What does the Dartmoor judgement actually mean - and why does it matter for the future of nature conservation? Guest blogger Tony Whitehead unpacks the details of our recent legal action. To find out more visit buff.ly/PJC7Izs
Wild Justice
@wildjustice.bsky.social
Award-winning not-for-profit org fighting for nature conservation in the UK via legal challenges, public campaigns & focused research. Led by CEO @bobelliot.bsky.social & Directors @chrisgpackham.bsky.social & @ruthtingay.bsky.social wildjustice.org.
Lots of grandstanding from BASC on this ruling, which is odd, because the ruling isn't really that significant. No licence required to keep gamebirds "imprisoned" in pens prior to release on protected sites, BUT A LICENCE IS STILL REQUIRED TO ACTUALLY RELEASE THEM ON PROTECTED SITES!
Raptor Persecution UK@raptorpersuk.bsky.social · 3w agoHigh Court ruling on BASC's legal challenge against gamebird licensing on protected sites - some important clarifications ⚖️ Read the full judgement, and some commentary by me, on the blog ⬇️ raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/07/18/h...
Fake news is putting Dartmoor’s ponies at risk. New deep dive by me into the current furore around Dartmoor's ponies. www.dartmoornature.org.uk/post/ponies-...
Ponies, Dartmoor and fake news
There’s been a deluge of misinformation recently about ponies on Dartmoor. Dartmoor Nature Alliance’s Tony Whitehead looks at the origins and potential impacts of the current “pony campaigning". He st...
dartmoornature.org.uk
Great update from Natural England on the current Dartmoor pony issues ... I hope this will be widely read. naturalengland.blog.gov.uk/2026/06/30/w...
What Natural England is doing next to protect Dartmoor Ponies
In recent weeks, Dartmoor's iconic ponies have been at the centre of significant media attention and public debate. We want to use this blog to set out clearly what has been reported, what is happenin...
naturalengland.blog.gov.uk
Ban butterfly-killing pesticides for good ❌ Despite repeated promises to ban them, the UK Government has quietly granted yet another 'emergency' license to spray butterfly-killing pesticides across our fields this summer.
Please sign RSK Wilding’s petition! buff.ly/6bkwWU9 Wild Justice have joined a coalition of conservation organisations, businesses, scientists and landowners, to urge the next Prime Minister to take decisive action and reset the Government’s approach to nature recovery. Add your voice!
Another young satellite-tagged Golden Eagle from south Scotland translocation project found injured with 17 shotgun pellets embedded in wings & body. Police Scotland press release + commentary from me ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/06/27/a...
Another young satellite-tagged Golden Eagle from south Scotland translocation project found injured with 17 shotgun pellets embedded in wings & body
Press release from Police Scotland (26 June 2026), followed by my commentary: POLICE APPEAL AFTER SQUEAGLE THE GOLDEN EAGLE FOUND WITH SHOTGUN INJURIES Police Scotland is appealing for information …
raptorpersecutionuk.org
Completely unsurprising but the question has to be - How is the government allowing this to continue when the vast majority of the public find these reports abhorrent?
149 Hen Harriers confirmed 'missing' or illegally killed in UK since 2018 - most of them on or close to grouse moors. New blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/06/24/1...
149 Hen Harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed in UK since 2018, most of them on or close to grouse moors
For anyone who still wants to pretend that the grouse shooting industry isn’t responsible for the systematic extermination of Hen Harriers on grouse moors across the UK, here’s the latest catalogue…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
Yet another Hen Harrier 'disappears' from Ruabon grouse moor in North Wales - her satellite tag had been "deliberately cut off". Press release from RSPB and commentary from me ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime 🌍 raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/06/24/y...
Yet another Hen Harrier ‘disappears’ from Ruabon grouse moor in North Wales – her satellite tag had been “deliberately cut off”
Press release from RSPB (24 June 2026): RARE HEN HARRIER VANISHES IN WELSH ‘BERMUDA TRIANGLE’ – WITH SATELLITE TAG CUT FROM ITS BODY North Wales Police, RSPB and the National Trus…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
Rewind to Dec '25 ...we and the Badger Trust were set for the final stage of our court case against Natural England but an admin error delayed things by 6 months. So, yesterday we returned to the Royal Courts of Justice for the judicial review. As soon as we have the judgement, we’ll let you know.
TODAY we’re at the Royal Courts of Justice for the final stage of our judicial review, launched with the Badger Trust in 2024. We believe Natural England acted unlawfully when it granted 26 supplementary Badger cull licences. Watch this space for an update!
The Moorland Association's amateurish attempt to analyse Hen Harrier tag data is full of holes (much like a shot Hen Harrier). New blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/06/09/m...
Moorland Association’s amateurish attempt to analyse Hen Harrier tag data is full of holes (much like a shot Hen Harrier)
The illegal killing of Hen Harriers on British grouse moors has been known, for years, to be the main cause of the species’ desperately low population size in the UK. This male hen harrier di…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
This case raises fundamental question about transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to access environmental information. Its outcome has significant implications for wider environmental issues. Please support the crowdfunder if you can. www.crowdjustice.com/case/protect...
ACT NOW to help stop the illegal killing of Foxes and other wildlife. Please respond to the government consultation on trail hunting by 18 June. The League Against Cruel Sports has created useful guidance that can help you through the process. Visit www.league.org.uk/hunting_consultation
Sign the petition NOW! www.saveournewts.org Support this campaign and make a stand for nature. London’s largest breeding colony of Great Crested Newts is under threat from development. If this goes ahead ,it sets a dangerous precedent, allowing nature to be brushed aside when it’s inconvenient.
"Vindictive evil woman" & "Poisoned witch" to deliver free webinar on illegal raptor persecution for Friends of the Dales this Wednesday. ⬇️New blog #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/05/18/v...
“Vindictive evil woman” and “Poisoned witch” to deliver free webinar on illegal raptor persecution for Friends of the Dales this Wednesday
Last year, the charity Friends of the Dales launched a new campaign calling for an end to the criminal killing of birds of prey in the Yorkshire Dales National Park. The charity’s Eyes on the…
raptorpersecutionuk.org
There's still time to book for 'Talking Raptor Persecution with Dr Ruth Tingay' - next Wednesday 20 May at 5.30pm. #FreeEvent Time to learn how we can all play a part in ending the criminal killing of #BirdsofPrey 🫶 Book via: friendsofthedales.org.uk/events #RaptorPersecution
Deadline 17 May!! It doesn't take too long to complete the consultation... It's worth it for Wanda, and Wild Justice!
Wild Justice@wildjustice.bsky.social · 3mo agoACT NOW for wildlife and Woodcock! Deadline: 17 May. Wild Justice has been lobbying for a reduction in the shooting season of Woodcock. The government have now opened a consultation. Follow the link for more info about how you can make a difference for Woodcock and other species. buff.ly/1FQThDt
Please help the woodcock by completing this consultation. 😀
Wild Justice@wildjustice.bsky.social · 3mo agoACT NOW for wildlife and Woodcock! Deadline: 17 May. Wild Justice has been lobbying for a reduction in the shooting season of Woodcock. The government have now opened a consultation. Follow the link for more info about how you can make a difference for Woodcock and other species. buff.ly/1FQThDt
ACT NOW for wildlife and Woodcock! Deadline: 17 May. Wild Justice has been lobbying for a reduction in the shooting season of Woodcock. The government have now opened a consultation. Follow the link for more info about how you can make a difference for Woodcock and other species. buff.ly/1FQThDt
Trail hunting is a lie! Conservationists, animal welfare campaigners & hunt saboteurs gathered outside Parliament yesterday calling for an end to illegal fox hunting (which happens under the guise of 'trail hunting'). It's #TimeForChange & you can be part of that: tinyurl.com/zw78pvk9
'Ghost sky dance' - powerful new artwork documents the illegal killing of Hen Harriers on UK grouse moors. A superb collaboration by sculptor Mark Butler & writer @gregorynorminton.bsky.social - exhibition tour coming soon. New blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/05/09/g...
‘Ghost sky dance’ – powerful new artwork documents the illegal killing of Hen Harriers on UK grouse moors
This is really special. Yorkshire-based sculptor Mark Butler and writer Gregory Norminton have collaborated to create a powerful piece of art to highlight the illegal killing of Hen Harriers on UK …
raptorpersecutionuk.org
Happy 1st anniversary to our brilliant CEO, @bobelliot.bsky.social 🎉 Thank you for bringing calm leadership, strategic wisdom and a lot of fun!
Harri , Zach and Bertie , 3 boys aged 11 and 12 yrs old understand how important Penrhos is! That is why we are fully behind them ! Please support them ! www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/fam... Link to fundraiser gofund.me/634e8b82b
Schoolboys running marathons to save Welsh beauty spot loved by Chris Packham
A medical professional believes the site's planned destruction will jeopardise local healthcare through over-tourism
dailypost.co.uk
@wildjustice.bsky.social's damning report reveals how our #SSSIs are being failed by the body that's supposed to protect them (@naturalengland.bsky.social), with potentially disastrous consequences for #wildlife. Shocking!
Wild Justice@wildjustice.bsky.social · 4mo agoNEW REPORT: Today we publish Unprotected Nature, a report revealing Natural England's failure to designate any new protected sites. Read about it in the Guardian here: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
This is why I haven't been on social media much! I've been horrified by what we found about Natural England pausing designation to SSSIs - and the consequent loss of nationally important sites for nature to development: wildjustice.org.uk/unprotected-...
Unprotected Nature: Natural England failing to designate most important sites for nature. – Wild Justice
wildjustice.org.uk
Malcolm Tait@malcolmtait.bsky.social · 4mo agoNatural England failing to protect valuable sites. Our report for @wildjustice.bsky.social shows that nearly 2/3 of sites waiting to be designated as SSSIs were under threat from development. One site in Thurrock will be directly destroyed. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"Of 22 sites being held on a waiting list, before designation, 14 were at risk from development. That's 64% of potential SSSI's, and the wildlife living within them, at risk of being lost."
Wild Justice@wildjustice.bsky.social · 4mo agoNEW REPORT: Today we publish Unprotected Nature, a report revealing Natural England's failure to designate any new protected sites. Read about it in the Guardian here: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Damning report into Natural England’s failure to designate any new SSSIs since 2023.
Wild Justice@wildjustice.bsky.social · 4mo agoNEW REPORT: Today we publish Unprotected Nature, a report revealing Natural England's failure to designate any new protected sites. Read about it in the Guardian here: www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Natural England failing to protect valuable sites. Our report for @wildjustice.bsky.social shows that nearly 2/3 of sites waiting to be designated as SSSIs were under threat from development. One site in Thurrock will be directly destroyed. www.theguardian.com/environment/...
England wildlife watchdog ‘has stopped designating special sites for protection’
Exclusive: Report finds Natural England has created no new SSSIs, which protect areas from development, since 2023
theguardian.com