Trophy Hunting is never acceptable. ”It goes without saying that the import of animal body parts as trophies should be banned outright by the British Government. I'm really shocked that they haven't already done it, in truth, the whole world should do it.” Dr. Brian May, Founder of Save Me Trust.

Call for evidence on a Third Party Ban by Micheal Gove

After many lengthy meetings with Micheal Gove we are delighted to see him launch a 'call for evidence' on banning Third party puppy sales.  A ban on third party puppy sales is to be explored by the government as part of a package of

Dehydration Kills

Butterflies and humans are having a great time in this hot weather but it’s not the same for all wildlife. 

Water is essential for all of us.

Rocking for Wildlife again. We are celebrating 10 years of Save Me and we will be  holding another ‘Wildlife Rocks’  to highlight the issues that face our planet and wildlife.  If you are interested in joining us for fun and entertainment please email Bev@savemetrust.org

This May loves Foxes and all wildlife…

Over 84% of the British population remain opposed to fox hunting. There is no doubt that Fox hunting is a toxic issue for the Conservative party. David Cameron tried and failed, as recently as 2015, to put through an SI (Statutory Instrument) that would have effectively castrated the Hunting Act. According to the mainstream press, the reason Cameron failed was

PRESS RELEASE  Save Me Trust – The end of fur import scandal? 

Brian May and his Save Me Trust team will be at no 10 today at 10.30 am handing in a petition to ask for a total ban on the fur trade in the UK 

My sadness and disappointment at this decision can hardly be expressed. 

The news that a massive further slaughter of our native badgers is now sanctioned by the Government comes at the moment when we finally have in our hands the definitive proof that bovine TB will only be conquered by action within the herds to cut off the routes of reinfection. History will show that the deaths of tens of thousands of badgers gave farmers

This is the future of Hunting! NO Cruelty, NO Lies, NO Kill 

This Boxing Day, hunts will gather to parade in villages across England and Wales for the traditional Boxing Day meet. But this year there will be a new atmosphere - a wind of change. A few months ago there was an attempt by Cameron and his merry men to undermine the Hunting Act with a ‘Statutory Instrument’. 

SI Amendment to the Hunting ACT Comparisons to the Scottish Hunting Act

Dr. Brian Mays Save Me Trust strongly opposes the government's proposals to amend the Hunting Act 2004 using a draft Order. The government proposes to use a statutory instrument to change the exemptions under the Act, in order to use an unlimited number of dogs in exempt cases.  At present, the exemptions only apply where a maximum of

Save Me Trust is appalled that a further 19,274 Badgers have been culled in 2017.

The continuation of the Badger cull policy raises concern not only in its operation but also in it projected outcomes. It is clear that

A new dawn on hunting and it's humane  

“This is the future of Hunting! No Cruelty, no Lies, no Kill ” This Boxing Day, hunts will gather to parade in villages

Clothes to Die for? is a new campaign by Dr. Brian May’s Save Me Trust

The international fur trade is worth at least £10 billion per year - but at what cost? Over 40 million animals are killed for their fur every year - 85% of them are bred and killed on fur farms and the rest are trapped in the wild - solely for their fur. Worse, this figure does not include the millions of rabbits killed each year for the fur trade. Shockingly, there are

Bovine TB: There is no single solution, but the problem can be solved

We can confirm that the Save Me Trust is collaborating on a project on a Devonshire dairy farm, run by a dedicated vet, that many people now think could eventually bring about the end of the badger cull.

Relive It! By Dr Bri

You can now relive that extraordinary day of our rally against the SI.  The SI was an amendment posing as a 'technical detail’, which would have smashed the Hunting Act’s power to protect.  The day before Parliament was to vote on it, the Government, forced on to the back foot, withdrew both the debate and the vote. We received the news at the moment when

Leading experts say latest badger culls will not stop TB

Two leading Scientists, Christl A. Donnelly Imperial College London, and Rosie Woodroffe, Institute of Zoology, London reveal in an article, published today for www.nature.com magazine that the latest badger culls unlikely to stop TB. Two months ago, the government advice body Natural England approved further licensed badger culls in parts of the United Kingdom in 2015. The aim is to reduce local badger densities by at least 70% to stop the

As badger culls begin, could one pioneering vet’s bovine TB test end the slaughter

Failed attempt to bring back fox hunting

In July 2015, the Government announced that it intended to amend the legislation to remove the limit on the number of dogs, and instead replace it with a requirement that the number of dogs used is appropriate to the terrain and any other relevant circumstance. The Government’s stated aim is to bring the legislation in line with that in Scotland.

Application for a Judicial Review was denied

The Save Me Trust’s most recent legal challenge to the government’s badger culling programme was turned down this week, when our application for a Judicial Review was denied on a appeal by a single judge. But the fight against this ineffective and cruel programme continues on all fronts. 

Dr Bri & the First Shot Badger 2017

The killing has begun again, ramped up to kill thousands more Badgers this year.  I’m sure I’m not alone in finding these pictures very painful.  It’s pitiful to see these magnificent families of creatures being destroyed.  I’ve been involved

Come support us by Bri

COME support our foxes tomorrow, but please leave the Anti-Tory banners at home. We have many good Conservative MP's supporting us. MPs today got biggest E-mail storm EVER against the Wednesday SI to disable Hunting Act. KEEP E-Mailing your MP. No return to barbarity. Wednesday SI aims to make prosecution of cruelty in hunting impossible. Bri

Our lawyers send a letter before action to Natural England

Lawyers acting for the Save Me Trust today sent a letter before action to Natural England requiring them to revoke the licences to kill badgers held by the cull operators in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset. Badgers are a protected species. Unless an exception applies,

Statement from Dr Brian May 

We are concerned and deeply disappointed that the Government has issued 11 new Badger Cull licences to add to the 10 already existing.  We have always opposed badger culling because of the cruelty and inhumaneness of free shooting badgers in open fields at night, as confirmed by the government's own Independent Expert Panel.

EDM on shortage of foxes  showing  hunts breed foxes

That this House agrees with Simon Hart, Chief Executive of the Countryside Alliance, that his organisation would be ridiculed in parliament on the publication of a letter sent by the Masters of Fox Hounds Association to 800 hunt masters warning of the nationwide 'shortage of foxes' and urging landowners to breed more foxes to 'solve the

Our New Year Message 2014

Wishing you all a Happy New Year from Brian, Anne and the Save Me team – and thank you for all your support throughout 2013. In 2014 we will continue to work to stop the roll-out of the badger cull.

Message from Dr Brian May  

Message from Dr Brian May For the badgers - and actually for us as a nation - this cull is a tragedy and a disaster.What’s less understood is that it’s a tragedy for the farmers and the cattle too. The drive behind continuing with a policy which is failing seems to be that ‘we have to be seem to do something, rather than

Skulduggery in the House of Commons?  By Bri

The Spectator has today published an article [Revealed: David Cameron's plan to bring back fox hunting] admitting that the Government, recognising they cannot win the “Free Vote on Hunting” that David Cameron promised, has given up on it, and is about to try to bring back legalised Fox Hunting through the back door.  

Voting  For Animals

Ha! We made it into the election photo round up of the day on the BBC! and I finally got to stand on a real Soapbox! (as opposed to my time-honored virtual one) Bri.

We at Save Me are disappointed and profoundly saddened at the news that Theresa May’s government is to escalate its culling of badgers. In 2014 the governments own Independent Expert Panel (IEP) determined that the cull was cruel and ineffective; the panel

Team Fox

Team Fox is a coalition of animals groups united to keep the hunting ban in place. Fox hunting is not a ‘tradition’ that needs to be protected  The humane sport of drag hunting, in which the hunt follows an artificial trail, has all the tradition without any of the cruelty. Nevertheless, traditions are measured in more than years. They have to reflect the values and attitudes of a society and the vast majority of the

Bovine TB and an elephant in the room. By Bri   

So, as a farmer, why would you bother reading this?  How could the views of a rock star on Bovine TB be worth squat? Especially a rock star who has been widely accused of caring more about the welfare of wild animals than the welfare of farmers? 

Our response to news of an extended Government-led badger cull

We at Save Me are disappointed and profoundly saddened at the news that Theresa May’s government is to escalate its culling of badgers. In 2014 the governments own Independent Expert Panel (IEP) determined that

Anne Brummer, trustee and founder of Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue and CEO of Dr Brian May's Save Me Trust receives a national award for Services to Wildlife.

Congratulations to our CEO, Anne Brummer who has won the prestigious Animal Hero Award 2018 for services to wildlife.

The government responded to this petition when it received 10,000 signatures. Unfortunately, the government’s response was so inaccurate and selective that it appears to represent a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.  There are four key inaccuracies in the government response:

Cubbing and the  Autumn Hunt 

Early in the morning a Hunt of mounted riders quietly surrounds a thicket they know to contain a family of foxes. The female fox or vixen hears the movement but will not leave her cover as she has cubs to protect. The huntsmen surround the thicket, they slap their saddles, holler and shout to prevent the fox and her cubs leaving the thicket. They want to have their fun. 

Michael Gove announces a ban on Puppy farming in UK 

Well, at a stroke, Michael Gove has made puppy farms history. In his speech yesterday he gave credit to the forceful campaign led by Marc Abrahams of Pup Aid, and the massive wave of support in the public for this new law - Lucy's Law. Under the new legislation,

A Farmer speaks out; Bovine TB is a cattle problem 

A Farmer speaks out; Bovine TB is a cattle problem with the main transmission between cattle. An open letter to George Eustace Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Farming, Food and the Marine Environment from Graham Cooper

Why Joanna Lumley is not barmy by Bri

Hi Folks Brian here, after a little bit of a gap. Yes, Brian Talks has been a little bit quiet and I think there was probably a good reason to be a little bit quiet around the election time. Some of us were very disappointed with the result, but this is what we're stuck with and we have to make the best of it.

Fill in the Consultation to end Third party Puppy and Kitten sales  

Save Me Trust Announcement Thursday 8th February 2018 Save Me has been working to end third party puppy sales in Britain since 2015. We have been working with  the wonderful Marc Abraham and Pup Aid, better known as TV’s Marc the Vet to ensure that the government also includes a number of other measures that will stop the suffering of dogs in Britain today.

We take part in Cattle bTB test on a Devon farm.

Dr Brian May, founder of the Save Me Trust, will be taking part in the bTB “read test” with Crediton, mid-Devon, farmer Malcolm Huxtable on Thursday 29th October. This is being filmed for BBC Inside Out. Dr May, together with Anne Brummer, CEO of The Save Me Trust, has campaigned tirelessly for an end to the badger culls, and runs a badger vaccination project known as BACVI (Badger and Cattle Vaccination Initiative) that works with

About Foxes

Can you outwit the clever fox? Foxes don’t always make the best of neighbours but before you write them off as the neighbours from hell, take a few minutes to understand them and maybe find some ways to humanely, and permanently, discouraging them from visiting your space.

Brian May and Nicola Sturgeon

Brian May meets Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. Dr Brian May and Anne Brummer met Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon at ‘Holyrood’ to discuss fox hunting and the Scottish Government’s commitment to review the existing legislation on the issue in Scotland. Dr May was instrumental in galvanising the public to lobby their MP’s when David

We confirms legal action. 

The Save Me Trust confirmed that the lawfulness of the decisions to issue the licences today will be challenged by a Judicial Review in the High Court. To continue the culling of badgers is unlawful as it does not rationally serve the statutory purpose which permits the

Fox Hunting

Save Me is totally opposed to "dogs killing wild mammals" for human pleasure. We do encourage the humane sports of drag hunting and lure coursing to retain all its traditions without the need for cruelty

Our Hen Harriers are missing 

Buy Skydancer bath bombs to support Hen Harriers: Save Me is supporting Lush and Hen Harrier Day this Sunday - please support them too. Skydancer - Far from the Madding Guns, cost £3.95 each and will be on sale in Lush  for the next few weeks. They are also available from their website. We are encouraging people to take part in Hen Harrier Day. This website  tells you  what you can do to help these magnificent birds:

We  Challenge Lawfulness of Badger Cull Licences

Lawyers instructed by the Save Me Trust have today written to the Chief Executive and the Chief Legal Advisor of Natural England warning them that if any licences to cull badgers are either activated in Gloucestershire and Somerset or any new licences granted for this purpose anywhere, then the lawfulness of the decisions to do so will be challenged by a Judicial Review in the High Court. To continue the culling of badgers is unlawful as it does

Are Foxes Dangerous?

Our intelligence can often be measured by our reactions. Knee jerk reactions are not good reactions. It is extremely rare for a wild animal to bite and this is usually only when corned or trapped, Most wildlife has learnt to keep hidden. Humans are the biggest threat to wildlife and not the other way round. Foxes are rarely aggressive and

Portcullis House Adventures

So what do we get up to in our lobbying adventures? And what is it like, now that we have a new Government – a government which made a lot of us wonder if there was any hope whatsoever for animals in the UK (and a few other important things like Human Rights and the NHS !)? 

Trust to Challenge  Cull Licences

Brian May’s Save Me Trust to Challenge Lawfulness of Badger Cull Licences: Brian May’s Save Me Trust to Challenge Lawfulness of Badger Cull Licences "Lawyers instructed by the Save Me Trust have today written to the Chief Executive and the Chief Legal Advisor of Natural England warning them that if any licences to cull badgers are either activated in Gloucestershire and Somerset or any new licences granted for this purpose anywhere, then the lawfulness of the decisions to do so will be challenged by a

Bri's Fox Hunting Lame Claims 

THERE IS NO EXCUSE for the continuation of fox hunting. The only argument for it that you can believe is sincere, from its supporters, is that they enjoy it. But they will put up all kinds of smoke screens – essentially bogus defences. This fox lovers' guide provides definitive answers to the hunters lame claims.

Wentworth Castle with Angela Smith

Today Brian May and Anne Brummer are journeying to Wentworth Castle, near Barnsley, South Yorkshire, to a reception hosted by Angela Smith, Labour Party MP for Penistone and Stockbridge.  Does this mean that Brian (formerly a self-confessed Tory voter) is joining the Labour Party?  Well, no.  Brian explains.  "I believe we have reached a severe crisis point

Defra shows increases in TB in cull  zone

Defra shows bTB increases in the cull zones during the badger culls. An article in the Farmers guardian  Read More saw Owen Paterson making more inaccurate claims, that were his signature tune when in office, and may be the reason of his short career as a minister.  “The ‘extraordinary reduction’ in bovine TB disease levels see in the Somerset and Gloucestershire pilot areas prove badger culling works, according to former Defra Secretary Owen Paterson. In an interview with Farmers Guardian, Mr Paterson

Ex Huntsman tells the awful truth...

This is a truthful account of the reality of fox hunting and its standard practice, the contents may haunt you, they haunt me. Clifford Pellow, a professional fox hunter for 23 years, believed unwaveringly in the integrity of his 'craft'. He'd learnt its mysteries in night stories from his grandfather - all about wily Reynard and the special breed of

It's time to 'can' canned hunting

The most extreme version of trophy hunting is “Canned Hunting”. The animals which are born in captivity are taken away from their mothers within hours of being born so they can be used in petting zoos. When they become of age they then spend the rest of their life in caged compounds waiting to be released in a larger compound for the so-called ‘canned’ hunt. 

Team Badger Launch

Queen guitarist and animal welfare champion Brian May has joined with the heads of every major animal welfare group in London to launch the Team Badger campaign, which is opposed to the government's proposed cull of badgers across England.

Cameron attempt at repeal.15th July 2015

In July 2015, the Government announced that it intended to amend the legislation to remove the limit on the number of dogs, and instead replace it with a requirement that the number of dogs used is appropriate to the terrain and any other relevant circumstance. The Government’s stated aim is to bring the legislation in line with that in

The Estate owners and shooting associations are quick to make huge claims of how the work they do benefits the moorland and the environment. What they don’t mention is that they are paid huge subsidies by the Government (that’s our money) to maintain bio-diverse habitats and ecosystems, rich in flora and fauna, but this is not what they are doing. 

Visiting Camp Badger for the second time

We visited Camp Badger for the second time in two years. Last year we were invited by the farmer who loans his land to the "stop the cull" campaigner, Jay Tierman, and an array of wounded badger patrol night walkers. The peaceful camp is much the same as last year with lots of tents, compost toilets and a very organised food kitchen. All the food is donated by local farmers.

Vet professionals oppose any amendment of Hunting Act

On Wednesday 15th July, the Government will introduce a motion in the House of Commons ‘to approve a statutory instrument relating to hunting’. It is widely anticipated that this will consist of a proposal to remove the current restriction that allows no more than two dogs to stalk or flush a wild mammal (fox, deer, hare) to guns under the

In the North of England and Scotland, the shooting of game birds and mammals is widespread. Habitat and 'predator management' are undertaken to increase game abundance and hunting bags and thus profits. The Grouse moor managers and Gamekeepers claim major conservation benefits as a result of traditional and 'sympathetic' moorland management. They say if the control of generalist predators by gamekeepers ceased, lapwing and golden plover numbers would drop by 81% and curlew by 47% within 10 years.

So what is really happening?

Woodland Restoration at the Save Me Trust

Woodlands have a direct impact on the environment, climate, and local ecosystem. British woodlands are incredibly diverse in both flora and fauna and are great for wildlife.

Our woodland's estate has been developing for around 30 years - in that time, we have purchased or been bequeathed a number of sites that we manage and maintain for their unique biodiversity value and benefits to wildlife. Woodlands are not static - they are dynamic - living entities - that grow and develop uniquely, based the habitat and species that grow or live there. 

Game Shooting in the UK or Shame Shooting. Every year around 35 million non native, factory farmed pheasants and partridges are imported into the UK. They are sold to the 300 game shooting estates, an industry that is reported to be worth £1.6 billion to the economy.  “One for the pot” is a myth. Many more birds are released each year than the demand

Save Me Trust seeks permission to intervene in Judicial Review of decision to suspend culling in Derbyshire

On 21^st February 2020 the Save Me Trust, represented by Mr Simon Farrell QC, applied to the High Court to intervene in the ongoing Judicial Review challenge to the Government’s decision to suspend badger culling in Derbyshire. The case follows a claim by the National Farmers Union against the Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and Natural England after the Government put the brakes on plans to issue licenses to cull badgers in the county. Derbyshire has one of the most active vaccination programmes in England, while badger culling has not been authorised in the county since 2005. Had the planned cull gone ahead it would have significantly undermined the well-established vaccination programmes operating in the area. Save Me Trust therefore support the Government’s decision to suspend the cull. We have filed expert scientific evidence from Professor Rosie Woodroffe with the Court and have asked for the opportunity to put forward submissions that will emphasise the need to move away from culling towards non-lethal methods of controlling bovine TB. The case will be heard on 1^st April 2020.

Spike’s Hedgehog Food has announced a partnership with Amazing Grace, an initiative led by Dr Brian May’s charity, the Save Me Trust.

Amazing Grace, a collaboration between the Save Me Trust, Harper Asprey Wildlife Rescue and the British Hedgehog Preservation Society, is fighting the declining population of hedgehogs in the UK, and, as of 1st April 2019, 10p from every bag of Spike’s food sold will be donated to the campaign. Through the partnership, each donation will support Amazing Grace spread the message and help educate the public about the decline in population of hedgehogs in the UK, which has dropped from 30 million in the 1950s, to fewer than one million today.

Badger Culls Based on facts, not panic & bias

Unless every single badger is killed, the survivors move around, resulting in an increase in bovine TB. But will politicians listen? "The government is so desperate to be seen to be doing something to appease the countryside lobby that it is willing to ride over facts.’

Perhaps some of us have got used to the idea of the badger cull ? Just politics, and perhaps something that’s necessary to solve a farming problem ?

Press Release Meet the Hedgehogs

Meet the HedgehogsTV Documentaryon Channel 5 Tuesday 20th June 2017 Everyone loves hedgehogs! Brian May, Guitar legend and founder of the supergroup Queen, will be appearing in this 60 minute documentary with Steve Backshall, Naturalist, and TV Presenter. 

A wonderful day with  Dr. Jane Goodall

The awards recognise achievements in helping people, animals, and the environment. Thirteen schools and groups had been selected from over 2000 participants to attend the awards ceremony.