15.09.26
On September 9th, Sarah, our CEO, and Jim, Wildlife Crime Campaign Manager, attended the Wild Summit in Bristol, organised by Wildlife and Countryside Link. It was a fantastic event that brought together people from across the animal welfare and environmental sectors.
https://www.wcl.org.uk/wildsummituk.asp
The summit brought delegates together around a shared purpose: to better protect wild animals and the environment. Discussions focused on the challenges they face, the action needed to address them, and the positive change the UK Government could help deliver.
The summit brought together leaders, campaigners, and organisations from across the animal welfare and environmental sectors to explore how we can better protect wild animals and their habitats. Discussions focused on the challenges wild animals face, the action needed to address them, and the positive change the UK Government could help deliver.
Coming together in conversation for wild animal welfare
As part of the summit, Naturewatch Foundation co-hosted The Big Wild Animal Welfare Conversation. This workshop gave delegates a chance to reflect on the biggest challenges facing wild animals and explore how collective action can improve their welfare and protection.
Jim highlighted the urgent need for the Government to review and strengthen existing legislation, ensuring police and enforcement agencies have the powers they need to tackle wildlife crime effectively.
Following the presentations, Sarah and Jim facilitated group discussions on key animal welfare issues linked to wildlife crime and weak legislation. Delegates explored how communities, police and non-governmental organisations can work together more effectively to tackle wildlife crime. These conversations created space to share experiences, challenge assumptions, and consider how collective action can drive positive change for animals.
The venue itself offered a striking reminder of the need for reform. The Bristol Beacon, which hosted the summit, first opened as a concert hall in 1867. Yet it is still around 30 years younger than the Night Poaching Act 1828, a law that police continue to rely on when prosecuting offenders today
At Naturewatch Foundation, our core ethos is to advance animal welfare. One of the clearest messages from the day was that wild animals deserve to live free from cruelty, exploitation, and suffering, in the natural habitats where they belong.
The Bristol Declaration – a collective call for change
Following the workshop, delegates were invited to sign the Bristol Declaration – an ambitious collective call for the UK Government to put wild animal welfare at the heart of policymaking.
Five actions for government
The Bristol Declaration calls on the UK Government to:
- Take meaningful action to end wildlife crime.
- Address the wild pet trade.
- Support, prioritise, and enable wild animal-friendly land use.
- Ensure and support wild animal-friendly planning and development.
- Enshrining wild animal welfare into all government decision-making
These asks are about creating a more joined-up approach to protecting wild animals. We cannot look at wildlife crime, habitat loss, planning, or agriculture in isolation, because all these things can affect animal welfare.
Turning words into action
The Government has said it wants to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare programme in a generation. We believe wild animals must be part of that ambition.
Animal Welfare Strategy for England – GOV.UK
For us, this is not simply about policy. It is about the animals themselves. Their welfare should matter when decisions are made about the places they call home.
Real change will require commitment, collaboration, and action from government, organisations, communities, and individuals alike. The challenges facing wild animals are complex, but they are not insurmountable. Naturewatch Foundation is proud to stand alongside so many organisations and individuals who share our commitment to wild animals and to add our voice and signature to the Bristol Declaration.
We left the Wild Summit inspired by the people in the room and by what we can achieve when we work together. But we also know that signing a declaration is only the beginning..
Wild animals deserve a stronger voice in the decisions that affect their lives. And we will keep doing what we can to make sure they are heard
