Rural Wales takes aim at ‘bizarre’ NRW shooting ban
COUNTRY enthusiasts are poised to mount a legal challenge to a decision by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) to ban shooting in public forests.
It follows widespread fears in the rural community that country sports in general are under attack from the urban majority.
Traditional hunting with hounds has already fallen by the wayside and now anglers are being urged to petition Welsh Government amid fears their sport will be next.
Fuelling rural anger is the 11th-hour intervention from environment minister Hannah Blythyn in NRW’s shooting review, prompting claims the Labour administration was “pandering” to animal rights extremists.
The British Association of Shooting and Conservation (BASC) is taking legal advice amid concerns the decision could threaten the future of game shooting in the UK.
Steve Griffiths, BASC Wales director, said: “A decision clearly taken against evidence to the contrary and costing public money should be challengable in law..”
A review of shooting on the Welsh Government’s woodland estate considered 250 pieces of evidence and concluded the sport should continue as shooting contributes to the country’s sustainable management and wellbeing goals.
However, NRW’s board decided the rearing and shooting of pheasants on NRW land will end from March 2019. Three leaseholders will be affected. One who had asked for a one-year extension to relocate his business.
The move follows comments from Ms Blythynmaking it clear the Welsh Government does not support the sport on ethical grounds.
NRW advisory papers, accepted the minister had a right to direct the board’s final decision. But they also warned of the potential for “reputation damage” if the board ignored its own evidence.
Rachel Evans, Countryside Alliance director for Wales, said: “It is my firm belief that NRW has been pushed into making a decision that it is not at all comfortable with. The board’s reputation now lies in tatters.”
Wildlife groups hailed the decision as a “landmark move” and a victory for animals and the wider environment.
Bethan Collins, of the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS), commended NRW and thanked Ms Blythyn for her involvement.
With Animal Aid, LACS campaigned for three years to end pheasant shooting on public land. It prompted the NRW review by gathering a 12,500-signature petition.
A counter petition has now been launched on the change.org website by a group calling itself Game Shooting/Management United. It has so far collected 3,725 signatures.
Among its backers is Harry Legge-Bourke of the Glanusk Estate, Crickhowell, who urged anglers to add their oppo- sition to the shooting ban.
River angling in Wales is facing its own curbs next year which many fear will decimate the sport. “Now they have hit shooting, next it will be fishing,” warned Mr Legge-Bourke.
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust (GWCT) labelled the NRW as “bizarre”.
It said the move would be counter-productive for wildlife as pheasant shoots can deliver significant biodiversity benefits.
Madeleine Havard, NRW’s acting chair, insisted ongoing wildlife declines, and the need to conserve rare animals and habitats, had underpinned the board’s decision.