Thursday, 26 February 2026

FROM THE HUNT SABOTEURS — CRUELTY EXPOSED BY THE STAG HUNTERS

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Carve-ups And Cruelty At The Tiverton Staghounds Graphic Content Throughout As we reported last week, several members of an HSA covert intelligence unit attended a number of West Country staghounds meets in Autumn 2025. This report focuses on the Tiverton Staghounds who on each occasion were witnessed relentlessly hunting, brutal killing and ritually carving-up of mature, healthy stags. Stag killed by Tiverton Staghounds on 1st October 2025. As with the two other West Country stag hunts, the investigation revealed how the Tiverton Staghounds switch effortlessly between Hunting Act loopholes as and when they please. The team also saw how the Tiverton claim - absurdly - to be engaged in trail hunting, using a full pack of hounds and a large vehicle with ‘Trail Layer’ signage (whose exhaust fumes would quickly cover any trail if one was laid!). The Tiverton Staghounds were regularly seen dragging a ‘trail’ along the line taken by the hunted stag after it had passed and - as advised in the infamous Hunting Office webinars - they ensured that hunt supporters were on hand to video the hounds apparently hunting this ‘trail.’ Tiverton ‘Trail Layer’: if you believe this, you’ll believe anything. © Three Counties Hunt Sabs But if this didn’t work, the Tiverton claimed that the stag was “injured” or use their followers like extra hounds to flush the poor animal out so he can be chased again. As with the other two stag hunting packs, the Tiverton simply switched at will between several different loopholes in the 2004 Hunting Act. On 1st October last year, a prime rutting stag was hunted from a meet at Burches Cross, Templeton onto Witheridge Moor where he was chased to exhaustion and finally killed. A broken victim of the Tiverton Staghounds. Just a week later, the Tiverton Staghounds were at Upcott Cross, Bishops Tawton where another mature stag was hunted so hard and for so long that his legs simply gave way beneath him. As soon as the stag was dead, his feet – known as “slots” in hunting parlance – were cut off and handed out as trophies or kept for use in hunt fundraising events. This is not conservation or wildlife management - it is trophy hunting. But the indignity visited on this stag was not over: the huntsman cut open the abdomen, allowing the hounds to eat the intestines straight from the body, with blood pooling across the grass where livestock graze. This practice exposes the countryside to biosecurity and bovine TB risks, including contamination by raw gut matter and organ material. Satanic rites at the Tiverton Staghounds, 11th October 2025. A set of fresh faces from the unit were back at the Tiverton Staghounds on 11th October 2025 at Cobbacombe Cross, Cove and witnessed them kill another healthy stag after a long, gruelling chase over the hills above Stoodleigh. As before the team witnessed the stag’s feet being “slotted” to be given out as trophies to the keenest hunt supporters. To avoid suspicion, yet another new face attended the 18th October meet of the Tiverton Staghounds and witnessed further depravity. Their young victim – described on the day as “more of a springer” by sick hunt supporters - was hunted, turned, and driven for miles before being killed. ‘Turning’ involves hunt supporters screaming at the stag to force him away from areas where he might seek refuge from his tormentors. Their wretched victim was found in Knowstone Wood and ultimately killed at Nomansland but, crucially, the hunt was operating on Devon Wildlife Trust land during the chase. This is supposed to be a refuge for wildlife, not a playground for mounted hunts and marauding packs of hounds who are a law unto themselves. Stag killed by Tiverton Staghounds on 18th October 2025 The unit’s final visit – for now – was 27th October 2025 when the hunt met at Two Posts Cross, Pennymoor. This mature stag was killed at Cadleigh after yet another long, agonising chase. Once dead, he was dragged by the antlers, trussed up and then hung from the back of a quadbike in a final indignity. Stag trussed up and killed by the Tiverton Staghounds, 27th October 2025. Above all else, this investigation reveals how committed, extremist stag hunters are constantly adapting to evade accountability or charges: a ban on ‘trail hunting’ – though urgently needed – will not be enough in itself to stop these hardened hunters in their tracks. Only our comprehensive set of proposals – based on over sixty years of sabotaging all types of bloodsports - will really end hunting with hounds. 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
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A WONDERFUL UPDATE FROM CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST — WHY NOT JOIN?

View this email in your browser THANK YOU WEEK 2026 Hi John Today is our annual ‘Thank-a-thon' – a day when members of our team take a little time to write messages, pick up the phone, and simply say thank you. It gives us a chance to celebrate the people who make everything we do possible. People like you. Your membership helps protect wildlife and wild places across Cornwall. From woodlands, moors, tors, and flower-rich meadows to rivers, estuaries, coast, and seas - your support is vital and so appreciated. Take a look at this short film we made to say thank you and share a few moments from the past year: What your support has achieved Here are just a few glimpses of what your support has helped to achieve: Wild beaver releases In February 2026, we celebrated the first fully licensed release of wild beavers in the county - a landmark moment for nature recovery in Cornwall. These remarkable animals are already shaping rivers and wetlands, helping ecosystems flourish. You can read more about the recent release of wild beavers here. Temperate rainforest restoration Tree-planting has now begun to restore rare temperate rainforest at West Muchlarnick. With 28,000 trees planned over the next 3 years, the project will see 30 hectares of this precious habitat restored over the next 50 years. You can read more about our temperate rainforest project here. Seagrass seed planting Cornwall’s estuaries, 16,000 seagrass seeds were planted in 2025 - creating the foundation for new meadows that will help clean our waters, capture carbon, and create safe havens for a variety of marine life for generations to come. You can read more about seagrass meadows and their benefits for nature here. While we can’t call or write to everyone in a single day, we want you to know that your support means the world to us. With that in mind, this is a small message to say how grateful we are for all that you make possible. If you do happen to receive a call from us, please know we won’t be asking for anything. We’ll just be saying thanks, and perhaps asking about the wildlife and wild places you love most. You’re someone who takes action to help nature. From where we’re standing, that’s pretty amazing – so from everyone here, thank you for being a wildlife hero. With gratitude, Cornwall Wildlife Trust 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.
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GREAT NEWS FROM THE RIGHT TO ROAMERS — A SHORT FILM TO WATCH

Can't see this message? View in browser   Announcing OUR LAND: a feature film about the Right to Roam Campaign Dear Roamers, We’ve been keeping this under wraps but now the news is out! This spring will see the launch of a new feature film about our fight to defend and extend access to nature across England and Wales. OUR LAND, directed by Orban Wallace and shot by the team at Gallivant Film, follows the Right to Roam campaign as we trespass vast estates and fight the removal of rights on Dartmoor and beyond. Interwoven throughout are the perspectives of three aristocratic landowners, exploring the debates, tensions and fraught history of land ownership and land access in the UK. It’s a beautiful film and we’re really pleased with the outcome. It’s not for the campaign – the directors are not taking a stance. But in our view, the facts speak for themselves! With preview showings at cinemas all over the country, followed by a national release (and hopefully a streaming platform to follow) the film will be a brilliant vehicle to reach new audiences and gain political traction. Please WATCH AND SHARE the trailer here. Find a preview screening near you here. Booking links and further preview screenings will be updated periodically by the distributors. Previews will run from early March through to early May, when the film will see a national release. With the help of our local group network we’ll be doing as many Q&As at screenings as we can. Go along, watch the film, talk about it with friends and family, and share the trailer wherever you can. Local Group Gathering This month we had our first ever in-person gathering of local groups, with representatives from RTR chapters from every region of England. It was a really heartening experience and testament to the strength of a network which has grown with a shoestring budget. The ideas were flowing thick and fast and we’ve co-developed a great plan of action to seize the political agenda in the year to come. So if you haven’t already, now’s a great time to get involved with your local group. Some exciting action is in the works… Right to Roam Kent Chapter …On which note we’re very pleased to announce the birth of a fresh Right to Roam chapter in Kent. R2R Kent will be hosting their very first social this coming spring. If you’re based in the Garden of England please pop along to meet our organisers and see how you can get involved in setting up the chapter, organising, hosting, spreading the good word and more. Where William Camden Pub on Avenue Road, Bexleyheath, DAT 4QE When From 6:30pm, Monday 16th March The pub has food, a car park with electric car charging and is two minutes from Bexleyheath train station. Email righttoroamkent@gmail.com to confirm your attendance or if you have any questions. Please spread the word to any friends and family in the area who you think might be keen to get involved. Facebook A quick note that we've now linked our Instagram account to Facebook. So if that's your preferred platform, you can follow us here and you'll see all the same content across both sites. You can find links to our other social media platforms at the bottom left of this newsletter (don't worry we're not actually on 'X' anymore: the icon links through to Bluesky). BMC Wild Camping Survey Our friends at the British Mountaineering Council are gathering data on what wild camping means to the people who do it – what's the impact it has on them, and how does it connect them to nature, landscapes, and to other people? Do you wild camp? If so, you can contribute to their survey here. Spring at last. Praise Old Mossface. Keep roaming! Jon on behalf of the Right to Roam team ---------- Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Bluesky. Want to get involved? Visit our website here. We're powered by supporters and run on a shoestring. Can you help keep us going? Become a campaign supporter here. OUR LAND A journey over the walls that divide us Take Action Visit our social accounts Check out our site   This email was sent from this site. If you no longer wish to receive this email, change your email preferences here.
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FROM PROTECT THE WILD — BROKEN PROMISES ON THE HUNTING BAN?

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Labour and 'trail hunting': promises but still no ban. Labour has been promising to tighten up the loopholes in the Hunting Act for years. TOM ANDERSON FEB 23 ∙ GUEST POST READ IN APP In June 2024 the Labour Manifesto pledged to ban ‘trail hunting‘, but the killing still goes on. In January 2026 alone, Protect the Wild reported that at least four hunt packs were filmed ripping up foxes and killing a hare on camera, showing blatant disregard for the law. During the 2024-2025 hunting ‘season’ Protect the Wild documented 411 incidents of hunting hounds chasing or killing foxes at observed meets. When the figures are scaled up to the total number of fox hunt meets throughout the season, this means that 3,772 foxes were potentially persecuted. The government repeatedly stated that a consultation on the ban would take place in 2025: that was moved to early 2026. Ministers recently said that the consultation process would begin in March. We’re still waiting... It’s pretty clear that, despite repeated statements that their animal welfare programmes is the “most ambitious in a generation”, preventing animal suffering isn’t top of the Labour Party agenda. Tellingly, Keir Starmer has never once spoken about the proposed ‘trail hunting’ ban in parliament. There is, however, huge public support for the ban and pressure from both inside and outside the party to make good on their manifesto pledge. Meanwhile, on Tuesday 17 February, members of the League Against Cruel Sports demonstrated in London calling on Labour to keep their promises. They dumped 648 stuffed foxes outside the National Portrait Gallery, signifying the 648 foxes they say have been illegally chased since the Summer of 2024. Fake foxes covered in blood with League ‘hunter’ on the streets of London outside the National Gallery - via League Against Cruel Sports Of course, pro-hunt advocates are working hard to make sure that the promised ‘trail hunting’ ban never comes into effect. Key Tory opponents of the ban in recent parliamentary debates have been Stuart Anderson and Tory Baroness Caroline Balingall Mckintosh. Reform’s Nigel Farage and Suella Braverman have been getting in on the action too. ‘Every month of inaction means continued suffering for wildlife’ We urge Labour to make good on its election pledge and ban ‘trail hunting’, which provides a smokescreen for hunting foxes with hounds. Protect the Wild’s Rob Pownall says: “Labour promised to strengthen the Hunting Act and finally close the loopholes that allow trail hunting to mask illegal fox hunting. Delaying this consultation sends the wrong message. Every month of inaction means continued suffering for wildlife and continued lawbreaking in the countryside.” Houses of Parliament, by Adrian Pingstone/Wikimedia. Here’s a timeline of Labour’s promises since their 2024 manifesto: June 2024 - The Labour Party pledged to ban ‘trail hunting’ in its 2024 Election Manifesto. 4/5 July 2024 - Labour wins the general election, and Keir Starmer’s government is sworn in. 17 July 2024 - Ruth Jones, a backbench Labour MP for Newport and Islwyn, expresses disappointment that Labour’s animal welfare measures didn’t make it into the King’s Speech. She urges her party to ensure that it makes good on these pledges. 18 July 2024 - Baroness Hayman of Ullock, then parliamentary undersecretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, stated: “We are developing plans to enable us to tackle the horrendous crimes of puppy smuggling and puppy farming, to close loopholes on trail hunting and to ban snares and the import of hunting trophies.” 25 July 2024 - Labour’s junior minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Mary Creagh affirms that the party were “proudly elected on a promise” to ban ‘trail hunting’. 26 July 2024 - Labour’s then Environment, Food and Rural Affairs minister Daniel Zeichner references the party’s commitment to banning ‘trail hunting’, proclaiming “The Government has committed to introducing the most ambitious programme for animal welfare in a generation.” September/October/November 2024 - Creagh responds to written questions from Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs affirming that: “The Government is committed to enacting a ban on Trail Hunting, and work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing. Further announcements will be made in due course.” October 2024 - In an open letter signed by a number of British activists and celebrities, Protect the Wild calls on the Labour government to make good on its commitment to ban ‘trail hunting’. 14 October 2024 - Labour’s Luke Pollard announces for the Ministry of Defence (MOD) that no licenses for ‘trail hunting’ have been issued for the 2024-5 hunting ‘season’. MOD minister Maria Eagle later states that the license are under review, in line with Labour’s intention to ban ‘trail hunting’. 2 December 2024 - Creagh states that a meeting has taken place between “officials with an interest” in the promised ban on ‘trail hunting’ “in order to consider its implications on their work. As this work is ongoing, no concrete outcomes have been determined as yet.” December 2024/January 2025/ February 2025 - Baroness Hayman and Creagh continue to make statements that work on a ‘trail hunting’ ban is ongoing. 4 March 2025: Zeichner says that the government has organised a series of meetings with “key animal welfare stakeholders” on animal rights issues, including banning ‘trail hunting’. [caption id=”attachment_69136” align=”aligncenter” width=”406”] This beautiful fox was killed by the Portman Hunt in January 2026, as parliament dithered. Image North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs ‘Trail Hunting’ consultation promised in 2025 April 1 2025 - In a Parliamentary ‘adjournment debate’ on ‘Trail Hunting called by Camborne and Redruth Labour MP Perran Moon, Zeichner promises that the government would consult on the proposed ban on ‘trail hunting’ later in 2025. 27 April 2025 - Zeichner says that work to ban ‘trail hunting’ is still “at a very early stage and there is not yet an agreed timetable”. 28 April 2025 - Baroness Hayman tells Tory Viscount Astor in response to a written question that pro-hunt groups such as the British Hound Sports Association, which includes as members hunts which regularly break the existing legislation, will be able to take part in the consultation. 26 June 2025 - Zeichner reassures a Liberal Democrat spokesperson that work is ongoing to get the consultation underway. Throughout June, Creagh and Zeichner make repeated statements that the consultation is ongoing. 30 June 2025 - In a written answer, Zeichner states: “The Government has committed to a ban on trail hunting. Work to determine the best approach for doing so is ongoing and further announcements will be made in due course.” In a parliamentary debate on driven grouse shooting the same day Zeichner affirmed that banning trail hunting “is a manifesto commitment, and this Government keep their commitments.” 30 July 2025 - More than 60 MPs called on the government to release a timetable for their promised consultation. 11 September 2025 - Dame Angela Eagle, the new minister for Environment, Food and Rural affairs confirms in writing to Poole’s Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan that “work is ongoing” and an announcement will be made soon. 19 September 2025: Eagle asserts that Labour are “committed” to running the consultation “to ensure those with an interest can input.” She also reaffirms the governments committment to the ban. Consultation moved to early 2026 29 October 2025 - Eagle reconfirms commitment to the ban in an answer to a written parliamentary question and says the consultation will be “early next year”. She stated in detail that: “The nature of trail hunting makes it very difficult to do safely. The use of large packs of hounds reduces the control huntsmen have, putting wild mammals, household pets and even members of the public at risk. Trail hunting also provides a convenient cover for those seeking to participate in illegal hunting activities by obscuring their intention and enabling the inevitable chasing of animals to be labelled as ‘accidental’. This is why we want an effective, enforceable ban that truly protects our wildlife, countryside, and rural communities.” Show Quoted Content “The nature of trail hunting makes it very difficult to do safely. The use of large packs of hounds reduces the control huntsmen have, putting wild mammals, household pets and even members of the public at risk. Trail hunting also provides a convenient cover for those seeking to participate in illegal hunting activities by obscuring their intention and enabling the inevitable chasing of animals to be labelled as ‘accidental’. This is why we want an effective, enforceable ban that truly protects our wildlife, countryside, and rural communities.” 13 November 2025 - Alan Campbell, leader of the House of Commons, restated that Labour “remains committed to banning trail hunting; we will consult on how to deliver the ban in the new year.” 24 and 26 November, 4 December, 9 December Eagle repeatedly reaffirms that the consultation will take place next year. 16 December 2025 - In response to a written question, Eagle replies, “we will consult on how to deliver a ban in the new year. Legislation will be introduced when Parliamentary time allows.” 18 December 2025 - Emma Reynolds, Labour Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs stated that the hunting consultation would be “in the New Year”. 22 December 2025 - Reynolds sets out the government’s new Animal Welfare Strategy. It states: “We are a nation of animal lovers. People across the country care deeply for animals. The UK has a proud history of being pioneers when it comes to ensuring the very best for them. This Government is committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals for the long term, and we are changing how we will deliver the improvements needed to achieve the most ambitious reforms to animal welfare in a generation.” Show Quoted Content “We are a nation of animal lovers. People across the country care deeply for animals. The UK has a proud history of being pioneers when it comes to ensuring the very best for them. This Government is committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals for the long term, and we are changing how we will deliver the improvements needed to achieve the most ambitious reforms to animal welfare in a generation.” The policy reiterates an intention to ban trail hunting and for a consultation to take place. 7 January 2026 - Parliamentary Debate on Rural Communities - Eagle states: “The ban on trail hunting was in our manifesto, and we are consulting on how to put it into effect.” 11 January 2026 - In a written response to Labour MP Perran Moon, Eagle opts not to answer whether “bodies which have disregarded existing hunting law will be ruled out of playing a role in shaping future hunting law” as part of the consultation. She does, however, reiterate that the consultation will take place. 15 January 2026 - In response to Tory Shadow Health Secretary Stuart Andrews’ questions about the supposed effect of a ban on rural communities, Eagle states that the consultation “will be used to inform our assessment of the potential impact of a ban on trail hunting on the economy in rural communities” and that opinions will be elicited from “all quarters, including from rural stakeholders and trail hunting organisations.” 21 January 2026 - Parliamentary debate on Labour’s animal welfare strategy - Eagle states, “we will ban trail hunting. The nature of trail hunting makes it difficult to ensure that wild mammals are not put at risk, and we intend to launch a consultation very soon”. 29 January 2026 - Eagle affirms that the government will “introduce legislation to ban the activity of trail hunting when Parliamentary time allows.” She also reasserts plans for the consultation. Her comments were in response to a question about the government’s timeline for fulfilling its election promise by Labour MP for Rushcliffe James Naish. 29 January 2026 - Eagles states that the consultation will take place “early this year”. She reiterated the government’s commitment in a written answer to a question by Reform UK’s Suella Braverman the same day. She gave the same answer at least twice more that day. 11 February 2026 - Perran Moon asks what criteria parliament will apply when deciding “which organisations are invited to participate in the forthcoming consultation on banning trail hunting; and whether bodies which have disregarded existing hunting law will be ruled out of playing a role in shaping future hunting law”. Baroness Hayman gave a hollow reply, but did reiterate that the government still planned on the consultation taking place. 12 February 2026 - Poole’s Labour MP Neil Duncan Jordan receives assurances from Hayman that the government’s consultation on banning trail hunting will take place by March at the latest. selective focus photography of orange fox during daytime Photo by Yuriy Chemerys on Unsplash The consultation has been pushed back yet again. Each week that Labour dithers over its promised ban on trail hunting, foxes are dying. Please use Protect the Wild’s automated tool to email your MP and demand that they ensure that the consultation takes place as planned and that Labour follows through with enacting a proper ban on hunting. Sign our petition calling for a proper ban on hunting, and check out our proposal for a workable ban on the hunting of mammals with hounds. Read our 2024-2025 report: ‘20 Years on: The True Face of Hunting with Hounds in 2025’. Image of National Gallery protest via League Against Cruel Sports. Photograph of parliament via Adrian Pingstone/Wikimedia. Image of fox killed by the Portman Hunt in January 2026, courtesy of North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs. Sleeping fox picture via Lachlan Gowen on Unsplash. Support Protect the Wild with a small monthly donation We only ask for a few pounds a month because our strength isn’t big donors or hidden backers. It’s thousands of ordinary people chipping in small amounts. Together, that becomes unstoppable. Your support powers everything we do to defend British wildlife: undercover investigations, hard-hitting animations, fearless journalism, detailed reports, equipment and mental health support for activists, protests, and pressure campaigns that hold the powerful to account. Our goal is 300 new monthly supporters. We’re currently at 152 Support Protect the Wild 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
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THE POLLUTERS OF OUR RIVERS ARE GETTIN AAY WITH IT — SEE CHANNEL 4 DOCUMENTARY

View in browser Dear John, Did you catch the first episode of "Dirty Business" last night on Channel 4? It’s a heartbreaking look at how polluters and a failing system that continuously lets them break the rules have devastated lives and poisoned ecosystems. If you missed it, you might believe this was just another TV drama. But it’s not – it’s real life. Despite the UK government’s promises of action, our water crisis hasn’t gone away. Our rivers are polluted, beaches are filthy and wildlife is vanishing. Who’s to blame? Polluting companies and a succession of governments that keep letting them off the hook. But here’s a ray of hope – a new water bill is coming. It could put people and nature before profit. But we have a long way to go to make sure the government gets it right. There are no quick fixes to the challenges we face. But together, we can push for stronger protections, public health safeguards and real accountability. Will you help me and my team keep up the pressure? Your regular gift will power us to challenge decision makers and fight for the clean rivers and seas we all deserve. I'LL JOIN WITH A REGULAR GIFT Regular gifts allow us to act fast, plan ahead and stay independent. They are our lifeline in the fight for people and planet. Let’s make sure this bill delivers lasting protection for our water, health and wildlife. For generations to come. With hope, Kierra Campaigner, Friends of the Earth PS See my original email below to find out more. I emailed last month to tell you how our rivers, lakes and seas are threatened by corporate pollution. And to highlight how we’re taking action – in a few weeks nearly 25,000 people have signed our petition demanding that the government take action. Because it’s been dragging its feet. The government promised to crack down on water pollution more than a year ago. The Water Commission told it urgent action was needed last summer. But it took until January for a published vision for water to emerge. And MPs won’t see an expected new water law for months. Meanwhile, corporates – the water companies, industrial farms and other industries – are pocketing massive profits from environmental ruin. This needs to change. Urgently. Will you help to make that change happen? Our campaign for clean water needs your support – with a donation you can make 2026 the year polluters clean up their act. I'LL JOIN WITH A REGULAR GIFT Whether it’s water companies pumping sewage into our seas, toxic slurry from factory farms or forever chemicals seeping into waterways – polluters are still contaminating our water. The new water bill will come out later this year. And it could finally hold polluters to account. But there’s a risk this new law will let them off the hook again. We can’t let that happen. Unlike the corporations, our work relies on donations from people like you – we’re truly people powered. We need you to make our successes possible. Will you help us get a win for water in 2026? I'LL JOIN WITH A REGULAR GIFT With hope, Kierra Friends of the Earth PS Don’t worry if you can’t donate today – you’re already having a huge impact. About us Supporter promise Privacy policy Contact us DONATE This email was sent to spanishjohnedwards@gmail.com Want to change how you receive these emails? Unsubscribe from this list We send communications to our supporters who have opted in to receive emails from us. Friends of the Earth Limited. Reg. No. 01012357. Incorporated in England and Wales. Registered office: Friends of the Earth The Printworks 139 Clapham Road London, SW9 0HP United Kingdom Copyright © Friends of the Earth Limited
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Monday, 23 February 2026

MORE SIGNATURES REQUIRED TO END THE GUGA HUNT - ANOTHER POST FROM PROTECT THE WILD

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Time Is Running Out to Stop the Guga Hunt DEVON DOCHERTY FEB 20 READ IN APP More than 25,000 people have now signed our petition calling on NatureScot to stop licensing the Guga hunt - the annual mass-killing of Gannet seabird chicks on the Scottish island of Sula Sgeir in the name of ‘tradition’ and local delicacy. Thank you to every single one of you who has added your name. But the truth is, it’s not enough. We know there are more of you that disagree with this abhorrent hunt. This Substack regularly receives double that amount of readership, which means thousands of people who care deeply about wildlife have not yet added their names. So we have something to ask you. On 12th March, we will travel to NatureScot’s headquarters in Inverness to deliver this petition by hand. Will you help us double the signatures by that deadline? Sign the petition 50,000 is not an arbitrary number. It is almost the entire population of Inverness. Imagine the power of delivering a petition backed by the equivalent of the entire city around them. An entire city stood together saying: enough is enough. No more baby bashing. No more jumping through hoops trying to justify the unjustifiable. No more Guga hunt. The clock is ticking. We are in a critical window. The 2025 license has expired. When the 2026 license application is received, it will be brought before NatureScot’s Board for decision. The hunters have watched the opposition swelling, and they are digging in their heels. They killed 485 chicks last year. Those lives are gone and they aren’t coming back. But we have a chance to protect their survivors if we act now. An application could land any day. When it does, NatureScot’s deliberations will move quickly behind closed doors. If we want to influence the result, we must act immediately before another licence is granted without challenge. We are meeting NatureScot We are soon meeting directly with NatureScot’s licensing team to discuss our concerns. We are prepared to escalate if no meaningful progress is made. We have a mountain of evidence to suggest they are failing to meet the evidential thresholds required when licensing this hunt. We will not hesitate to deploy that evidence through all the available channels, including legal action. The scrutiny they’ve avoided for years is now catching up with them. Together with your support, we will make sure NatureScot is finally held to account for their role in allowing this needless cruelty to continue, but we need you to act now. Sign the petition Act now Time is running out. An application is coming. A decision will follow. And once it’s made, it’s too late. We hand this petition in on 12th March. Help us to make it huge. Sign the petition if you haven’t already. Share it widely. Help us reach 50,000 before 12th March. Let’s make sure that when we walk into NatureScot HQ, we are carrying more than paper. Let’s make sure we are carrying a movement. 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
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INSPIRED BY ROB POWNALL OF PROTECT THE WILD AND JOURNALIST TOM ANDERSON

THANKS TO ROB POWNALL OF PROTECT THE WILD AND TO TOM ANDERSON, A JOURNALIST, WRITNG A GUEST BLOG FOR ROB AND WHICH PROMPTED ME TO WRITE THIS PIECE. I have been minded for far too long to create my own thoughts into words about the unfair hypocritical world in which we have no choice but to live and exist. I have blogged for years — copy and paste — the clear and brave writing of many writers and activists who are too many to mention. Selecting one or so names would be unfair to the plethora of others. I am maddened about the debate on fox hunters, the sham of ‘trail hunting’, of terriermen and cubbing. But it all goes much further than that. We can bellow about any form of hunting where the object is to kill, to let the hounds at man’s behest to rip apart a living mammal. Why, I ask? I fail to understand and do not accept that tradition and custom are allowed to over-ride the urge to needlessly kill. At ground level, on the same turf, where a iconic brown hare has its home we can only crane our necks to look up, to keep on looking up, at the hierarchical pyramid of power. I stepped outside during writing the previous lines to glance at the moon. The old lady was lying on her back which would mean that it would be a dry quarter. No rain so the country folk could get on with their work. It’s a bloody myth of course but harmlessly so compared with the myth that is perpetuated by The Royal Family where our King is our leader and also a hunting shooting fishing man. There is no denying that because it has been well documented. Today, I read and copied an eleven page document written by Tom Anderson, a journalist, who created this post for Protect the Wild. The heading reads ‘King Charles’ new ‘Finding Harmony’ documentary is deeply hypocritical.’ I urge everyone to read these pages as it directly and succinctly gets to the core of problem where wildlife is the ‘plaything’ of the powerful. The simple fact that it was seen as an important matter to create a vision that our King feels the need to be in harmony with the natural world Is ridiculous. He needs to be in harmony with us and not hiding behind power, tradition and deceit. You an see all on Amazon Prime where Kate Winslett — a well know face to cinema goers — was required to give it some relevance to us — the ‘common people’ who have been too long subjugated.
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Friday, 20 February 2026

THE PIPEWELL FOOT BEAGLES CONVICTEDOF HUNTING & KILLING A BROWN HARE BUT THERE IS MORE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Pipewell Foot Beagles huntsman pleads GUILTY after pack kills hare Pack guilty of killing a hare on Boughton Estate GLEN BLACK FEB 19 READ IN APP Planned for three days, the trial of the Pipewell Foot Beagles and two of its members ended dramatically less than an hour into day two after the huntsman changed his plea. Philip Saunders, huntsman for the Pipewell Beagles, admitted breaking Section 1 of the Hunting Act after encouraging hounds to kill a hare. He was sentenced to £5000 in fines and costs. However, the charges against master and whipper-in Rachael Lenton as well as the Pipewell Foot Beagles Limited as a body corporate were dropped. The trial began on a dramatic note after Judge Community Protection Warning (CPW) lawyer Neil Sands and district judge Amar Mehta raised the possibility of the hunt forfeiting its hounds should it be found guilty. This gave the defence pause for thought, but it decided nonetheless to continue with not guilty pleas. The wheels on the defence’s case began falling off almost immediately after two witnesses for Boughton Estate - where the killing occurred - stated the hunt only had permission for hound exercise and not for trail hunting. Though not explicitly stated in court, had there been guilty verdicts all round, Boughton Estate may have also have been liable under Section 3 of the Hunting Act. Sam Rees and former huntsman George Whittaker, estate manager and security manager respectively, protected the estate by distancing itself from the Pipewell Foot Beagles. On day two, defence lawyer Stephen Welford initially cross-examined Lenton, during which the master-whip twice stated “absolutely not” to questions of whether the huntsman had encouraged hounds to pursue the hare. Lenton also said she didn’t see the hare even after the hounds had killed the creature. Instead, she claimed to Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer Sands that she and Saunders were trail hunting an artificially laid scent made of Scoot, a fox repellant, which huntsman Saunders had variously claimed during his testimony on day one both was and was not mixed with rabbit scent. Lenton attempted to clarify this confusion by saying the hunt once used a synthetic rabbit scent but now uses “pure Scoot”, although at no point on day one or two was it clarified why they allegedly used fox repellent as a scent mixture. However, the inconsistency Lenton attempted to smooth over was only part of the problem. Saunders’ testimony on day one had been contradictory throughout. The huntsman wasn’t able to explain why during his initial police interview he didn’t name the ten hunt supporters who witnessed the incident. He also failed to name four of the five alleged trail layers on the day, and had only named the fifth person a week before the trial. Had the trial gone ahead when initially planned in November 2025, there would have been no names at all. Saunders even stated that he didn’t know what was happening when the hounds were huddled together in the middle of a field despite also having said he’d been involved with hunting since before the Hunting Act. Crucially, he also said he hadn’t reported the kill to the British Hound Sports Authority (BHSA) as required by the organisation’s own rules. It was this detail around reporting to the BHSA that ultimately unravelled the case. “There are consequences to their actions” Sands picked up on an inconsistency in Lenton’s testimony regarding this detail. He questioned whether she was familiar with the BHSA’s rules regarding reporting ‘accidental’ kills. Lenton confirmed she did. However, when Sands asked whether she had done so, Lenton’s reply produced confusion amongst both Sands and Judge Mahta. Lenton at first stated she’d reported it twice to the BHSA. After further questioning by Sands, though, she clarified that the two times were: By phone the day after the incident, to let the BHSA know about the presence of an anti-hunt monitor, though she also claimed that she wasn’t aware of a dead hare at the time so couldn’t have mentioned a kill to them. When the BHSA sent Welford to support her in her police interview (three months after the incident) regarding the kill, by which time she was aware of the dead hare, and believed Welford was present on behalf of the BHSA and would therefore report back the details to the organisation. This led to a sudden break in proceedings, initiated by Sands and resulting in Welford leaving the courtroom alongside convicted former huntsman and current head of the BHSA, Julian Barnfield, who was sitting in the gallery throughout the trial. Sands and Welford returned several minutes later with the defence lawyer requesting that the judge hear Saunders’ plea again. This time, less than an hour into day two of the trial, Saunders plead guilty to his charge of breaching Section 1 of the Hunting Act by killing a hare. As a result, Judge Mahta ordered Saunders to pay a £1000 fine, £3600 in court costs due to the late plea, and a £400 victim surcharge. In summary, Mehta stated that: “A strong message must go out to those who engage in this activity, that the courts and public will not tolerate when animals are harmed. That was the whole point of the Act coming into force.” Significantly, following a request by Sands, the judge also ordered Saunders to forfeit his hunting horn for destruction. In making the order, Mehta said: “This instrument was used in the demise of a protected animal and it’s important that those who watch these proceedings understand there are consequences for those actions. … The hunting community will understand there are consequences to their actions.” Saunders guilty plea also resulted in the CPS dropping charges against Lenton and the Pipewell Foot Beagles Ltd. The latter was necessary because, at the time of the incident, only Lenton was a director of the company, so dropping charges against her meant the company was no longer liable. Image taken by Emma Reed So what happened? Following the trial, Sands explained that Lenton’s testimony had implicated Welford himself. By claiming she believed Welford was acting on behalf of the BHSA and that she had expected him to report back to the organisation, the defence lawyer had become a witness in his own case. Furthermore, police inquiries during the investigation hadn’t resulted in any evidence that Lenton had contacted the BSHA about the incident in any way. As a result, Welford would need to be cross-examined in the trial, but Lenton’s claim was new evidence, which would have required entirely new proceedings to be undertaken. It is likely Welford would also have had to state that Lenton’s claims were false, meaning he would testify against his own client. To avoid this, Welford protected himself and the hunt as a whole by having Saunders change his plea. As huntsman, Saunders was primarily responsible for the hounds and therefore the most culpable. Having given a stumbling and convoluted testimony on day one, during which he made various claims as to his innocence, Saunders was put in a position of having to take the fall for Lenton, the Pipewell Beagles Limited, the BHSA and even Welford himself by admitting he was lying under oath. A unique and symbolic conviction This is only the second beagle pack to have had its members face legal consequences for illegally hunting hares. The previous case was back in 2010, when police cautioned the Wick and District Beagles, with the hunt calling it quits the following year. A huntsman later reformed it as the still-active Severn Vale Beagles. Whilst fox hunting is the headline-grabbing form of hunting, hare hunting lurks in the background as its lesser-known but oftentimes more lethal sibling. Overshadowed in public discourse by hare coursing, there are nonetheless approximately 60 active packs of beagles and bassets across England and Wales. In our report on the 2024/25 hunting season, Protect the Wild found 23 reports of foot packs chasing hares and a further two killing hares (including the Pipewell Foot Beagles incident). However, this figure masks a truer figure due to beagle and basset packs receiving much less attention than fox hunts. Protect the Wild therefore concluded that a conservative estimate for hares persecuted during the season was 6522. With that number in mind, for there to have been just one conviction in 20 years of the Hunting Act reflects how significant the conviction against the Pipewell Foot Beagles really is. Following the trial, Emma Reed, who filmed the footage that convicted the hunt, told Protect the Wild: “I am very pleased with the guilty verdict and and how it has exposed this hunt’s actions and behaviour. The myth of trail hunting has once again been undermined. I would also like to acknowledge and thank the CPS, which has been very professional and committed to obtaining this conviction. “At a time when the government are supposedly consulting over the introduction of a ban on trail hunting, this is yet another example of why it can’t come quick enough. Wildlife is being terrorised and killed week in, week out, and we have to say enough is enough. Pressure must be applied to the government at every opportunity so it acts on their manifesto pledge to ban this barbaric pastime properly and forever.” The conviction finally shows that hare-hunting foot packs aren’t immune to the law. Whilst the conviction was gained at the loss of two equally significant charges, the outcome sets a precedent that beagle and basset packs can’t hide behind their fox hunting counterparts forever. Judge Mehta’s order to destroy the hunting horn is a symbol of how both public opinion and the law are finally catching up with all hunts two decades after the ban was introduced. We asked Emma if there was a group she’d like us to give a shout-out to, and she suggested Animals in Need Northamptonshire 😊 If you’d like to support their brilliant work, you can donate here SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing
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Thursday, 19 February 2026

FROM BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION — THE HAIRY FOOTED BEE AND MORE

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Early bumblebee in flight above white crocus with the words 'February 2026' in bottom left hand corner February brings more rain and a winter chill, but there are welcome signs of spring in the air. Crocuses are beginning to push through the soil, adding splashes of colour, and more importantly, nectar for emerging queen bumblebees. As the days lengthen and nature begins to stir, there's plenty to look forward to🌷 Meet the Hairy-footed flower bee 🐝 Solitary bee in flight with greenery and purple flowers This is one of the first solitary bees to emerge in spring. People often confuse them for small bumblebees, although their quick darting flight is a good way to tell them apart. Seen from February through to June, they are frequent visitors to lungworts, primroses, dead-nettles and comfrey. Hairy-footed flower bee🐝 Get ready to count the UK's bumblebees 🐝 Person writing on form on clipboard while looking at flowers with a friend to the right BeeWalk is our national citizen science scheme keeping tabs on the UK’s bumblebees - showing us which species are thriving and which are in trouble. If you can identify the basic bumblebee species, you’re ready to take part. Simply choose a one mile route, walk it once a month from March to October, and record the bumblebees you spot. That’s it - simple, powerful science! Be prepared! By registering and setting up your transect now, you'll be ready for bumblebee season, and ready to provide important data to our science team to help detect early signs of population declines. Find out more 🐝 Growing bumblebee-friendly schools🥇 Group of young children with teacher smiling in area of wildflowers In 2025, our Bumblebee-friendly Schools Award had a fantastic impact: schools across 24 UK counties took part, with 3,000 students learning about bumblebees, 79 flower species planted on school grounds, and 500 bumblebees recorded by students! It’s been brilliant to see young people taking action to help pollinators thrive, and we want to continue spreading the buzz in 2026. If you’re an educator, or have links with a school or home-educated groups, we'd love you to share the scheme and help us inspire the next generation of bumblebee champions. PLUS there's an exciting award announcement on the horizon - watch this space! Apply today 🏆 'Bee' ID ready this spring Person sat on ground with book looking at bumblebee in pot with selection of items in circles to right Bumblebee season is on the way, so why not give your ID skills a quick polish with one of our brilliant bumblebee guides? Starting at just £2, we're sure you'll find the perfect item for spotting your local bumblebees. Every purchase helps support our vital work for bumblebees. 🐝💛 Shop our ID guides 🛒 Bumblebee in the spotlight 🔎 Bumblebee in flight approaching a purple flower with two sparkles The Tree bumblebee (Bombus hypnorum) is one of the 'Big Eight' common and widespread bumblebees. Let's take a closer look. The Tree bumblebee Bee the change - where actions begin! Illustration of a hand and seedball with resource in background on green background Creating seed balls is an enjoyable activity for all ages, whether you’re planting just a few or many in your outdoor space. Growing seeds in your garden helps provide essential food for bumblebees and other key pollinators. By planting these seed balls in bare soil it will add a splash of colour to your space! Download resource Snapshot of the guide in a flower shape with yellow background Pretty bedding plants like begonias and busy lizzies may look great, but they offer bumblebees little to no food. Swap them for bumblebee‑friendly blooms with our handy planting list - perfect for community groups and home gardeners. Our guide also lists plants by flowering time, so you can keep bumblebees fed all year long. Download resource Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Registered Charity No: 1115634 / Scottish Charity No: SC042830. © 2026 Bumblebee Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this newsletter because you are already a member, subscribed via our website, an event or when becoming a volunteer. We hope you enjoy reading it! Registered address: International House, 109-111 Fulham Palace Road, London, W6 8JA; Correspondence address: Bumblebee Conservation Trust, Beta Centre, Stirling University Innovation Park, Stirling FK9 4NF Unsubscribe
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Wednesday, 18 February 2026

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — STAG HUNTING A CRUEL & EXHAUSTIVE WAY TO DIE

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Stag Hunting: The Forgotten Bloodsport Graphic Content Throughout In March the practice of spring stag hunting in the West Country will start again – though, in reality, it is only for a few short summer months that stags and hinds are left in peace. Over the last few years, hunt sabs have taken unprecedented action against the three West Country stag hunts, saving lives and exposing the depravity of the hunting, killing and ritual butchery of stags and hinds in our national parks. Stag killed and trussed up by the Tiverton Staghounds, 8th October 2025 In September and October last year the HSA launched an undercover operation by infiltrating all three of these hunts: the Tiverton Staghounds, the Devon & Somerset Staghounds and the Quantocks Staghounds. Aside from the obvious cruelty involved, this investigation exposes the way that loopholes in the Hunting Act are cynically exploited to allow the continued hunting of deer, twenty years after it was banned. Devon & Somerset Staghounds feast on the stag’s entrails. 23rd September 2025 In particular, the investigation will reveal the way that stag hunts switch between multiple Hunting Act exemptions – on the same day and even during the same hunt – in the pursuit of their quarry. One minute they claim to be ‘trail hunting’, the next minute they are flushing to guns, rescuing an injured animal or – most absurdly of all – engaged in scientific research. It would be funny if it were not so sickeningly cruel. Another victim of the Quantocks Staghounds. 29th September 2025. The hunters are constantly adapting to evade accountability or charges: our investigation will reveal why a ban on trail hunting – though urgently needed – will not be enough in itself to stop these hardened, committed hunters in their tracks. Only our comprehensive set of proposals – based on over sixty years of sabotaging all types of bloodsports - will really end hunting with hounds. 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
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FROM CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST — IT’S AN UPDATE ON THE GOOD WORK BEING DONE

View this email in your browser FEBRUARY NEWS Despite the (extremely) wet weather this year so far, spring is just around the corner! Across Cornwall, the days are slowly lengthening and the first signs of new life are beginning to stir. Even after the wildest winters, nature keeps moving forward. And with a little help from all of us, those small seasonal shifts can turn into lasting change for wildlife. Thank you for your continued support! Your membership allows our team and volunteers to work on vital projects to help create a Cornwall where nature thrives. NATURE NEWS Rainy days, wild ways Cornwall has just experienced its wettest January since 1836, with places like Bodmin seeing almost double their usual rainfall, according to the BBC. While the prolonged storms have caused disruption, the fallen trees and damp woodlands they leave behind also create valuable new habitats for fungi, insects and the wildlife that depends on them. If you’re braving the weather and heading out, watch out for flashes of scarlet, as the bright red cups of scarlet elfcup fungi emerge from moss and fallen branches. Combined with the mild weather, several flowers are also beginning to appear several weeks early, with daffodils and primroses lighting up hedgerows, woodland edges, and grasslands. BEAVER FEVER In case you missed it, Cornwall Wildlife Trust recently celebrated a milestone achievement after years of hard work: the first licenced wild release of beavers in Cornwall! Want to jump on the beaver bandwagon? Our guided beaver walks at the Cornwall Beaver Project are on sale now! Book your space now You can also read more about our landmark beaver release here. Wild beavers released in Cornwall EVENTS Superlative Seabirds of the South West Wed 18 Feb | 7pm - 8.30pm | Online Join our guest speaker Samuel Wrobel, Senior Marine Policy Officer at the RSPB, and find out more about our fantastic Cornish seabirds and how to spot them. Seagrass Restoration in Cornwall Thu 5 Mar | 7pm - 8.30pm | Online Find out more about the enigmatic intertidal seagrass and what we're doing to restore it. An online discussion with our seagrass restoration team and guest speaker, Justin Hean. Beaver Walks at Woodland Valley Farm April - Sept | 7pm - 9pm, Wednesdays and Thursdays Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust for a guided walk around our fantastic beaver project at Woodland Valley Farm. See all events FEBRUARY SPOTTERS GUIDE February may be one of the coldest months of the year, but it is full of quiet signs that spring is on its way. Late winter is a busy time for birds. Rooks gather noisily in treetops as they begin nesting in large colonies, while grey herons return to their heronries to repair nests ahead of spring egg laying. Look out for them in their nests, perched high up in the treetops. Across the lakes, great-crested grebes transform into their breeding plumage. As evenings grow milder, common toads wake from hibernation and begin their journeys back to breeding ponds. These damp, moonlit migrations are one of February’s most hopeful wildlife moments, reminding us that the seasons are turning, whatever the weather has brought so far. See the full guide CALENDARS STILL AVAILABLE There’s just a few copies left of the Wild Cornwall 2026 charity calendar, now available at half price. Filled with beautiful images celebrating Cornwall’s wild places and wildlife, every purchase helps support our work - a small way to keep nature close all year round. Shop 2026 calendar sale JOIN OUR TEAM We have a number of exciting job roles available as part of our Tor to Shore project, including: Farm Adviser Helman Tor Reserves Officer Youth and Inclusion Officer Be quick - jobs close on Fri 20 Feb. Find out more and apply Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon Images: Frogspawn (header image) - Nick Upton Alder - Ange Hale Scarlet elfcup - Mark Robinson Gull - Charlotte O’Neill Beaver - Jo Noon Great crested grebe - Steve Waterhouse Tor to Shore - Ben Watkins © 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.
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Monday, 16 February 2026

FROM PROTECT THE WILD — A NICE STORY FOR A CHANGE — DESTROYING THE MYTH ON REHOMEING HOUNDS

 

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