This man was not breaking the law

This man was spotted and filmed on a Peak District grouse moor, owned by The National Trust, in late February. The full story is on the Raptor Persecution Scotland website (NB guys – the Peak District is not in Scotland – when are you going to get around to changing your name?) and the guys…

Apologies to my MP

I should apologise to my MP, Tom Pursglove for suggesting that his reply to me was rather tardy – it has now arrived and the delay was clearly in the post and in getting from my letter box to me, rather than his fault! He is pretty quick and efficient at replying even though he…

Northants gleanings

It’s been good to visit some local sites over the last few days and check up on how Spring is progressing. At Glapthorn Wood on Friday evening it felt more like winter than spring. But a Nightingale sang in brief snatches, and without much enthusiasm: certainly not with ‘full-throated ease’. But he was there and…

RSPB Council – think again

It’s quite some time since I asked the Chair of RSPB Council about the RSPB position on driven grouse shooting – it’s almost 100 weeks ago. And Prof Ormerod was kind enough to reply too (see here). Before launching the current, third, e-petition on driven grouse shooting I went to talk to the RSPB about…

31,000 and rising

Yesterday our e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting passed 31,000 signatures. Thank you to everyone who has signed, shared and helped.   The ‘100 Club’ of constituencies with at least 100 signatures: Calder Valley 179 signatures – Craig Whittaker MP, CON Ross, Skye, Lochaber 155 signatures – Ian Blackford MP, SNP Inverness, Nairn, Badenoch and…

Cry God for Henry, England and St George!

Yesterday was, of course, St George’s Day, Shakespeare’s birthday and Shakespeare’s death day too. So what would be more appropriate than the quote above? Henry, and a group of close friends, gathered in the Peak District to celebrate the day, the achievement of 30,000 signatures for our e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting, and the…

Press release issued yesterday

Government slammed for ignoring tax payers’ voices as it defends grouse shooting interests using dubious industry data The government’s response to a petition calling for driven grouse shooting to be banned is dismissive, poorly considered and influenced by vested commercial interests, say leading wildlife advocates Dr Mark Avery, Bill Oddie OBE and Chris Packham and…

Newsletters

Do you have a newsletter that would publish an article on driven grouse shooting before 20 September? Perhaps a Bird Club? A Natural History Society? A WI group? Whatever… I’d be happy to provide something in order to spread the word. What I need from you is: a deadline a word limit information about the…

A slap in the face from Defra to the public

In a breathtaking example of arrogance, Defra has merely cut and pasted their response to a previous e-petition as their response to our current e-petition calling for a ban on driven grouse shooting. All the things that were wrong with their previous response are wrong with their current response. We know that ministers sign off…