The truth about Natural England and the general licence.

[Dry Rot]

BBC Radio 4 interviewed Mark Avery, director of Wild Justice, who challenged the legal status of the general licence, on the farming program at 5.45am today. You can hear the broadcast by going to the link below and down loading the program.

Mark Avery clearly states that NE knew that the status of general licences was going to be challenged two months ago on the 13th February and can't understand why they announced the change now. Wild Justice say they were prepared to wait until 1st January 2020 to bring the change in after all the relevant parties had had time to comment.

The interview begins at about 7 minutes into the program. You will probably have to register with the BBC to hear it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004f5g

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

I wouldn’t trust Mark Avery as far as I could throw the fat git.

 

[Dry Rot]

I wouldn’t trust Mark Avery as far as I could throw the fat git.

I wouldn't know, I'm just publishing what I heard on the radio. Their web site also says they've been awarded half a million euros annually for three years by some lottery fund.

More here:

https://wildjustice.org.uk/projects/

Quote from web page: "Wild Justice says ‘We are delighted to have won this legal case. What sort of world is it where the statutory body with responsibility for wildlife protection is operating a bird-killing licensing scheme that is unlawful? Millions of birds are killed each year under the terms of the General Licences and many of these deaths will not be justified. We are grateful to over 1100 individuals who funded this legal challenge and allowed us to take it with the means to progress it through the courts. NE could have, and in our view should have, conceded the correctness of our legal arguments many weeks ago. This would have reduced the financial costs to the public and allowed farmers and land managers more time to adjust to the news that their bird-killing actions may have been illegal for several decades. This is a mess of Natural England’s making – they have operated an unlawful licensing system and they have dillied and dallied over admitting it’".

 

[steveR]

Wild Justice!

Self righteous bunch aren't they....

 

[Lindell]

BBC Radio 4 interviewed Mark Avery, director of Wild Justice, who challenged the legal status of the general licence, on the farming program at 5.45am today. You can hear the broadcast by going to the link below and down loading the program.

Mark Avery clearly states that NE knew that the status of general licences was going to be challenged two months ago on the 13th February and can't understand why they announced the change now. Wild Justice say they were prepared to wait until 1st January 2020 to bring the change in after all the relevant parties had had time to comment.

The interview begins at about 7 minutes into the program. You will probably have to register with the BBC to hear it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0004f5g

 

[Lindell]

If you listen to this, towards the end Avery talks about pheasants being classed as wild birds once released from the pens.. Sounds to me that "recreational " shooting is their next agenda.

 

[Mick Miller]

If you want an idea of just how incestuous the relationship is between all the main parties in this, just have a look here:

https://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/who-will-get-sacked-gove-packham-or-marian-spain/

Shooting is going to be fluffed if this lot remain in their posts.

 

[JP1]

If you want an idea of just how incestuous the relationship is between all the main parties in this, just have a look here:

https://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/who-will-get-sacked-gove-packham-or-marian-spain/

Shooting is going to be fluffed if this lot remain in their posts.

I got to the end of that article very enlightening. I then realised I wanted a Khaki T-shirt

 

[Mick Miller]

I got to the end of that article very enlightening. I then realised I wanted a Khaki T-shirt

Nowt wrong with that. I think I only own one item of clothing that isn't.

 

[Campani]

Natural England should have pulled there thumb out and sorted the general licence years ago. There were many problems with it. They have left the door wide open for packham et al. They have then gone onto handle the challenge awfully. The general licence is still fine and active in Scotland and Wales, so I think its fair to say the problem is with natural England.

 

[Mick Miller]

Well, I suspect the rot runs deeper. So much so I've written again to my MP. I am concerned about the apparent alliances formed between NE, RSPB, WJ and the Environment Secretary. Whilst the recent events appear to be a hiccup, the relentless onslaught of Avery and Packham will continue unless the apparent alliances between the RSPB and NE are undone.

BTW You can find out who your local MP is here: https://www.theyworkforyou.com/

This is a copy of the letter I recently sent to my MP, I feel it is important that the matter is at least discussed in Parliament; there appear to be some unholy alliances forming that will, ultimately, affect all our lives.


Dear [your MP]

I wrote to you recently regarding the recent and sudden cessation in the General Licences. Whilst I appreciate that you are no doubt busy with many local and national issues I would like to bring your attention a matter which is troubling many of us in the farming and shooting communities. This is the apparent, perhaps unhealthy alliances and agendas among many of the protagonists of the organisation known as 'Wild Justice', the RSPB, the acting chief executive of Natural England Marian Spain and most recently, the appointment of Tony Juniper to the role of chairman for Natural England.

Indeed, many of my shooting and farming colleagues and associates are not ordinarily predisposed to 'conspiracy theories' however, it does appear that there are some less than transparent moves afoot to undermine the lawful activities that have been carried out, unhindered, for several decades and are of a proven benefit to the environment and the animals that are already on the endangered list. It appears from the outside that this could, perhaps, be simply to satisfy personal anti-shooting, anti-hunting agendas.

We would be grateful if you could raise the issue in Parliament with your colleague the Rt. Hon. Michael Gove,
Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of the United Kingdom, especially as he was so effusive when the appointment of Tony Juniper was announced.

If you wish to find out more about the relationships between the key individuals then you could do no better than to review the article researched by one of shootings proponents in the media written here, I have no reason to doubt the authenticity of it:



https://www.fieldsportschannel.tv/who-will-get-sacked-gove-packham-or-marian-spain/

It is important that all members of bodies that make decisions that affect the lives, businesses and pastimes of those that live in rural England are both transparent and more importantly, neutral. I am sure you will agree with that at the very least.

Yours sincerely,

[insert name]

 

[SilliamWhale]

The crap thing is is this is putting me off a lot of other conservation stuff. I actually like some of the principles of rewilding, I like to encourage red list species and I would quite happily do more to help the conservation of species if I could be sure I wouldn't get done over on SFP rules etc. But all this idea of "justice" for wildlife is just so offputting -we're developing a society where the idea of killing things is immoral and its just a weird avenue to go down - as if someone who "loves" animals or bird opinion has more moral and potentially legal weight than someone who doesn't have the same simpering view of the ecosystem

 

[Fiveospades]

Until I am officially informed by NE that I am no longer able to control vermin in the traditional manner I shall continue to do as I have done since I was old enough to think for myself. I do not read newspapers or watch or listen to the news. Had it not have been for this forum I would have had no idea of this ridiculous ruling. (That will be my excuse anyway).

 

[Boysground]

Not wanting to open a can of worms could somebody write SIMPLY what the issue with the general licence was please.

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[An Gof]

If you listen to this, towards the end Avery talks about pheasants being classed as wild birds once released from the pens.. Sounds to me that "recreational " shooting is their next agenda.

Yes, I picked up on that. First Grouse shooting and then Pheasnt and Partridge

 

[Mick Miller]

The forms are up and online. I'm not sharing my name, address and phone number with NE and the terms of the licences are too onerous with threatening overtones.

In the words of the Dragon's 'for that reason, I'm out'.

 

[TheTallGuy]

Not wanting to open a can of worms could somebody write SIMPLY what the issue with the general licence was please.

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Simple version is that the The Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 stipulates that all wild birds are to be protected from harm, the general licence allowing shooting of certain birds breaches this as it is indiscriminate & there is no real checks & balances in place.

 

[bobk]

Somewhat sensentionalist thread and then you learn f**k all .

 

[SilliamWhale]

Yes, I picked up on that. First Grouse shooting and then Pheasnt and Partridge

At first they came for the Magpies, I did not speak out....

 

[An Gof]

At first they came for the Magpies, I did not speak out....

Regrettably that is a VERY astute post