Wild Justice lose in court again

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Leading rural organisations have welcomed a decision today to refuse Wild Justice permission for a judicial review on “burning” in England for a second time.

Mrs Justice Lang found all four of their grounds challenging the lawfulness of the burning regulations restricting the burning of vegetation over deep peat were unarguable. A previous decision to award costs against Wild Justice has been upheld.

The British Association for Shooting and Conservation, the Countryside Alliance, the Moorland Association and the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation had previously been granted interested party status in the legal challenge and provided a skeleton argument prior to, and participated in, today’s hearing.

The interested parties had already agreed to donate their share of any awarded costs to the Gamekeepers’ Welfare Trust.

A spokesperson for the interested parties said: “The legal judgement in this matter is pretty emphatic. The judge said all four grounds put before the court by Wild Justice were unarguable.

“It’s another sensible decision by the judiciary and a clear signal to Wild Justice that they should leave management of the countryside to those who do it in the most sustainable and bio-diverse manner.

“This is good news for upland managers who use prescribed burning alongside other tools to manage our precious uplands.

“Wild Justice should also be aware that wherever they take their legal challenges against shooting, the organisations have the willpower and resources to be in court and give responsible countryside management a voice.”

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