FROM PLANTLIFE’—READ ABOUT THE BRILLIANCE OF THE LUGG MEADOWS IN HEREFORDSHIRE

Explore Lugg Meadows with us View this email in your browser Donate Join Shop John, this autumn, we want to invite you on a virtual adventure to one of our most ancient nature reserves, Lugg Meadows. This stunning site running alongside a river in Herefordshire is steeped in history and heritage, sharing connections with the community that go back centuries. In fact, these meadows were even recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086! Even today, Lugg Meadows still feels ancient. It's managed using some traditional techniques passed down through generations. So step back in time with us, meet our Nature Reserve Manager, and members of the community who cherish their connections with this special place. John, we've created this 2-part series to explore this incredible meadow, will you join us? There's a chill in the air and the nights are drawing in, we're all missing the warmth of summer already. So sit back, grab a cuppa and let's take a virtual walk through a summers meadow! Part 1: Join the people who love Lugg Meadows and experience why this place is so special. The first part of the series above, delves into the community connection with Lugg Meadows. Hear from people who have grown up near this special place, learn about the farming heritage of the area, the common grazing and the historic hay auction. Part 2: Join our Nature Reserves Manager to hear all about the conservation and management of the meadow. In the second part above, you can hear from our Nature Reserves Manager Joe Costley, as he shares more about the conservation and management of the meadow. Joe says: "You're sort of walking on history. And you've got the big sky, sweeping expanse of grassland, it's sort of invigorating to be here. And you're part of that history really." We hope you enjoy this virtual visit to our nature reserve! Don't forget, our nature reserves are the perfect way to connect with nature, spring, summer, autumn or winter! If you ever take a trip to Lugg Meadows, or any of our other 23 reserves, we would love to see - make sure to tag us on social media. Thank you, Charley Adams Plantlife Nature Editor Follow Plantlife on: Instagram Instagram Facebook Facebook YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn Website Website Copyright © Plantlife All rights reserved. Plantlife International is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity in England and Wales (1059559) & Scotland, (SC038951) Registered Company in England and Wales (3166339) Registered Office: Brewery House,36 Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2AP, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1722 342730 enquiries@plantlife.org.uk www.plantlife.org.uk Plantlife respects your privacy. You can read more about how and why we use your personal data at www.plantlife.org.uk/privacy-notice Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

UPDATE FROM CORNWLL WILDLIFE TRUST

View this email in your browser Gif of nature photos ncludng a close up of a horse with a sky background OCTOBER UPDATE As the seasons change and autumn takes hold, there are all kind of opportunities to connect with Cornwall's wildlife, support conservation, and get involved in your local community. Here's what to read, listen, and watch out for, alongside some nature news from this month. SPOTTER’S GUIDE & RESERVE TO VISIT Think Halloween is all ghosts and ghouls? Join our Wild Halloween event at Five Acres nature reserve on Saturday 24 October and learn about some of the fascinating creatures making this spooky season really wild. Five Acres will come alive with woodland trails, wildlife, and crafts. October is packed with autumnal favourites, from fungi and migrating birds to the spiders that often start appearing in our homes at this time of year. Check out our October spotter’s guide to plan your next wildlife encounter. October spotter’s guide Wild Halloween at Fives Acres IMPACT REVIEW 2025-2026 We’ve just released our 2025-26 Impact Review, a story of collection action, practical solutions, and hope. From releasing beavers into the wild to securing £3.3 million from The National Lottery Heritage Fund for our catchment scale Tor to Shore project, there’s a lot to feel optimistic about. But this is also a call to action, because every one of us has a role in delivering a future Cornwall where our landscapes, coastlines, and seas are alive with the sights and sounds of wildlife. Read the Impact Review 2026 PHOTO COMPETITION LAUNCH EVENING TICKETS ON SALE Be the first to see the 2026 Wildlife Photography Competition finalists’ exhibition and join us as we reveals this year’s winners. Presented by wildlife photographer and conservationist George Cook, tickets are available now via the link below for this special evening at Truro Cathedral on Wednesday 28 October. Book your ticket Some of our finalists. READ, LISTEN, WATCH Read: Secrets of Joy by Jane Thomas with Mary Frampton-Price This month's recommendation comes from our Content Marketing Officer, Becks. Secrets of Joy is a beautifully illustrated festive tale following two friends on a magical adventure filled with generosity, friendship and festive wonder. A heartwarming read for all ages, it captures the spirit of Christmas while encouraging readers to appreciate the people and wildlife around them. “If you have children or grandchildren, Secrets of Joy is a wonderful way to inspire conversations about kindness, caring for wildlife and finding joy in the natural world.” (available via the Cornwall Wildlife Trust shop) Listen: On Borrowbox If you’ve not discovered it yet, then Borrowbox is a great digital library service available in Cornwall. If you head to their Environment & Conservation category there are some great audiobooks available, including The Lie of the Land by Guy Shrubsole, recommended by our team. Discover Borrowbox Watch: Our new film This month, we think you should be watching our latest film, which has been selected as a finalist at the world’s biggest sustainability film festival, The 2026 Big Syn. We’re also grateful to WTW Cinema’s for playing our film as a trailer during October and November. Watch it today via the link below. Watch now 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.

CHRIS PACKHAM SAYS WHERE IS THE BAN AS THE QUORN HUNT EXPOSED

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter Smokescreen Saturday Exposed: Chris Packham Blasts The Quorn Hunt Over Sickening Fox Cruelty That Blows Apart Trail Hunting’s Biggest Lie When we showed wildlife campaigner Chris Packham the sickening footage of the Quorn Hunt, his response was damning: “Another bloody year, another bloodied body, another animal tortured and torn to pieces to gratify the bloodlust of savages. Where is the damned consultation and where is the damned ban?” Chris Packham condemns the Quorn Hunt footage. The footage lays bare the brutal reality of cub hunting - the practice of using foxes to train young hounds to hunt and kill. WARNING: DISTURBING FOOTAGE Cub hunting is not some isolated activity. It is the preparation for the hunting season ahead. Throughout the autumn, young hounds are taught what to chase, what to kill and how to respond to the huntsman’s commands. What they learn - or fail to learn - during these crucial weeks sets the tone for the entire season. This is what makes the Quorn Hunt footage so damning. It shows hounds being deliberately encouraged to seize and tear at a fox, with hunt staff repeatedly intervening to reinforce that behaviour. On the eve of National Trail Hunting Day aka Smokescreen Saturday - as the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) and the Countryside Alliance prepared to showcase so-called ‘trail hunting’, the Quorn Hunt provided a horrifying glimpse of the reality behind the myth of trail laying. On Friday 16 October, 2026 Northants Hunt Saboteurs visited The Quorn Hunt’s kennel meet at Kirby Bellars, near Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. The Quorn has a long history of royal connections. King Charles regularly rode with the hunt when he was Prince of Wales. His association with the Quorn came to an end following the emergence of footage showing hunt members pulling a fox cub from its den and throwing them to the hounds to be torn apart. The footage begins with the saboteurs’ drone approaching a group of barns stacked with bales. Mounted riders are positioned around the outside of the covert - a classic cub hunting tactic designed to frighten fleeing foxes back into cover, where the hounds can kill them. Riders surround the covert which forces the fox back towards the barns. As the drone circles to the far side of the barns, a group of hounds comes into view. A quad bike can be seen approaching, alongside another rider. More hounds appear on the track, along with a riderless horse. Two terriermen jump off the quad bike and run towards the hounds, which have gathered in a narrow passageway between two barns. Trapped. The fox is between the two barns. What the drone captures next is utterly horrific - and exposes the brutal reality behind the hunting industry’s claims about scent trails. The huntsman is already on foot, surrounded by excited hounds. He is swinging something towards them, encouraging them to grab hold. As the footage unfolds, it becomes clear that he is swinging a fox. First the huntsman is alone shaking the fox to excite the hounds. The hounds are repeatedly encouraged to seize the fox. Eventually, several begin to grab hold, and the huntsman encourages them further, pulling and tugging against them as though playing a game. The huntsman blows on his horn over the hounds reinforcing the sound of the horn call with the kill. When the hounds finally take the fox from him, he bends over them as they tear at it and then blows his hunting horn - most likely sounding the traditional call for a kill, reinforcing the hounds' association between the horn and their quarry. He then gives one of the terriermen a thumbs-up. Thumbs-up. When the hounds begin to lose interest again, the terrierman picks up the fox’s body and repeatedly shakes it in front of them, encouraging them to take hold once more. He appears to push the fox towards the hounds jaws. The terrierman also has a go with the fox - shaking the body into the hounds jaws. When the dogs finally grip it, he pulls against them in a grotesque tug-of-war. Once the hounds take the fox from the terrierman, the huntsman again blows his horn over them. As more hounds join in, the terrierman pats one of the dogs. But as he does so he appears to hear the drone and looks up. The terrierman suddenly notices the drone. Too late. Suddenly everything changes. The fox’s body is hurriedly retrieved from the hounds, and the two terriermen scramble to stuff it beneath the hay bales. The men stuff the body under the haybale with their feet and put their hoods up The huntsman immediately exits towards his horse, while the terriermen pull their hoods up to conceal their identities. The BHSA and defenders of so-called trail hunting want the public to believe these same hounds will spend the season following scent trails. Yet here they are, being trained on foxes. The footage strikes at the very heart of the trail hunting smokescreen. A HSA Spokesperson said: “While the BHSA and the Countryside Alliance are desperately trying to save so-called ‘trail hunting’ from a ban, rolling out carefully choreographed publicity events for pro-hunt MPs and peddling the same tired claims about trails, the Quorn Hunt has been caught on camera showing a very different reality. Hounds are actively encouraged to seize and tear at a fox during ‘cubbing’. The huntsman gives a thumbs-up. Terriermen playing tug-of-war before attempting to hide it once they realised they were being filmed. These hounds aren’t simply acting on instinct. The footage shows the lengths hunt staff go to in order to encourage them to seize and kill the fox. No amount of PR spin or carefully stage-managed events can ever erase what hunt saboteurs are capturing on camera, week in, week out, at hunts around the country.” You can support Northants Hunt Saboteurs here and follow them 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

FROM PROTECT THE WILD THE CRUEL BEHAVIOUR OF FOX HUNTERS CA` PTURED ON DRONE FOOTAGE

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more This is the gruesome moment Quorn Hunt staff incite hounds to tear up fox ELIZA EGRET OCT 20 READ IN APP Northants Hunt Saboteurs’ drone has captured this harrowing and damning footage of the Quorn Hunt. On 16 October, the sabs filmed the hunt at a kennel meet in Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire. They caught the huntsman and two terriermen repeatedly inciting the hounds to latch onto and rip a fox they had just killed, in a violent tug-of-war. The terriermen and huntsman then realise they are being filmed, so try to hide the evidence of the mauled fox and attempt to cover their faces. But it’s too late: the sabs have already caught every second of their criminal act. Northants Sabs said: “This is the reality of cub hunting. There is no ambiguity, just the callous indifference of those dedicated to the continuation of blood sports. As we wait for our government to stick to their manifesto pledge to end the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’, this evidence serves as a timely reminder of the vicious and illegal intent of the hunters.” The sabs continued: “The brutal savagery they displayed in the death tug-of-war with the fox’s body should act as the final nail in the criminal coffin of hunting with hounds in the UK.” Indeed, this footage is a brutal reminder that hunts will stop at nothing to kill wildlife. Yet the government has still not revealed how it plans to fix the failed Hunting Act. It needs to close all current loopholes (such as trail hunting) and make sure no new ones (such as drag hunting) are introduced. Support the sabs! The vital work of Northants Hunt Sabs deserves our support. Without them, horrific incidents like this would remain entirely hidden behind closed doors. In a landscape where illegal hunting frequently goes unpunished, sab groups act as the primary shield for wildlife. They continue to force accountability where authorities fall short. Donate to Northants Sabs here. Support the sabs! SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start your Substack

FROM WILD JUSTICE. THE KILLING OF HEN HARRIERS ON GROUSE MOORS AND I AM WEARING THE ´T´SHIRT

Good morning, In today’s newsletter we bring you some upsetting recent news which relates to the illegal killing of five Hen Harrier chicks on a grouse moor in northern England. Although this incident happened in 2024 it’s only just come to light now as a result of a Freedom of Information request. For anyone who is new to this subject and our recent followers, we’ve included a brief overview of raptor persecution, summarising why it happens and its significant link to gamebird shooting. Raptor persecution – what is it? All raptors (birds of prey) in the UK are protected by law. Despite this, across the UK they are being illegally killed. These crimes are intentional, often pre-meditated and when highly toxic poisons and illegal traps are used, can pose significant threats to wildlife, domestic animals and the general public. The majority of these crimes take place on land managed for gamebird shooting. This includes Pheasant and Partridge shooting and Red Grouse shooting. Detected raptor persecution incidents represent only a fraction of the overall number committed as these are happening in remote upland areas or inaccessible parts of the country (including Pheasant and Partridge shoots). It is also challenging as those committing these crimes will go to great lengths to ensure they don’t leave any evidence. Persecution has stalled the recovery of a number of species (many of which are still recovering from historic persecution) and hampered significant conservation efforts, including White-tailed Eagle and Golden Eagle reintroduction projects. Why? Those killing protected birds of prey do so to remove any potential threat of predation to their gamebird stocks to try to maximise the numbers available during the shooting season and therefore increase the profitability of the shoot. For those who kill these birds, the financial incentive outweighs the risks of being caught. Who? The majority of people convicted of bird of prey persecution are gamekeepers working on gamebird shooting estates. Just this year, three gamekeepers were convicted for raptor persecution crimes which all took place in 2024. A gamekeeper was caught on camera bludgeoning to death a Buzzard in a cage trap on a Pheasant shoot in North Yorkshire. Also in North Yorkshire, a head gamekeeper was caught, along with two co-workers, trying to kill a Hen Harrier at a roost on a Grouse shooting estate in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. And in Scotland a gamekeeper was caught on camera on a shooting estate beating a Goshawk to death in a cage trap. These crimes have been happening on gamebird shooting estates for decades. The evidence is stark. Hen Harrier persecution The Hen Harrier is a breeding bird of the uplands which typically nests on the ground on open moorland. It is the most heavily persecuted species in the UK and as a result one of the most vulnerable. The majority of Hen Harrier persecution incidents have been recorded in northern England on land managed for Red Grouse shooting. These crimes have supressed their numbers in England and Scotland to just a fraction of their potential. A study by Natural England revealed that Hen Harriers are ten times more likely to die or disappear on land managed for grouse shooting. Another study by the RSPB revealed that the pressure of illegal killing of Hen Harriers on grouse moors has reduced the average survival of young birds to just 4 months post fledging, meaning that most don’t make it to breeding age. The crimes In recent years several Hen Harriers have been found shot, trapped or poisoned on grouse moors and chicks killed in the nest. These crimes are often brutal and barbaric. Today we are highlighting an extremely disturbing Hen Harrier persecution incident which has just come to light after a Freedom of Information request was submitted to Natural England. Please read on with care. The following paragraph contains some extremely distressing information. In June 2024, on a grouse moor in County Durham, Natural England fieldworkers that were monitoring Hen Harriers found five very young Hen Harrier chicks dead in the nest. Post mortem analysis revealed that all of the chicks had injuries consistent with being stabbed multiple times by a sharp implement through the body. Evidence ruled out shooting, disease and predation. The pathologist concluded that all five chicks had been intentionally and illegally killed and were the victims of persecution. To read more about the case, and to see the post mortem reports for all five chicks (which include some very distressing images of the dead chicks) read the latest Raptor Persecution UK blog here. The crime took place on a grouse moor in County Durham in June 2024. Although Natural England, the National Wildlife Crime Unit (and its Hen Harrier Taskforce) and Durham Constabulary were all aware of this incident, it was kept from the public. There has been no media coverage, no public appeal for information and no one held to account for the illegal killing of these chicks. Why there has been total silence from the authorities is a mystery. A similar incident happened in 2022, also at a nest monitored by Natural England. In that instance four chicks aged between 8-12 days old were stamped to death in the nest during the night. North Yorkshire Police concluded that this had been deliberately done by a person. You can read more about this here and listen to this Guardian podcast by following this link. Incidentally, the chick’s mother, Susie, was later found dead on a different grouse moor with gunshot injuries. The illegal killing of birds of prey in the UK on land managed for gamebird shooting is unrelenting. In the case of the Hen Harrier, it is the main cause directly preventing this species from recovering. We should be able to see Hen Harriers across much of our uplands, but as a result of these crimes it is one of our most rare species in the UK. Without significant change these crimes will continue. Changes to policy, government initiatives and heightened enforcement efforts over recent years have all failed to put a stop to raptor persecution. Deterrents are weak and financial incentives for those who work in the gamebird shooting industry can be substantial. The person who killed these five chicks and the vast majority of those killing protected birds of prey are committing these crimes with little fear of detection or retribution, and so the killing continues. We need your help In September, Defra announced a Call for Evidence on the impact of gamebird shooting. The government is asking for anyone who has experiential evidence of the impacts of gamebird shooting to submit information. This is open until 1st November 2026. If you have been upset or angered by this horrific crime, other persecution incidents, or bird of prey persecution in general, please respond to this Call for Evidence. This is an important and rare opportunity to have your voice heard on this matter. Please use this chance to make a difference. You can fill in the form online or, if you’d rather, you can write an email directly to Defra Gamebirds@defra.gov.uk (include ‘Call for Evidence’ in the subject line). We’ve written some helpful guidance along with the link to Defra’s webpage which you can access here. Thank you, Wild Justice (CEO: Bob Elliot. Directors: Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 276th 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

FROM BUMBLEBEE CONSERVATION TRUST—WE CAN ALL HELP THESE BEES

view online Bumblebee Conservation Trust logo Bumblebee on willow branch with yellow flower and blue sky It may be October, but with the fine weather, there is still so much we can do for bumblebees! We have some top tips on how to provide hibernation spots for new queens, plus bumblebees 'bank' a big win this month. And, as October marks the last month to submit your BeeWalk data this year, now is a good time to get those records in!🍂 Rare bumblebee found at historic London site All black bumblebee on a purple and lilac flower The scarce Ruderal bumblebee (Bombus ruderatus) has been discovered at Lesnes Abbey Woods in Southeast London! Famous for its 12th century abbey ruins and rich ancient woodland, the discovery was made by local volunteer Jason Lok. This sighting in the Buzzing in the East End (B.E.E) project area shows just how important urban green spaces can be for wildlife. Read the full news story 📰 It's official: bumblebees are 'noteworthy'! Graphic mock up of bank notes with bumblebee graphic and text saying 'Bumblebees bank a big win' Last week, the Buff-tailed bumblebee was chosen to feature on the new Bank of England banknotes and received the most public votes! From a shortlist of 18 UK wildlife species, the Buff-tailed bumblebee attracted an unbelievable 360,399 votes. A big thank you to everyone who voted for this iconic insect. Why not find out more about the Buff-tailed bumblebee 👇 The Buff-tailed bumblebee 🐝 Create a safe place for hibernating bumblebees Bumblebee walking over leaf and grass debris In autumn, new bumblebee queens search for places to hibernate while the rest of the colony comes to a natural end. New bumblebee queens are looking for a safe place to spend the winter. Leaving areas of soil, leaf litter, long grass and logs undisturbed can provide valuable hibernation spots. Autumn/winter guide 🍂 iam McArthur, MSP surveying for bumblebees in Orkney How will we know if nature is recovering? A new Scottish parliamentary motion, lodged by Great Yellow bumblebee Champion Liam McArthur MSP, has highlighted the important role the Trust's BeeWalk volunteers play in monitoring biodiversity and nature's recovery. Full story 📰 Two people with clipboard and pen walking through field Have you completed your October BeeWalk? BeeWalk is the Trust's national recording scheme. Submitting your October data promptly makes sure it can be included in the latest BeeWalk picture and helps the Trust guide conservation work where it is needed. Submit data 🖊️ Bee inspired with some pumpkin magic 🎃 Person with jumper showing pumpkins and a mug with foliage in background Bumblebee season may be drawing to a close, but there are still plenty of ways to support the UK’s bumblebees this autumn, including purchasing one of our bee-rilliant pumpkin-inspired designs. Add a little spice and all things nice to the season by browsing our new range. Every purchase helps to support vital conservation work all year round! Shop autumn designs 🛒 Photo credits: TMB Photography, Nick Owens and Teresa Farr. 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

FROM PROTECT THE WILD—THE SHOOTING INDUSTRY DOES NOT WANT YOU TO SEE THIS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The shooting industry doesn't want you to see this PROTECT THE WILD OCT 19 READ IN APP The government is asking what shooting really does to birds, wildlife and the countryside. If just the shooting industry answers, nothing will change. For years, those of us who care about the birds bred and released for shooting have been told the same thing: this is a rural tradition, it is well regulated, and the people who know best are the people who do it. Blah, blah, blah. We don’t believe a word of it, of course, and for the first time in a generation, the government is asking all of us to tell them what is really going on in the countryside. On 4 September, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) opened a Call for Evidence on Gamebird Release, Shooting and Welfare during Rearing in England. It wants evidence on the environmental and animal health and welfare impacts of the whole industry: breeding and rearing, release into the countryside, and shooting. That covers the cage, the incubator, the release pen, the shoot day and everything that happens to the birds afterwards. Defra says the responses will help the government understand current practice and welfare problems in the ‘gamebird’ sector, as part of its Animal Welfare Strategy for England. It has also said that any future change in policy would begin with exactly this kind of evidence gathering. In other words, what Defra hears now will shape what it does next. The call for evidence is open to all of us. It closes at 11:59pm on Sunday 1 November, so please treat the end of this month as your deadline and do not leave it to the last day. Become a Game Changer Why it matters who responds A call for evidence is not a vote, but it is shaped by who turns up. The shooting industry knows this. Its organisations have staff, press officers, membership lists and years of practice at telling government what it wants to hear, and they are already lobbying their supporters to respond. If the only evidence Defra receives comes from people who make their living from shooting, the picture it builds will be a familiar one: well managed, good for conservation, good for the rural economy. Nothing to see here, in other words. That picture will then sit behind government policy for years to come. What will be left out is what many of us have seen with our own eyes. Millions of pheasants and partridges are bred and released into the English countryside every year to be shot for entertainment. Behind that number are breeding birds kept in cages, eggs and chicks dumped as waste, foxes, crows and other wildlife trapped and killed to protect the ‘stock’, birds of prey persecuted, injured birds left to die in hedgerows and on roads, pheasant carcasses dumped in pits, lead shot scattered across the land, and the very real risk of spreading disease, including bird flu. None of that will reach Defra unless we send it. What counts as evidence Defra says it welcomes many kinds of evidence, from published research and NGO reports to monitoring data and well-documented operational or experiential evidence. That last phrase opens the door to all of us. No matter who we are or what our job is, our experience counts. Defra will give more weight to evidence it can check. So the more specific we can be, the better: what we saw, where, and roughly when. A dated photograph of pheasants dumped in a ditch. A note of a trap found on a footpath and what was in it. A record of injured birds on local lanes in the days after a shoot. Problems we have had walking a public right of way through a shooting estate. Even a single, carefully described incident can be valuable. Please be accurate. We need to be precise about what we’ve experienced. Describe anything suspected as being illegal as a suspicion unless it has been established. Honest, careful evidence is far harder to dismiss. What we will submit We will be sending Defra our own evidence, drawn from the reports published in our Investigations series this summer. Those posts documented what goes on out of sight on ‘game farms’: birds in filthy breeding cages, the incubators and brooders where chicks begin their short lives, chicks handled like items on a conveyor belt, and the breeding birds discarded once they are ‘used up’. Become a Game Changer Our investigators found skips and trailers filled with dumped pheasant eggs, with live chicks among them, and wild birds scavenging from those dumps, raising serious questions about the spread of bird flu. We also documented what Larsen traps mean for the wildlife caught in them. We will present that evidence to Defra with its sources and context. But we cannot be everywhere, and we cannot tell your story for you. Our submission will be far stronger if it sits alongside hundreds or thousands of others. Protect the Wild has made it easy You do not have to work out Defra’s questionnaire on your own. Protect the Wild has published a simple guide and email tool here: protectthewild.org.uk/defra-call-for-evidence The page explains the kinds of things worth reporting, from wildlife persecution and predator control to injured or discarded birds, environmental damage, disease and welfare concerns, and the effect of shooting on local communities. It shows which of Defra’s questions each one relates to. Most usefully, it gives you a ready-made email to Defra: just add your own experience and any photos or documents, and send it. If you would rather complete Defra’s full online survey yourself, you can do that on the Defra consultation page, which also includes Defra’s own guidance documents. Please act now This is a genuinely rare chance to put the reality of bird shooting on the government’s record, in front of the officials who will advise on what happens next, and in a process it set up. If we stay silent, the shooting industry will be the only voice in the room. Go to Protect the Wild’s guide and use the email tool. Add what you have seen, with as much detail as you can. Send it before 11:59pm on Sunday 1 November, and ideally by the end of October. Share this post with anyone who walks, rides or lives near a shoot. The birds cannot give evidence. We can. Submit your evidence in seconds Join the movement. Become a Game Changer. We have been hard at work. Months of undercover work. Hundreds of hours of footage. Farms across the UK exposed. We are making a difference. But we are only just getting started. Many of you have already become a Game Changer, standing with us as we take this fight forward, week by week, piece by piece, until the public, the media and the politicians can no longer look away. We are extremely grateful. We are reaching a larger audience all the time, though, many who won’t know that Game Changers helps us fund investigations, take on staff, and make us more effective. So we are going to repeat the call here - this is just the beginning, please be a part of it. Become a Game Changer SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start your Substack

FROM MARINE CONSERVATION SOCIETY

Marine Conservation Society logo View in browser Donate On a green box is a folded dark green t-shirt. On the front of the t-shirt is a beautiful illustration of an ammonite in light green colouring New collection has landed Plus a FREE gift for you, and a competition Hi John, Earlier this year, I helped out on a school trip to a science museum. We all loved the prehistoric sea creatures section, and were fascinated by the size of the creatures and how unusual they were. We saw helicoprions and their impressive tooth-whorls, plesiosaurs with their paddle-like limbs and then the big reveal came - the tremendous ichthyosaur skeleton. This trip inspired me to work with Phoebe, our lovely designer, to create our new Prehistoric Creatures collection for our shop. If you're a dinosaur-lover or you’ve ever spotted an ammonite fossil on a beach and wondered what they looked like when they roamed the ocean, you're going to love our latest designs. Shop the new collection > As a valued member, you hopefully already know that whenever you buy something from our store, you're raising extra vital funds for our ocean conservation work. It’s also a powerful way to raise awareness of the importance of our work when you wear your new clothes. Read on to find out how you can claim a free gift, get a sneak peek at this year's Christmas jumpers, and get involved with our latest competition. Happy shopping! Staff member Bobbie is smiling at the camera. She's wearing a light pink top. She is the Shopkeeper for the Marine Conservation Society Bobbie Shopkeeper Have a Kraken Christmas... Let the festivities begin Another collection that we’ve been working on is our Christmas jumpers. We’re all about the puns with this one, so get on board the Manta Sleigh, dig out the Manatree and get Christmas Kraken with this year’s festive looks. Speaking of festive characters, have you got an idea for one of your own? An otter in a Santa hat, dolphin delivering presents? Get your pens out and share your idea with us in our Christmas Jumper Design competition. In a box is a beige jumper with a festive "manatree" design. Surrounding the box are festive warm whit lights, gift boxes and pieces of pine tree Cosy Christmas gifts From jumpers and t-shirts to Christmas cards too, our Christmas collection features our favourite festive characters. Shop Christmas > On a beige t-shirt is a pink cartoon Kraken illustration pulling a Christmas cracker Creative competition Design an ocean-themed festive creature or scene for our next Christmas jumper. Anyone can get involved - enter by 25th October. Submit your design > A white mug with a black illustration of an octopus playing the drums is pictured on a peach and light blue background. FREE mug worth £10 Spend £35 or more in our shop and use the code MCSMUG and we'll send you our bestselling octopus mug. Claim by 21st Oct. Start shopping > Facebook logo Threads logo Instagram logo LinkedIn logo Bluesky logo Contact Us General 01989 566017 info@mcsuk.org Membership membership@mcsuk.org Beach cleans beachwatch@mcsuk.org Fundraising fundraising@mcsuk.org The Marine Conservation Society is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG. Contact us | Privacy policy | Unsubscribe

NICOLA HUTCHINSON FROM PLANTLIFE—SPEAKS OF WONDERFUL FUNGI

View this email in your browser Donate Join Shop Hi John, Fungi are everywhere. In our woodlands. In our grasslands. Beneath our feet. They help grow our food, store carbon, recycle nutrients and support more than 90% of the world’s land plants. Quite simply, our planet wouldn’t be green without fungi. Yet there is a shocking imbalance in the way we protect the natural world - for every £500 spent on protecting nature, less than £1 goes towards understanding and protecting fungi. It’s a funding gap nature can no longer afford. You can help by donating today. Fill this funding gap Fungi have spent too long in the shadows. And as habitats disappear and climates change, species risk being lost before we even know they exist. But right now, we have a rare opportunity to change their future. Next week, we’ll be at COP17 in Armenia to launch the world’s first Global Strategy for Fungal Conservation, developed with leading international experts. It’s an important step towards putting fungi firmly on the global conservation agenda. But a strategy alone won’t save fungi. We need the resources to transform knowledge and ambition into action. Your gift of £20 could help make that happen. Help bring fungi out of the shadows By giving a gift today, you can help: Turn scientific knowledge into conservation action Enable vital research into rare and threatened species Increase our understanding of fungi by growing campaigns such as Waxcap Watch For millions of years, fungi have quietly supported life on Earth. Now they need champions willing to stand up for them. We are racing to save an extraordinary kingdom we barely understand. Please donate £20 today and help make sure fungi are no longer forgotten. Donate to help fungi Thank you for giving fungi a future. Best wishes, Nicola Hutchinson Chief Executive P.S. For every £500 spent protecting nature, less than £1 goes towards fungi. Your donation today can help close this gap and bring the hidden kingdom out of the shadows. Small reddy orange ruby elfcup on dark background Image: Ruby Elfcup Sarcoscypha coccinea References: Fungi support more than 90% of the world’s land plants For every £500 spent on protecting nature, less than £1 goes towards understanding and protecting fungi. Globally, fungi receive 0.16% of funding spent on protecting nature. This appeal represents Plantlife’s work to create a world rich in plants and fungi. Your gift will help support work from protecting habitats and species to campaigning for policy change and working in partnership with people. Your gift will be used in the most effective way possible to make a difference to nature. We can only continue our conservation work through the generosity of supporters like you. Follow Plantlife on: Instagram Instagram Facebook Facebook YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn Website Website Copyright © Plantlife All rights reserved. Plantlife International is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity in England and Wales (1059559) & Scotland, (SC038951) Registered Company in England and Wales (3166339) Registered Office: Brewery House,36 Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2AP, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1722 342730 enquiries@plantlife.org.uk www.plantlife.org.uk Plantlife respects your privacy. You can read more about how and why we use your personal data at www.plantlife.org.uk/privacy-notice Want to change how you receive these emails? You can unsubscribe from this list here. If you would no longer like to receive emails about fundraising appeals, please respond to this email and we'll update your record.

SPINEY SEAHORSES FROM MARINE CONSERVATION

Marine Conservation Society logo View in browser Donate Spiny seahorse No stomach means food passes quickly through its body An adult spiny seahorse eats 30-50 times a day. How much do you think a seahorse fry (baby seahorse) eats? Take a guess > A tiny juvenile spiny seahorse has its tail wrapped around a piece of vivid green seagrass Credit: Georgie Bull Hi John, As an ocean-lover, you'll probably already know that the male spiny seahorse becomes pregnant - they fertilise and look after the eggs in a pouch and can carry up to 2000 babies at a time. But did you know these other fascinating facts? They can change colour to match their environment! Although typically yellow or light green in colour, they can change their shade to better blend in with their environment, usually seagrass, to hide from predators. Despite their unique look with soft spines and upright posture, they're actually fish as they have a swim bladder and fin. Favourite fact: They're quite rare and are mostly found in seagrass off the South Coast of England - they're one of only two seahorse species found in the UK. Learn more about the spiny seahorse > Have you ever spotted a spiny seahorse? If you have, I'd love to hear your best tips - it's on my list to try and see one in real life if I can! Staff member Amy is smiling at the camera wearing a light pink jumper. Amy Digital Channels Manager In the background is some bright green seagrass. Overlaid on top of the seagrass photograph is a smaller photograph of a spiny seahorse clinging to seagrass with its tail. Credit: Seahorse - Georgie Bull, Seagrass - Heather Hamilton Super seagrass Seagrass is more effective at absorbing carbon than an equivalent area of rainforest. It's also a vital habitat for spiny seahorses, which is why we're planting 10,000m² of seagrass in the next three years. With a little of your help John, we can give the ocean’s most devoted dads somewhere safe to raise their young. Donate now > Facebook logo Threads logo Instagram logo LinkedIn logo Bluesky logo Contact Us General 01989 566017 info@mcsuk.org Membership membership@mcsuk.org Beach cleans beachwatch@mcsuk.org Fundraising fundraising@mcsuk.org The Marine Conservation Society is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG. Contact us | Privacy policy | Unsubscribe

FROM AMY AT MARINE LIFE CONSERVATION

Marine Conservation Society logo View in browser Donate today Short-beaked dolphin "Bow-riding" by boats since ancient Greek times Spend a mindful minute with an acrobatic, playful, sociable dolphin. Watch the video > Three bottlenose dolphins swimming together in a bright blue sea Hi John, Meet the common short-beaked dolphin - a playful treat to brighten up your inbox and give you a moment to pause. These fast, super‑social dolphins are often seen racing alongside boats in UK waters. It’s one of the most eye‑catching cetaceans around our coasts - have you ever spotted a pod? They have a distinctive two-tone appearance with cream/light grey colouring to the sides and belly, and dark grey colouring on top. They're also a bit shorter than a bottlenose dolphin, with an average length of between 1.8-2.5m long. Fun fact: Common dolphins ride alongside boats for a few reasons, including using the boat as a way to swim with less friction, shed dead skin or parasites, but also...simply for fun! These dolphins have been known to do this for centuries, even the ancient Greeks documented it. Learn more about the common dolphin > Do you have any fun facts about short-beaked dolphins? I'd love to hear them! Thanks for reading, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend. Staff member Amy is smiling at the camera wearing a light pink jumper. Amy Digital Channels Manager P.S. want to know which unseen species helps the common dolphin? Scroll down! In the top section of the image there is a photograph of a beautiful common dolphin breaching the water's surface. Underneath that is a picture of lots of native oysters, which help filter the water common dolphin's need to thrive. Native oysters to the rescue Common dolphins need clean water to thrive. Native oysters can filter up to 200 litres of water a day, removing harmful pollutants. Restoring oysters will help create cleaner, healthier seas. We want to grow 1 million oysters by 2030. John, please can you help us? Yes, I'll donate > Facebook logo Threads logo Instagram logo LinkedIn logo Bluesky logo Contact Us General 01989 566017 info@mcsuk.org Membership membership@mcsuk.org Beach cleans beachwatch@mcsuk.org Fundraising fundraising@mcsuk.org The Marine Conservation Society is the UK charity dedicated to protecting our seas, shores and wildlife. Marine Conservation Society | Company Limited by Guarantee (England and Wales) No. 2550966 Registered Charity No. England and Wales No. 1004005 | Scotland No. SC037480 VAT No. 321 4912 32 Registered Office: Overross House, Ross Park, Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, HR9 7US. Scottish Office: CBC House, 24 Canning Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8EG. Contact us | Privacy policy | Unsubscribe

BIRD LIFE INTERNATIONAL IN MIGRATION

View email in browser Hi John, To celebrate World Migratory Bird Day we're excited to share Global Flyways, a new digital series with Content With Purpose, that brings together scientists, conservationists, communities, organisations and local voices to reveal the global effort to protect migratory birds. Filmed across five continents, the series comes at a critical moment. Our recently published State of the World's Birds report shows that 45% of migratory bird species are in decline. Watch conservation in action All of our work forever shows that nature does not stop at a border, and neither should the people defending it. It's why today we also want to share that we're so close to reaching one million signatures towards our #HandsOffNature petition that we launched last year. It is asking people everywhere to speak up for the laws that protect Europe's wild places, and we've got 12 days left. Weakening the protections for Europe's nature breaks a chain that stretches across continents, and biodiversity everywhere depends on every link in it holding. I'll sign to say #HandsOffNature Feeling inspired and want to do more to help birds? Mark the 8th May 2027 in your diary to take part in BirdLife's Race to Save Birds Challenge. You can find out more and sign up early here, or stay tuned to hear more. Best wishes, BirdLife International Supporter Care Team Instagram Facebook YouTube Website You are receiving this email because you opted-in to hear from BirdLife International Image credit: Common Cranes © 2016 MstudioG, Shutterstock BirdLife International is a registered charity 1042125 Address: BirdLife International The David Attenborough Building Pembroke Street Cambridge CB2 3QZ UK For full details on how we collect, use and store your personal information see our Privacy Policy. update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Copyright © 2026, All rights reserved.

FROM EMMA—LEAGUE AGAINST CRUEL SPORTS

Banner Dear John Your compassion for animals is helping bring us closer to a world where they are no longer hunted or harmed for so-called ‘sport’. Your continued commitment as a member of the League also remains critical to driving our work forward. I am pleased to write to you today to announce a new opportunity to help shape our work. For the first time, Members can put forward motions for consideration at the 2027 AGM via a new, improved process. This process gives you an opportunity to put forward ideas, share suggestions and influence the direction of the organisation. If you have a proposal or suggestion you would like Members to consider, now is the time to take action. Find out more about submitting a motion for the 2027 AGM: How to Submit a Motion Image The webpage explains the motions process, including what a motion is, how to submit one and the key deadlines to be aware of. Your voice matters. By putting forward a motion, you can help ensure the issues that matter most to you and to animals are heard. The closing date for motions submission is 31 December 2026. Thank you for being part of a community committed to protecting animals from cruelty in the name of ‘sport’. With thanks, Signature Emma Slawinski Chief Executive League Against Cruel Sports, New Sparling House, Holloway Hill Godalming, GU7 1QZ www.league.org.uk Telephone: 01483 524 250 © 2026 League Against Cruel Sports Registered Charity in England & Wales (No.1095234) and Scotland (No.SC045533) You are receiving this email as you are a member of League Against Cruel Sports and we need to keep you informed about any changes to our membership process. unsubscribe view this email in your browser. supporter

FROM THE HUNT SABOTEURS—IT’S WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST WITH THE LIKES OF A FORMER PRIME MINISTER

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter David Cameron Defends Trail Hunting: Four Days Later The Heythrop Kill A Fox On 14 September 2026, former Prime Minister David Cameron joined the Countryside Alliance in another performance of defending so-called trail hunting at an event in Westminster. Kennel Huntsman Josh Tierney looks back to see who is watching before retrieving the body of the fox that is being killed in front of him. Image: Three County Hunt Sabs Four days later, on 18 September, the Heythrop Hunt - a hunt Cameron has ridden with and was seen attending earlier this year - was out near Lower Swell in Gloucestershire. Three Counties Hunt Sabs were there when the Heythrop’s hounds killed yet another fox, before members of the hunt carried its mauled body away. Tierney legging it with the fox remains: Image: Three County Hunt Sabs Cameron’s association with the Heythrop goes back decades. Most recently, on 28 February this year, Three Counties Sabs photographed the former Prime Minister attending a joint Heythrop and Tynedale meet at Dean Manor in Oxfordshire. Cameron is spotted at a Heythrop meet in February 2026. Image: Three County Hunt Sabs Cameron’s connections to hunting go beyond the Heythrop. His stepfather-in-law, Viscount Astor, is the chairman of the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA), the governing body for registered hunts in Britain. Astor recently made the news when his plot to “hoodwink” government ministers over the proposed trail hunting ban made The Times newspaper. William Waldorf Astor III, 4th Viscount Astor, stepfather-in-law of David Cameron and Chairman of the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA). Image: Bristol Hunt Saboteurs Another senior figure at the BHSA has an even more direct connection to the Heythrop. It is the BHSA’s executive director, Julian Barnfield. Barnfield is the former huntsman of the Heythrop, and he has history with Cameron. Quadruple-convicted former Heythrop Huntsman, now the executive director of the BHSA Julian Barnfield. In 2008, Barnfield was charged with three offences under the Hunting Act over allegations he had hunted foxes with hounds. At the time Cameron was Leader of the Opposition and the Heythrop was his local hunt. Cameron was also Barnfield’s constituency MP. Following a private meeting between the two, Cameron intervened personally and wrote to the Attorney General on his constituent’s behalf, reportedly questioning whether prosecuting the Heythrop huntsman was “really a productive use of police time?” The case was subsequently discontinued. Attempts to obtain a copy of the letter under the Freedom of Information Act were unsuccessful. Did the CPS cave to pressure from Cameron? Four years later, Barnfield was back before the courts for illegal hunting. In December 2012, Barnfield pleaded guilty to four charges of illegally hunting foxes with dogs. Heythrop senior master Richard Sumner also pleaded guilty to four offences, as did Heythrop Hunt Ltd itself. The case made history, as the Heythrop became the first hunt to be convicted as a corporate body under the Hunting Act. Barnfield, the quadruple-convicted huntsman, on whose behalf David Cameron had personally intervened during the earlier prosecution, would go on to become the executive director of the organisation responsible for governing hunts in Britain. On the morning of 18 September 2026, Three Counties Hunt Sabs were with the Heythrop when its hounds entered woodland. WATCH THE VIDEO The hunt had surrounded the woodland while hounds were pushed through the covert - classic cub hunting. Riders can be heard slapping their saddles - a tactic used to scare fleeing foxes back towards the hounds. The fox was killed just inside the fenceline. Kennel huntsman Josh Tierney was filmed climbing into the woodland and emerging carrying the fox’s mauled body, before running away with it. When the sabs were able to reach the kill-site, they found blood and internal body parts - including the fox’s liver, left behind. Blood on the fence where the fox’s body had been dragged (top) and liver and intestines (bottom) Before joining the Heythrop, Tierney had been huntsman of the South Dorset Hunt. On 24 July 2024, he was convicted of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. The Heythrop’s current master and huntsman Oliver Dale received a police caution after an assault on a female sab in November 2024. Dale was also charged with three Hunting Act offences whilst master and huntsman of the North Cotswold Hunt. Those charges were subsequently discontinued by the Crown Prosecution Service. The Heythrop’s political connections are not confined to former Conservative leaders. In January this year the current Tory party leader, Kemi Badenoch, appeared at the Cocklebarrow Point-to-Point, a fundraiser for the Heythrop. While there, Badenoch used her speech to attack the proposed ban on so-called ‘trail hunting’. She was pictured with a grinning Oliver Dale. By the time Badenoch stood up in defence of trail hunting, the Heythrop hunt already had 12 guilty counts for illegal hunting. Furthermore, another former Heythrop huntsman, Chris Woodward - who had himself been convicted of a Hunting Act offence committed while he was huntsman of the Wynnstay Hunt - was at the centre of an incident that resulted in the Heythrop being issued a Community Resolution by Gloucestershire Rural Crime Team after he lost control of its hounds near Bourton-on-the-Water. Heythrop Hunt kill a fox in 2023 at Eyford Park with Chris Woodward present. Woodward also arrived at the Heythrop with convictions for interfering with a badger sett and harassment. Over the years, individuals who have gone on to serve as Heythrop huntsmen have accumulated strings of offences ranging from harassment and badger sett interference to illegal hunting. None of this history was hidden. The Heythrop and its hunt staff are also under further police investigations for events during the 2025/2026 season which we will report more on when we are able. A spokesperson for the HSA said: “Once again the Heythrop Hunt have been caught killing a fox. Its roll call of convicted huntsmen should be enough to make any politician steer well clear. Instead, politicians who aspire to govern this country continue to associate with, promote and defend the smokescreen of ‘trail hunting’. Cub hunting is particularly indefensible. Young hounds are taken into woodland and taught to hunt foxes, whilst riders surround a covert and try to prevent foxes from escaping. There is no trail to follow, and no plausible excuse when a fox ends up dead.” Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs said: “Cub hunting and holding up (i.e stopping young foxes escaping hounds) continues as it did pre ban”. You can support Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs here and follow them 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

OAK POLIPORE

View this email in your browser Donate Join Shop Hi John, For the endangered fungus Oak Polypore, finding the right home can be a matter of survival. This remarkable species relies on ancient Oak trees. But these irreplaceable trees are being lost to development, habitat loss and climate change, meaning the Oak Polypore is losing its home. Without intervention, its future is uncertain. But there is hope. We're creating new habitats for the endangered Oak Polypore to live and developing techniques to rehome them as part of our Natur am Byth partnership project. It’s painstaking conservation work. And it could offer Oak Polypore a lifeline. Will you donate £20 today to help give species like Oak Polypore a future? Donate today By helping to protect rare species like Oak Polypore, you're not just saving one species. You're helping safeguard the ancient woodland ecosystem that supports birds, bats, insects and countless other forms of life. Fungi are part of what holds these ecosystems together. Yet despite everything they do, fungi remain one of conservation’s biggest blind spots. We have an opportunity to change that. Your support can help enable vital research into rare and threatened fungi, protect the habitats they depend on and turn scientific knowledge into action before it’s too late. Please give £20 today and help bring fungi out of the shadows. Donate Thank you for standing up for a world that's been overlooked for too long. Best wishes, Nicola Hutchinson Chief Executive P.S. Oak Polypore is losing its home, but we have a chance to help. Your gift of £20 could support the research and conservation needed to secure a future for endangered fungi. Please donate today. Oak Polypore Image: Oak Polypore Buglossoporus quercinus fungus Follow Plantlife on: Instagram Instagram Facebook Facebook YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn Website Website Copyright © Plantlife All rights reserved. Plantlife International is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity in England and Wales (1059559) & Scotland, (SC038951) Registered Company in England and Wales (3166339) Registered Office: Brewery House,36 Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2AP, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1722 342730 enquiries@plantlife.org.uk www.plantlife.org.uk Plantlife respects your privacy. You can read more about how and why we use your personal data at www.plantlife.org.uk/privacy-notice Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

FROM PROTECT THE WILD—REFORM & PLAID CYMRU—BADGER CULLING-ITS ALL POLITICAL?

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Reform & Plaid Cymru Team Up on Badger Culling?! | Weekly Roundup PROTECT THE WILD OCT 9 READ IN APP Another week has flown by, which means another Protect the Wild weekly roundup is here! In today’s 14-minute episode, I cover everything from the shocking prospect of Reform and Plaid Cymru joining forces to push ahead with badger culling in Wales, to the Conservative leader’s disgraceful defence of so-called ‘trail’ hunting. These videos are the best way to stay in the loop with our work and most importantly the ways you can help us in the fight to protect British wildlife. I hope you all have a lovely weekend! :) SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM NICOLA JACKSON—OF PLANTLIFE—IT’S ALL ABOUT FUNGI

View this email in your browser Donate Join Shop Hi John, Beneath our feet lies an extraordinary hidden kingdom – fungi. Fungi nourish our plants, store carbon in our soils and support the ecosystems we all depend on. Yet, while nature is under increasing pressure, fungi remain one of the most overlooked and underfunded areas in conservation. And we are losing species before we even know they exist. That’s why I’m asking for your help today. Will you donate £20 to help bring fungi out of the shadows and protect this extraordinary kingdom before more species are lost forever? Yes, I will help Scientists estimate there are around 2.5 million species of fungi worldwide, but only a fraction have been identified. At the current rate of discovery, it could take another 1,000 years - or 40 generations - to uncover what remains unknown. The problem is that we don’t have 1,000 years! With habitats disappearing and climate change already reshaping ecosystems around the world, fungi are being lost before we even have the chance to discover, understand or protect them. Donate today to help protect vulnerable species, conserve the habitats they depend on and strengthen the ecosystems that support us all. This is a pivotal moment for fungal conservation. The decisions we make now will determine what we discover, protect and pass on to future generations. We are racing to save a kingdom we barely understand. Please make a donation today and help bring fungi out of the shadows. Donate Thank you for giving fungi a future. Best wishes, Nicola Hutchinson Chief Executive P.S. Fungi have quietly supported life on Earth for millions of years. Now they need us. Please give £20 today to help protect fungi before more species are lost forever. Bonnet fungi among moss References: Around 2.5 million species of fungi worldwide At the current rate of discovery, it could take another 1,000 years – or 40 generations – to uncover what remains unknown Follow Plantlife on: Instagram Instagram Facebook Facebook YouTube YouTube LinkedIn LinkedIn Website Website Copyright © Plantlife All rights reserved. Plantlife International is a charitable company limited by guarantee. Registered Charity in England and Wales (1059559) & Scotland, (SC038951) Registered Company in England and Wales (3166339) Registered Office: Brewery House,36 Milford Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP1 2AP, UK Tel: +44 (0) 1722 342730 enquiries@plantlife.org.uk www.plantlife.org.uk Plantlife respects your privacy. You can read more about how and why we use your personal data at www.plantlife.org.uk/privacy-notice Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

FROM SCOTLANDS HUNT SABOTEURS AND A CONVICTION OBTAINED

View this email in your browser Hi, Supporter The Law Catches up with the Lauderdale: Huntswoman Convicted of Illegal Fox Hunting Claire Bellamy, 51, veteran huntswoman for the Lauderdale Hunt, became the first fox hunter convicted under Scotland’s new hunting laws, following a case in which footage captured by Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs exposed illegal hunting taking place beyond the boundaries of licensed operation. Claire Bellamy after the incident. Image: Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs On Monday, 5 October 2026, Bellamy, the former master and huntsman was found guilty at Paisley Sheriff Court of deliberately hunting a fox with dogs during an outing at Kirkton Wood, between Houston and Kilmacolm in January, 2025. The hunt had been granted a licence by NatureScot, allowing dogs to be used under controlled circumstances. But the footage, which was played to the court, showed the hounds pursuing a fox outside the area covered by that licence. Under the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023, NatureScot can licence more than two dogs to search for, stalk or flush a fox from cover, where this is necessary to prevent serious damage and where an alternative control is not available - it is not a licence to hunt foxes in any traditional sense. This fox was hunted as hounds were allowed to hunt in the open. Image: Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs Dogs can be used to search for and flush a fox from cover, but the dogs must remain under control. The fox can be flushed towards waiting guns and shot as soon as possible. The hounds are not allowed to pursue or kill the fox. The hounds in pursuit of the hunted fox. Image: Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs Licences are also geographically restricted, specifying exactly where the activity is permitted to take place. So, the legal model is that dogs can enter the cover, flush the fox, and the waiting guns shoot the fox. What is not allowed is that dogs find the fox, and then pursue the fox across the country. Sabs warned when the new legislation was introduced that licensing created a loophole through which traditional fox hunting could continue under the guise of wildlife management and Bellamy’s conviction shows those warnings were well founded. WATCH THE VIDEO The footage was filmed by hunt saboteurs and shown in court. It shows the hunt spread out across the countryside with hounds moving over open ground along the edge of the woodland. Bellamy argued that the hounds had got away from her and that she was attempting to regain control. However, the terms of the licence state that the dogs must be under control, but more importantly, the court rejected that this was an accidental loss of control. After viewing the footage, Sheriff Sukhwinder Gill found Bellamy guilty of deliberately hunting a fox with dogs outside the area in which the licensed activity was permitted. The old “whoopsie my dogs were out of control” is not a defence under the Scottish Hunting Act. Terrier-men with quads stuffed with terriers follow behind. Image: Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs Bellamy’s conviction vindicates sabs concerns that hunts would turn the licences into loopholes to continue with traditional fox hunting. Naturally, Bellamy was not operating in isolation; behind her stands an organised network of dedicated wildlife killers, eagerly searching for any loophole to carry on traditional fox hunting just as they always have. In 2023, following the passing of the new Scottish hunting laws, another hunt - the Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire announced that it was folding after 252 years. At their final meet, the hunt gave thanks to riders and supporters who had followed the hunt, and to the farms and landowners who had allowed them to cross their land over the years. The Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire meet for the last time ever in March 2023. Image: Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs The foxhound pack was disbanded, with the hunt saying that the hounds would be rehomed. But the organisation itself did not disappear. Instead, it announced that it would continue to operate as a ‘hunt club’. A hunt club can maintain the social network of riders and hunt supporters, organise events such as Point-2-Points, and preserve the relationships with landowners and farmers within the countryside where the hunt previously operated. It was on the former Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire country that Bellamy and the Lauderdale hounds were operating on the day of the illegal hunt. The Lauderdale packing up under the watchful eyes of Glasgow sabs. Image: Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs Bellamy’s conviction is important not just because she is the first fox hunter to be convicted under the new Act, but because it demonstrates that licensing hunts has not prevented illegal hunting from taking place, and without observers on the ground, what happens during a hunt, would rarely ever make a courtroom. As the government is currently considering a new law for hunting in England and Wales, Bellamy’s case serves as a warning about how exemptions or permitted hunting activities work in practice. Given the opportunity, hunts will sniff out a loophole or opportunity to hunt foxes from a thousand paces. The government must ensure, this time, a ban means a ban. A spokesperson for Glasgow Hunt Saboteurs said: “We welcome the outcome of this case, particularly as it is the first of its kind under the new Scottish law. The blatant illegal hunting and sheer audacity of those involved shows what we are up against. Those who want to kill wildlife clearly believe they are above the law. Not this time. With more of Scotland’s hunting community due in court over the coming months, we will continue to be out there in all weathers, working tirelessly until the day comes when fox hunting is cleansed entirely from Scotland’s beautiful countryside.” You can support Glasgow Hunt Sabs here and follow them 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

FROM PROTECT THE WILD—CATAPULTS AND A BAN

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more The catapult petition is over halfway. This is how we win this Catapult crime against wildlife is skyrocketing. Add your signature now! ELIZA EGRET OCT 8 READ IN APP More than 56,000 people have signed our government petition, demanding that catapult attacks on wildlife become a standalone criminal offence. Reaching the 100,000-signature milestone is critical, so please add your name today! Hitting this target forces Parliament to consider the issue for a full debate. Given the government's clear reluctance to act on its own, overwhelming public demand is necessary to force a breakthrough. Defra has already responded that “there are sufficient laws in place to protect wildlife from targeted use of catapults and existing powers are already available for the police to tackle their misuse.” This is simply not true. Sign the petition! Across the country, catapult violence against wildlife is skyrocketing, leaving local rescue charities overwhelmed by horrific, daily injuries. Meaningful convictions remain virtually non-existent, despite a multi-agency response between the police, the League Against Cruel Sports and others called Operation Lakeshot. There’s a fundamental failure in the current legal framework, which scatters weak protections across various general wildlife and public order acts. Existing laws are clearly doing nothing to deter criminals - who are often teenagers killing animals for online status. Even though intentionally harming wild birds violates the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the law completely ignores the weapons being used to commit these atrocities. An average of 14 catapult incidents a day are recorded in Kent alone, fueling a 23% year-on-year surge in animal cruelty nationwide. Recent RSPCA data revealed that deliberate cruelty cases against wild birds - who are most targeted by catapults - reached 876 incidents in 2025, with summer attacks alone nearly doubling from 179 to 359 compared to the previous year. This accelerated into 2026, with 474 targeted reports logged in the first half of the year alone. Take action! In late September 2026, Cheshunt Animal Rescue in Hertfordshire reported to the national press that catapult attacks are still increasing, despite the supposed national crackdown through Operation Lakeshot. Some local councils have been forced to take matters into their own hands, introducing Public Space Protection Orders (PSPO) to restrict the use of catapults. If the system was working and if current laws were sufficient, councils would not need to improvise their own safety nets. Defra has stated that it has “no plans to make catapult attacks against animals a standalone criminal offence.” But if 100,000 of us make ourselves heard, the government could re-evaluate its stance. Together we can break through this political complacency, trigger a mandatory parliamentary debate, and force the government to grant wildlife the legal protections it desperately needs. Please sign the petition today and demand that catapult crime towards wildlife becomes a standalone criminal offence. Sign the petition now! 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—GRABBED,SHOVED, CRATED TO FEED A BLOODLUST TO APPEASE SHOOTERS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Grabbed, Shoved, Crated. What ‘de-pop’ looks like on a so-called ‘game farm’ PROTECT THE WILD OCT 6 READ IN APP Over the last few months, we have told a chronological story of how life unfolds for birds being bred for the gun. We have shown you factory farming within the shooting industry, footage of pheasant chicks tipped out of trays onto a shed floor, how pheasant chicks bred for shooting start life being chucked onto a conveyor belt, and - only yesterday - slightly older poults being thrown and mistreated on yet another ‘game farm’. In this article we are looking at ‘de pop’ - the depopulation of the ‘stock’, in this case hen pheasants being crated up before being sent to release pens on a shoot. Covert cameras placed by the investigation team recorded the whole ‘de pop’ process over several days - from the start when workers are chivying hen pheasants from large runs into a small shed, the delivery of orange transport crates on a trailer, and the rounding up and crating of the birds. Rough handling We are focussing here on the birds being rounded up, held down, and being ‘de-bitted’ before being stuffed - and we use the word very deliberately - into the crates. It’s difficult to know which part is more disturbing. One of the cameras, placed high in a corner inside the shed, captures the chaos taking place below it. We’re publishing not only screenshots taken from the footage but a short video compilation, which includes the audio track and the whirring of wings as the young pheasants try to escape. Become a Game Changer First, before the pheasants go into the crates, a worker pulls the bits from each bird’s nares. Our screenshots show his fingers working at their faces while he holds two or three more hens pinned down with his other hand. There is no attempt to isolate one bird, settle her, remove the device, and set her down calmly before reaching for the next. Bitting is standard practice across this industry, and these particular birds will very likely have gone through pretty much the same ordeal before: caught and held down while a human (who, as a prey species, pheasants see as a direct threat) reaches for their face (we described a similar process at ‘Pinned Down and Terrified’). What our camera recorded this time is, in effect, that process running in reverse. Then the worker shoves the birds into the crates, using the flat of his hand to press wings and bodies down through too small a gap. There is no suggestion of lowering the birds in carefully, just using force. The birds are still visibly trying to scramble back out as he closes the lid over them. In the video clip, he closes the lid across the throat of one of the birds. None of this is being done in anger. It’s routine. He knows the birds will survive a bit of rough handling, so what’s the problem? It looks - to us anyway - that he has done this hundreds and hundreds of times before. So often that it’s as if he’s forgotten that he’s actually handling small, scared living beings. The industry’s problem As with the poults we wrote about yesterday, the shooting industry can’t have a good answer to this footage, whichever way it turns. If this is normal handling for experienced staff on a normal day - and everything about how relaxed, chatty and unhurried the men are suggests that it is - then this is what “high welfare standards” looks like when nobody is watching. Neither say anything, or appear to point out that this is not how birds should be treated. If instead the industry wants to say these workers were untrained, rushing, or simply having a bad day, then someone left two men alone with several hundred frightened animals and never checked how the job was actually being done. Either is shameful. Neither looks good. Become a Game Changer “There’s a bit of truth in that” On a side note, while all this is going on, the two workers are chatting. At one point, they start talking about how widespread Avian Flu has become on shoots. The conversation includes a couple of observations that - coming from industry insiders - are striking. We’ve edited here for length, but we have not changed any words or added anything to alter the meaning of what is being said: “There’s f***ing bird flu down south... all the pheasants... there’s f***ing big shoots down there... like 100 thousands out... the biguns have it... [they’re] saying that shoots are one of the main spreaders of bird flu... so yeah they are all raving about shoots are spreading the bird flu not birds - there is a bit of truth in that” “Shoots are spreading the bird flu not birds”. Let that sink in for a moment. People within the shooting industry know full well that the mass release of millions of birds into the countryside and the subsequent scattering of those birds during the shooting ‘season’ is spreading a serious disease that has already killed thousands of wild birds, forced restrictions and lockdowns of breeding farms, and led to Defra issuing a warning in August 2025 to “Bird keepers…particularly those involved in running a shoot or game bird rearing“ of a “heightened avian influenza risk”. Just over a year ago, we wrote about a series of Freedom of Information requests (FOIs) by campaigner and author Guy Shrubsole that revealed the shooting industry is failing to declare millions of Pheasants bred for the gun. Guy stated that “it once again demonstrates the depth of non-compliance by shooting estates with basic regulatory requirements.” We have said repeatedly that shooting - through poor biosecurity and poor regulation - could be acting as a ‘super-spreader’ of Avian Flu. That insiders admit that is the case is confirmation of that claim. Legal doesn’t mean acceptable We keep returning to this point because - unfortunately - it is true: none of what we’ve shown you here is necessarily unlawful in the way most people would understand that word. We think these workers are failing to follow the industry’s Code of Practice but that describes itself as guidance, not law. It even states plainly that “failure to comply with a provision of this Code shall not of itself render you liable to proceedings of any kind.” That legislative gap between what the industry’s own rules describe and what a camera nobody knew was there actually recorded is, by now, a running theme of this series. Become a Game Changer That doesn’t mean that footage like this is unimportant, though. Just a few days ago, Defra opened its Call for Evidence on Gamebird Release, Shooting and Welfare during Rearing in England, asking directly how birds like these are reared, handled and moved. As we said just two days ago, the industry’s own account of itself - which will be submitted largely by the same people featuring in our investigations - cannot be allowed to stand unchallenged. Footage like this, however ordinary it might look to the two men in the shed that day, is exactly the kind of evidence that challenges it. We will of course be including it in our submission to Defra. Footage and images recorded by an undercover investigative team in 2025. We are working to END BIRD SHOOTING. This suffering has to stop. Please share this article. Share our socials. Follow us for updates. Join the movement. Become a Game Changer. We are at the beginning of something. Months of undercover work. Hundreds of hours of footage. Farms across the UK exposed. But we are only just getting started. Many of you have already become a Game Changer, standing with us as we take this fight forward, week by week, piece by piece, until the public, the media and the politicians can no longer look away. We are extremely grateful We are reaching a larger audience all the time, though, many of whom won’t know that Game Changers help us fund investigations, take on staff, and make us more effective. So we are going to repeat the call here - this is just the beginning, please be a part of it. Become a Game Changer SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM WILD JUSTICE— AN AMAZING UPDATE ON EVERYTHING & THE BIRDS OF POOLE HARBOUR

Good morning, Today’s newsletter is an update on what we’ve been up to, including an amazing weekend with the charity Birds of Poole Harbour, and a look back at our stall and show at Wild Summit in Bristol in September. We also bring you a reminder about Defra’s Call for Evidence on gamebird shooting (deadline 1 November!). Wild Justice takes to the waves! Last weekend we hosted two special events in Poole, Dorset where we were privileged to be joined by over 140 Wild Justice friends, donors and supporters. Thanks to our good friends at the charity Birds of Poole Harbour, we enjoyed two bird-watching cruises, one on Saturday and one on Sunday, where guests were able to see the rich biodiversity of this site, including good views of White-tailed Eagles, Spoonbills, Great White Egrets, a late Osprey, Marsh Harriers, a Hobby, Sandwich Terns and Mediterranean Gulls. The opportunity to watch reintroduced White-tailed Eagles was a highlight for many of us, but it was sobering to learn that in the last four years, two of the eagles that were regularly seen around Poole Harbour have since become the victims of illegal persecution – including the first White-tailed Eagle to fledge in Dorset in over 240 years. Both incidents were linked to gamebird shooting. You can read more about these cases here and here. No one has been charged in connection with either of these offences. Photos: Sandwich Tern, White-tailed Eagle and Spoonbills (Credit: Marc Ruddock). The Birds of Poole Harbour team is punching well above its weight, not only directly involved in species reintroductions and monitoring programmes, but also enabling tens of thousands of people, including many local school children, to see some incredible wildlife and stunning habitats around the Harbour. These trips are hugely valuable – allowing people to connect with nature and understand more about our natural world, bird life, the importance of habitat management and protection and species recovery. They’re also terrific fun! We had great chats throughout the afternoon and have since had really lovely feedback from those who managed to come along. We were inundated with applications to join us on the day and only wish we could have managed to take you all on board! We will do it again down the line, so will keep you posted. We’d like to thank Birds of Poole Harbour for having us aboard and the team at Careys Secret Garden for generously hosting us on Saturday night at such a magical venue. Special thanks to sculptor Mark Butler and author Gregory Norminton who presented their evocative Ghost Skydancer piece. The audience was clearly moved. Gamebird shooting: Call for Evidence! Last month Defra announced its Call for Evidence on gamebird shooting, which is due to close on 1 November 2026. This is a really important opportunity for you to voice any issues you’ve experienced relating to Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Red Grouse and Mallard shooting. Alongside scientific evidence, Defra is asking for personal evidence/experience. If you’ve ever had a Pheasant collide with your vehicle, found dumped dead gamebirds, been harassed by gamekeepers or refused access to land, suffered disturbance, found a shot, trapped or poisoned bird of prey, had gamebirds trashing your garden… or any other detrimental impacts, please respond to Defra before the closing date (1 November). Your voice really counts on this and is a real opportunity to drive some significant policy change around gamebird shooting. You can respond using the online form or by email. For more information and the link to the Defra webpage follow this link to our recent blog. If you’ve already responded, we’d like to say a massive thank you! And thanks also to those who have shared their responses with us. The Call for Evidence is getting a lot of interest, including from the brilliant comedian 'Lord' Christian Brighty. Follow this link to YouTube to watch his informative and entertaining piece about Pheasant shooting. You can also find him on Instagram and TikTok. ‘Lord’ Christian Brighty packs in lots of jaw dropping stats, whilst covering the why, who and how we’ve got to where we are with the large-scale releases of these non-native, captively reared gamebirds. Pheasant takeover at Wild Summit In September we returned to the Wild Summit event in Bristol with leaflets, banners and a massive Pheasantasaurus Rex P-Rex was a hit! Our (Jurassic Park-inspired) monster Pheasant really helped to demonstrate the incredible and absurd scale of Pheasant releases in the UK. It also hinted at things to come, with a heads up about our next campaign... watch this space! At Wild Summit, Wild Justice also took to the stage with our show, ‘Fowl Play: The Unpheasant Truth’. With props-a-plenty, superb acting and some eye-watering Pheasant stats, our amazing comedy duo, Rosie Holt (a.k.a. Harriet Langley Swindon) and Henry Morris, drew back the theatrical curtain on the ludicrous reality of Pheasant shooting. Over 200 people squeezed into the hall to watch their theatrics, and the show was the highlight of the day for many visitors, so we’re told. Photos credit: James Benwell Our CEO, Bob Elliot also took to the stage, on the panel for ‘England’s Great Landscapes: the backbone of nature or beyond repair’ which you can watch here. Photo credit: James Benwell Bob highlighted challenges around landscape restoration and protected areas management and mentioned our legal challenge in 2020 that forced Defra to strengthen protection for wildlife and important habitats from the mass releases of non-native gamebirds for recreational shooting (read more about it here). He also highlighted that legislation, effective protected areas designation and good management, is crucial to the rewilding and restoration of our landscapes. Bob highlighted some of Wild Justice’s recent work linked to landscape protection, including our legal case looking at grazing on Dartmoor and our latest Wild Justice report ‘Unprotected Nature’ which you can read here. We’ll be in touch soon to update you on a new legal challenge we’ve been working on. Thank you, Wild Justice (CEO: Bob Elliot. Directors: Chris Packham and Ruth Tingay). This is the 275th 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

FROM CORNWALL WILDLIFE TRUST—AN UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES

View this email in your browser EVENTS & OPPORTUNITIES FOR WILDLIFE LOVERS There are all sorts of ways to get involved with Cornwall Wildlife Trust this October. Fancy coming along to our photo exhibition? Or bringing the family for Halloween fun at our Allet nature reserve? How about volunteering your time with our teams? We’d love you to join us and create a Cornwall where nature thrives. Browse all events Volunteer for wildlife Book your ticket now Wildlife Photography Exhibition Truro Cathedral Wed 28 Oct | 7-9.30pm Come and see the finalists from this year’s photography competition and see the winner’s crowned! If you can’t join us on the night, the exhibition will be open at the cathedral until Sunday 22 November. Gardening for Wildlife Burncoose Nurseries, Redruth Sun 11 Oct | 1-4pm Join Cornwall Wildlife Trust and Burncoose Nurseries for a jam (first!) packed event, full of inspiration for wildlife-friendly gardening. More information here World Octopus Day Boscawen Park Pavillion, Truro Thu 8 Oct | 6-9.30pm A celebration of these incredible cephalopods, with talks, films, and even octopus themed bakes! More information here Marine Recorders Evening St Petroc’s Parish Church, Bodmin Thu 22 Oct | 6-9.30pm Come be inspired, connect with fellow marine enthusiasts, and discover the 2026 snapshot of Cornwall’s marine ecosystems. More information here See all events VOLUNTEER WITH US Destination Reserves Ambassador Charlestown Harbour Enjoy talking to people about nature? We’d love you to become the welcoming face of Cornwall Wildlife Trust and help to increase awareness of our work. Find out more about this role Practical Conservation Volunteering Various dates & locations Fancy getting your boots dirty and joining us to help conserve, enhance, monitor and maintain vital habitats across Cornwall? We have various practical volunteer roles across our team. See all volunteer opportunities WILD HALLOWEEN | FIVE ACRES NATURE RESERVE Five Acres nature reserve, Allet, Truro Sat 24 Oct | 3 - 8pm W3W: ///hydrant.recur.shaves Discover the wild side of Halloween. With woodland trails, storytelling, wildlife encounters, and fun after dark! Swap scares for discovery this Halloween at Five Acres nature reserve: 🦉 Owl pellet dissection workshops 🦇 Discover more about the amazing world of bats 🎨 Wildlife arts and crafts 🐚 Shorelab marine discovery experience 🌿 Nature storytelling and family games 🍰 Refreshments, hot drinks, cakes and seasonal treats Free entry - join us for an evening of spooky family fun. Find out more ASSOCIATED GROUPS Community groups across Cornwall are doing amazing work in their local areas. Find your local group, hear stories from the groups, and see listings of their events. Associated Groups 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.

SUPORT PROTECT THE WILD & WILDLIFE BY PURCHASING THESE CHRISTMAS CARDS

Forwarded this email? Subscribe here for more Xmas cards that fund the fight for British wildlife! PROTECT THE WILD OCT 3 READ IN APP Want to support our vital work protecting British wildlife? We’ve just released our Xmas card packs! Printed by our friends at Anglia Print using vegan inks and sustainable materials, each pack includes 8 cards and envelopes, with the Protect the Wild logo proudly displayed on the reverse. Support Protect the Wild 🦊 Every pack you buy helps British wildlife The money raised helps us investigate and expose wildlife persecution, campaign for stronger laws, challenge cruel practices, produce hard-hitting films and investigations, and mobilise thousands of people to take action for animals. So when you buy our Christmas cards, you are not just sending something lovely to friends and family, you are helping fund the fight for wildlife too SHARE LIKE COMMENT RESTACK © 2026 Protect the Wild Protect the Wild, 71-75 Shelton Street Covent Garden, London, W2CH 9JQ Unsubscribe Start writing

FROM BUGBYTES—AN UPDATE

Buglife Logo saving the small things that run the planet View this email in your browser Dear John Welcome to the September edition of Buglife's e-newsletter, BugBytes! As October knocks on the door, we’re looking ahead to “spooky season” and some of the amazing invertebrate characters who fit right in. We’ll be sharing more about what our Conservation Team have been up to, looking at some great news stories, events and opportunities. So, let’s dive in and take a look at what’s been happening in the world of bugs! Thank you for being a part of our journey! For nearly 25 years, we've been fighting for the small things that run the planet. Restoring habitats, shaping environmental policy, and delivering conservation projects across the UK - and thanks to you, our supporters, we're creating lasting change. Through our award-winning B-Lines network, working with over 750 partners, we've helped create and restore more than 610 hectares of wildflower-rich habitat - reconnecting landscapes so pollinators and other wildlife can thrive. 💪 But our work is far from over 💪 As our 25th anniversary approaches, we're setting our sights on the future. This summer, we need your help to create more wildflower habitats, restore more vital landscapes, and secure a future for invertebrates. Will you help us grow the next chapter of B-Lines? Find out more… Buglife, “Warts” and all… The past month has seen Buglife’s work with the Wart-biter Bush-cricket (Decticus verrucivorus) hitting the headlines. This fantastically named large green cricket is considered one of Britain’s most endangered insects; a rare species currently confined to just a six sites in England (two of which resulted from reintroductions). 🤝 Working alongside organisations including the The Royal Entomological Society, Sussex Wildlife Trust and a number of private landowners, with the support of volunteers, Buglife is planning further relocations and reintroductions as part of the latest Wart-biter Bush-cricket species recovery project work. Read the story “Spooky season” bugs! With so many to choose from, we struggled to pick just a few, but here’s just a small selection of bugs which fit right in when it comes to “spooky season” Ghost Slug (Selenochlamys ysbryda) © Liam Olds Meet the Ghost Slug (Selenochlamys ysbryda), found predominantly in Wales. The slug's white colour and nocturnal habits led to its species name ysbryda. The word ysbryd means 'ghost' in the Welsh language. Rarely seen, this slippery critter, truly is a ghost! The Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa) common name comes from its unusual defense strategy of exuding bright red fluid from its mouth when threatened. As well as providing a visual deterrent, the fluid is foul-tasting, puting birds and other would-be predators off the beetle as a lunch option. Bloody-nosed Beetle (Timarcha tenebricosa) larvae © Buglife Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) © Gertjan Kamsteeg “I’m Batman!” The Batman Hoverfly (Myathropa florea) to be precise. Instantly recognisable by the dark markings on it’s thorax (behind its head), which are often said to look like the Batman logo. Their aquatic larvae also have a spooky connection as they are sometimes known as rat-tailed maggots. Their long tail is actually a breathing tube that acts a bit like a snorkel! Burying beetles (also known as Sexton beetles) are often seen as one of the undertakers of the animal world and are often found where there are small animal corpses. They can smell a rotting animal corpse from up to a mile away! Burying beetles are known to cull their young at an early stage to ensure that the supply of food provided by the carcass is sufficient to nourish all the larvae sufficiently. Burying Beetle (Nicrophorus vespillo) © Samuel Merriman-Johnson Government report highlights Britain’s overseas invertebrates are in great peril When you think of the UK’s biodiversity, you probably think of bumblebees in meadows, spider webs in damp autumn grasslands or beetles gliding through ponds. You might not think of bright yellow woodlice covered in spines on distant Atlantic islands or tarantulas in the Caribbean! But the UK’s Overseas Territories (UKOTs) are home to over 1,000 endemic invertebrate species - those that are found nowhere else in the world and a new report by the JNCC has highlighted just how precarious these special species are. Join Buglife Programmes Manager, Jamie, in our latest blog as he explores the report's findings and what can be done to conserve and protect the fascinating species that call these islands home. Spiky Yellow Woodlouse (Pseudolaureola atlantica) © Mike Thorsen Read the blog… ✍️ Share your views ✍️ We’re currently developing two new projects in Scotland and are keen to receive feedback and comments from local communities. Take a look at both below and share your thoughts. Do you live or work in, or even visit, the Cairngorms National Park and/or Scotland’s northeast coast? Our first proposed project will rediscover and revive “ghost ponds” - historic ponds lost to infilling or neglect. There will be creation of new ponds, enhancement of existing ponds, peat pools, and wet grasslands aiming to rewet landscapes for the benefit of invertebrates, amphibians and other wildlife. Share your views and let us know what your thoughts! ✅ Please complete this short survey (<10 mins) to help us develop this new and exciting project, in partnership with Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (ARC), that will create, restore, and reconnect wetland habitats across the area. Share my views… Our second proposed project is in response to community groups trained in the Riverfly Monitoring Initiative via Guardians of Our Rivers. Many of these community groups now want to expand the scope of their activities to better understand how the river and land interact and contribute to meaningful change that will protect their local river. River Citizens will raise awareness of the importance of rivers and of how monitoring them can empower communities enabling them to be involved in meaningful action. Share your views and let us know what your thoughts! ✅ Please complete this short survey (<10 mins) and help us to refine our plans to give Scotland’s communities a voice in determining the health of their rivers. Share my views… Browse our Bug Directory Did you know that we have almost 200 invertebrate species profiles on our website, and counting? Let’s meet one of the species that you may be seeing at the moment; the Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris). Common Wasp (Vespula vulgaris) © Sid Mosdell (CC BY 2.0 DEED) Did you know that there are approximately 9,000 species of wasp in the UK? Only nine of these species are social wasps, which form large nests and are the type that most people think of when you mention “wasp”; like our friend here the Common Wasp. Found throughout the UK in almost all habitats, including woodland and urban areas, they are fairly easily identified by most people; striking in their yellow and black striped outfits. At this time of year they are generally making themselves known; the workers have fulfilled their purpose; new queens and drones are emerging to start the cycle all over again. Colonies only last one year and once the new queens depart, all the other wasps in the colony die. They are fascinating insects with an incredibly interesting lifecycle and an inspiring story to tell. Head on over to our Bug Directory to find out more. Take me to the Bug Directory! If you would like to know more about wasps in general, why not visit our Wonderful Wasps web page! You can also explore the world of social wasps and hornets with wasp specialist, Tony Madgwick, via the entoLEARN online course, Social Wasps of the UK Let’s be sociable… ICYMI ~ Suddenly seeing bugs… Ever wondered what it takes to bring mayflies, dragonflies, damselflies, bees and butterflies to life on screen? We asked illustrator Anina Takeff (Anina Takeff Studio) - the creative mind behind our brand new animations - to tell us about her process. Anina had barely given bugs a second thought before this project. But after weeks spent studying their wings, colours and body shapes, something shifted. On a trip to her family's lake house, she found herself surrounded by dragonflies and bees she'd never have noticed before. As she puts it: she wasn't seeing nature differently - she was finally seeing it. 💚 It's exactly the reaction we hope our work inspires! Meet Anina and discover more, in our recent guest blog, "Suddenly seeing bugs". Read the blog… Upcoming events Saturday 5 September - Saturday 31 October ~ Art at the Mill Exhibition (Banbury, Oxfordshire) Tuesday 6 October ~ Bookworms! preschool story time at Canvey Island Library (Canvey, Essex) Tuesday 6 October ~ Unwelcome Guests: How Insect Pests are Impacting Britain’s Forests with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 7 October ~ The Bug Bunch! For Home Ed Families (Canvey, Essex) Thursday 8 October ~ Robberflies with The Biological Recording Company (online) Thursday 13 October ~ Plug planting volunteering with Pollinators Along the Tweed (Peebles, Scotland) Wednesday 21 October ~ Fly Research and Conservation Virtual Symposium with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 21 October ~ The Bug Bunch! For Home Ed Families (Canvey, Essex) Tuesday 27 October ~ Surveying for Flies with The Biological Recording Company (online) Wednesday 28 October ~ Walk the Wick! Autumn 2026 (Canvey, Essex) Courses with the Biological Recording Company Buglife is pleased to share that The Biological Recording Company will now donate 10% of the sales price of their online courses and webinars when participants sign up through our dedicated links. To make finding and accessing these easier, using our sign-up links, we have created dedicated courses pages on our website. The pre-recorded webinars, and associated content, cover a wide range of invertebrate (and non-invertebrate) topics. Why not take a look and see what you discover?! Expand my knowledge with eLearning Please do remember that our website Events Page is being updated all the time so, to keep up to date with both current and future Buglife events, as well as events from partners and supporters, be sure to visit regularly. What’s the buzz? Pollinator survey uncovers three new species records across the Scottish Borders Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) © Artur Rydzewski (CC BY 2.0) Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens) male © Claire Pumfrey Read the story… Recent site surveys have identified what appear to be three new vice-county records across Scottish Borders Council-owned sites: Rose Chafer Beetle (Cetonia aurata) – new to Roxburghshire Blue Mason Bee (Osmia caerulescens) – new to Roxburghshire Hairy-footed Flower Bee (Anthophora plumipes) – new to Berwickshire All three species were recorded on sites where Buglife has been working with Scottish Borders Council to improve habitat for pollinators, as part of a broader initiative to support invertebrate populations across the region through a funded Buglife Scotland project, Pollinators Along the Tweed. ‘Exotic’ invertebrates in the wild: welcome visitors or warning signs? From the sightings of praying mantids in Cornwall to the suspected sound of cicadas on London streets, reports of non-native invertebrates appearing across Great Britain are becoming increasingly common. These discoveries can be exciting, offering a glimpse of new species in the UK. But they also raise an important question: should we celebrate these exotic invertebrates, or be concerned about how they appeared and what impact they may have on our native wildlife? European Praying Mantis (Mantis religiosa) © Didier Descouens (CC BY-SA 4.0) Read the story… For all our latest news please visit our website News Pages. Buglife shop The Buglife Shop is open for all your invertebrate needs, offering more ethical options and ways for you to support bugs. Whether you’re looking for clothing, insurance, home accessories or gifts for a loved one; there’s something for everyone! a packet of native wildflower seeds Nurture the Night Shift Jute Bag Visit Buglife’s shop Adopt a Bug Don't forget you can stay up to date with the work of the Buglife team via Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube! Thank you for your continued interest in and support of our work; together we can save the small things that run the planet! The Buglife Team Join the Buglife Community Facebook icon Instagram icon LinkedIn icon YouTube icon Website icon Buglife Logo Copyright © 2026 Buglife - The Invertebrate Conservation Trust. All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receive communications electronically from Buglife. 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