Henry

12 Replies to “Henry”

1. Sorry Mark. Just don’t get Henry or why having it roam the countryside is protecting Hen Harriers. I do wonder how much it costs traveling to these photo calls?

2. Derick – Henry is about raising awareness of raptor persecution. Let’s face it, raptor persecution is low on the list of priorities for most people, and indeed many people probably aren’t aware of it happening right here in the UK – they are probably more aware of rhino poaching, shark finning and soup made for the penis of a tiger!!! How sad is that?
   As a package of measures, such as BAWC pin badges, Findlay Wilde’s Christmas cards, hen harrier day and pictures of a bloke in a hen harrier suit is starting to bring the issue of raptor persecution to the masses. It is about starting a conversation with people who aren’t aware of the illegality of the ‘few’ that is blighting the enjoyment of our natural heritage for the masses.

3. I don’t get Henry myself, but then I am bit curmudgeonly about these things. The dumbed-down concept doesn’t work for me but I guess if it raises some awareness amongst wider public then that has to be a good thing – look at Spring Watch that clearly works.

   I’m not sure Henry is needed on this blog though – there can’t be many readers who are unaware of the Hen Harrier issue.

   1. Ernest – but you cannot imagine the delight that Henry gives to the readers of this blog from the shooting community. They are all agog to see whether Henry has visited them unbeknownst to them until he appears here.

      PS just think of Henry as a bonus blog.

      1. I must admit that I hadn’t really thought about it from the moor owners perspective. The thought of Henry causing the likes of Gerry G to choke on their morning porridge does place things in a different light…

4. Think this is a very difficult campaign to get raptor persecution at the very least much reduced.Anything like Henry just helps to keep it at least in some peoples eyes and the campaign will not be successful until lots of the general public get more knowledgeable
   about what is happening.
   Think it is good that Mark and Henry milk it for all its worth also we are lucky to get blogs while our champion is on holiday.
   Thank you Mark.

5. Any prospect of Henry on Springwatch this year? Or will the Beeb pull its punches?

   1. There was a mention of Hen Harriers on the BBC this week. They mentioned that there was likely only one Hen Harrier in England, but gave no explanation or really anything else. I keep hoping but let’s face it; the BBC and the RSPB are terrified of the grouse shooting industry, and I can see why, even if I don’t like it.

      1. But at least they didn’t dribble on about how wonderful for other wildlife grouse moors are either! Let’s hope Hen Harrier does well in the final count for the nation’s favourite bird.

         Interestingly “Pre-empting the result, new YouGov research reveals the clear winner.” via https://yougov.co.uk/news/2015/03/21/nations-favourite-bird/ is this leaked reality and is it further to a mass push for other establishment species? Or is it like much ‘Gov’ stuff ….

      2. Interesting statement from on Springwatch Unsprung on 4th June. Chris Packham ended last night’s show after Wildlife crime had been discussed, saying: “I think there’s one important thing to say: There may well be some topics which some viewers may think we should have spoken about. Can I just say one thing; the BBC is a lot of things; it is not a campaigning organisation. And the one thing that is central to it’s core values is impartiality. There are 2 sides to lots of stories, and we are necessarily charged with representing both sides of those stories. On this programme we were not able to do that, and that’s why we have been talking about things which are solely illegal, not matters of controversy or opinion.”
         From this I assume the following possibilities:
         They had tried without success to get a representative of the “Grouse shooting industry” to appear.
         Chris did not wish to leave totally unsaid that there was a huge amount of allegedly illegal persecution on grouse moors.
         The BBC wants to keep the licence fee, at the cost of government censorship.

6. I live near the Gintrap and wish I’d known he was there. He is highlighting a massive issue, the persecution of hen harriers. Everything helps.

7. I also feel Henry is a very nice counterpoint to the rspb’s cute “Bob” – can’t imagine Bob doing anything controversial like occupying butts. Good work, Henry.

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