Guest blog – Death of Democracy by Andy Lester

Andy Lester is conservation director of the wildlife charity A Rocha UK. He also works as Chair to his local Wildlife Trust group, speaks nationally on wildlife issues and regularly writes columns for newspapers and magazines.  Andy is married to Jacqui and live in Hampshire with their four boys. The residents of Roseacre and Little…

National Trust position on toxic ammunition and deer culling

The National Trust (E, W & NI), is a relatively small player in the world of deer culling – many hundred deer (perhaps low thousands) are culled on their very large landholding each year, but those are mostly with lead bullets at the moment (except where working in partnership with the RSPB where copper bullets…

Forest Enterprise Scotland position on toxic lead ammunition

Forest Enterprise Scotland seem to be moving rather more slowly towards getting rid of toxic lead ammunition – although I get the impression that they are probably heading in the right direction. What do you think – this is what they sent me as a statement?: Forest Enterprise Scotland (FES) said: “Due to concerns regarding…

Forest Enterprise England to dump toxic ammunition

There is, of course, no need for anyone to wait for a legal ban on lead ammunition, or for Defra to stir themselves – they can just switch themselves. The legal move will sweep up the recalcitrant, the uninformed and the bloody minded and selfish. For example, the RSPB made the decision to drop lead…

Dear Secretary of State

Dear Ms Truss It is six months since you received the report of the Lead Ammunition Group and your department has, so far, not commented on it. Given that the findings of the report demonstrate human health impacts and wildlife health and conservation impacts your idleness is unacceptable. Each day you delay you are complicit…