Brood meddling – a mad muddle

Yesterday Natural England announced that it had issued licences for Defra’s highly controversial Hen Harrier brood management scheme (but this blog by Raptor Persecution UK is a much better description of what is going on). Natural England was once a statutory nature conservation organisation of high repute but it is no longer fit for purpose. …

Just for completeness

Here is the email chain, or most of it, that prompted this sensible briefing from Forest Enterprise England on their decision to use non-toxic ammunition on their land for the culling of deer and wild boar. It’s not very interesting really but you can see that this blog is read by people other than your…

Lead

‘There is a widespread consensus now that there is no safe level [of lead]’ BBC Radio 4: In their element – lead listen again here. The striking thing is the passage where the point is made that as techniques have improved it has become possible to demonstrate that lower and lower amounts of lead still…

An end to grouse shooting on Ilkley Moor

Bradford Council Labour group voted overwhelmingly last night not to renew the grouse-shooting lease on Ilkley Moor. Result! The Labour group (48 councillors) holds a majority on the Council (89 councillors in all) and the move to end grouse shooting is also supported by the LibDems (10 councillors) and Greens (3 councillors).  This makes it…

Press release

Press release by Ban Bloodsports on Ilkley Moor On the eve of a key decision which could spell the end for grouse shooting on Yorkshire’s iconic beauty spot Ilkley Moor, Naz Shah MP (Bradford West) has joined some of the region’s most prominent politicians in giving her backing to ending the practice on Ilkley Moor….