facebook Closing this loopholes is not complicated. It is not controversial. It is the bare minimum. This rally is about making that impossible to ignore. It’s about standing together, visibly, loudly, and unapologetically, to demand what should have been done years ago: a real end to hunting. If you’ve ever felt anger at seeing wildlife persecuted… If you’ve ever felt frustration at the lack of accountability… If you believe our laws should mean something… Then stand with us. Join us in central London on May 9th, 3.15-4:30pm. Bring your voice. Bring your determination. Bring the message that the government can no longer avoid: Ban trail hunting. Close the loopholes. End hunting for good. Because this isn’t just about wildlife. It’s about justice. RSVP on Facebook SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

AN IMPORTANT ONE FROM WILD JUSTICE ON SSSI’S AND NATURAL ENGLAND SEEMINGLY LAPSE IN PROTECTION

Good morning, In today’s newsletter we bring you a new report, highlighting Natural England’s failure to protect some of our most important sites for wildlife. Front cover of the Unprotected Nature report, featuring a landscape with a protected area, encroached upon by development. Unprotected Nature report: click the cover above to read it. Unprotected Nature: Natural England failing to designate most important sites for nature. Two years ago we published a report on the state of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs) in England (click here). It demonstrated how SSSIs were being neglected by Natural England (NE), which was failing to assess site conditions. Two thirds (66%) of these sites hadn’t been assessed for a decade and we wanted to prevent that situation from worsening. Today’s report, featured in the Guardian and authored by researchers at the Universities of Sheffield and Oxford, reveals that NE has quietly paused its SSSI designation pipeline – that is to say that parcels of land that are home to valuable wildlife, and are deserving of having protected status, are simply not being protected by the agency with a statutory duty to do so. This failure to designate means that nationally important sites are being lost to development and many more are at risk from inappropriate building projects nearby. Of the 22 sites sitting on Natural England’s waiting list, 14 are at high risk of suffering potential damage. Headline results from the report: One potential SSSI - in Thurrock - has been lost to development while it has been sitting undesignated on the Natural England waiting list. 14 potential SSSIs (63%) in the pipeline are at high risk of suffering damage from inappropriate development within 1 km. Two sites have been sitting in the designation pipeline for more than 10 years. Ten sites have been awaiting designation for more than five years. No new sites can be added to the pipeline while it is paused, meaning that many other potential SSSIs are not even being listed. In the case of the Middlewick Ranges, a site in Essex owned by the Ministry of Defence, that clearly meets the criteria for SSSI designation, this is leading to inappropriate management for nature conservation. Wild Justice is calling for: Natural England to restart the pipeline for designating SSSIs and to add sites to its waiting list that are known to be important for wildlife. The government to provide resourcing to ensure that the work of designation can proceed quickly. The planning decision to allow development on a SSSI in Thurrock to be urgently reviewed. Click here to read the full report and accompanying press release. We’d like to thank Dr Kiera Chapman, Professor Malcolm Tait & Dr Rob Davies for producing this report. Their tenacity and observation has helped shine a spotlight on this failure by NE. We think it’s important that government agencies are held to account when it comes to protecting our wildlife. If you agree and feel able to support us with a donation, however small, you can do so by clicking here. Thank you, Wild Justice (CEO: Bob Elliot. Directors: Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 267th Wild Justice newsletter. 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). 124, City Road London Greater London EC1V 2NX UNITED KINGDOM Unsubscribe | Change Subscriber Options

PROTECT THE WILD HIGHLIGHT THE KILLING OF PIGEONS BY RAILWAY COMPANIES — IT’S SO CRUEL

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more National train companies have ordered the killing of pigeons CHARLOTTE SMITH APR 20 READ IN APP Something cruel has been uncovered. Not hidden in some distant place, not happening out of sight; but right there, in our train stations, in the spaces we pass through every day. Pigeons are being killed systematically, quietly and often, brutally. And this isn’t one rogue decision. It’s happening across the rail network. Manchester Pigeon Rehab have uncovered evidence that five train companies have ordered the killing of pigeons, despite culling being widely recognised as an ineffective long-term solution. Those companies are: ScotRail Southeastern Transport for Wales Transport for London Network Rail And now, they need your help to stop it. End the pigeon culls! What is a pigeon cull, and why should you care? A pigeon cull is exactly what it sounds like: the deliberate killing of pigeons in a specific area, usually ordered by businesses or public bodies under the guise of “population control.” But that phrase - “population control” hides the truth. Because culls are not clean. They are not quick. And they are not humane. Birds are frequently left injured, not killed outright. With their wings shattered and bodies broken, they are left to suffer in corners, under platforms, out of sight. Chicks are abandoned in nests, waiting for parents who will never return. They don’t die quickly, they slowly starve. This is not management. This is suffering. Manchester Pigeon Rehab rescue and begin treating an injured pigeon. The lie at the heart of culling If culling actually solved the problem, it would still be cruel. But it doesn’t. Remove a flock, and what happens? Space opens up. More pigeons move in. They roost, they nest, they breed. The numbers rise again. So the killing starts again - this isn’t a solution, it’s a cycle. A revolving door of violence that never addresses the real issue. Because the real issue is us. We built cities that strip away natural nesting spaces and leave waste exposed, creating unreliable food sources. We domesticated pigeons, bred them to trust us, and then abandoned them.And now we punish them for surviving in the world we created. End the pigeon culls! This is not isolated, this is systemic What Manchester Pigeon Rehab uncovered is not a one-off. It is a pattern. ScotRail, despite partnering with a leading bird protection charity, scheduled 196 pigeon shooting visits in a single year, and requested even more. Records show instructions to remove nests from active sites, including chicks. Transport for Wales scheduled at least 30 culls at a single depot in 2025, many described simply as “routine.” Transport for London has already carried out 50 culls in 2025, killing at least 237 pigeons. Network Rail has culled pigeons at multiple stations. Southeastern runs monthly shootings at depots — while describing those same spaces as “wildlife friendly.” Routine. Scheduled. Normalised. Killing as maintenance. And all of it, despite clear evidence that it doesn’t work. Manchester Pigeon Rehab rescue two babies from a cull site. End the pigeon culls! Who pigeons really are They are not “pests.” They are animals we shaped. Pigeons were once war heroes, carrying messages across battlefields, saving human lives. We bred them to be calm around us, to live alongside us. And when we no longer needed them? We left them behind. Now they live in concrete landscapes that offer little shelter, little safety, and even less compassion. And still, they endure. Until some human decides they’re “inconvenient”. This is where you come in We cannot look away from this. Not when it’s happening in plain sight. Not when we know culling doesn’t work. Not when we know it causes suffering. You have two simple, powerful ways to act: 1. Email the companies Use our tool to send a message directly to the five companies calling for an end to lethal pigeon culling. It takes minutes. It creates pressure. It matters. End the pigeon culls! 2. Support Manchester Pigeon Rehab They are doing everything they can, with limited resources, and an overwhelming need. Your donation helps them treat injured birds, feed orphaned chicks. Donate to pigeon care A small group of volunteers, standing in the gap Donate to pigeon care Manchester Pigeon Rehab see the consequences of this every single day. They are the ones picking up the broken bodies. The ones feeding orphaned chicks through the night. The ones trying to save birds who never should have suffered in the first place. Right now, they have close to 150 pigeons in their care, babies and adults, many with severe injuries. And somehow, alongside that relentless, hands-on care… MPR are fighting back. They’ve identified five train stations where lethal pigeon culling is taking place. Now they need people like you, to help. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM THE WONDERFUL HUNT SABOTEURS — TEME VALLEY CAUGHT IN THE ACT DIGGING A FOX OUT

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Taking One For The Teme: BHSA Backs Dig-out Hunt In a move that will surprise no one, hunting's governing body - the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) – continues to give active support to the notorious Teme Valley Hunt. Teme Valley and Coniston hunters dig the fox from her earth. Note white terrier latched onto fox’s leg. The BHSA website is currently hosting an advert for “assistance” at the Teme Valley Hunt kennels, describing the location as being "ideally situated in the heart of fabulous hill hunting country." BHSA – actively recruiting for the Teme Valley Hunt. The Powys-based Teme Valley Hunt hit national headlines when they were caught digging out and killing a fox while on their annual visit to the Coniston Foxhounds last November. The horrendous scene was captured on film by Lake District Hunt Sab’s drone and as a direct result, around sixteen people from both the Teme Valley Hunt and Coniston Foxhounds have been arrested to date. Teme Valley and Coniston Foxhounds swarm all over the fellside. As we reported back in December 2025, the case is so disturbing that even the Countryside Alliance desperately tried to cut ties with the Teme Valley Hunt. But the fox-hunting extremists of the BHSA have no such qualms and, instead of investigating the Teme Valley, they are actively recruiting for them! The Hunt Saboteurs Association will have much more to say about high-level BHSA connections to this case in due course. If you have not already done so, please help bring down the Teme Valley, the Coniston and all other hunts by filling in the government consultation on banning so-called trail hunting. We have produced guidance to help you do this quickly, easily and effectively here. Have your say 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 — LETTING US KNOW WHAT IS OCCURRING

View this email in your browser SPRING EVENTS FOR WILDLIFE LOVERS We’ve put together a great range of events and opportunities to enjoy this spring and summer - whether you’re keen to learn more, explore new places, or simply get outdoors and enjoy nature. Browse all events THE STATE OF NATURE IN CORNWALL - JOIN THE CONVERSATION Chaired by the brilliant BBC Radio Cornwall presenter Julie Skentelbery, this panel discussion will ask an important question: how do we stay hopeful for nature when decline can feel inevitable? The evening will explore practical changes already making a measurable difference, alongside the policy shifts needed to secure better protection for the environment. Against a backdrop of increasing public concern about nature in Cornwall, the discussion will offer reassurance, perspective and clear reasons for hope. Just announced: we’re delighted to welcome Gillian Burke as a panellist. Join us for an evening of conversation and debate, with pasties and drinks & nibbles beforehand, and the opportunity to stay on afterwards to meet the panel and team. 🎟 Tickets are just £5 - but already selling fast. Book your place today EXPERT-LED Whale Watching Tours Tues 21 April | 9.30am - 2.30pm Falmouth Premier Marina Enjoy a 5 hour whale watching experience from Falmouth. These unique cruises offer a rare chance to experience whales, dolphins, and other incredible marine wildlife, guided by one of our marine team onboard. Looe Island: Island Life Wed 22 April | 9am - 12.30pm Looe Island This is a small-number experience offering access to our island nature reserve — ideal for wildlife & history lovers, photographers, and those interested in sustainable, off-grid living. More dates available. World Crab Day Sun 26 April | 10am - 3pm Do you know your Montagu's from your Decorator crab? Join our Marine Conservation Officer Matt Slater for a classroom-based day of learning crustacean identification for rockpool, snorkel and dive enthusiasts. Looe Island: Birds, butterflies & more Sun 26 April | 9am - 12.30pm This is a small-number experience offering access to our island nature reserve — ideal for wildlife lovers, photographers, and those seeking a peaceful morning immersed in nature. More dates available. See more events OPEN GARDENS Various Sundays, April - Sept 2pm - 5pm | Free entry for under 16s Come and celebrate 15 years of our wildlife-friendly open gardens as eight private garden open their doors this summer. Explore a garden (or all eight…) and enjoy a delicious sweet treat, discover some gardening tips, or try a creative workshop. Find out more about Open Gardens BEAVER WALKS Beaver walks at Woodland Valley Farm Weds & Thurs | April - Sept 7pm - 9pm (or 6pm - 10pm with BBQ!) Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust for a guided walk around our fantastic beaver project at Woodland Valley Farm. Events run weekly, with special BBQ evenings also on offer this summer - see our website for dates. Learn about Cornwall Beaver Project LOOE ISLAND HOLIDAYS Immerse yourself in Looe Island's nature. Unwind to the sound of lapping waves in the quaint and cosy Smuggler’s Cottage, or go back to basics in the Bell Tent. Remaining availability below. 06-09 May 09-12 OR 13 July 06-09 May | 20-23 May | 05-08 June 18-21 June | 04-07 July | 18-21 July | More dates available throughout summer. Take a look ANNUAL ERCCIS CONFERENCE Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Biological Recorders Conference 2026 Sat 09 May | 2pm - 9.30pm Penryn Campus, University of Exeter This year’s conference will explore nocturnal species, the effects of light pollution, novel survey techniques and much more through a series of fascinating talks. Final tickets Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon © 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 CHALLENGE FOR THE READER

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I have a Sunday afternoon mission for you!... ROB POWNALL APR 19 READ IN APP I have a mission for you! Since my last email on this, more than 16,000 of you have already taken action, submitting a response to the Government consultation on ending so-called “trail” hunting. In fact, as of this very second that number stands at 16,306. That’s an incredible effort in just the last 4 days! But over 240,000 people receive these emails, which means we can go much further. And let’s be honest. It’s Sunday. There’s a good chance you’ve got 15 seconds to spare. We’ve built a simple tool that lets you submit a full response in under 20 seconds. The hunting lobby will be doing everything it can to defend the indefensible. We need to show clear, overwhelming public support for ending this for good. TAKE ACTION If you oppose fox hunting, stag hunting, or hare hunting… If you’re fed up with hunts continuing to kill wildlife and disrupt communities… Please take 15 seconds and act now. Click the button below and submit your response instantly. Together, we can help bring hunting with hounds to an end, once and for all. TAKE ACTION SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — IT’S ALL ABOUT ILLEGAL HUNTING — THREE CHARGED & DUE AT COURT TOMORROW

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Hunting news update - Three fox hunters charged and more TOM ANDERSON APR 18 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP Labour has finally begun its consultation on banning ‘trail hunting’, almost a year after it initially announced it. Protect the Wild has published guidance for people submitting their answers. While the consultation is going on, the government has been busy going back on their other animal welfare policies. Labour is set to backpedal on its manifesto commitment to end imports of foie gras and also won’t stop fur imports. Meanwhile, it’s been business as usual for hunt groups around the UK. The fox hunting ‘season’ has now ended, but that doesn’t mean a break for wildlife. The handful of remaining UK mink hunts are gearing up to terrorise our waterways once again, while the three operational staghound packs have been killing at an alarming rate. Three members of the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers Hunt have been charged with illegal hunting. The move by Avon & Somerset Police Rural Crime Team comes after Somerset Sabs caught them on camera chasing a fox at Chilton Trinity near Bridgwater last November. Also in this update, a couple of bits of good news: A vegan hiking group happened across a hunt, and sabbed it. A new hunt sab group has been set up in Oxfordshire. Three hunters charged Ross Cordery, Wayne Greggory and James Parish of the Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers Hunt have been charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs - an offence under the Hunting Act 2004. The action by Avon & Somerset Police Rural Crime Team comes after Somerset Hunt Saboteurs‘ drone caught the hunt chasing a fox at Chilton Trinity on 26 November last year. Blatant hunting at Devon’s Chilton Trinity on 26 November 2026 - this drone footage from Somerset Hunt Sabs was shown on Channel 4. The three will have their first appearance in Taunton Magistrates’ Court on 20 April. A ‘miracle’ that the fox survived Somerset Sabs described what happened on 26 November on their Facebook page: “we watched Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers Huntsman ‘Wingnut’ hunt his hounds around scrub then encourage hounds onto the line of the fox. By some miracle the fox made a huge leap across a ditch and evaded the hounds. But they were seconds behind and no one called them off.” The sabs told Protect the Wild: “After watching them blatantly hunt all season it’s a relief to see them finally being held accountable. Hoping for more convictions to follow.” According to Protect the Wild’s Rob Pownall: “Caught on camera, chasing a fox, and now finally facing charges, this is exactly what hunt groups are still doing across the country. The law is being ignored, and wildlife is paying the price. If this government is serious about animal welfare, it must strengthen the Hunting Act and end these loopholes once and for all, we’re glad to see the public consultation is now live and we urge people to respond.” Show Quoted Content “Caught on camera, chasing a fox, and now finally facing charges, this is exactly what hunt groups are still doing across the country. The law is being ignored, and wildlife is paying the price. If this government is serious about animal welfare, it must strengthen the Hunting Act and end these loopholes once and for all, we’re glad to see the public consultation is now live and we urge people to respond.” As the government’s consultation on banning ‘trail hunting’ takes place, hunters are still up to their old tricks. Our wildlife’s first line of defence against them is - as always - the UK’s sabs and monitors. Why not join your local sab group? Check out Protect the Wild’s Page on ‘Foxes and the Law’. If you’re able to support Somerset Hunt Sabs’ efforts please use this link. And don’t forget to fill out the government consultation on ‘trail hunting’. You can refer to Protect the Wild’s advice here. As the consultation goes on, hunts are still killing The Devon and Somerset Staghounds (DSSH), Tiverton Staghounds, Quantock Staghounds and the Beaufort Hunt have all killed again during March and April 2026. On 6 March, Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs‘ (WHS) eye-in-the-sky caught Gloucestershire’s Beaufort Hunt killing a fox. As the Hunt searched hedgerows close to Commonwood Farm in Wiltshire, the drone captured images of the kill. Huntsman Will Bryer picked up the mangled body and handed her to a female rider who “unceremoniously” placed her in a bin-bag.] The Beaufort Hunt’s terriermen set up artificial earths and tempted foxes to take refuge there. They blocked them up on the morning of the kill to ensure that the ill-fated fox had nowhere to hide. Photo courtesy of Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs. Police confiscate wildlife defenders’ equipment Wiltshire Police officers, rather than deal with the obvious wildlife crimes that were being committed, looked the other way as members of the Hunt pursued another fox. WHS wrote on their Substack page: “Enter PC Plum W79, he really didn’t know his arse from his elbow when it comes to drones, but he sure knew how to make a phone call and picked his moment during the next fox chase - in which a fox had been flushed from New Covert, and was in the process of being chased hell for leather by a terrier-man (or whatever the masked thugs with terriers want to be called) as the hounds were being encouraged to ‘hunt for it’, to well…decide that the ‘powers that be’ demand the drone be seized.” Show Quoted Content “Enter PC Plum W79, he really didn’t know his arse from his elbow when it comes to drones, but he sure knew how to make a phone call and picked his moment during the next fox chase - in which a fox had been flushed from New Covert, and was in the process of being chased hell for leather by a terrier-man (or whatever the masked thugs with terriers want to be called) as the hounds were being encouraged to ‘hunt for it’, to well…decide that the ‘powers that be’ demand the drone be seized.” Police seize evidence of illegal hunting from sabs. They were forced to give it back after a week-long campaign. Photo courtesy of Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs Officers seized the equipment and evidence from the sabs. However, after a week-long pressure campaign the force was thankfully forced to return it. WHS have made a complaint to the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner (OPCC) about the incident. A spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said: “Once again, prolific fox killers, the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt, seem able to avoid police scrutiny even as wildlife crime is unfolding. This hunt, repeatedly filmed hunting and killing foxes this season alone, has been the subject of numerous police investigations. While police drag their heels, sabs are in the fields and skies doing their best to prevent wildlife crime and provide evidence to the often lackadaisical officers who attend. We will continue until a proper ban is in place and until it is properly enforced by those paid to uphold the law.” Show Quoted Content “Once again, prolific fox killers, the Duke of Beaufort’s Hunt, seem able to avoid police scrutiny even as wildlife crime is unfolding. This hunt, repeatedly filmed hunting and killing foxes this season alone, has been the subject of numerous police investigations. While police drag their heels, sabs are in the fields and skies doing their best to prevent wildlife crime and provide evidence to the often lackadaisical officers who attend. We will continue until a proper ban is in place and until it is properly enforced by those paid to uphold the law.” We recently called out the Beaufort Hunt as one of the UK’s worst hunts, in terms of the number of animals chased and killed and frequency of attacks on sabs, monitors and other members of the public. In 2022, Protect the Wild and the Hunt Investigation Team filmed the Beaufort, who are - incidentally - King Charles and Camilla’s old hunting crew, shooting their hunting hounds in the head after they were no longer deemed of use to them. Stag hunts on the rampage It’s stag hunting ‘season’ again, and England’s three remaining stag hunts have been on a killing spree over the past month. Stag hunts often avail themselves of the ‘Research and Observation’ exemption in the Hunting Act 2004. In reality, no research has ever been published, and this is yet another smokescreen for illegal hunting. A hound chasing a stag - courtesy of North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs. Stag hunts have been caught killing or chasing stags on several occasions over the last month: On 2 March, sabs from North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs (NDHS) and Mendip Hunt Saboteurs (MHS) were able to SCUPPER the Quantock Staghounds’ attempts to make a kill near Crowscombe Park Gate in Somerset. On 5 March, a stag miraculously OUTRAN the hounds and horses of the DSSH to safety near Winsford in Somerset. On 7 March, DSSH chased and killed a stag near Cheriton in Somerset. On 9 March a stag was killed by Quantock Staghounds near Hurley Farm in Crowcombe, Somerset. On 12 March a young stag - known as a pricket - managed to ESCAPE the DSSH. NDHS wrote: “What possible excuse could they have for chasing this fit up-and-coming stag? And in storm conditions too. Certainly nothing lawful. Stag hunting for sport, not an exemption in sight.” On 14 March, NDHS reported that DSSH and their quadbikes hunted and killed a stag near Molland in Devon. This wildlife crime took place as officers from both Avon & Somerset Constabulary and Devon & Cornwall police watched idly. Mendip Hunt Sabs reported that Quantock Staghounds killed a stag near the A39 on 16 March. They wrote on their Facebook page: “Eventually hitting [a] fence by the A39, the stag reached his limit and could not jump or run to escape. Our sab interrupted the hunt as they were about to shoot him, but instead of letting him go, they heartlessly chased him away just far enough from our sab that they could discharge the weapon. Seconds later, the stag was killed just a few feet from our sab.” On 19 March, Quantock Staghounds killed an exhausted stag after meeting close to Taunton Vale & Banwell Harriers kennels in Huish Champflower in Somerset. On 21 March Devon and Somerset Staghounds and Tiverton Staghounds chased a stag to exhaustion and killed him near Winsford on Exmoor. Quantock Staghounds and Tiverton Staghounds killed a stag on 23 March after meeting at Firebeacon Hill near Crowcombe in Somerset. They hunted him across the land of Forestry England and the National Trust, both of which have banned hunting on their land. On 31 March NDHS sadly reported that DSSH had misused an exemption in the Hunting Act which enables mammals to be hunted for the purpose of ‘rescue’ to ‘relieve suffering’. Horrifyingly, the hunt used this loophole in the law to hunt a disabled stag for over an hour before killing him. On 1 April South Wessex Hunt Saboteurs together with members of several other groups witnessed DSSH chasing and killing another stag in Exmoor National Park. On 2 April, NDHS reported that a member of the Quantock Staghounds, who was wearing a mask and motorcycle helmet, assaulted a sab who was trying to monitor the hunt chasing a stag, in breach of the Hunting Act. On 4 April DSSH met at Cussicombe Post. Five sab groups turned out in an attempt to stop them from killing. Sadly they weren’t able to stop the Hunt from chasing a stag from Somerset’s Barton Wood and pursuing him over a period of more than three hours. He was finally killed near the river at Leworthy. NDHS posted a shocking video on their Facebook page. After the killing, DSSH prepared to carve up the murdered stag. However, their efforts were foiled by sabs who made clear that they weren’t willing to allow this further desecration to happen. On 7 April, MHS reported that the Quantock Staghounds’ riders rode their horses at a stag. They wrote: “As the stag was chased out of Little Quantock Combe, the riders shouted at and rode at him to try to turn him and stop him from crossing the Macmillan Way towards Forestry England-owned Rams Combe. Incredibly, the stag held his nerve and continued past the screaming riders towards safer ground. There are no Hunting Act exemptions that permit a howling group of riders to charge at a hunted stag on their horses. Yet the stag hunts continue to flaunt various exemptions to absurdly claim that their behaviour is legal.” This beautiful stag was chased down mercilessly and killed by the Tiverton and Quantock Staghounds on 23 March - Image courtesy of North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs. End the cruelty! We need a real ban in order to end this cruelty once and for all. Please remember to take the time to fill out the government consultation. Check out Protect the Wild’s pages on how to pressure the National Trust and Forestry England, to persuade them to enforce their own policies banning stag hunting and ‘trail’ hunting on their lands. Read Protect the Wild’s page on ‘Assaults and the law’. Support Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs. Donate to South Wessex Hunt Saboteurs. Click here to support Mendip Hunt Saboteurs. Make a donation to help North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs keep the pressure up on the Southwest’s remaining Staghound packs. Read the Hunt Saboteurs Association’s new piece of undercover research on stag hunting. Hunts gear up to terrorise mink mink on unsplash july 2025 A mink in a burrow, via Unsplash. Minks are hunted from March all the way through to September, coinciding with their breeding season. Hunts often leave young mink - known as kits - motherless and sure to perish. The UK’s mink hunts are the successor to the banned otter hunts, which were disbanded after that species was declared endangered. After the 1978 ban on hunting otters, several otter hunts began hunting mink, whose river habitats are similar to those of otters. Mink live in rabbit burrows, tree roots and brush along waterways. They established themselves in the UK in the 1950s after being released from fur farms. Minks are covered by the Hunting Act, and hunting them with dogs is illegal. Dove Valley Mink Hounds’ huntsman Will Shaw after being sent packing by sabs last year - via Northants Hunt Saboteurs. Mink hunts operate by thrashing through vegetation along waterways, accompanied by dogs. They try to masquerade as ‘just doing surveys’ - but the telescopic poles they carry to knock minks out of trees are sure signs that they are intent on killing. Support your local sabs and monitors to put an end to this cruel bloodsport once and for all. Make sure you tip off your local sabs or monitors if you see mink hunting going on in your area. Read our explainer on mink hunting. Check out our report from 2024, and this one from last ‘season’. Make a donation to Northants Hunt Saboteurs. Support your local sabs and monitors to put an end to this cruel bloodsport once and for all. Check out our report from 2024, and this one from last ‘season’. Make a donation to Northants Hunt Saboteurs. New sab group set up in Oxfordshire Oxfordshire Hunt Saboteurs (OHS) is a new group that has just sabbed its first season. OHS was set up to “support the furry inhabitants of the area”. Protect the Wild caught up with them to ask them how the new group is going. We asked OHS what motivated them to start a new group in Oxfordshire. They said: “There are around two hundred active fox hunts in the UK, and that’s not counting all the beagle packs, stag hunts, and other forms of organised hunting across the country. Of those, at least ten are known to hunt in Oxfordshire. The Hunt Saboteurs Association works tirelessly to bring these cruel, barbaric practices to an end, and hold accountable those who break the law, slaughter wildlife, cause havoc across the countryside and are a danger on public roads. But while many counties have their own dedicated sab group, despite the prevalence of fox hunting in our area, Oxfordshire [did] not have one. And while there are some fantastic, hardworking groups that do their best to protect our wildlife, like the Three Counties and the Cotswolds Hunt Sabs, they’re covering a lot of ground, taking on many different hunts. Effectively, there’s a line of activists protecting our wildlife, but the line is stretched thin, with other groups forced to over-extend themselves. For a long time, we’ve seen a gap in the line… A gap we felt an obligation to fill.” Show Quoted Content “There are around two hundred active fox hunts in the UK, and that’s not counting all the beagle packs, stag hunts, and other forms of organised hunting across the country. Of those, at least ten are known to hunt in Oxfordshire. The Hunt Saboteurs Association works tirelessly to bring these cruel, barbaric practices to an end, and hold accountable those who break the law, slaughter wildlife, cause havoc across the countryside and are a danger on public roads. But while many counties have their own dedicated sab group, despite the prevalence of fox hunting in our area, Oxfordshire [did] not have one. And while there are some fantastic, hardworking groups that do their best to protect our wildlife, like the Three Counties and the Cotswolds Hunt Sabs, they’re covering a lot of ground, taking on many different hunts. Effectively, there’s a line of activists protecting our wildlife, but the line is stretched thin, with other groups forced to over-extend themselves. For a long time, we’ve seen a gap in the line… A gap we felt an obligation to fill.” OHS was initiated by a “small group of activists tired of letting these thugs on horseback get away with breaking the law and killing helpless creatures.” We couldn’t “sit back and do nothing” OHS told Protect the Wild: “Some of us were experienced sabs from other groups who recognised the need for an Oxfordshire group. Others were concerned members of the local community who never wanted to don the sab flag and dedicate their free time to traipsing across the countryside chasing fox hunters, but could not in good conscience sit back and do nothing. We work closely with a network of other animal rights groups, doing our bit to make the local area a safer place for animals.” Show Quoted Content “Some of us were experienced sabs from other groups who recognised the need for an Oxfordshire group. Others were concerned members of the local community who never wanted to don the sab flag and dedicate their free time to traipsing across the countryside chasing fox hunters, but could not in good conscience sit back and do nothing. We work closely with a network of other animal rights groups, doing our bit to make the local area a safer place for animals.” We asked OHS how their work had been going so far. They told us: “We’re a small group, but growing already after just one hunting season! And while it’s difficult to find people willing to risk their safety to be bullied and ridiculed by members of the local hunts and their supporters, we’ve found that an overwhelming number of people are eager for the hunters to be held accountable, and are out there, rooting for us, encouraging us, supporting in other ways, and even sending in tip-offs about illegal hunting in the area.” Show Quoted Content “We’re a small group, but growing already after just one hunting season! And while it’s difficult to find people willing to risk their safety to be bullied and ridiculed by members of the local hunts and their supporters, we’ve found that an overwhelming number of people are eager for the hunters to be held accountable, and are out there, rooting for us, encouraging us, supporting in other ways, and even sending in tip-offs about illegal hunting in the area.” The group is looking for new comrades to join them in whatever capacity they can. According to OHS: “[The] new group offers locals a chance to do something to help protect the furry inhabitants of the area. Their involvement doesn’t have to be on the front lines: some of our volunteers help with fundraising or organisational work. Some help with our social media presence or public outreach. Some join our network to share information about illegal hunting happening in their area. If you’re looking for ways to protect animals, please get in touch, and help us to show the hunters in the area, whether they’re with the Heythrop, Kimblewick, Warwickshire, Vale of the White Horse, Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase, Old Berks, Grafton, or any of the other hunts that have crossed our borders that there are consequences for animal abuse, and let the world know that such cruelty has no place in civilised society.” Show Quoted Content “[The] new group offers locals a chance to do something to help protect the furry inhabitants of the area. Their involvement doesn’t have to be on the front lines: some of our volunteers help with fundraising or organisational work. Some help with our social media presence or public outreach. Some join our network to share information about illegal hunting happening in their area. If you’re looking for ways to protect animals, please get in touch, and help us to show the hunters in the area, whether they’re with the Heythrop, Kimblewick, Warwickshire, Vale of the White Horse, Bicester Hunt with Whaddon Chase, Old Berks, Grafton, or any of the other hunts that have crossed our borders that there are consequences for animal abuse, and let the world know that such cruelty has no place in civilised society.” You can follow Oxfordshire Hunt Saboteurs here, and donate to support their work here. Vegan hiking group sabs hunt Members of Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs (NHS) were out rambling with the Vegan Hikers Club in Devon, close to Bellever Forest on Dartmoor, when they happened across a hunting hound straying across their path. Their sabbing instincts soon kicked in. Photo courtesy of Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs. They soon realised that they had stumbled across the South Devon Hunt and set out to confront them. The Hunt didn’t know what had hit them as they were faced by over 30 vegan hikers. NHS wrote: “It appeared they did not know what to do in the face of such strong opposition, hunting for only about ten minutes with the hounds briefly ‘in cry’ before gathering them up after they spilled onto Forestry Commission land; land the hunt are explicitly banned from.” The hikers - including the sabs - soon came across members of South Devon Hunt Saboteurs who were more than happy for the extra numbers. Unsure what to do, the Hunt soon packed up and went home. NHS continued: “After this embarrassing display, the hunt returned to the meet [point] and packed away with several hours of daylight still left.” Protect the Wild spoke to Norb, one of the hunt saboteurs present on the day. He said: “Whilst hiking I often experience the dark side of our countryside - the sounds of a shoot nearby, deadly traps, and even dead sheep in fields. It was only a matter of time before I stumbled upon a hunt too. Instead of letting it ruin our enjoyment of the day, it was a great opportunity to protect wildlife and introduce a group of animal lovers to the world of hunt sabotage.” Show Quoted Content “Whilst hiking I often experience the dark side of our countryside - the sounds of a shoot nearby, deadly traps, and even dead sheep in fields. It was only a matter of time before I stumbled upon a hunt too. Instead of letting it ruin our enjoyment of the day, it was a great opportunity to protect wildlife and introduce a group of animal lovers to the world of hunt sabotage.” Vegan hikers get stuck in - image courtesy of Newcastle Hunt Sabs. It’s heartwarming to see another hunt sent packing through people power! Support South Devon Hunt Saboteurs by clicking here and Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs by clicking here. Find out how to join the Vegan Hiking Club. Help get Newcastle Hunt Saboteurs vehicle back on the road before the next fox hunting ‘season’. Thanks again to all the wildlife defenders who have allowed us use their footage and pictures. Sabs and monitors often put themselves at significant personal risk to get these images. We appreciate and admire all of the groups and individuals working to end the cruelty of hunting. A guest post by Tom Anderson Journalist for Protect the Wild Subscribe to Tom SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing