Will You Help Save These Stunning Skydancers?

[ladybirder]

https://wildjustice.eaction.org.uk/saveourskydancers?utm_source=notes_on_nature_bitesize_29Aug&;utm_medium=email&;utm_term=notes_on_nature&utm_content=3&utm_campaign=

So beautiful ...
And persecuted.

Please sign the petition by 31st August. Thank you.

[ladybirder]

How odd Apc. You could try a different browser.

[melv16]

Signed last week.

[Apc2604]

Just for your interest LB.

Perhaps you have visited https://hawkandowltrust.org/reserves/sculthorpe-moor

[Apc2604]

I used to volunteer on the Reserve, but had to give up for health reasons. I am logging out of this tablet clearing caches and trying again. It often has funny turns. I am use I will get in on the computer.

[Tilly2]

Try this link, Apc.

https://wildjustice.eaction.org.uk/saveourskydancers

[ladybirder]

That looks a wonderful place Apc thanks for posting. I've been to many over the years and I can't remember them all. I sort of think I would have remembered if I'd seen that one though.
Hope you manage to sign.
Last week melv? You getting preferential treatment then?

[Tilly2]

Trust you to get in early, Melv. :-)

[Apc2604]

I've just done it on the computer LB. Mail sent to my MP. x

[ladybirder]

Thanks for persevering. xx

[Tilly2]

107,361 emails sent to politicians, so far.

[Canary42]

I couldn't locate a petition to which your OP refers ladybirder, but I've sent off an e-mail to my MP. Not that it will do any good, on both the previous occasions I've done so the reply has basically been "I always toe the Party Line because I'm a self-seeking climber" (not actually those words of course).

As an aside, the guy actually fell foul of his own MPs because he used to get into the Chamber early and bag the seat behind Theresa May in order to get full media exposure - they stopped him doing it apparently.

[Tilly2]

We need all the Scots to join in.

The main targets to influence have to be the parties of government in the two UK nations where grouse shooting is a major land use – the SNP in Scotland and the Conservative Party in England.

[ladybirder]

Thanks Canary.
BA for you Tilly.

[clyde59]

done

[ladybirder]

Thank you Clyde.

[Lie-in King]

I haven't had a chance yet to look more closely at the info in it & I don't know if the same content is sent to all, but I received this email today from my MP -

Dear (my name)

Thank you for contacting me about protecting the hen harrier and other birds of prey.

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey and other wildlife, with most wildlife crimes carrying up to an unlimited fine and/or a six-month custodial sentence. To address concerns about illegal killing of birds of prey, senior Government and enforcement officers have identified raptor persecution as a national wildlife crime priority. The National Wildlife Crime Unit monitors and gathers intelligence on wildlife crime, including raptor persecution, and aids police forces in their investigations when required.

Ministers have always been clear of the need to phase out rotational burning of protected blanket bog to conserve these vulnerable habitats. Real progress is being made in promoting sustainable alternatives and I am pleased to hear that legislation is being looked at which could help achieve this. Ministers have also been encouraging landowners to adopt sustainable options and continue to work with them constructively. The England Peat Strategy will be published later this year which will detail further how we can protect, restore, and reduce damage to our peatlands.

I understand that the Government is very concerned about hen harrier populations in particular, which is why it took the lead on the Hen Harrier Action Plan. This sets out what will be done to increase hen harrier populations in England and includes measures to stop illegal persecution.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Best Wishes,

Maria

Maria Caulfield MP
Member of Parliament for Lewes

[Tilly2]

Here's part of the reply from my MP.

'Driven grouse shooting also has a huge impact on our natural habitat. Rotational burning of moorlands by gamekeepers contributes to climate change and I am concerned that land management used in driven grouse shooting can result in soil degradation, as well as problems with flooding and water quality in surrounding areas.

The Government indicated in October last year that it is developing a legislative response to the burning of fragile peat ecosystems, and will bring plans to Parliament in due course. The Government has no plans to ban driven grouse shooting. I will follow any developments in relation to this closely.

Thank you once again for contacting me and for sharing your views. I can assure you I will continue to support efforts to protect hen harriers, including by pressing the Government to implement a review into grouse moors operation and a proper licensing system as a matter of urgency.

Yours sincerely,


Mohammad Yasin MP
Bedford and Kempston'

[ladybirder]

Thank you LiK and Tilly. Interesting. I don't think things are monitored closely enough.

[Tilly2]

It's encouraging to see the two different replies. I'm glad that they are not all working from a script and churning out the same responses.

[Canary42]

Dear [Canary42],

Thank you for contacting me about the protection of birds of prey.

All wild birds are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey and other wildlife, with most wildlife crimes carrying up to an unlimited fine and/or a six-month custodial sentence. To address concerns about illegal killing of birds of prey, senior Government and enforcement officers have identified raptor persecution, including of Hen Harriers, which is a national wildlife crime priority and there are strong penalties in place for offences committed against birds of prey. The National Wildlife Crime Unit monitors and gathers intelligence on wildlife crime, including raptor persecution, and aids police forces in their investigations when required.

Ministers have always been clear of the need to phase out rotational burning of protected blanket bog to conserve these vulnerable habitats. Real progress is being made in promoting sustainable alternatives and I am pleased to hear that legislation is being looked at which could help achieve this. Ministers have also been encouraging landowners to adopt sustainable options and continue to work with them constructively. The England Peat Strategy will be published later this year which will detail further how we can protect, restore, and reduce damage to our peatlands. I should add that whilst there are no grouse moors in our constituency, there are conservation and economic benefits that shooting sports bring to rural communities in other parts of the country. A study by the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust showed that predator control resulted in significant increases in the breeding success of ground nesting birds such as curlew, golden plover and lapwing.

After speaking to the Minister, it is clear that the Government is very concerned about hen harrier populations, which is why it took the lead on the Hen Harrier Action Plan. This sets out what will be done to increase hen harrier populations in England and includes measures to stop illegal persecution. I appreciate that this is an important issue to you. Therefore, I have passed on your thoughts and concerns on this matter to my Ministerial colleagues and made representations on your behalf.

I welcome the Government's Hen Harrier Action Plan.

Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.

Kind regards,

Alan




Alan Mak MP
Member of Parliament for Havant
Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party