The Common Pheasant – livestock or wild bird?

Wild Justice is challenging the General Licence GL26 issued by Natural England to authorise the killing of Carrion Crows to prevent serious damage to livestock. Natural England chose to include gamebirds with livestock such as lambs and piglets in this licence. The legal status of the Pheasant is complex and in this licence it appears…

RSPB press release on Swifts

Conservationists concerned about late swift return  This spring, nesting swifts here are arriving later than usual Swift experts have produced new advice for ecologists working on new housing developments to provide homes for these birds Let the RSPB know where you see swifts nesting or flying at rooftop level in the RSPB Swift Survey Celebrate…

Good news – 4 Hen Harrier nests in Bowland

The RSPB has just released the news that there are four Hen Harrier nests in the Forest of Bowland on the United Utilities estate. this area is managed for water resources with low intensity farming and low intensity grouse shooting. The Forest of Bowland is a large area with several intensive grouse moors within its…

Bransdale moor, North Yorks

Recently, Kevin Hollinrake MP, was singing the praises of grouse moor management after a visit to Bransdale Moor in his constituency. Henry and I went to Bransdale in 2015 on a tour of shooting estates – here’s what I wrote at the time. And here is what Raptor Persecution UK wrote about Bransdale at the…

Inglorious 12th

In two months time, on Monday 12 August, the grouse shooting season will open. This is a land use whose days are numbered. Intensive grouse shooting is underpinned by wildlife crime and that wildlife crime is widespread. Remember the long-term study of Peregrines across the north of England which shows that their numbers and nesting…

Wild Justice – further legal challenge

Wild justice, the not for profit company established by myself, Chris Packham CBE and Dr Ruth Tingay, has launched a new legal challenge to Natural England. Wild Justice, took a successful legal challenge against the general licences GL04, GL05 and GL06 which resulted in Natural England revoking those licences at very short notice, which caused…

Travelling thoughts

A couple of weeks ago I was srolling around Berlin on a sunny day, looking at the sights. Last week I spent a similar amount of time walking through similar parts of central London on another sunny day. In Berlin I strolled through parks and squares near museums and churches and in London I walked…

Yesterday in Edale

Yesterday I went to Edale and back. I met some old friends, and made some new ones, and had an interesting day – oh yes, and was called a liar by a gamekeeper. Not a bad day all round. This is an annual event which basically has the feel of a rather up-market village fete…

Tim Melling – Bittern

Tim writes: I had some good fortune photographing Bitterns at Old Moor RSPB reserve in South Yorkshire recently.  A brood of three nearly-fledged youngsters were clambering about in the reeds waiting for their mum to return with a crop full of fish.  The photos show the adult female setting off on a foraging flight, plus…