Henry’s picnic – of course it rained

A group of 75+ met at Grimwith Reservoir car park yesterday to gather together to protest about the lack of Hen Harriers in the ununited-UK, in the uplands of England, in National Parks and in the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

There was sun, there was gloom, there were midges and there was rain – a summer’s day in Yorkshire I was told.

Paul Irving of the North of England Raptor Forum, Phil Walton of BAWC and I each said a few words.

A six-foot Hen Harrier was applauded.

The best part of 5000 leaflets were taken away by locals to distribute through the letter boxes of the area. When I say the best part – a few friends and I had distributed c800 already through letter boxes in Leyburn, Reeth, Grinton, Gunnerside, Hawes, Sedbergh, Dent, Kettlewell and Grassington.

I enjoy handing out leaflets and chatting to people. I met a lady who was very clued up on Hen Harriers in Reeth (and who took a pile of leaflets away with her), some ramblers in Grinton who knew what they were talking about, some young lady hikers in Gunnerside who hadn’t heard the EU referendum result and were gutted to hear the news, a gamekeeper’s sister in Sedbergh, a manager of a Lush shop in Dent who knew all about Hen Harriers and lots of other really nice people.

A ‘Bowland’ version of the leaflet is in preparation and a Peak District one and a ‘general’ one. Watch this space.

But we were filmed and interviewed (for later in the campaign), and we compared notes and we talked about the implications of the EU referendum and we had out picnics and we shook each others’ hands, gave each other hugs and told each other that in the end we will win. For, we will win!

Thanks to all who came and those who organised the event.  The word continues to spread.

 

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