As we move closer and closer to Hen Harrier Day on Sunday, Henry met up with friends from the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust – strong supporters of Hen Harrier Day.
On the left is Tim Birch who wrote a Guest Blog for this site last year.
This photo was taken a while ago and yesterday Tim had quite a big operation – we wish him a very quick and complete recovery. Tony Hams, Chair of the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust will be saying a few words to the crowds at the Hen Harrier Day rally in the Goyt Valley.
The Derbyshire Wildlife Trust has been very supportive of Hen Harrier Day, both last year and this year. And last year the Wildlife Trusts were much more noticeable than the RSPB at the Hen Harrier Day rally in the Derwent Valley. I wonder whether it will be the same this year in the Goyt Valley?
Last year the Wildlife Trusts wrote several blogs about Hen Harriers such as this and this.
This year it seems as though the Wildlife Trusts are divided on the subject of Hen Harriers – they’ve had many meetings where they have discussed their position and don’t really have an agreed one. I’m sure all 47 (is it 47?) Wildlife Trusts are against wildlife crime but some are against it in a very passive way. It will be interesting to report on which Wildlife Trusts join the Hen Harrier Day thunderclap and which do not.
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I’m frankly astonished to hear that the Wildlife Trusts are divided as to their position on hen harriers, and, as far as I can tell, the future of driven grouse shooting. Hen harriers are the tip of the iceberg: driven grouse shooting is designed to maximise the yield of a single species – red grouse. In so doing it is responsible for damage to upland streams (of some interest to the Wildlife Trusts, right?) and blanket bogs (of some interest to the Wildlife Trusts, right?), release of carbon which will contribute towards climatic changes (somewhat problematic to wildlife and thus, one might think, of concern to the Wildlife Trusts, right?) and acidification of oceans (we have a bit of that around the UK, so one might be forgiven for thinking the Wildlife Trusts had some interest in this issue, too), oh, and killing of things like hares (that’s wildlife too – so ought to concern the Wildlife Trusts).
Frankly, any Wildlife Trust worthy of support should be at the forefront of calls to ban driven grouse shooting.
Just to report that Tim Birch has apparently come through his operation well though he is still in ICU.
He’s been waiting for this op for some time but was rather annoyed to discover that he was finally booked in just a few days before HHD meaning that he wouldn’t be able to attend.
Nick
The wild life trust simply need to write two lists.
On the first list they should write down all of the species that benefit from being burned in a fire.
On the other, they should write down all of the species that suffer when they are burnt in a fire.
After comparing the two lists for 1 nanosecond they should be able to see where the balance lies…..
Perhaps some WT patrons might not like them to take too robust a stance? Not particularly a criticism but an observation, similar issue with the other large NGO – they need to make up their minds perhaps who and where they wish to gain support / funding from?