We went back to court, to the Court of Appeal, to appeal against the judgment against us (and the RSPB) over our judicial review of brood meddling. If you recall, one of the three judges, Sir Patrick Elias, was taken ill at lunchtime and so the case was … well I’m not quite sure what is the right phrase. It stopped.
I hope Justice Elias is fully recovered and I have no further information on what was the cause of his illness.
The RSPB and ourselves have been exploring the possibility of getting an injunction against broodmeddling for this year – it hardly seems essential work and there is doubt about the likelihood of grouse shooting taking place this season (and therefore of the validity of the so-called ‘science’ behind exploring broodmeddling and its impact on criminal behaviour on grouse moors). If there is no grouse shooting, or reduced grouse shooting, then the study is somewhat compromised. We’re still thinking about this aspect.
But we believe we have a great case anyway – that’s why we are appealing. And we will be seeking advice from the courts as to when the hearing can be restarted or resumed.
This isn’t much of an update, as it’s a bit unclear what is going on, but that’s the best I can do right now. Everyting is a bit up in the air in the age of coronavirus.
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Thanks for this up date Mark. Wether to go for an injunction is a bit of a tricky decision in the light of current situation. My thoughts are that assuming the costs of asking for an injunction are not prohibitive then the best thing to do is to go for it. Those trying todo this stupid brood meddling may well take the approach that while there is no or little grouse shooting that now is the time to gain experience of doing this idiotic practice.
Just my thoughts but I am sure there are likely to be other factors of which I am not aware. Good luck which ever way it goes.
I suspect, but hope I am wrong that with the vast majority of conservationists and raptor workers professional and amateur not venturing onto moorland at the moment and that unlikely to change in the immediate and near future there will be no nests on grouse moors to brood meddle with.
One only has to look at the number of licence applications to NE to see that the game lobby think that continuing to kill things they deem pests is essential work. If they are out there (and you know who I mean) and we are not then if 2001 was anything to go by it will be a bad season for raptors in game managed areas, possibly setting progress back some years.
As I say I hope I am wrong, if so Brood meddling should be embargoed as non-essential.
I agree with Mr Irving, even though keepers in most ( but not all) areas are still at work, on their
resident estates, i see no reason why others should be coming and going with eggs or chicks.
As i have said previously, i think there will be a few unexpectedly pleasant surprises, regarding Raptor productivity this season.
I do hope you are right about Raptor productivity but experience tells me that my haunts in North Yorkshire will have a bad year. If I’m wrong I will be joyously surprised.