Justice for Hen Harriers?

Late last week, I heard that our appeal on the unlawfulness of Natural England’s brood-meddling scheme had failed. That judgment has now been handed down and is public. The RSPB’s similar but independent challenge has also failed. It’s difficult to say much about this result without sounding like a bad loser – tell me whether…

Hen Harrier brood meddling on trial (6)

Another good day in court. The three judges were engaged with the subject and asked quite a lot of questions (they seemed sensible questions to me). Now we wait until judgment is handed down which I guess will be at least a month away – maybe more. It wouldn’t be wise to comment on how…

Hen Harriers and moorland management

The week after next may see a flurry of activity on the future of driven grouse shooting and Hen Harrier conservation. On Monday 25 January we may see a Westminster Hall debate on driven grouse shooting (following one on trespass) and then on Tuesday and Wednesday 26 and 27 January the much delayed appeal of…

Two Hen Harrier arrests

Raptor Persecution UK does a fantastic job of keeping us all informed about raptor persecution, and their Twitter profile‘s words of ‘Think illegal raptor persecution is a thing of the past? Think again!‘ are just spot on. Last week and last night RPUK brought us all news of two alleged observed shootings of ‘protected’ Hen…

Brood meddling appeal

Two weeks today, we will be going back into the courts to appeal the judgment of Hon Justice Lang on brood meddling of Hen Harriers. We, and the RSPB, will be seeking to overturn her judgment that brood meddling of this threatened bird was legal because it was just, for now, research. Win or lose,…