Our e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting will close in 50 days.

It stands at 20,680 signatures – already in the top 0.5% of all e-petitions on the government website.

Please ask someone else to sign it today.

Below I reproduce the text of the e-petition, links to some explanatory blogs and the milestones passed so far.  Thank you to everyone who has signed so far – you have helped to raise the issue in the public eye, in the media and to decision makers generally.

Ban driven grouse shooting

Responsible department: Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Intensive management of upland areas for the ‘sport’ of grouse shooting has led to the near-extinction of the protected Hen Harrier in England, as well as increased risk of flooding, discolouration of drinking water, degradation of peatbogs and impacts on other wildlife.

Grouse shooting interests have persecuted the Hen Harrier to such an extent that, despite full legal protection for the last 60 years, it is almost extinct as a breeding species in England (2 pairs nested in 2013) despite there being habitat available for 300+ pairs. The investigation of wildlife crimes against such protected species is time-consuming, difficult to prosecute, and ties up valuable police resources.

Grouse shooters have failed to put their own house in order, despite decades of discussion, and government has proved incapable of influencing this powerful lobby group.

The time has now come for the public to call ‘Enough!’ and require the next government to ban driven grouse shooting in England.

Please sign.

 

 

Reasons to sign even if you are, like me, a wishy-washy liberal who doesn’t like banning things.

A summary of the reasons to ban driven grouse shooting.

How the grouse industry got it so wrong.

10 reasons to sign this e-petition (actually 18 reasons)

10 reasons not to sign this e-petition (actually 7 reasons) and an examination of the top three.

What a birder says – A Message from Someone.

What Tim Birch, Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, says – The Hen Harrier Affair

 

 

Progress on signatures:

1  – 0838 28 May

1000 – 29 May

2000 – 2 June

3000 –  7 June

4000 – 14 June

5000 – 24 June

6000 – ? I missed it!

7000 – 9 July

8000 – 17 July

9000 – ? missed that one too!

10,000 – 31 July

11,000 – 7 August

12,000 – 9 August

13,000 – 10 August

14,000 – 12 August

15,000 – 17 August

16,000 – 24 August

17,000 – 4 September

18,000 – 6 October

19,000 – 4 November

20,000 – 16 December

 

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