What on earth could Natural England be trying to hide from the public?
Is the full data too controversial to share with us? Perhaps licensing wild bird control, enabling the badger cull and facilitating the destruction of ancient woodland is just the tip of a very murky iceberg? Fury is building as Natural England appears to have reneged on an agreement to publish its complete wildlife licensing data on time. This, in spite of the organisation's claim to be 'as transparent as possible going forward' As many of you will know, I started our campaign in 2018 after discovering that Natural England had been issuing licences to 'lethally control' (ie. cull) thousands of wild birds. The data surrounding these licences was not in the public domain and I had to use the Freedom of Information Act to uncover the shocking statistics before bringing it all to public attention through my blog and subsequently the national media. As a result of this publicity and the ensuing public outcry, I had useful and productive discussions with James Diamond, then Natural England's Operations Director, over the licensing process. It seemed we were making significant progress and that my calls for more transparency and openness were being heeded. The dialogue with Natural England had largely been initiated due to pressure from our petition which very quickly attracted more than a quarter of a million supporters. This has since grown to an unprecedented 378,104, with more people adding their names every day. Broken promises and empty words? When David Slater took over from James Diamond late in 2019, he contacted me to confirm that he remained committed to ensuring more transparency surrounding the licensing system. As "Head of National Operational Projects and Complex Cases (Director for Wildlife Licensing & Enforcement Cases)" he is a figure of some authority at Natural England. This is what he told me when he took the role:- "We will make sure we publish our annual stats at the end of March each year from now on. I am keen to be as transparent as possible on our wildlife licensing work going forward." (David Slater, December 2019) It now appears that those were empty words. Data no-show Sure enough, last year Natural England did publish all the statistics in full, though only after I urged them to do so.... This year, however, it looks as though Natural England has reneged on that promise to be 'as transparent as possible' with us. The wildlife licensing data they said they would share annually, every March, was a no-show when it was due last month, and as I write we are still waiting for it to be published. Useless data and lack of detail And it was looking so hopeful... On 15th March, David Slater confirmed to me that the data was on track to be released by the end of the month. It didn't appear. But then on 1st April (appropriately enough...) he offered to send me a copy of the information that Natural England planned to soon publish. While this sounded like a very welcome gesture, it transpired that the intention might have been to pacify me with some neatly presented but pretty meaningless figures. Because it just turned out to be a selectively edited, and frankly quite useless, version of the licensing data which specifically withheld the important information, such as numbers of birds and other wildlife affected by each licence. I replied that I wasn't happy with the lack of detail and I asked for this to be looked into and rectified prior to publication. "Rude and insulting" I have now asked three times for an update and I have received no response at all. As I write, it is the 9th April and we are still waiting for any data to be published. Not only is Natural England's attitude rude and, let's face it, ignorant, I feel it is insulting to each and every one of the 378,104 people who have signed our petition. Palpable frustration towards Natural England is building, and this would be entirely avoidable if they just did the right and proper thing. Questions upon questions With such a huge number of people asking for more accountability from the Government's 'adviser for the natural environment', it's just not good enough that we are being given the silent treatment. If Natural England does not want to publish the figures then they must also be clear about why they don't want to share the information, especially after pledging to be more open and transparent. It all raises so many questions. Why will they not honour their agreement to release the data? What on earth could they be trying to hide from the public? Is the full data too controversial to share with us? How much wildlife have they been complicit in killing through their licences? Perhaps their bird control, together with enabling the badger cull and facilitating the destruction of ancient woodland is just the tip of a very murky iceberg? Silence and lack of transparency breeds suspicion and doubt. If they don't tell us the figures then what are we to think? So, I urge Natural England to publish the complete data, as agreed, without any further delay. It will be the only way to salvage public trust - already at a very low ebb - in this secretive organisation and its activities. Petition is HERE, please sign if you haven't already. Thank you.
60 Comments
Richard Collis
9/4/2021 08:41:23 pm
I can only imagine Natural England by not disclosing the information requested are covering up crimes. Why on earth would Ringed plover need to be culled?
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Westbrook
9/4/2021 08:47:29 pm
Thank you for your care.
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Timothy Hugh Walker
9/4/2021 09:15:49 pm
One can only imagine that they, a pair or more, stand in the way of a proposed development. Economy and Growth will always be the winner despite all the window dressing. I bet they rue allowing Trump to build his golf course on the east coast of Scotland!
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Rose Herrmann
10/4/2021 01:45:19 am
We certainly rue the fact that trump was actually the president. He is such an immoral selfish greedy liar and did great harm to our wolves and endangered species and migratory birds. It makes me sick to think about all of your beautiful badgers murdered for no reason when they are NOT the ones spreading disease but the cows themselves. It is absolutely despicable and heartbreaking for all of those beautiful birds to be slaughtered. We tourists go to your country to see the countryside and your wildlife which is getting less and less
peter wakefield
9/4/2021 09:36:27 pm
Please keep up the good work. Natural England are being arrogant and need to be stopped.
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10/4/2021 12:44:51 pm
Rose hits the nail squarely on the head. I remember the old NCC (pre-'Natural'(?) England) days, when it was run by real Naturalists such as Don Jeffries, and this would never have happened. They should be prosecuted for misrepresentation.
Andy Roberts
9/4/2021 10:19:53 pm
This is as shocking as it is predictable
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Eric Buckley
10/4/2021 10:57:16 am
Natural England are obviously corrupt, not fit for purpose and should be replaced.
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Liz callegari
10/4/2021 03:33:03 pm
Why does ANY soecies bird or mamal need culling!!! Nature takes care of numbers. Only people continue to breed uncontrollably taking more and more land for housing farming schools etc. Population of the human species sadly is the only thing that requires culling
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Susan Buckley
11/4/2021 08:41:46 am
Yes, they clearly have something to hide and are going to great lengths to do so. It's (Un)Natural England that should be culled and replaced by a legitimate organisation.
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Janet Mills
11/4/2021 01:18:56 pm
No animal or Bird should have to be culled it’s just barbaric.
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11/4/2021 09:18:52 pm
I live near Glasgow and i must have all your starlings and sparrows in my garden. No shortage of them here though i have seen a decline in starling numbers around compared to last year. Feels like last year was a bumper year for them compared to now.
Joe Caffery
12/4/2021 12:16:46 pm
Hi Jase,
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Keith Dancey
12/4/2021 05:54:28 pm
"I reminded her that 380,000 people angry at a government agency which the Government are not doing anything about are 380,000 angry voters."
j r gidfrey
9/4/2021 08:49:57 pm
No birds should be kill or culled, except pigeon. Leave them to their natural devices.
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Roy Baker
9/4/2021 09:49:27 pm
Poor old pigeons the gentlest creature on the planet but one of the most despised and persecuted.
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Colette F
9/4/2021 10:50:07 pm
@Roy Baker - hear hear! Pigeons are wild birds too and just as entitled to live as we all are!
Amanda Constantinou
9/4/2021 11:52:06 pm
Agreed! I’m so pleased someone feels the same way! :)
Rose Herrmann
10/4/2021 01:46:58 am
Pigeons and mourning doves are beautiful
Susan Buckley
11/4/2021 08:43:26 am
Well said
Janet Elizabeth Ackerley
10/4/2021 05:43:02 am
Culling pigeons does not reduce numbers over all it just means people get to shoot them
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9/4/2021 08:52:33 pm
We have to protect our wildlife from Natural England it seems. If they cannot let the data be seen then they must be hiding something that the public will not like if it comes out. Let's flush this secrecy out asap....before they let more nature be destroyed by issuing these damned licences!!
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Mark Bonnett
9/4/2021 08:52:50 pm
Hugely frustrating news and puts a huge distrust on these organisations and even on the data they eventually / hopefully shares validity.
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harry teyn
9/4/2021 09:08:39 pm
no bird should be culled, the only thing in need of culling is
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Janine Sloan
9/4/2021 09:08:47 pm
Wildlife is dwindling in increasing numbers, people need to be made accountable for their actions. Is it acceptable in this current climate?
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Ann
9/4/2021 09:14:45 pm
No animals or birds need to be culled or they will end up on the endangered list they are being irresponsible next they will be chasing everyone for more money to rear more
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Sean Coneron
9/4/2021 09:24:52 pm
Tactics like this just create mistrust, it has to be concluded that the raw data contains information embarrassing to Natural England
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(Dr) Pedr Jarvis
9/4/2021 09:25:46 pm
Does the same apply in Wales, or not?
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Ian James Macfarlane
9/4/2021 09:26:38 pm
I may be naive but, I understood that (according to Sir David Attenborough and Chris Packham) we "Humans" are doing enough damage to destroy most creatures just by what we do to the Planet. So why do we even consider issuing "Licenses" to cull any creatures, especially those that have an absolute and inalienable right to live. And by all accounts, I do not believe they (the Birds, Bees, Mammals etc.) have a Representative to Fight their case.
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Brian Matthews
9/4/2021 09:30:55 pm
Looks to me they should call themselves The wildlife Destroyer not Natural England . Who are these people ,they appear to be a faceless lot of nobodies .let us know who they are ,name them ,so we know them and their part in this stupid movement . I look forward to their report ,if I live long enough ,and that is something ,the way they keep delaying and delaying that I may have expired before that happens .
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Aggie suddaby
9/4/2021 10:09:01 pm
NE seems to be just another organisation created to lull the public into a false sense of security and the belief that "regulators" are looking out for the environment, when the reality is that they rely on government funding and are therefore unduly influenced by the interests of corps/developers and anyone else who would exploit and/or bulldoze the natural world for profit.
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9/4/2021 10:13:56 pm
The RSBP Big Garden Bird Watch was published today - claiming more people than ever participated, but that a record low bird count was recorded. Perhaps now we can see why? The real shameful thing is that over 1 million took part in the survey, but only a third of a million have signed Jason's petition!
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Squirrel Manning
9/4/2021 10:17:57 pm
I hate the way they kill grey squirrel mothers (even in parts of England where there are zero red squirrels!) and leave the babies to slowly die of starvation in their dreys. Kill kill kill! The only creature there are too many of is us humans. I honesly believe we've gone past the tipping point and we'll be wiped out by famine etc in much less than 100 years. We just seem determined to take every other species with us! Birth control (for humans and non humans alike) is the obvious answer, as other commenters have mentioned.
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Chris Swann
9/4/2021 10:29:31 pm
Follow the money. Someone, somewhere is making a fortune out of this - that you can be sure of.
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Judith Wilson
9/4/2021 10:32:27 pm
As a species, we have already destroyed much of this beautiful home of ours through mining, fracking, deforestation and countless other things done mainly out of sheer greed. We have caused hundreds of other species to become extinct in our pursuit of money and many more are bound to follow unless we act now. Natural England should be doing all it can to protect our valuable wildlife but, instead, it seems intent on ignoring the wishes of thousands of people in this country alone and refusing to openly publish its true aims. There is indeed something deeply suspicious when an organisation works this hard at concealing its policies. If Jason cannot get to the bottom of this mystery, we will have to find someone who can...
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Wendy Walsh
9/4/2021 10:56:59 pm
As per-the powers unknown to us are a minefield in getting the right answers! Have just watched seaspiracy on Netflix and if you require any answers to the head banging against the brick walls of our so called environmental protection agencies -you will get the answers you require to this and a whole lot more. They as a bunch-are not what they seem to be.
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Vanessa Lord
9/4/2021 11:01:36 pm
The human race has got to stop this kill mentality. What right do we have to impose a limit on how many of a certain species are allowed, or class certain non human animals as pests or vermin? The only pest species that needs controlling is the human kind! We are killing this beautiful planet and all the other species who share it with us. Unnatural England and Deathra are a disgrace.
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Andy
9/4/2021 11:33:45 pm
Wankers!!
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lesley
9/4/2021 11:37:11 pm
Natural England ?...how can they in all honesty call themselves that is beyond me...its totally unnatural what they allow to happen, and even worse blatantly encourage and condone
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10/4/2021 01:20:09 am
Thank you Jason for your help in exposing these important issues.Corruption seems to be everywhere,people who don't care much about wildlife working in a organisation that we thought was there to safeguard it!This lack of response to Jason(and the fact they are killing animal's)proves it is time for a complete overhaul of how Natural England is run, with complete transparency and accountability to the public! And I hope Jason's efforts exposing natural England will be the start of this!. James Hobbs.
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Michael Bennett
10/4/2021 07:07:09 am
I think you need to up the anti, write a piece for the Guardian based on current Tory standards as exemplified by DEFRA - who, for example, is complicit in the destruction of the environment caused by HS2, the move to American style standards of animal welfare - chicken factories, and the fishing industry (Guardian April 7). As has been observed, that No 10's power is unchecked, and any scrutiny demanded is evaded; if the PM is a Trump clone, then Natural England is a no 10 clone.
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Angus Gordon
10/4/2021 08:06:21 am
This is not surprising the Conservative government has shown a complete disregard for the need for scrutiny it follows that if they are allowed to get away with that without penalty that other organisations will follow suit. They will certainly wish to avoid doing anything they think might be prejudicial to their government masters.
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Stu Nutt
10/4/2021 08:42:41 am
What is the role of (un-)natural England ?
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Valerie Wood
10/4/2021 08:55:01 am
This has to involve money. Someone is benefiting from this abhorrence.
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Pete Rowberry
10/4/2021 09:02:02 am
Natural England are in the pockets of hunting and shooting lobbies and are less concerned with maintaining bioversity. There is a case for some predator control, but it must be open to public criticism and must not be biased to one particular set of countryside users.
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Janet Weitz
10/4/2021 09:29:20 am
Report them to the Advertising Standards Authority.What they are doing is not Natural and the name misleads the public.They would have to spend time justifying their position and this might further expose their murky practices.
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Lesley
10/4/2021 09:55:02 am
I think it's time to stop using the euphemism 'cull' - it's murder, whatever species is being killed. Natural England not releasing the information is completely unacceptable, and nothing more than a way of hiding what they feel will be unpalatable information.
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Frederick Waite
10/4/2021 10:10:20 am
Publish the names of the members!
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10/4/2021 10:18:00 am
Are Natural England answerable to anybody in a higher authority or only themselves. It is absolutely disgraceful what they are doing.
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Paul Fletcher
10/4/2021 11:46:26 am
Thanks for all you are doing Jason. Just read that Ringed Plover are on the list and I shuddered, what have these lovely little birds done to deserve even just being on the HIT LIST of UN NATURAL ENGLAND. What will be next Cuckoo`s for impersonating a CLOCK. Natural England are the ones who need culling not Wildlife. Keep up the good work.
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Gareth Huw Lewis
10/4/2021 11:51:10 am
Sadly, (Un) Natural England are completely opaque at the moment. It's upsetting and I don't usually like hurling insults willy nilly at people or organisations but frankly they deserve nothing less-let's be honest , most people reading this blog and replying are sickened at the casual killing of our, yes our! wild birds-although of course, quite rightly they are free spirits and belong to no one-dishing out licences to kill them them on the whim of some senior official is disgusting and cowardly but it is all to do with the working of this Government-Natural England are one of it's agents and someone high up has told them to shut up-what a sad country to be living in-and yes, you are right Jason-an organisation that appeases Grouse Shooters and their criminal actions for instance with the introduction of the ludicrous brood meddling(management) scheme for Hen Harriers and who have sanctioned the destruction of Barbastelle and other Bat roosts in the path of the monster which is HS2 and who appease the genocide of Badgers does not give them a good track record-the whole system is rotten to the core.
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Reg Alston
10/4/2021 11:58:23 am
As usual this kind of organisation is not really there to serve the public. It's first responsibility is to the Government, and their existence depends upon satisfying the Government's requirements. Those requirements are led by pressure upon the Government by large business, farmers, and other influential individuals. So don't ever expect their respect or concern for nature as a priority. The Government will have told them to withhold as much controversial data as possible.
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Alan
10/4/2021 01:29:09 pm
Natural England Board (as shown on their website):
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Christine Wardlow-Kaye
10/4/2021 02:48:30 pm
Jason, your recent report makes for very disturbing reading. Is RSPB on board with your campaign? I cannot understand Natural England and fear they are like all the present government's department's - inaccessible and secretive and busy hiding corruption and nepotism.
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Keith Dancey
10/4/2021 04:23:18 pm
From Natural England and DEFRA
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10/4/2021 07:08:18 pm
Yes we love your work Jason and it's such a shame this has to be done. There is no logic in the murder of wild animals and birds and yes someone is making big money out of these persecutions. House builders are the worst for this and the houses they are building are not worthy of the money folk pay to buy them . They are fraught with faults and there are so many houses that haven't finished being built and stand rotting. The HS 2 is another white elephant that will not run at all or will always be late. The billions of pounds being sunk into this horror just keeps going up all the time by millions. How come we can't give our nurses and doctors a decent pay rise? Just paying out money for more flooding because of lack of trees. We should sack the cult that kill little animals just for the sake of it we can't afford them. Josie Smith
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David Gledhill
11/4/2021 10:21:53 am
"I am keen to be as transparent as possible on our wildlife licensing work going forward".
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Keith Dancey
11/4/2021 05:15:14 pm
"I remember the old NCC (pre-'Natural'(?) England) days, when it was run by real Naturalists such as Don Jeffries, and this would never have happened"
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Wildlife Angels
12/4/2021 01:48:40 pm
Dear Jason
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