“The Toxic Restaurant” – spoof video highlighting toxic lead ammunition sends BASC into meltdown

In the build up to a forthcoming decision by the DEFRA Secretary of State (and his counterparts in the devolved governments) whether to accept the HSE’s recommendations to ban the use of toxic lead ammunition (see here), the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) has today released a spoof video highlighting the dangers of poisonous lead shot to the environment, wildlife and human health.

The video is set in a fictional restaurant called the Duck and Cover and features Megan McCubbin ordering the toxic lead roast pheasant…

This is a welcome new campaigning approach by the WWT, using humour to get across an important message about toxic lead ammunition, an issue with which this organisation has long-standing interest and expertise.

The idea is not only to educate the public about the harm caused by toxic lead ammunition, but also to encourage people to join in with the wider campaign to send a strong message to DEFRA Environment Secretary Steve Reed MP urging him to make lead history (see here for how you can help).

Predictably, not everyone is happy with the campaign, and particularly the spoof video. The British Association for Shooting and Conservation (BASC) has published the following apoplectic statement on its website:

The BASC statement is actually funnier than the spoof video.

‘BASC considers the video to be damaging to the reputation of game shooting and food-related businesses linked to sustainable shooting“.

Really? I’d argue the damage being caused to the reputation of game shooting and food-related businesses lies firmly with the game shooting industry’s embarrassing failure to (a) comply with the legislation that forbids the use of toxic lead ammunition in sensitive wetland environments in England (e.g. see here) and in Scotland (e.g. see here), and (b) to meet its own commitment to a five-year voluntary transition away from toxic lead ammunition across the whole of the UK, as evidenced by the continued sale of lead-contaminated gamebirds in supermarkets and other stockists (e.g. see here and here).

‘BASC is also astounded that the video can be released by an organisation whose Chief Executive – Sarah Fowler – enjoyed an evening as a guest of the sector-leading Eat Game Awards in 2024‘.

‘Astounded‘? Why? Does BASC think that just because someone attended an industry event in a professional capacity that should prevent her organisation from ever criticising that industry’s ongoing criminality and dirty, dangerous practices? Just because Natural England signed up to such an agreement doesn’t mean that the silence of others in the conservation sector can also be bought so easily.

And by the way, the ‘sector-leading’ Eat Game Awards gave the prize of ‘Best Large Game Retailer‘ in 2024 to Waitrose, you know, the supermarket that has claimed for at least three years not to be selling game meat contaminated with toxic lead ammunition but has been caught with its pants down three times, leading to an official complaint being made to the Competition and Marketing Authority about Waitrose’s untruthful and inaccurate advertising.

Garry Doolan, BASC’s Deputy Director of Communications & Public Affairs said (amongst other things), “The inclusion of species such as pheasants and grouse – neither of which are wetland birds – further highlights the lack of focus and accuracy in their [WWT’s] messaging“.

That’s hilarious, Garry. An ex- tabloid hack from the Daily Mail telling a highly-respected conservation charity to stay in its lane and stick to ‘accuracy’! Besides, its perfectly legitimate for the WWT to focus on pheasants and grouse because the shooting of these species is a significant source of the dumping of 7,000 tonnes of toxic lead ammunition into the environment every year (not that the WWT needs the approval of BASC for its campaign output).

At least he didn’t attack Megan this time – perhaps he’s learned from his previous outburst of targeted, abusive and aggressive commentary.

Garry also claims that the video “has only served to diminish WWT’s reputation“. Actually, I’d argue it’s done the exact opposite. I applaud WWT’s willingness to put its head above the parapet and shine a big spotlight on the atrocities of the game-shooting industry and the charity has gone up in my estimation because of it.

This WWT video will likely reach a new audience who were previously blissfully unaware of the damage being caused by gamebird shooting and that’s probably what BASC is afraid of, hence it’s attack.

If you’ve enjoyed the spoof video and want to join over 10,000 others who have already sent an e-action to Steve Reed MP urging him to accept the HSE’s recommendation to ban the use of toxic lead ammunition, you can take action here.