The Government's guide to mingling

During the lockdown period implemented (belatedly) during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, I was unable to undertake my annual trips to Wales in mid-May and to the Scottish Highlands in mid-June or undertake any trip to Europe in the spring/early summer period.

In addition, programmed indoor meetings and field trips with Essex Birdwatching Society, events with Essex Wildlife Trust, events with the RSPB and the annual 3 day Birdfair at Rutland Water were cancelled.

Although many lockdown restrictions on travel were eventually eased, there continue to be some restrictions on access to some nature reserves and limited access to hides, visitor centres and other facilities.

I fully understand and appreciate why all this was and continues to be necessary.

On 14th September 2020, the Government introduced the “rule of six” due to the surge in new Covid-19 infections. Under this rule, any social gathering of more than six people in England is against the law and those in breach may face fines. The rule applies to both gatherings held inside and outdoors. Slightly different interpretations of the “rule of six” apply in Wales and Scotland.

However, immediately before the “rule of six” came in to force, the Westminster Parliament (Conservative majority), the Welsh Senedd (Labour largest party) and the Scottish Parliament (SNP largest party) confirmed that shooting and hunting groups were exempted by being listed as physical activities that people can continue with in groups of more than six.

So …. the “rule of six” prevents me from pursuing and enjoying my interests and places severe restrictions on what society can do generally.

But …. it is OK for wealthy landowners to continue with driven grouse shooting, continue to enjoy killing thousands of Red Grouse for fun and entertainment, continue with the relentless and criminal persecution and killing of Hen Harriers, other birds of prey and other wildlife, continue to damage fragile upland and mountain areas and continue to cause environmental impacts such as flooding and carbon emissions.

What is wrong with our politicians?

Far from giving preferential treatment to their donors and friends, they should be rigorously enforcing current legislation on hunting and killing wildlife and introducing new legislation to ban driven grouse shooting.

 As the former Conservative minister Tracey Crouch has said: “Many will find this topsy-turvy prioritisation from Government. I've had queries about choirs, community bands, addiction therapy groups, all of whom would be worthy of an exemption and instead we are scrabbling around prioritising shooting animals. It's bonkers."

Is it any surprise that the Government’s approval rating for their response to the Covid-19 pandemic has hit a new low? A new YouGov survey has found that as new restrictions are introduced, 63% of British people said they thought the Government had handled the Covid-19 pandemic badly.

The new poll brings the Government’s net approval rating on the issue to a record low of -33. This is a substantial drop from last week’s -18 score as well as from the previous record of -22 measured in August and a far cry from the +51 rating recorded at beginning of the lockdown in late March 2020.

💚🦆 🦉🦋🐝🦊🦡🌼 🌳💚
Stay safe, stay well, stay strong, stay connected with nature