AIBU to wonder what people don't like about Chris Packham?

[MRex]

Obviously people actually setting fire to his gates are plain lunatics: www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-58861252. The article talks about all these other online threats, dead animals and other mischief however, which implies a fair number of individuals who expend time and energy going after him. He's just an environmentalist campaigner who wants a bit more wild space, a few beavers introduced, fewer birds shot... he isn't a man of great power. So what do these people fear so much?

I’d imagine that if you frequently find dead animals dumped on your doorstep and you receive hate mail on a daily basis you might assume that having your gates burnt was a deliberate attack.

Who are New Forest Information. Can you link this please.

When did he blame the arson on the countryside alliance or hunt supporters?

This is all I can find he's said. No evidence he's blamed any particular group by name:

Chris Packham: Social media stoked fire attack at my New Forest home www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-58870736

Guilty conscience?

I've met him a couple of times. Once at an outdoor event in torrential rain where he took time to talk to everyone, smile and pose for every photo, was last to leave and completely good natured throughout.

The second time was at a talk he did in a theatre- we were clearing up and locking up afterwards. He ran over by nearly 2 hours making sure everyone who wanted signatures got them, and everyone who wanted to show him their wildlife photos was able to. He was really patient and kind. There was a teenage boy interested in a conservation career and he left him contact details.

What is there not to like about him? He's intelligent and articulate. I have lived in the countryside all my life, nearly 6 decades and I hate blood sports.

I have friends that shoot, hunt and fish. I can’t really understand how people can get upset about shooting pheasants that are then eaten when people eat meat

@elbea, you can’t understand why people get upset about shooting pheasants? Well, personally I object to millions of non-native, captive-bred birds being released into the countryside for starters. It’s the equivalent of releasing millions of farmed chickens which, rightly so, would be considered crazy.

Besides, they aren’t all eaten! I know someone who found a mass grave full of discarded pheasants, and it seems that’s not an isolated case:
www.thetimes.co.uk/article/abomination-of-pheasants-dumped-into-pit-by-digger-whrw935fb

raptorpersecutionscotland.wordpress.com/2018/02/06/more-shot-pheasants-dumped-west-yorkshire-this-time/

www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/secret-photos-released-of-dozens-of-pheasants-dumped-into-a-pit-victims-of-uk-shooting-industry-10045528.html

www.lincolnshirelive.co.uk/news/local-news/up-100-dead-pheasants-found-2481985

According to the Savills ‘Shoot Benchmarking Survey 2017/18’, on average only 48 percent of the birds shot will be taken by game dealers. With the number of pheasants being bred to be killed estimated as at least 27 million each year – though potentially much higher – the number of birds killed ‘purely for fun’ is at an alarming level.
theecologist.org/2018/oct/01/pheasant-shooting-massive-waste-life-reports-marianne-brooker

Then we have gamekeepers, whose sole purpose is to rear and protect them for shooting, often at the detriment of wildlife. I knew 2 gamekeepers and they admitted to killing anything that threatened the birds, including species they shouldn’t have. It’s a nasty business, a sick way for people to have fun, and is a world away from going out and shooting 1 for the pot. I’m not anti eating pheasant BTW (although I think it’s overrated).

Rats are fine in their place, without human rubbish they are just another small mammal

Totally agree @Mybalconyiscracking. As per usual, rats are only a "problem" because of humans, and although the anti-ratters often mention leptospirosis as a reason to hate them it's rare in the UK. Most people recover in a few days or weeks anyway after a course of antibiotics.

I guess it’s no surprise that the kind of people who would poison hen harriers and goshawks in order to keep vast areas of moorland sterile monocultures dedicated to preserving one particular species so that the extremely rich can get their jollies by slaughtering them would resort to violence and intimidation, really

Nope, no surprises at all @crackofdoom

@CandidaAlbicans2 I’d imagine only half go to game dealers because the rest are eaten by the estate owners, people that shoot them, estate workers, beaters, sold to locals. The beaters will often be paid in meat for the freezer - all in my first hand experience as an Estate Manager who has managed hundreds of thousands acres across the country.

You know some really shitty people because I know and have employed quite a few gamekeeper for some of the biggest estates in the country, none of them are killing birds of prey. All of the estates have quite extensive wildlife protection schemes though.

I didn't have an opinion but now I don't like him because I love cats and pandas

@HesterShaw1 Again, why are you so bothered if Megan isn't?

Again in case you missed it the first time. The OP asked why people disliked him. That's why I dislike him. I'm not that bothered, I've just answered people like you when they have challenged me on why I dislike him. So you might think it was fine, Megan might not be bothered, but he is someone I've never watched on TV until I saw that programme and my reaction was, "What a nasty self centred man." So I dislike him, I answered the question.

Do you want to tell us why you dislike him?

The estates near us also have "extensive wildlife protection schemes" @elbea. Unfortunately they are not worth the paper they are written on. Anyone can write a policy.

@Porcupineintherough anyone can write a policy, but I have managed tens of thousands of acres of the Lake District, huge swathes of Cheshire and Buckinghamshire. We implemented our policies.

My closest friends are all Estate Managers, we collectively manage tens of thousands of acres and they all have extensive environmental and land management policies that are implemented. One friend is currently overseeing the restoration of peatland moors at a huge cost to the landowner. I’m sure you know better though.

Well Im also an estate manager and know many estate managers and my experience has been quite different to yours certainly.

[quote ancientgran]**@HesterShaw1* Again, why are you so bothered if Megan isn't?*

Again in case you missed it the first time. The OP asked why people disliked him. That's why I dislike him. I'm not that bothered, I've just answered people like you when they have challenged me on why I dislike him. So you might think it was fine, Megan might not be bothered, but he is someone I've never watched on TV until I saw that programme and my reaction was, "What a nasty self centred man." So I dislike him, I answered the question.

Do you want to tell us why you dislike him?[/quote]
Pretty obvious that I don't dislike him!

Or at least, I don't like or dislike him because I don't know him well. I've met him in a work capacity, but both of us were working and I wasn't thinking of whether I liked or disliked him.

I admire him. I think he's a principled man standing up to people who wish him harm, and the environment needs fearless principled people like him.

I think publicly saying you dislike a bloke you've never met based on one thing he said to his stepdaughter who clearly didn't mind herself is a bit pathetic to be honest.

@Porcupineintherough I bet you are

@elbea you can advance search me if you want to although why Id lie about that when there are so many more exciting fantasy careers to choose from Im not quite sure.