Another good article by Channel 4 News

21st September 2020 Is the Queen about to turn her back on grouse shooting? It's long been under scrutiny over the potential damage it does to wildlife and the environment. Now the government's decision to exempt hunting and shooting from the Covid rule of six has led many to turn their fire on the grouse-shooting …

Grouse Shooting And Hunting Exempt From Johnson’s ‘Rule Of Six’ Covid Curbs

14th September 2020 Boris Johnson is facing a fresh row over his new coronavirus “rule of six” curbs after it emerged that the government has exempted grouse shooting and other “hunting” with guns from the restrictions. Pro-hunting and shooting groups can continue to hold gatherings of between six and 30 people because they are covered …

Third red kite vanishes in grouse shooting area

6th August 2020 ANOTHER protected bird of prey has vanished in suspicious circumstances prompting further concerns they are being killed illegally. Two red kites and one hen harrier, one of England’s rarest breeding birds, have vanished suddenly and unexpectedly in the same area of the North Pennines AONB since last October. The birds, all of …

Three gamekeepers suspended over killing of goshawk on Queen’s land

Three men have been questioned by police over the death of a protected bird of prey on a shoot in the North York Moors that is owned by the Queen. By Grace Newton Tuesday, 21st July 2020 The head gamekeeper and two underkeepers on the Goathland estate were interviewed under caution by North Yorkshire Police …

Police appeal after ‘horrific’ killing of goshawk

15th July 2020 NORTH Yorkshire Police is appealing for information about an incident in which a goshawk appeared to be killed after becoming caught in a cage trap. Video footage, which was passed on to North Yorkshire Police, shows the bird becoming caught in the trap in the early hours of May 2. Shortly afterwards, …

Birds of prey become victims of crime

From Channel 4 News 29 May 2020 Birds of prey become victims of crime They’re some of the most magnificent birds seen in British skies but birds of prey, like the hen harrier, are increasingly the victims of crime – shot and poisoned in some cases to the brink of extinction. But residents in one …

7pm Channel 4 Tonight – 29th May 2020

7pm Channel 4 Tonight. Special investigation into the links between grouse shooting and bird of prey persecution in North Yorkshire.

Three birds of prey found dead in Staffordshire Moorlands

20th May 2020 Police have raised concerns after three birds of prey were found dead in the Staffordshire Moorlands. On Saturday (16 May) a buzzard and peregrine falcon were sadly discovered dead in a wooded area of Longnor, and yesterday (Tuesday 19 May) a second peregrine falcon was found dead near Wetton. As there were …

RSPB Raptor Persecution Map

The RSPB’s Raptor Persecution Map Hub: it is the most complete centralised set of known confirmed raptor persecution incidents in the UK. Desktop version - click here Mobile/tablet version - click here

‘Surge’ in illegal bird of prey killings since lockdown

15th May 2020 The wildlife charity the RSPB says it has been "overrun" by reports of birds of prey being illegally killed since the lockdown started six weeks ago. Species of raptors (birds of prey) that had been targeted include hen harriers, peregrine falcons, red kites, goshawks, buzzards and a barn owl. The wildlife charity …