Gamekeepers - have you done this?

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In case there are some gamekeepers - full time, part time , paid or unpaid  - on here who are not receiving emails from the NGO for whatever reason - please see this message to members below -  The NGO have to submit to DEFRA by end of play Monday so there is not much time left to contribute if you have not done this. It does not take very long!

Dear Member 
 
General Licences fiasco strengthens need for gamekeepers to complete survey
 
As you are probably aware, the NGO together with the Scottish Gamekeepers Association is currently carrying out a nationwide conservation survey and the results of this could not come at a more opportune moment.
 
As you all know, we are in the midst of the most difficult time for gamekeepers in living memory.  Predator control - our one vital tool that helps protect gamebirds and other ground nesting species - has been made extremely difficult by Natural England’s decision to suddenly revoke General Licences. The results of our conservation survey should help to provide the evidence and strengthen the case for a workable licensing system that enables us to protect our game and other vulnerable wildlife from the increasing risks posed by common predators.
 
However, our 2019 conservation survey will not have the rigour that it needs to prove our case unless you all complete the questionnaire.  With all of you backing this, we hope to present a scientifically proven report written by the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust that will really show the full range of benefits that game management contributes to conservation in the UK.
 
Completed survey forms are now trickling in to the GWCT but it is absolutely vital for our profession that all our gamekeeper members and those of the SGA return their completed questionnaires as soon as possible.  It will just take 10 minutes to complete and I have already submitted mine.  How are we going to fight our ongoing battles unless we have robust evidence to show clearly what we do and what this achieves and how the British countryside would be a much poorer place without our efforts? We will then present these results to policy makers, the general public and the media. We need all of you to get involved for the sake of our profession now and in the future.”
 
For those that would prefer to receive  a hard copy of the conservation report by post, please get in touch with Tina Brough on: 01833 660869.  Alternatively, the survey can be completed online by using the following link: https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/CST6TZV
 
Please do get in touch with us if you have any queries on this. 
With very best wishes
 
Liam Bell
NGO Chairman