Local Alert 11
PRESS RELEASE
FROM
Saving
Animals from Exploitation (SAFE) 07939 458846
There is a shoot at Foxley
Woods today, (Thurs 15th May) and these woods will be occupied by
our supporters and protestors, (from 5.30.am to late evening) to stop the
culling of any deer. We will also be at Norfolk Wildlife Trust's offices in
Thorpe Road Norwich, and in the City (from 12.00 noon) leafletting, and
informing the general public how the Norfolk Wildlife Trust are spending their supporters
money, by shooting deer on a weekly basis, at land purchased and owned by their
financial generosity.
Norfolk Wildlife Trust have
started killing Muntjac and Roe deer, and although we have already been told by
the Norfolk Wildlife Trust Warden (Mr. John Milton) that they would NOT be
killing roe deer, our supporters witnessed a Roe buck being shot last Thursday
(08th May), for which we have photographic evidence of.
We also wish the public to
know that the Chairman (Mr. John Austin) of the Norfolk Wildlife Trust, was the
Hunt Master for West Norfolk Foxhounds, and he has also owned his own Beagle
pack, (for which we have photographic evidence of) and he is also one of the
people shooting these deer.
We are sure that the
majority of Norfolk Wildlife Trust members will be outraged to know that deer
are being slaughtered on a weekly basis, on land paid for and owned by them,
and that one of the people actually shooting the deer is the Chairman of the
Trust, who also supports and participates in blood
sports.
Until this
culling stops, we will be patrolling Foxley
Woods on a daily basis, and carrying out occupations of the woods when
necessary to stop the killing of these deer. We will also be leafletting their
offices, and informing the public of this sickening slaughter, as we're sure
that once Norfolk Wildlife members, supporters, and the general public are made
aware of this butchery, they may consider leaving as Trust members, and also
those who have pledged a legacy, or donated money regularly, may also withdraw
their financial support.
As we believe that nobody
would knowingly wish to give to a Wildlife Trust who totally disregard
animals by butchering them, when in fact they should be protecting them.
The mission of Norfolk Wildlife
Trust should be to protect and enhance
Notes
for Journalists
·
They have some electric fencing installed, so erect
more.
·
Was told that it would cost another £15,000 for
staffing more electric fencing - they could easily ask for sponsorship from
members to pay for this.
·
The warden (John Milton) agrees that killing is not
a long-term solution.
·
Excellent financial return on venison the
Forestry Commission admit that a third of their money for the upkeep of F/C
land comes from the sale of venison).
·
Killing should not be an option, especially when
this is a Wildlife Trust, as they should be guardians, not butchers.
·
We suggested that they contact the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) as they own 2,500 acres at 37
different sites in the West Country, and they certainly do not kill.
·
Mr. John Milton (Warden) made some excuse about
being different land sites - but no difference - as the LACS land has a unique
collection of natural meadows, ancient woodlands and wetlands. Butterflies
flourish, birds, hare, badgers, and deer. And it also embraces the conservation
of habitat for wild plants.
All living proof
that their policy of sensitive land management WORKS.
·
It is a well-known fact that killing will not reduce
the population. A lethal method would require killing deer indefinitely, and
killing
increasing number of them to maintain a stable population. It would have a
serious biological impact as well as a negative impact on deer social structure
caused by the killing of dominant does. It would increase auto-deer collisions
during each kill season, a fact supported by insurance statistics. It could
pose a significant safety threat by the presence of shooters, and encourage
poaching.
·
A cull could trigger immigration of deer from
surrounding areas. It would have an unknown and possible negative impact on the
ecosystem. It would be extremely brutal and inhumane. Professional shooters do
not consistently drop deer in their tracks.
·
There are several immunocontraceptive
protocols that have been proven effective in reducing deer populations. The
Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has demonstrated this in projects at
END
Foxley Woods Foxley
(off the A1067 road to Fakenham)
Nr Bawdeswell
Email: [email protected]
Date:
DEER
CULL - POSTPONED - AT FOXLEY WOOD
Owners of Foxley Wood:
Address: Bewick
House
Tel: 01603 625540
Email:- [email protected]
Chairman: Mr. John Austin.
During
late April we were contacted by members of the public, informing us that
Norfolk Wildlife Trust had started killing Deer at Foxley Woods, Nr. Bawdeswell,
A
Press Release was sent out (as attached in Update-3) to all local media
informing them that, until the culling stopped, we would be patrolling Foxley Woods on a daily basis, camping out over night, and
carrying out occupation of the woods when necessary to stop them killing deer.
We would also be leafletting their offices, and
informing the public of this sickening slaughter, as once Norfolk Wildlife
members, supporters, and the general public were made aware of this
butchery, they may consider leaving as Trust members, and also those who have
pledged a legacy, or donated money regularly, may also withdraw their financial
support.
On
Thursday 15th May when the next weekly slaughter was due to go ahead, the woods
were occupied, a protest was held outside their offices in
The
following day on Friday 16th May, the very last line of a local newspaper
article reads "there was no culling in the wood yesterday, as the
initial trial, according to the Trust, had already been completed".
THE
WOODS HAVE BEEN MONITORED SINCE, AND TO DATE, THERE HAS BEEN NO MORE KILLING.
Let sanity prevail, and
thank you to everyone who contacted
Date:
Saving Animals from
Exploitation (SAFE) 07939 458846