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

BUGBYTES CAMAPAIGN SPECIAL — IT’S ABOUT INVERTEBRATES — EVERY LITTLE HELPS

View this email in your browser Dear John We’re excited to share that Buglife has once again been selected to participate in Big Give’s Earth Raise; this year our campaign is "Invertebrates: The Backbone of Species Recovery." A week long event where every donation made via our Big Give web page, from midday on Wednesday 22 April until midday on Wednesday 29 April, will be doubled thanks to the Garfield Weston Foundation. Find out more and save the date! 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 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! Liz Oldring releasing a rescued White-clawed Crayfish with Nick Mott © Karim Vahed Will you help us raise awareness and take actions to safeguard priority invertebrates that are on the edge of extinction? 👀 Keep your eyes peeled, check out our socials next week and be sure to share with family and friends as we share more details about some of the amazing species we are working with, and for. 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. Whatever you can give, no matter the size, every donation will make double the difference, supporting our invertebrate species recovery work. ✅ Add a calendar reminder to your diary; ✅ Save this email, or the link and the donate button will appear on when the campaign starts at midday on Wednesday 22 April . Together we can save the small things that run the planet! The Buglife Team 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

FANTASTIC ROB FROM PROTECT THE WILD WAS ON ‘HAVE I GOT NEWS FOR YOU’ DRESSED AS A GANNET

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Have I Got News For You… yes, that was me ROB POWNALL APR 17 READ IN APP So… if you happened to be watching Have I Got News For You last night, you might have seen the segment explaining how I’m running for Scottish Parliament dressed as a giant gannet. What they didn’t explain, though, is why I’m doing it. If you’ve been following our work over the past few weeks or months, you’ll already know. This is about one thing: bringing attention to the Guga hunt and finally ending it. Every year, a group of men travel to a remote Scottish island and kill gannet chicks, known as “guga.” They are taken from their nests and bludgeoned to death, all in the name of tradition and as a so-called local delicacy. It’s something most people don’t even know is happening. And right now I am calling on all major Scottish parties to commit to a policy of ending it. Sign the petition If you want to learn more about the Guga hunt, and read our latest article uncovering some shocking findings through Freedom of Information requests, you can do so here. I’m really glad the BBC picked up on the story. I’m more than happy to be the butt of a few jokes if it means shining a light on something that urgently needs public attention. Have I Got News For You pulls in around 4 million viewers. That’s 4 million people who may have seen that clip, picked up their phones, and searched, “Why is someone dressed as a gannet running for Parliament?” And that’s exactly the point. Because that’s how this issue breaks out of the bubble and reaches people who would never normally come across it. That’s how campaigns grow. We want to do more of this. More ideas that cut through. More ways of reaching the mainstream. More moments that force people to stop, question, and learn, especially when it comes to protecting wildlife. If you like the sound of that, I would really appreciate it if you chucked in a few pounds each month to support our ongoing work fighting for British wildlife. Support Protect the Wild Rob 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 — AN UPDATE ON WHAT THEY DO AND A REQUEST FOR DONATIONS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Help me build the largest wildlife protection movement in Britain ROB POWNALL APR 16 READ IN APP I’m going to be completely honest with you. Things are bad. Animals are still being hunted, shot, trapped and killed across this country every single day. Most of it happens out of sight, without consequence, and if I’m honest, I’ve been sick of watching it for years while so many of the organisations that are supposed to be protecting wildlife just don’t act with the urgency that’s needed. Everything feels too polite, too careful, too focused on not upsetting the wrong people, while wildlife continues to suffer and decline. We cannot afford that anymore. I need your help to build the largest wildlife protection movement in Britain. Not for the sake of it, but because that is what it will take to actually force change. That’s why I set up Protect the Wild in 2020. I wanted to build the kind of organisation I would support. One that says things clearly, doesn’t sit on the fence, and actually does things. And right now, things are starting to move. In the last couple of weeks, I’ve sat down with the Defra minister and challenged them directly on the badger cull, making it clear that the government knew it was never working and hearing first-hand that the cull will be ending. At the same time, I’m running for Scottish Parliament to raise awareness of the Guga hunt, which has already led to over 30 pieces of press coverage in just two weeks across virtually every major Scottish paper. Yesterday we asked you to respond to the public consultation on hunting, and at the time of writing this over 11,000 of you have already done it. All while our content has been seen by over 15 million people in that same period. A couple of years ago, numbers like that would have taken months of constant effort to even get close to. Now it’s happening in days. That doesn’t happen by accident. But we are under no illusion. Animals are still being killed and ignored every single day. That hasn’t changed. What has changed is that we are starting to build something that can actually fight back. We are doing all of this on an annual budget that some organisations bring in every month. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved with that, but it also shows what is possible if we scale this properly. Right now, just over 7,000 people are backing us financially on a monthly basis, and everything we’ve done so far has been built off that. Not big donations from a handful of people, but thousands of people contributing a small amount each month. A few pounds. No one stretched. But together, it adds up to something that has real weight. Become a monthly supporter That’s how we brought in a full-time campaigner for Scotland. That’s how we’ve driven over 250,000 signatures on ending the Guga hunt, secured regular national press coverage, and pushed this issue into the spotlight. This is not abstract. This is what impact looks like. And this is just the start. This email is going out to 238,560 people. If even a small fraction of you decide to chip in £2.50 a month, it completely changes what we’re capable of. Our goal is to reach 10,000 monthly supporters. Not as a vanity number, but because that’s the point where this becomes very difficult to ignore, where we can properly scale investigations, campaigns and political pressure. If you’ve read this and you’re thinking this is exactly the kind of organisation you want to support, then join us. Let’s get to 10,000. Be one of the 10,000 PS. I know many of you reading this already support us financially, buy from our shop, or simply aren’t in a position to give right now. Thank you. It genuinely means a lot. We use Substack because it allows us to reach hundreds of thousands of people at no cost, but it also means we can’t filter emails like this for existing supporters. I hope you don’t mind hearing from me again. 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 — AMAZON ARE SELLING GLUE TRAPS — IS THAT NECESSARY AND LEGAL?

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Amazon UK Is STILL Selling Glue Traps Despite Evidence of Illegal Use CHARLOTTE SMITH APR 16 READ IN APP It takes seconds. Seconds to find glue traps for sale on Amazon UK. Seconds to buy them. Seconds to scroll through the reviews and see the reality. These products may be marketed for insects, but there is clear evidence they are being used on rodents in the UK. Within just a few listings, there are videos and images showing the truth. Mice and rats, living animals, stuck on glue traps purchased from Amazon UK. Panicking. Struggling. Suffering. This is happening in the UK, in plain sight, on listings hosted on Amazon UK’s platform. And in much of the UK, the use of glue traps is illegal. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps A rat that was sadistically named Fred before being caught and then killed in a glue trap purchased from Amazon UK less than two weeks ago. Let’s be absolutely clear about the law: In England, under the Glue Traps (Offences) Act 2022, it is a criminal offence to use glue traps unless you are a licensed professional operating under strict and exceptional conditions, yet anyone and everyone can buy them from Amazon UK and use them unlawfully. In Wales, the law goes further. Under the Agriculture (Wales) Act 2023, glue traps are completely banned. In Scotland, the Wildlife Management and Muirburn (Scotland) Act 2024 will ban the use, possession and sale of rodent glue traps from 1 July 2026. The direction of travel across the UK is unmistakable. These devices are being recognised for what they are: cruel, indiscriminate, and unacceptable. And yet Amazon UK continues to sell them freely. This highlights a clear gap between the law and what is happening in practice. This is a platform making these products easily accessible, despite evidence they are being misused. Amazon UK is one of the UK’s largest e-commerce platforms. It has the power to restrict products by location, to enforce compliance, and to remove harmful items. Yet these products remain available without restriction. And that choice has consequences. Glue traps are one of the most inhumane devices still in use. Animals caught on them do not die quickly. They suffer for hours, sometimes days. They fight to escape. They tear their own skin, break their own limbs, suffocate, starve, or die from sheer exhaustion and fear. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps Video taken and uploaded to Amazon UK on the 30th of January last year, after they were made illegal in England and Wales. This is prolonged, preventable cruelty and these products continue to be sold through Amazon UK. The evidence is not hidden. It is on their own website. There are recent posts, including from late March 2026, showing live rats and mice stuck on glue traps sold through Amazon UK. And it does not stop there. You can purchase these traps yourself, even while living in England, where their use is heavily restricted by law. There are no warning messages. No restrictions. No safeguards. It takes less than 20 seconds to complete a purchase. Whether through oversight or policy, the current system allows these products to be purchased without restriction. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps Video taken and uploaded to Amazon UK on the 14th of February last year, after they were made illegal in England and Wales. It shows, beyond doubt, that Amazon UK cannot regulate how these products are used. And yet it continues to sell them anyway. Even the RSPCA has stepped in. On 5 April, on instagram they urged the public to report the sale and use of glue traps to the police via 101. That should be a wake up call. When a major animal welfare organisation is telling people to report a product, why is it still being sold by the UK’s largest online retailer? This is not just a reputational issue. It raises serious legal and moral concerns. By allowing unrestricted sales, Amazon UK is actively undermining the intent of UK law and allowing the continued availability of products linked to serious animal welfare concerns. Yet, the solution could not be simpler: Amazon UK could stop this today. A basic postcode restriction would prevent glue traps being sold to England, Wales and Scotland. Listings could be removed from the UK platform entirely. These are standard controls. Amazon UK already has the infrastructure to do this. And glue traps are low value items. Removing them would have no meaningful financial impact. But the impact on animals would be enormous. Thousands of animals could be spared prolonged suffering and unlawful deaths. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps Screenshot showing someone using glue traps bought from Amazon Uk to catch and kill mice, February 6th 2026. Amazon UK has already faced scrutiny for failing to control the sale of harmful products. This is another moment where it must decide what kind of company it wants to be. Will it continue to profit from animal cruelty it can see happening on its own platform?Or will it act? We are calling on Amazon UK to do the right thing - stop the sale of glue traps to England, Wales and Scotland. Implement postcode restrictions. Remove these products from your platform. And end this cruelty. Now. Stop the Sale of Glue Traps 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 fox 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 CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST — CORNWALL COUNCIL WANT TO USE GLYPHOSATE ON ROAD SIDES

View this email in your browser pavement plants on a Cornish street - mexican fleabane which is great for pollinators Hello John, We’re writing to update you on recent proposals by Cornwall Council to reintroduce the use of glyphosate‑based weedkillers on ‘urban highways’ - and to explain what Cornwall Wildlife Trust is doing about this. Town and Parish Councils across Cornwall have been notified that glyphosate spraying may resume on roads and pavements unless they formally opt out. Councils received this notification at very short notice and are being asked to make decisions with significant environmental, financial, and governance implications under very tight timescales. What Cornwall Wildlife Trust is doing We have significant concerns about the potential impact to wildlife from this move, amidst mounting evidence that glyphosate can be harmful, particularly to invertebrates and freshwater species. We have: Written formally to Cornwall Council asking that the planned reintroduction of glyphosate on urban highways be delayed Asked that the timescales for Town and Parish Councils to decide on their approach be extended, allowing for proper local consultation and engagement Raised concerns about the potential impacts on biodiversity and the apparent conflict with the Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Nature Recovery Strategy What you can do If you’re concerned about this issue there are constructive ways to show your support locally: Attend your local Town or Parish Council meeting. This is an opportunity to express your concern about the rushed timetable and the importance of protecting health, nature and local environments. Find more info about your local council here. Sign a petition. There are two key petitions active in Cornwall and you can find links to both via our website. Further information We’ve shared more detail on our website, including more information on what glyphosate is and why there are concerns, alongside a ‘Glyphosate Myth Buster’ produced by Pesticide Action Network UK, which addresses some of the most common questions and concerns. We’ll continue to keep you, our members, updated as this develops. Thank you, as always, for standing up for Cornwall’s wildlife and helping us create a Cornwall where nature thrives. More information 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 — GOOD NEWS (I HOPE) FOR SWIFTS AT VIADUCT CHAPEL MILTON

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Progress for Swifts at Chapel Milton Following Public Pressure ROB POWNALL APR 17 READ IN APP Swifts face death after Network Rail fills nesting holes with mortar There has been an important and encouraging development in the campaign to protect swift nesting sites at Chapel Milton viaduct in Derbyshire. More than 12,800 people signed Protect the Wild’s petition calling on Network Rail to take action after known swift nesting holes were filled during refurbishment works earlier this year. That public response, alongside the tireless efforts of local campaigners on the ground, has clearly helped shift the situation. A Positive Step Forward In its initial response, Network Rail defended its actions and focused on installing swift boxes as a future measure. However, in an email sent to Protect the Wild the other day, Network Rail confirmed it is now taking further steps. These include: Seeking permission to reopen nesting holes in the areas identified by campaigners Planning to install conservation-approved swift boxes Working with local authorities and conservation organisations including the RSPB and Swift Conservation Moving quickly to support a decision ahead of the swifts’ return This is a significant step forward. Reopening nesting holes was not part of the original plan and is now being actively explored. Swift Bird Facts | Apus Apus Why This Matters Swifts are a red-listed species in the UK and have declined dramatically in recent decades, largely due to the loss of nesting habitat. They return each year to the same nesting sites, and when those sites are blocked, breeding can fail. Reopening these nesting holes gives returning birds the best possible chance of breeding successfully this season. While this is a positive development, the outcome is not yet confirmed. Permission is still required, and the timing is critical as swifts begin to return from migration. The coming weeks will determine whether access can be restored in time. What is clear, however, is that this issue has moved forward because people took action. Thank You This progress is down to the local campaigners who raised the alarm, gathered evidence, and refused to let this be ignored. It is also down to the 12,800 people who signed Protect the Wild’s petition and helped turn concern into pressure. That collective action has helped shift the response from defence to action. We will continue to follow this closely and push for the best possible outcome for these birds. For now, this is a reminder that when people come together and take action, it can make a real difference. 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 & ROB POWNALL ARE IN THE PAPERS TO STOP THE GUGA — A DELICACY THAT IS PAST ITS SELL BY DATE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Is it “cultural imperialism” to want an end to the Guga hunt? ROB POWNALL APR 14 READ IN APP On Sunday, I was featured in The National, one of the most widely read papers in Scotland, in an article covering the growing row over the Guga hunt. Much of my position was included in that piece. But as is often the case with newspaper coverage, there were important points that did not make it in. So this is a chance to set them out clearly. Over the past few days, I’ve been accused of “cultural imperialism” for one simple reason: I’m standing as an MSP candidate on a single policy, to end the Guga hunt. That is my position. One issue. One ask. For that, former MP Angus MacNeil has said I “don’t understand”, criticised me for not visiting Sula Sgeir, and defended the hunt as a “prized delicacy” rooted in tradition. So let’s be clear about what is actually being defended here. Time Is Running Out to Stop the Guga Hunt Every year, a group of men travel to Sula Sgeir, a remote, uninhabited island and a designated protected site, where they kill thousands of gannet chicks. These are juvenile birds. They cannot fly. They are taken from their nests and killed for consumption. This is the last seabird hunt in the UK. It continues not because it is necessary, but because it is allowed under a specific legal exemption. I am standing in this election to end that exemption. In response, I’ve been told I “don’t understand” because I haven’t been to Sula Sgeir. But that argument falls apart immediately. The island is protected. Access is restricted. It would be unlawful for me to go there without permission. So we are left with a strange reality. It would be illegal for me to visit and observe these birds, but perfectly legal for others to kill thousands of their chicks every year. That contradiction alone should raise serious questions. Then comes the word that is being used to shut this conversation down. Tradition. We are told this has been happening for generations. That it is part of island life. That demand even outstrips supply. But tradition is not a moral argument. If it were, we would never have progressed beyond some of the worst practices in our history. The fact something has happened for a long time does not make it right. It just means it has not been challenged enough. And when it is challenged, the response is not to engage with the substance, but to dismiss it. Take public opinion. When people are actually asked, the picture is very different. Independent polling by Find Out Now, commissioned by Protect the Wild, found that 69 percent of those with a view want to see the Guga hunt banned. That is not a fringe position. That is a clear majority. Funnily enough, that central point has been completely ignored by those defending the practice. It is much easier to talk about tradition than it is to confront the fact that most people, when presented with the reality, do not support it. I have also heard the claim that the killing is “as humane as any slaughterhouse”. But that does not defend the hunt. It reinforces the concern. If the strongest argument is that killing wild seabird chicks is comparable to industrial animal slaughter, then we are not talking about something beyond criticism. We are talking about something that fits into a much wider problem, our willingness to normalise animal suffering when it suits us. And let’s be honest about what is happening. These are wild birds, taken from their nests, killed in front of other birds, on a protected island. No amount of language about delicacies or heritage changes that reality. Supporters also claim the hunt has no impact on the gannet population. But documents obtained through a Freedom of Information request suggest otherwise. They show that Sula Sgeir is the only comparable gannet colony in Scotland where the population has declined over the long term, while others have grown. At the very least, that should prompt scrutiny. Instead, we are told not to question it at all. Because culture. Because tradition. Because it has always been done. Let me be clear. This is not about attacking communities in the Western Isles. It is not about dismissing history or identity. It is about whether modern Scotland is comfortable allowing the killing of thousands of wild seabird chicks in a protected area, for the sake of a delicacy. Because if we cannot question that, what exactly are our wildlife protections for? And if standing in an election on a single issue to end that practice is labelled “cultural imperialism”, then the term has lost all meaning. This is not about imposing anything from the outside. It is about reflecting where the public already is. A majority of people do not support this. They simply have not been given a voice on it. I am trying my best to help give them one. So the real question is not whether I understand the Guga hunt. It is whether those defending it understand where society is now heading. Because I think the answer is clear. Want to get involved with the campaign to end the Guga hunt? There are a few ways you can help! Sign our petition calling on all major Scottish parties to commit to a policy of ending the Guga hunt Join 137,000 others in asking NatureScot, the Government agency who licence the hunt each year, to permanently end the licensing Donate to Protect the Wild and help fund our work fighting for British wildlife 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 HUNT SABOTEURS WHO SAY IT’S NOT ONLY FOXES THAT GET RIPPED APART — IT’S HARES & STAGS

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Nine Weeks To Make Hunting History! Distressing images throughout It’s now been three weeks since the government opened the consultation into banning the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ in England and Wales. Hare killed by the Waveney Harriers, 2023. © Norfolk & Suffolk Hunt Sabs We now have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to end the ‘trail hunting’ and close loopholes in the Hunting Act that are exploited by the hunters. While foxhunting dominates the popular imagination, it is important to remember that there are still around sixty organised harrier, beagle and basset packs that solely target hares. Leveret killed by Easton Harriers, 2018. Hare hunts tend to pack up when sabs appear as they cannot sustain the lie of ‘trail hunting’. On several occasions, hare hunters have laid scent trails in front of sabs, only for the hounds to ignore them and tear after hares instead. Instead, they now frequently claim to be hunting rabbits which is, of course, a nonsense as rabbits will bolt into a burrow at the first signs of danger. Another even more ridiculous ruse is to claim that they are searching for hares that have previously been shot. These loopholes need to be closed! Easton Harriers huntsman tries to conceal her crime, 2016. The consultation consists of 29 questions. The HSA has provided guidance to assist you in formulating strong responses that can be written quickly and easily. It is extremely important that your answers are not copied and pasted, but that each question is answered individually and where appropriate consists of any personal experiences you may have had. The consultation will close on Thursday 18th of June so, please, ensure you have submitted your response by this date. Now is the time to finally bring hunting to an end and ensure that our wildlife is protected from those who wish to inflict pain and suffering through hunting with hounds. 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

IT TAKES ONE CLICK & 20 SECONDS TO SEND YOUR MESSAGE TO BAN THE FARCE OF TRAIL HUNTING

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I am begging you to open this email... ROB POWNALL APR 15 READ IN APP Ok, I’m going to get straight to the point. The government is currently consulting on plans to ban trail hunting, the loophole that has allowed hunts to continue operating for over 20 years. And we’ve just built something that changes everything. We’ve created a tool that lets you submit a full response to the consultation in under 20 seconds. No forms. No scrolling through pages. No hassle. Just one click. TAKE ACTION This is a game changer. It means tens of thousands of us can now respond quickly, easily, and at scale. And right now, that matters more than ever. The hunting lobby is already mobilising to protect trail hunting. We need to show overwhelming public support for shutting it down for good. If you hate fox hunting, stag hunting, or hare hunting… If you’re tired of hunts continuing to kill wildlife and wreak havoc across the countryside… Then please, sacrifice 20 seconds and take action now. Click the button below and send your response instantly. That’s it. Together we will end hunting with hounds for good. 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

NETTING TO STOP BIRDS NESTING & LIVING IS A SIGN OF BADNESS — READ WHAT PROTECT THE WILD SAY

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more End Bird Netting: A New Campaign to Expose a Ignored Wildlife Crisis CHARLOTTE SMITH APR 14 READ IN APP Walk through almost any town or city in Britain and you’ll see it if you know where to look; green plastic mesh stretched over hedges, trees wrapped like packages, buildings draped in almost invisible barriers. At first glance it looks harmless, just another piece of urban infrastructure. But look closer and you begin to see the truth. Birds trapped alive, their suffering ignored, left to die. Image from Humane Wildlife Solutions. Bird netting is often installed to stop birds nesting, roosting, raiding bins, perching or feeding in certain areas, but it does not work effectively, depsite this it is widely used across the UK, companies ignore the serious welfare concerns that come hand in hand with bird netting. And yet the real scale of the problem remains largely invisible. Until now. Today we’re launching a new national campaign website designed to change that. Introducing End Bird Netting Protect the Wild has launched a new website dedicated to exposing, documenting and ultimately ending harmful bird netting across the UK. The aim is simple: shine a light on a problem that has been allowed to remain largely invisible, show the scale of the problem. Bird netting is often installed out of sight, behind construction hoardings, high on buildings, or wrapped around vegetation before the nesting season begins. In many cases it is used specifically to stop birds from accessing certain areas. While birds and their nests are protected under UK law, the practice of installing netting harms them, and is often marketed as a humane alternative to fatal management practices. However, bird netting is ineffective, inhumane, and indiscriminate. The End Bird Netting campaign exists to expose this reality, and to build the evidence needed to change it. What the new campaign website does For the first time, the End Bird Netting website creates a national platform for documenting bird netting incidents. The site allows anyone, from wildlife rescuers to concerned resident, to report cases where birds have been trapped in netting, whether alive, injured or dead. It also provides a “what you need to know” page if you are seeking advise on how to rescue alive birds. By collecting these reports from across the country, the campaign will begin to build a national picture of a problem that has never been systematically recorded. Every report helps. Every photograph matters. Every location adds to the evidence. Through the website, supporters can: Report birds, dead or alive, trapped in netting Submit photographs and evidence Document incidents across towns and cities Expose companies and developers responsible for animal suffering Help build a national record of the problem Help identify potential prosecutable offences The site also provides clear information about humane alternatives, practical solutions that allow buildings and infrastructure to coexist with wildlife rather than excluding it. Image taken by Humane Wildlife Solutions at the Mercure Hotel, Nottingham. Visit the site Why ending bird netting matters At its core, bird netting reflects a deeper problem in how we treat urban wildlife. Across the UK, development pressure is pushing nature into ever smaller spaces. Trees, hedges and buildings that once supported nesting birds are disappearing, or being deliberately blocked off. Instead of designing cities that make room for wildlife, we are increasingly designing them to keep wildlife out. Bird netting is one of the clearest examples of this. It is indiscriminate: It does not distinguish between species. Sparrows, pigeons, starlings, swifts, birds of prey, even different animals like rats, mice, and bats are at risk. It is inhumane: Birds can become trapped, injured or left to die in the mesh. It is ineffective: Bird netting does not work, birds still find ways in, and still become trapped, or entangled, leading to mortalities. And perhaps most importantly, it is often unnecessary. But as long as the scale of the problem remains hidden, change will be slow. That is exactly what this campaign intends to change. Building a national movement Ending bird netting will not happen through one organisation alone. It will take a movement. That means working together, across the entire wildlife community and beyond. The End Bird Netting campaign aims to bring together: • wildlife rescue groups • campaigners and activists • ecologists and scientists • members of the public • journalists and investigators • organisations advocating for urban wildlife Because every time someone reports an incident, every time a rescuer documents a trapped bird, every time a local community challenges a harmful installatin, the pressure grows. Evidence builds. And the argument for change becomes impossible to ignore. Visit the site How you can help The success of this campaign depends on people on the ground. People who notice. People who document. People who refuse to walk past suffering wildlife and pretend it isn’t happening. Here’s how you can help right now: Report trapped birds If you see birds caught in netting, alive or dead, submit the details through the campaign website. Note, netting must contain dead or alive birds. Submit evidence Photos, locations, dates and species information help build the national evidence base needed to push for change. Share the campaign The more people who know about this issue, the harder it becomes to ignore. Work with local groups and councils Communities can challenge harmful installations and push for wildlife-friendly alternatives. Expose harmful netting Developers, contractors and property owners must be held accountable when wildlife is harmed and netting is not maintained. This is how change starts. With evidence. With visibility. With people refusing to look away. A dead baby pigeon, trapped in netting, credit Humane Wildlife Solutions. This is not wildlife management Bird netting is often presented as a practical solution. A simple fix. A necessary inconvenience. But let’s call it what it really is. It is wildlife exclusion. It is a symptom of a planning system that still treats nature as an obstacle rather than something to protect. Our towns and cities belong to wildlife too. Swifts have nested in our buildings for centuries. Sparrows have lived alongside us for generations. Starlings once filled our skies in their thousands. Pigeons have helped the Uk win wars… they all deserve more than plastic mesh.They deserve space. They deserve compassion. And with enough people speaking up, documenting the problem, and demanding better, we can end harmful bird netting for good. Visit our site: End Bird Netting. Visit the site Help fund our work to Protect the Wild We’re not afraid to try everything in the fight for British wildlife - from undercover investigations and viral animations, to protests, hard-hitting reports, political lobbying, and even standing for public office. We believe in doing what others won’t. In trying what hasn’t been tried. And in saying things exactly as they are. And we’re powered entirely by you. We don’t rely on big donors or hidden backers. Our strength comes from thousands of ordinary people giving a few pounds a month - and together, that becomes unstoppable. Right now, our goal is 200 new monthly supporters. We’re already at 51 in just the first week of this month. If you believe in what we’re building and want to be part of one of the fastest-growing animal protection movements in the UK, please consider joining us and chipping in a few pounds a month. Thank you for standing with us. 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 — UNBLOCK NESTING HOLES FOR COMMON SWIFTS TO AVOID FURTHER DECLINE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Swifts face death after Network Rail fills nesting holes with mortar ROB POWNALL APR 13 READ IN APP Swifts travel thousands of miles from Africa to Britain every year, returning with remarkable precision to the exact same nesting sites they have used for generations. Not just the same building, but the same tiny gaps in stonework. These spaces are not optional. Without them, swifts do not breed. At Chapel Milton in Derbyshire, some of those spaces have now been deliberately sealed. During a £7.5 million refurbishment of historic railway viaducts, at least three known swift nesting holes were filled with mortar. This was done despite local campaigners identifying at least nine nesting sites and submitting 38 pieces of evidence showing exactly where these birds were nesting. That information was shared directly with Network Rail. And still, the holes were blocked. Sign the petition Network Rail says its initial ecological checks found no evidence of swifts. It says it later worked around nesting birds. It says it may install nest boxes. None of that changes the reality. Known nesting sites were sealed when they did not need to be. This was not unavoidable. It was a choice. Swifts do not simply move on when their nest is destroyed. They return to the same entrance year after year, and when that access is gone, many fail to relocate and stop breeding altogether. This is how a species disappears, not in one dramatic moment, but through a series of decisions like this. Swifts have declined by 66% in the UK since 1995, largely because the spaces they depend on are being removed. Roofs are sealed, buildings are repaired, and the gaps they rely on are quietly erased. What makes this case so infuriating is that it was completely preventable. The evidence was there. The locations were known. The solution was simple. Leave the gaps open. Instead, those spaces have been filled, and swifts are now returning from Africa to find the entrances they depend on gone. Deb Pitman and Jason Adshead stand under a blocked swift hole on the railway viaduct at Chapel Milton. There is still time to fix this, but only if Network Rail acts immediately. The birds are just beginning to arrive, and the blocked nesting holes can be reopened before the breeding season is lost. This is not complicated. It is not expensive. It just requires the decision to put it right. Network Rail has said it is willing to work with local groups and improve the site for swifts. If that is true, then it should start by undoing the damage that has already been done. Future nest boxes do not replace destroyed nest sites, and they do not help birds returning right now. This should never have happened. But it can still be put right. We are calling on Network Rail’s Chief Executive to act immediately and reopen these nesting holes before it is too late. If you want to see that happen, add your name to the petition and demand action now. Sign the petition 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 COMMENT ON GOVERNMENT DECISION TO KILL OR NOT TO KILL CERTAIN SPECIES

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The Government Is Deciding Which Birds Can Be Shot And You’re Supposed to Stay Quiet PROTECT THE WILD APR 12 READ IN APP Defra (the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) has just released details of a consultation titled “Protecting wild birds: Consultation on Amending the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which allows certain species of wild birds to be killed or taken outside of their close seasons”. The consultation will assess all wild bird species listed on Schedule 2.1 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. Schedule 2.1 is the part of the Act which sets out which species “can be legally killed or taken outside the close season” - ie shot for ‘sport’. The consultation aims to identify those species listed under Schedule 2.1 that “are potential candidates for a change in status with respect to the schedule”. In other words, those species which should be given better protection under a law that - in theory - should already protect them! The consultation opened on 23 March 2026 and runs until 17 May 2026. Why is the consultation taking place? On a page headed Background, Defra explains that the consultation has arisen from a previous review carried out in 2023 in England by Defra and Natural England (NE), and similar reviews carried out by NatureScot and Natural Resources Wales in Scotland and Wales. “This review was carried out to ensure that shooting certain species of wild birds is sustainable and does not undermine their recovery. This was in line with the Secretary of State’s species abundance target to improve the status of threatened species in England by 2042 and to halt species decline by 2030; the Scottish government’s targets to halt biodiversity loss by 2030 and restore and regenerate biodiversity by 2045; and Wales’ objectives as stated in the Nature Recovery Action Plan (NRAP), since several of the species on Schedule 2.1 are experiencing declining populations and appear on conservation priority listings.” a duck floating on top of a body of water Northern Pintail. Photo by Daniil Komov on Unsplash Which species are involved? Nine species are included in the consultation: one goose, three ducks, three shorebirds (or waders), Wood Pigeon, and Coot. A table outlining the proposed changes is published on a page titled Overview. Not everyone will be familiar with all of the species, of course, but all have declining populations - though Defra has noted that Wood Pigeons, though not rare are being shot under a General Licence ‘for fun’ rather than for reasons tied to the licence. We have looked in more detail at these species on our End Bird Shooting substack. a brown and white bird standing on top of a grass covered field Grey Partridge. Photo by Lukáš Kadava on Unsplash Defra states that some species that many of us would like to see better protected are covered by other legislation, so are not part of the consultation. This includes Grey Partridge, a native species now Red-listed as a Bird of Conservation Concern in the UK due to steep population decline linked to agricultural intensification, but covered by the Game Act, meaning their ‘protection’ is not under consideration. Proposed changes As the table above shows, there are some welcome changes being proposed, but they don’t go far enough in our opinion. In their press release (which includes the dread phrase “recreational shooting of European White-fronted Goose”) Defra says “The new rules would restrict the shooting of species including the iconic woodcock, and distinctive pintail, goldeneye and pochard ducks – to ensure they have far greater protection. These species are all classed as under threat and have seen their populations fall sharply in recent years, with some native population numbers now numbering in the hundreds. The proposals include fully prohibiting the recreational shooting of the European white-fronted goose.” That’s good news for White-fronts, which should never have been put on quarry lists in the first place, but what does shifting the start of the shooting ‘seasons’ actually do? It’s more important to realise what it doesn’t do: Extending close seasons doesn’t stop birds being killed, just delays when they are shot. There is no extra limit on the number that can be killed And no limit to how often shooters can go out during the ‘shorter’ season. brown bird on brown stick Common Snipe. Photo by Julian on Unsplash Killing snipe One of the more ridiculous changes proposed is to the ‘season’ when Common Snipe can be killed. The consultation suggests that the season will be changed for animal welfare reasons. That sounds great, but read Defra’s press release: “The UK and Scottish governments are considering extending the close season for the common snipe on the grounds of animal welfare, meaning the species can no longer be shot in the breeding season so their chicks are no longer left motherless during this critical period.” It is unlawful to intentionally damage the nests or eggs of any wild bird, but shooters can still kill Common Snipe in August when birds - especially in Scotland where colder northern temperatures and higher altitudes can delay the start of the nesting season compared to warmer lowland areas in the south - may still be breeding. How utterly ridiculous is that… Open to all of us even if Defra doesn’t appear to think so… Defra is the UK government department responsible for safeguarding the natural environment, supporting the food and farming industry, and sustaining the rural economy. For many of us, though, it is a department that again and again prioritises the so-called ‘rural economy’ over protecting the natural environment. To prove the point, under ‘Why your views matter’, Defra states: “These changes would directly affect anybody who participates in the shooting of any of the species listed above.” No, Defra, apart from directly affecting the birds that are shot these changes would also directly affect the millions of us who loathe seeing shooters blasting birds out of the air for ‘sport’. Millions of us love and value birds, and are appalled that shooting is ‘protected’ by government after government, and that the lives of millions of birds are seen purely in terms of income generation and ‘tourism’. Filling in the consultation The consultation runs until 17 May and is open to everyone. It is 25 pages long and has multiple-choice questions on most of those pages. Pages 20-23 ask about providing Welsh language options and submitting your responses. It takes about 30 minutes to complete. There are examples (the Woodcock is one) where the choice is extending the close season or leaving it as now, with no option to ban shooting altogether. A question on Page 26 (“6.2. Should other amendments (for example an extension or shortening of a close season be made with regard to any other species listed on Schedule 2.1 in England, Scotland or Wales?”) does allow for comment, though. Our thoughts Clearly, the way to give ‘iconic’ birds proper protection is to stop shooting them full stop. There is zero reason to shoot these birds, other than some people with guns ‘enjoy’ it. That’s not a reason to allow them to kill wild birds - whether they are ‘iconic’ Woodcocks, ‘distinctive’ Pintails, or ‘ordinary’ Coots. Shooters will almost certainly be lining up to keep the seasons open for as long as possible. So if you have time, please do have a look at the consultation. The consultation doesn’t give us the opportunity to ban the shooting of these wonderful birds, but it would be a missed opportunity if the ‘men with guns’ were the only people to respond. SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

HUNT SABOTEURS SAY WE HAVE 10 WEEKS LEFT TO MAKE HUNTING HISTORY — BANNED FOR GOOD

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter TEN WEEKS LEFT TO MAKE HUNTING HISTORY! It’s been just a couple of weeks since the government opened the consultation into banning the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ in England and Wales. And, although the fox and hare hunts have temporarily finished for the Summer, the grotesque cruelty of stag hunting continues unabated, with hunt sabs capturing some truly heart-rending images in recent days. Caught on the wire: the horror of stag hunting. © Mendip Hunt Sabs For over twenty years hunts have hidden behind the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ and have exploited the loopholes and exemptions that are in the current Hunting Act. The consultation consists of 29 questions. The HSA have provided guidance to assist you in formulating strong responses that can be written quickly and easily. It is extremely important that your answers are not copied and pasted, but that each question is answered individually and where appropriate consists of any personal experiences you may have had. A recent demonstration of ‘trail hunting’ by the Cottesmore Hunt. © Northants Hunt Sabs The HSA has over sixty years of experience in the field and week after week sabs all over the country document the cruelty that continues to take place. We have applied our extensive knowledge of hunting to the guidance we have provided to ensure that a watertight ban is finally implemented. It is imperative that there will be no loopholes or exemptions, and it is important that other activities associated with hunting are included, such as terrier men with spades and quads, as well as violence and aggression towards people who are filming their illegal activity in a public space. Perhaps you have experienced hunt havoc in your local area? © West Midlands Hunt Sabs The consultation will close on Thursday 18th of June so please ensure you have submitted your response by this date. Now is the time to finally bring hunting to an end and ensure that our wildlife is protected from those who wish to inflict pain and suffering through hunting with hounds. READ THE HSA’S GUIDANCE HERE. 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

ROB POWNALL DRESSED AS A GANNET IS REFUSED ENTRY TO THE LAUNCH OF A MANIFESTO IN SCOTLAND

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I Tried to Gatecrash the Scottish Tory Manifesto Launch as a Gannet ROB POWNALL APR 9 READ IN APP This probably won’t surprise you after yesterday’s email. Because I said I was going to do whatever it takes to get this issue onto the political agenda and I meant it. So on Tuesday, I turned up to the Scottish Conservatives’ manifesto launch in Edinburgh dressed as a Gannet. The plan was simple: walk in, speak to the press, and present what I’m calling the “Ganifesto” a one-policy campaign to end the Guga hunt. I didn’t get very far. Security weren’t particularly keen on letting a giant seabird into the building for some reason. But that’s not really the point. Inside, politicians were launching their vision for Scotland. Outside, I was standing there representing a bird that is still legally killed in this country for the sake of tradition. And that contrast says everything. Because while parties talk about priorities, every year Gannet chicks are still being snatched from their nests and killed before they can even fly. Not because we need to. Not because it’s necessary. But because the law allows it to continue. That’s what this campaign is about. Sign the petition One ask. One change. Remove the exemption. End the Guga hunt. And now we’re taking this directly to those asking for your vote. We are asking the Scottish Conservatives and every other party standing in the Scottish Parliament elections a simple question: Will you commit to ending the Guga hunt? No more silence. No more avoidance. A clear answer. Because the public is already there. Polling shows the vast majority of people in Scotland support ending this. The momentum is there. What’s missing is the political will to act. So if turning up in a Gannet costume to manifesto launches helps force that conversation, then that’s exactly what I’ll keep doing. Because this shouldn’t still be happening. And the more attention we bring to it, the harder it becomes to ignore. We’ve set up a petition calling on all major parties to adopt a policy to end the Guga hunt which you can sign here. Sign the petition Support Protect the Wild. We’re not afraid to try everything in the fight for British wildlife - from undercover investigations and viral animations, to protests, hard-hitting reports, political lobbying, and even standing for public office. We believe in doing what others won’t. In trying what hasn’t been tried. And in saying things exactly as they are. And we’re powered entirely by you. We don’t rely on big donors or hidden backers. Our strength comes from thousands of ordinary people giving a few pounds a month - and together, that becomes unstoppable. Right now, our goal is 200 new monthly supporters. We’re already at 49 in just the first week of this month. If you believe in what we’re building and want to be part of one of the fastest-growing animal protection movements in the UK, please consider joining us and chipping in a few pounds a month. Thank you for standing with us. 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’S ROB POWNALL DRESSED AS A GANNET TO WOO SCOTTISH VOTERS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more I’m standing for Scottish Parliament…as a Gannet ROB POWNALL APR 8 READ IN APP This probably isn’t an email you were expecting to receive today, and it’s not one I ever thought I’d be writing. But here we are. I’m standing in the Scottish elections as a giant Gannet. Yes, really. I’m officially in the running to become a Member of Scottish Parliament. Why? To force one issue out of the shadows and into the political spotlight: the Guga hunt. Here’s where you come in. We’ve created a simple e-letter you can send to every party standing in the election, with one clear demand: commit to ending the Guga hunt in the next parliamentary term. It takes less than a minute to send, but it pushes this issue onto politicians’ radars at an absolutely critical moment. TAKE ACTION Right now is a rare opportunity. With the elections approaching on May 7th, parties are deciding what they stand for. They are especially sensitive to public opinion - and paying close attention to what voters care about. So let’s make sure they know this matters. Every autumn, Gannet chicks are snatched from their nests and bludgeoned to death for nothing more than a tradition. That clearly shouldn’t be happening, especially not in the middle of a biodiversity crisis. And the public agrees - polling shows the vast majority of people in Scotland want it to end. Yet it continues because of a narrow legal exemption under Section 16 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981). That’s what this campaign is about: removing that loophole and finally ending the UK’s last seabird hunt. TAKE ACTION That’s why I’m doing something a bit different. Yes, walking around Edinburgh in a giant bird costume has felt ridiculous at times. But if that’s what it takes to get people talking about protecting Gannets, then that’s what I’ll do. So please take one minute to send the e-letter and ask every party to commit to ending the Guga hunt. If enough of us do this, they simply won’t be able to ignore it. So please, add your name now. TAKE ACTION We do things differently at Protect the Wild. We’re not afraid to try everything in the fight for British wildlife — from undercover investigations and viral animations, to protests, hard-hitting reports, political lobbying, and even standing for public office. We believe in doing what others won’t. In trying what hasn’t been tried. And in saying things exactly as they are. And we’re powered entirely by you. We don’t rely on big donors or hidden backers. Our strength comes from thousands of ordinary people giving a few pounds a month — and together, that becomes unstoppable. Right now, our goal is 200 new monthly supporters. We’re already at 46 in just the first week of this month. If you believe in what we’re building and want to be part of one of the fastest-growing animal protection movements in the UK, please consider joining us and chipping in a few pounds a month. Thank you for standing with us. 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

FROM THE HUNT SABOTEURS ASSOCIATION — HELP THEM GET TRAIL HUNTING BANNED AND BUY A ‘T’

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Hare Today – Gone Tomorrow! With a distinct feel of spring in the air, the HSA is today launching the first merchandise items to feature our new hare logo. There is a one-size-fits-all beanie hat and a T-shirt available in the usual range of sizes. And, in a refreshing change from our usual ‘sab black’, both items come in khaki green with text picked out in white and our running hare rendered in a lighter shade of green. T-shirt and hat by HSA, sunglasses model’s own. Hare hunting takes several forms. In the traditional hunt sense, there are three varieties: packs of harriers which are hunted by staff on horseback, beagle packs and basset hound packs, both of which are hunted on foot. These are all scent hounds, and they work as a pack to find, follow and then kill the hare. The Hunting Act banned this kind of hunting in 2005, but hunters continue much as they did before, hiding behind the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’ and other loopholes, such as claims that they are hunting rabbits. Sadly, hares also face other threats from depraved coursing gangs and organised shoots. Our model engrossed in a copy of HOWL. Once you have bought your hat or T-shirt, please remember to complete the government’s consultation on banning so-called ‘trail hunting.’ This is your chance to help make hunting history: the HSA has produced guidance to ensure this can be done quickly and efficiently. Don’t mess with the hares. And remember, as you would expect, HSA merchandise is designed, picked and packed by our all-volunteer team. This means that all profits from your purchase are ploughed straight into the HSA’s direct-action campaign against hare hunting and all other bloodsports. You can start shopping here: Buy our HSA Hare Beanie Buy our HSA Hare Tee 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