The Peoples’ March for Wildlife, London

The sodden 10,000 on the move

We all headed south.  It meant a very early rise, but it was clear that all were of one mind that this cause was something worth getting up early for.  Several of the Friends of Pickering’s Pasture were going to Hyde Park to join others passionate about the natural world to march through London on The Peoples’ March for Wildlife.

Chris Packham

The gathering at Hyde Park had a slow start initially, but numbers soon swelled.  One group had left Scotland at 02:30 while others had travelled widely from across the UK.  We caught sight of key UK naturalists including Mike Dilger, Martin Hughes-Games, Bill Oddie, and Iolo Williams.

Iolo adding some humour

The organiser, Chris Packham, had worked tirelessly for months supported by folk who have become known as his Ministers.  For two hours we listened to interviews with children, experts, keen supporters until at midday the more formal presentations began.  We heard passionate – and at times moving – talks from mainly young people.  Georgia Locock, Bella Lack, Mya-Rose Craig and Dara McAnulty spoke of their fears for the future: fears of species extinction, habitat loss, climate change and our estrangement from the natural world.  Adult experts provided numbers to endorse our concerns for the future: Dominic Dyer called for a halt to the badger cull and a stop to the slaughter of Scotland’s mountain hares; Professor Dave Goulson cautioned about the impact of agrochemicals on the natural environment; while Dr Ruth Tingay spoke of the challenges of wildlife crime.  We were uplifted by musical contributions from Billy Bragg, Saskia Eng and Grace Petrie.

Team Liverpool

Liverpool RSPB's Linda Rees

Jeff Clarke & Anno Brandreth crusading

Laura B and hedgehog friend

Team Liverpool on the move

At 1pm the move towards Downing Street began.  The slow progress was witness to the fact that 10,000 people had gathered to express their common goal that we should invest in wildlife.  Many had downloaded a file of birdsong so Piccadilly, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall echoed to the calls of Blackbird, Blackcap, Chiff-chaff, Nightingale, Robin, Song Thrush and Skylark. This was to remind people that 44 million birds have disappeared from the UK countryside since 1966.  Passers-by paused to look at placards, to chat to people, to join in or to peep their car horns.  No-one could have ignored this collective of wildlife campaigners snaking through the City of London. 

Crowd at Whitehall

Once the head of the march reached Downing Street, Chris Packham and some of his young campaigners presented a copy of A Peoples’ Manifesto for Wildlife to the Prime Minister’s Office.  This excellent and challenging document contains 200 proposals to end the war on wildlife.  The march ended with more uplifting talks from George Monbiot, Mark Avery and Chris Packham.  For two hours the rained had poured incessantly, but this did nothing to dampen the spirits and resolve of those involved.

Leadership

Future generations  - fighting for wildlife

The march over, people then headed for the Underground and for the long journeys home.  Most were exhilarated feeling that, for once, it was good to be shouting out for wildlife.  Now the work begins.  This must not be a one off.  I am sure that those of RSPB Liverpool and  the Friends of Pickerings pasture who were there will be sharing their thoughts to the rest of the group.  Always active to ensure that all our local reserves and wild places provide a haven for wildlife, the work will continue.

If you want to read A Peoples’ Manifesto for Wildlife’ you can access it on: https://www.chrispackham.co.uk/a-peoples-manifesto-for-wildlife

More pics here -

https://www.flickr.com/groups/3168623@N20/

Peaty Jen & Laura

Parkgate Hen Harrier day vision

We had a dream - to bring Hen Harrier day to Parkgate in 2018. 

If you build it, they will come😃

Fabulous day - thanks to all who volunteered, supported and those who were just out for  a Sunday walk and became better informed😉

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OyGuDvSSl4

https://www.craigjoneswildlifephotography.co.uk/blog/events/hen-harrier-day-2018/20180815864/

Advertising at Martin Mere

Team Liverpool

Iolo 

Jeff did a fantastic job in opening  and closing the speakers  sessions . He really reinforced the fact that Hen Harrier Days need to continue and why we were all there all. Audeince particiation was as ever mandatory🤣👊 

Jeff socks it to Beefy Botham

The first speaker Colin Wells (former manager at RSPB Burton Mere) who spoke about the history of the site and how it is a fantastic place to come and see Hen Harriers in the Winter.👌

Second speaker was Colin's successor as manager at RSPB Burton Mere; Graham Jones spoke about how he was going to continue to protect the site for raptors and  breeding waders.👏

Next up was Alan Davies who talked about Hen Harriers, lifed the audience - He told them that they will lose eventually, no matter how long it takes.😆 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z5PoH4-oWgE

Findlay Wilde was on next.Talking about the illegal persecution of upland wildlife and joined the other voices in calling for an end to this barbaric slaughter. Told a personal story about a Hen Harrier called Finn, her life cut down far too soon😡😰.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0n_iKWFOm4

Findlay

After Findlay it was James Bray from the RSPB  Bowland.  Talking about upland species of raptor  that should be breeding in Bowalnd likes Peregrine and Hen Harrier. Stories from the front line of raptor conservation.😡

Next was Dr Mark Avery, who  recapped on the history of Hen Harrier Days and his hopes for the banning driven grouse shooting .👊 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UNxNrdTHmw

Finally  Iolo Williams. Another heart felt,  rousing  speech relating  how  he used to go up on the moors and watch Hen Harriers as a child and yes he's  really 'pissed off' . 😆👍 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brwIAdCucro

Videos courtesy of Stuart pike

Gathering


See you next year 👊🤞👀

Hen Harrier Day 2018

     

We’re missing our Hen Harriers and we want them back.

This year we are marking the Inglorious 12th  on our home patch.. we got it to PARKGATE, so be there

Join the official Hen Harrier Day protest event at Parkgate, Wirral 12noon Sunday 12/8/18.

The Parkgate message to our RSPB members who share their disgust and sadness at this persecution for the sake of a minority's so called  'sport'....

*Satellite tagged Aalin disappeared,  assumed dead

Hen Harriers are still being heavily persecuted by the Driven Grouse Shooting fraternity, already this year two satellite tagged Harriers from this year’s broods have disappeared in suspicious circumstances. England still has fewer than a handful of breeding pairs and nobody is getting prosecuted for the illegal persecution of this iconic species.

It is up to all of us to bring pressure to bear on the powers that be - politicians, the police, the CPS and DEFRA/Natural England to take this situation seriously. To enable us to do that we need to speak with a unified voice and a very loud one. We also need to get our message across to the general public, for whom this issue has little, or of no relevance. We need to get their support if we are going to turn this super-tanker of destruction around. It is for this latter reason that this year we have chosen Parkgate Old Baths as our venue for the awareness raising protest. Till now we have largely preached to the converted, from here on we must ensure that non-birders know just what is going on in the name of ‘sport’.

How can you help? Spread the word, share it on social media ..tell everyone about the event that's taking place and try and persuade them to attend if at all possible. This is a numbers game!

We have some great speakers,

James Bray (Bowland Project Officer for RSPB),

Findlay Wilde (A Young Campaigner on Conservation Issues)

Mark Avery (Author, campaigner and naturalist) pictured with RSPb's Tim Melling

Iolo Williams (say no more) 

Hen Harrier day 2017 Dunsop Bridge

*Missing, assumed dead Aalin

https://raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2018/03/21/satellite-tagged-hen-harrier-aalin-disappears-near-ruabon-grouse-moor-north-wales/

RIP - LIA- did'nt make it to her first birthday

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2018/07/25/nos-da-to-our-tagged-welsh-hen-harrier-lias-journey-is-over/#more-24227

Coming to a screen near you,.....How much would you miss birdsong? An invitation from RSPB Liverpool

Messenger promotion image

Heads up all members and bird friends.

RSPB Liverpool  are happy to announce that we are hosting a screening of a stunning and thought provoking film called The Messenger.  To be screened at the Picturehouse @ FACT cinema in Liverpool on Sunday 26 November 1pm . Rated PG, running time 90 minutes. 

All ticket holders will be entered into a raffle on the day including some goodie bags from the bird friendly coffee producers  https://birdandwild.co.uk/

After the screening all viewers are welcome to join the group in the cafe for an informal ‘ornithological social’  for anyone who wants to talk about the film, the issues it raises and more generally to find out  about the  RSPB’s activities in the area etc.

Tickets  available now from fact:

 Picturehouses - Cinema information for Picturehouse At Fact

Picturehouses - Cinema information for Picturehouse At Fact Picturehouse Cinemas are located in city centres and are architecturally unique venues that provide café bars, r...

Box office Number : 0871 902 5737

Intrigued?:

The Messenger is an essential film for anyone who cares about the environment and nature and full of insights and revelations for all audiences. It explores mankind’s deep-seated connection to songbirds and the devastating impact humans have had on bird species, from urbanisation, climate change and pesticides. 

Filmed across three continents The Messenger extends us a ‘birds’-eye view’ to offer fresh glimpses into epic migratory journeys while chronicling the struggle of songbirds worldwide to survive in turbulent environmental conditions. As scientists, activists and bird enthusiasts investigate this phenomenon, amazing secrets of the bird world come to light for the first time while beautiful slow motion photography illustrates the power and beauty of these delicate winged creatures.

The Messenger leaves viewers with a profound appreciation for the billions of birds with whom we share our communities and our planet – and with hope for our collective ability to turn the tide.  

Here’s a link to watch the trailer: https://youtu.be/LjQtRr4CKc

Messenger promotion image

Mark Avery (ex RSPB Conservation Director) : The Messenger is about the threats faced by songbirds – not just in the US and Canada but also in Europe and elsewhere.

It’s a good film and non-birders will probably find it just as compelling as those who, like me, sat through it with a self-generated commentary in their heads of bird names as different species appeared in view or in song.

There are some beautiful, and pretty much unique, images of birds in flight (taken in wind tunnels) and a lot of them in the wild too.  It is a vivid reminder of the fact that birds really are simply stunning – visually, vocally and because of the feats of migration they accomplish.

But life is tough for birds. The film started with issues and impacts such as collisions with buildings – probably a bigger issue in the US than in Europe (?) – but it moved on through trapping to the bigger issues of pesticides, land use and climate change. A lot of ground to cover (just like a migratory bird) but the film brought it home.

Hope to see you all there.....

Laura

RSPB Liverpool

Inglorious day update. Now write to your MP

Not so happy inglorious 12th day , god help anything that flies over our Moors 😭😠😡

On Sunday 7/08/16 a few of us (could you have gone? next year- if it happens?) went to the Hen Harrier day at Dunsop Bridge determined to add our voices against the wilful and criminal act of raptor persecution(any wild things that get in the way). 

After the uplifting rally led by Terry Pickford from Raptor politics (including a visit from the Grim reaper who came for a grouse shooter-  

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk/2016/08/07/the-grim-reaper-targets-hen-harrier-killers-in-the-forest-of-bowland/ )

We had a picnic on the Duke of Westminster's grouse moor. 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p044fnlg   - Packham v botham

http://henharrierday.org

http://raptorpolitics.org.uk

http://markavery.info/2016/08/12/telegraph/

RSPB NEWS 18/08/16 : Elwood - First tagged hen harrier of 2016 goes missing.

http://www.chrispackham.co.uk/news/rspb-news-release

If this is important you 

Where do you live? make sure your voice is heard. Sign,pass it on

and write to you MP (Template below to help)   

CONSTITUENCY

WEST DERBY                 101    PETITION SIGNATURES TO DATE

WALTON                      88

WAVERTREE                  140 

RIVERSIDE                  234

GARSTON & HALEWOOD         166 

KNOWSLEY                   112    

BOOTLE                     138

SEFTON CENTRAL             154 

HALTON                     123

ST HELENS NTH              124

ST HELENS STH AND WHISTON  134 

WEST LANCS                 177 

 

Laura

Our e-petition to ban driven grouse shooting achieved 100,000 signatures on the morning of 13 August. It is still open for signature until 20 September but the emphasis now passes, for me at least, to the parliamentary debate which should ensue. I will hear on the evening of 6  September or morning of 7 September whether we have been given a debate (we should be) and the date of that debate (it will be after 9 October and will be a Monday afternoon). Please do ask your friends to sign the e-petition but there is something else that you can do - and that is to write to your MP. Here are some words you could use to write to your MP about a hoped-for debate on driven grouse shooting. This link will help you find your MP and their email address or postal address, provided you know their name or the name of the constituency in which you live.  You should only write to your own MP. Many MPs have their own websites with online forms that ask you for your details – they are quite easy to use.  If you simply email your MP then you should include your name and address to confirm that you are a constituent of theirs. You should get an acknowledgement of your email pretty quickly – it may simply be an automated response at this stage – that’s fine. I would be very grateful if you would let me know that you have contacted your MP by emailing me at mark@markavery.info with your name, the name of your MP, the name of your constituency. When you get a substantial reply from your MP I would be grateful if you would let me know. If you use the template below then I would be grateful if you would let me know whether your MP says he/she will try to attend any debate, whether she/he intends to speak, and any indication of the line they might take. The more emails that are sent the better. Please don’t assume that someone else will do it so you don’t have to – they may be thinking the same.  Please do let me know that you have done this – I will be keen to help you with any ensuing correspondence on this subject – you aren’t alone in this.  If you have never emailed or written to your MP before – don’t be afraid, they are all too human. Dear [name of your MP] I am a constituent of yours and I signed the e-petition on the parliament website entitled Ban Driven Grouse Shooting https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/125003. That e-petition has passed 100,000 signatures and therefore is expected to receive a debate in Westminster Hall some time later than 9 October.  In our constituency of [name of constituency] XXX people have supported this petition. [You can look up the number by using this linkhttp://petitionmap.unboxedconsulting.com/?petition=125003]. I hope that when the date of the debate is determined you will be able to attend the debate – would it be your intention to do so? I hope that when the debate occurs you might feel able to represent my views in that debate. I want to see driven grouse shooting banned/stronger regulation of driven grouse shooting/changes in the way our hills are managed [select one of these or use your own words]. Do you think you would be able to speak on that subject? I would be grateful for your response and the opportunity to brief you on the subject if you are planning to attend the debate. Yours sincerely Your name and address if you haven’t already given it. Go on - send that email please! There is another petition on a related subject, this time directed at the Scottish parliament. It has over 5000 signatures and closes on Monday. this petition asks for proper regulation of gamebird shooting in Scotland and is supported by the RSPB and Scottish Raptor Study Groups. Please add your name to this petition - particularly if you live in Scotland. Please use the power you have as a citizen to call on decision-makers to make the right decisions. best wishes Mark Avery