EVIDENCE IS THE KEY AND WE HAVE IT
Hi All
Sincere apologies for the gap in communications. Rest assured it is not because of a lack of activity. Indeed, this has been one of the most active and important months in the history of our organisation.
The fight for the Clashindarroch is reaching a critical point and it has been requiring serious attention. We have previously demonstrated the depths Vattenfall and the associated government agencies will go to, in order to suppress and downplay the presence of wildcats. Well, they have now taken it to a new level. As we all know the wildcat breeding season is currently underway and females will be pregnant. In previous years forestry operations had stopped in the breeding season giving the wildcats the chance to rear their young in peace. Well this year they haven’t.
The Clashindarroch is now set up like a high-level security zone. Ther are CCTV cameras, ANPR cameras and a heavy staff presence throughout the forest. This has made it very difficult to get the evidence we need to prove a wildlife crime and to amass of body of evidence upon which legal proceedings can be brought. It has taken stealth and patience to gather what we have needed which is why we have been quiet for the past month. You see, once they see that our vehicles on site, they can simply turn off the machinery. A static harvester is not evidence of logging. However, we have now compiled a comprehensive collection of videos and images that show a full range of forestry activities right in the heart of the Clashindarroch and at a crucial time in the breeding season. If stressed, females wildcats will abort their young. Such a scenario is almost too horrific to comprehend but that is what we face.
They have no shame and have denied their impacts and wrongdoing before. Sadly, the authorities have fallen for their deception. Now any such denial is impossible. We have videos of them felling, loading, stacking, hauling, excavating and even using an industrial wood chipper, the noise of which is intolerable even to the human ear, let alone a wildcat. It has been hugely distressing for us to see. Every tree that is felled fills us with grief and anger, but without extensive evidence, they would be able to wriggle out of it.
Our legal team have been amazing and have been constantly pursuing the authorities to do the right thing. The excuses they have come up with have been ridiculous. Only recently the enforcement officer at the council, Robin Currie, was informed of serious alleged planning breaches by Vattenfall and was provided with evidence. His attempt to reassure us included this sentence ‘…steps have been taken as per “2.10 Wildcat Protection Measures” to minimise any risk of killing, injuring or disturbing Wildcats. To that end, I have contacted the project Manager for Vattenfall providing them all the details of the alleged breach (including the evidence your clients have provided) and await a response from them and/or their appointed ECOW’.
It is almost unreal. He is basically going to ask Vattenfall’s project manager if theyhave done anything wrong and/ or their Ecological Clerk of works who is paid by Vattenfall. It is like asking a criminal if he committed a crime or not. You really couldn’t make it up. We are exposing the flaws in the whole system and to be honest it is frightening. The authorities including Nature Scot, Scottish Ministers, Forestry and land Scotland and the council are all supposed to protect the wildcat form illegal disturbance. Currently they are facilitating such disturbance.
So what have we done?
1. A crime has now been reported to Police Scotland and the reference is PS-2026-0311-3054. Rest assured we will be regularly following up to ensure that this is dealt with by the National Wildlife Crime Unit.
2. Further, we have now put the council on notice. Last night we emailed the Enforcement officer, Robin Currie and concluded by saying this , ‘….to seek a section 146 interdict to protect this endangered species. In the event that these protective measures are not put in place by 5pm on Friday 13 March 2026, we put the Council on notice that our clients will seek a judicial review’. If the council do not act appropriately by close of business tomorrow, legal papers will be served.
3. We have also raised a case with Environmental Standards Scotland who have considerable power. We have just been informed that our complaint has passed their initial screening and we are into the pre-investigation stage. Many applications don’t make it this far. The reference is IESS.26.017
We are literally throwing everything at this now and there are so many workstreams going on that is impossible to detail them all here. However, all we can say is that we are simply the only chance the Clashindarroch wildcats have. We take that responsibility extremely seriously and we are not afraid to expose and pursue all parties who betray these precious and magnificent animals.
We are totally revved up and ready to go again. The upset of seeing prime wildcat habitat obliterated only fuels us to continue.
We now have the evidence we need, to stop this reckless development by a multi billion pound Swedish organisation, in its tracks. So, we fight harder than ever and simultaneously across all fronts.
It is always important to take a step back and look at what we are fighting for. The picture above is of a beautiful female wildcat that was captured on video at the same spot that our camera trap was stolen by Vattenfall. Such beauty cannot ever be replaced.
We know that you are with us and we can only continue with your ongoing generosity and support. Please support our legal crowdfunder at. The stakes could not be higher:
https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/wildcats/
In solidarity, we stand together for the Wildcat.
Sincere thanks as always
Emily and a super charged Wildcat Haven Team.