I am grateful to the RSPB Chair, Prof Steve Ormerod for his Guest Blog on licensing of grouse shooting. As always, the RSPB has a well thought-through position which could make a difference to the plight of the Hen Harrier. However, I don’t think they have the best thought-through position on this particular issue, especially…
Tag: grouse shooting
A Damascene conversion?
It’s quite funny how the shooting community is falling over itself in its bid to express its love for the Hen Harrier these days. Anyone mentioning the phrase ‘rats wi’ wings’ is shushed severely. One of the more striking and welcome expressions of love for the Hen Harrier (a strong candidate for the shortlist for…
Response to Steve Ormerod’s Guest Blog
Dear Steve Thank you for your response to my open letter and it was good to see you briefly at the Bird Fair on Friday – wasn’t it fun!? And congratulations on the Skydancer project winning the Heritage Lottery Award vote in the education category. Very good news and an indication of the high level…
Guest Blog – a reply on Hen Harriers and grouse shooting from the Chair of RSPB Council
Professor Steve Ormerod is Chair of RSPB Council and Professor of Ecology in Cardiff School of Biosciences. Here he replies to an open letter from me that was posted on 4 June where I asked the RSPB to clarify its position on the Hen Harrier and grouse shooting issue. I’m grateful to Steve for his…
Right arguments – northern, rocky maths
If there were any doubt about the fact that the establishment is mobilising to defend the indefensible – driven grouse shooting – then you only have to pick up the right wing press to have your doubts dismissed. In the run-up to Hen Harrier Day and the Inglorious 12th the defenders of driven grouse shooting…
Guest poem – The Blood and the Purple (to mark Hen Harrier Day) by John Smart
I and a colleague, who does much work for the Essex Wildlife Trust, attended the ‘Hen Harrier Day’ protest event on Sunday, at Derwent Water in the Peak District. It was heartening to mingle with so many like-minded folk who are appalled at the persecution of raptors across the grouse moors. And even more dismayed…
And at the end of the Inglorious 12th…
…over 14,000 folk have signed the e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting (making it the 11th most successful Defra-related e-petition ever). This is the summer of the Hen Harrier. Things are changing. You are making that change happen. Thank you.
The media war
First things first, no-one much would be talking about Hen Harriers today if it weren’t for Hen Harrier Day and an e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting. Well done us! Standing in the rain in Lancashire, Northumberland and Derbyshire (and in the sun in Dorset – yes, I’m envious) is changing the story. Chris Packham…
My article in August Birdwatch – via Birdguides
Here is a link to an extract from my article in August Birdwatch about Hen Harrier Day. ‘This year we are all waking up to the fact that we can do something about it. The summer of 2014 is seeing an unprecedented backlash against grouse shooting. We have been quiet for too long, and now…
Lush Peterborough
I have never spent so much of a day smelling soap. But after yesterday morning’s visit to Lush in Northampton, I called in at Lush in Peterborough and met Amy, Grace, Hayley,Helena and Dave. They knew their stuff about hen harriers too. I asked whether any of them had heard of Hen Harriers before this…