This post was written at the weekend – before whatever happened yesterday at the debate on the future of grouse shooting happened. I never really believed that we would get this debate until we were in the 90,000 signatures in early August 2016. But we have. And the way that people look at driven grouse…
Category: CAMPAIGNING: petitions, marches, writing to your MP, HHDay
Dear minister 5 – it’s not all about the money
Dear Therese Coffey I have already covered four areas relevant to the debate on driven grouse shooting that takes place this afternoon in previous blogs today (wildlife crime, conservation impacts, public opinion, wider environmental impacts) but the last one is that of economic value. Defra has relied on figures provided by the grouse shooting industry…
Dear minister 4 – the wider environmental arguments
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Dear Therese Coffey Driven grouse shooting depends on intensive moorland management – which has intensified in recent years see here and here). The primary management actions involve burning of heather, drainage and burning of blanket bogs, culling of native predators and medicating the Red Grouse to combat the impacts of parasites and diseases. These impacts…
Dear minister 3 – what do the public think?
Dear Therese Coffey When you close the debate on the future of driven grouse shooting this evening we will listen carefully to your words. Have you listened to the views of the public on this matter? It would actually be a popular move to ban driven grouse shooting and it will be very unpopular if…
Dear minister 2 – the impact on nature conservation
Dear Therese Coffey It is relatively easy for the public to forget that Defra is supposed to be on the side of wildlife when its most public actions are often to support economic activities at the expense of wildlife and to do this without bothering too much with the science. Take badgers, bees and buzzards…
Dear minister 1 – the status quo just won’t do
Dear Therese Coffey Today I assume that you will close the Westminster Hall debate on driven grouse shooting. I’m just guessing here, but I’d be surprised if you will be signalling that Defra is asking for parliamentary time for a ban on driven grouse shooting. OK, that time will come eventually. But what you really…
Gems from the written evidence 22 – Hugh Webster
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This was a very well-written and well expressed piece of evidence. Here are some extracts: I firmly believe that the law should be changed to specifically ban driven red grouse shooting. I am aware that some conservationists would settle for a licensing system as a compromise, but this tempting option fails to address the underlying…
Gems from the written evidence 21 – more from upland areas
Naturalists and conservationists who know the uplands are unconvinced by the claims made by the shooting industry that driven Red Grouse moors are rich in wildlife. Here are some more excerpts: Caz Walker: I live in rural Cumbria at 900 feet, not far from the Lakeland Fells, where you’d imagine there would be a lot…
Gems from the written evidence 18 – Jim Welford
I found this account, from someone who knows Walshaw Moor and the North York Moors, very strong. here are some excerpts: I’ve been a birdwatcher as long as I can remember, covering many locations, mainly in Yorkshire. Taking a job in Halifax in 2003 gave me easy after work access to the surrounding moorland, there’s…
Gems from the written evidence 14 – Guy Shorrock
More powerful evidence from Guy Shorrock, former police officer and long-serving RSPB Investigations team member; here are some quotes: The phenomenal response to the e-petition, on what many would consider a niche subject, is indicative of the increasing public concern about grouse moor management and the wide ranging environmental implications. Based on a significant volume…