I am sure, absolutely sure, completely and utterly sure, that the NT has not been sitting on its hands for nearly a month since the ‘man taking his model Hen Harrier for a walk’ incident. However, we have heard nothing publicly from them about their ‘investigation’ of the matter which clearly followed a police investigation of the matter.
But, anyone, anyone who is a NT member at least, who wishes to raise any matter at the NT AGM in the autumn, has only a little while to gather support for any such resolution. So we’d better start now – watch this space. That is, unless the NT is about to come out with a public statement that would fend off any such movement by the membership.
Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock!
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I wrote to them and I have not received a response!
If you search for ‘grouse shooting’ on their website, the only mention is here:
http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bridestones-crosscliff-and-blakey-topping/features/explore-the-bridestones-crosscliff-and-blakey-topping
where they do admit that “as the moor isn’t burnt for grouse shooting or sheep grazing, mosses, lichens and invertebrates thrive”. Good they admit that, but it’s totally blanking an important issue – unbelievable.
Well done for writing Lorraine Miller. If their fees weren’t so outrageous I might be tempted to join so I could lobby them on the subject of dgs.
Tweet ’em; @nationaltrust, and tell them it’s time they responded.
I sent this to NT:
I am deeply concerned that the National Trust (NT) is allowing raptor persecution over its lands in the peak district. In my opinion the NT must act boldly and decisively to send a clear message to those who would illegally persecute our protected birds of prey. The people who are currently shooting over NT land where raptor persecution is strongly suspected or proven should have their contracts to manage this land removed for good. Perhaps the RSPB would be a much better bet for management schemes, as in the Eastern Moors Partnership.
I would like to relay as someone who regularly walks in the high peak area, my bitter disappointment, felt when clear examples of raptor persecution in this area go unpunished. The absence of key species in the area such as goshawks, peregrine falcons and hen harriers saddens me greatly. These magnificent creatures have clearly been systematically removed by local gamekeepers. If per chance we see an endangered bird nowadays over the high peak region we have learned to keep it quiet in case the news gets into the wrong hands (ie local gamekeepers). This is a totally unsatisfactory situation.
The NT is the major land owner in the area and as one of your members, I expect that you act now and send a decisive message.
I have received this reply, so I await eagerly for a strong response. They will probably hold onto their response until it is too late to table a motion for this years AGM (my opinion), if the response isn’t robust enough.
“Thank you for contacting us as a valued member of the National Trust. Please be assured the Trust in no way condones bird of prey persecution, which is inimical to our purpose.
As regards the recent incident, which I believe has led to you contacting us, at this stage I can only reiterate our public statement. This was produced following our decision to investigate once the police had decided not to pursue further in late April. We are in the process of finalising our position and I have undertaken to let people who have contacted me know what that is when we are ready to communicate publicly.
Our public statement states:
“As part of our High Peak Moors Vision and as a conservation charity, the National Trust is committed to protecting birds of prey and working closely with partners and tenants in managing the moors. We are aware of a report of a suspicious incident being investigated by the police, which took place in February this year on land in the Peak District which we own and lease out for grouse shooting. We have been awaiting the results of their investigation before following up ourselves. We now know the police have reviewed the footage but are taking no further action, so we will now be carrying out a full investigation of our own. We are treating this very seriously and will not be commenting further pending the results of that investigation.”
Kind regards Jon, Jon Stewart PDNT”