Chris Packham's home targeted with dead birds hung on gate

TV NATURALIST Chris Packham’s home in the New Forest was targeted this morning (Thursday) with two dead birds hung outside his gate.

The 57-year-old is currently at the centre of a petition signed by more than 80,000 people calling for him to be sacked by the BBC for his anti-hunting views.

It comes after Wild Justice, a campaign group co-founded by Mr Packham, used a legal challenge to prompt a change in policy today by Natural England to tighten up shooting licences for 16 species of bird.

Mr Packham revealed the incident in a tweet with a photo, saying: “This was my gate this morning (it was vandalised).”

He also copied in the Twitter handles of British Association of Shooting and Conservation, the National Farmers Union, the Countryside Alliance, Farmers Weekly, the Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, and Natural England.

He asked: “Can I ask you to comment on whether you condone this? Serious request – replies expected.”

Both Hampshire Police and his lawyers had been informed, he added.

Hampshire Police confirmed a report of criminal damage which happened between 8pm last night and 6.50am this morning.

A spokesperson said: "If you have any information about this incident, please call 101 quoting 44190141581."

So far more than 80,000 names have been added to the online petition created on Tuesday evening by Andrew Hayes.

It said Mr Packham, who presents TV shows such as Springwatch, should remain impartial on hunting as an employee of the BBC and not use his “celeb status as a platform to push his anti-hunting agenda”.

Mr Packham has previously said he is contracted by the BBC on a “consultant” basis and therefore is exempt from its rules on directly employed workers.

In response to Mr Packham’s tweet, environment regulator Natural England replied: “Of course we don't condone this type of behaviour. It's never justified no matter how strongly people feel about an issue.”

Mr Packham responded: “Thank you. I hope you are having a better day than me – somehow I doubt it.”

As reported in the A&T, Mr Packham was defended for his campaigning by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust which praised him as a "high-profile, passionate advocate for nature in our local area".

He was made a CBE in the 2019 New Year’s Honours List for services to wildlife and nature conservation.