‘Looking for insects and small mammals, the kestrel lives up to its old country name of windhover’

Chief still allows birds to be shot on his farm

Campaigners are calling for the resignation of a wildlife boss who ran a hare hunt for more than 30 years – because he still allows pheasant shooting on his land.

More than 100,000 people have signed a petition calling on Michael Bax to step down as chairman of the Kent Wildlife Trust after it emerged he was joint master of the Blean Beagles from 1971 to 2005.

It has also been revealed the animal protection chief allows pheasant shooting on his farm.

Tom Fitton, who set up the petition and is a member of the wildlife trust, said Mr Bax was not a “fit and proper person” to be running the organisation.

He said: “The brown hare is an endangered species across the UK and Mr Bax does not represent the views of Kent Wildlife Trust’s membership who pay their fees to protect wildlife, not slaughter it for pleasure.

“Mr Bax is damaging the reputation of not just Kent Wildlife Trust, but the wildlife trusts in general.

“He is not a fit and proper per- son to be running a wildlife conservation charity and we call for Kent Wildlife Trust to cut their ties with him immediately.”

Mr Fitton said there was a feeling of betrayal among members, adding: “How can we ask members of the public to change their behaviour when our chairman has engaged in activities like that?”

Responding to the petition, Mr Bax said he understood hare hunting was an “emotive issue”.

He said: “Having lived all my life in the Kent countryside I grew up with beagling, actively involved until 1995 and one of seven joint Masters of the Blean Beagles until 2005.

“While hunting hares with beagles is now consigned to history, there are still many in the countryside who participate in managed field sports and hunt within the act.

“I understand it is an emotive issue. We need to work together if we are to reverse the crisis for wildlife in the countryside.”

When asked about the petition Kent Wildlife Trust said it “had to remain neutral”.

Michael Bax was joint master of Blean Beagles and still allows pheasant shooting on his land

Michael Bax is currently Kent Wildlife Trust chairman