Cabinet shake-up leads to changes at Defra

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Emma Reynolds has been appointed Defra Secretary, succeeding Steve Reed, while Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner has also been replaced, by Angela Eagle.

Tim Weston, Director for Environment, Policy & Politics at the NGO, had the following to say:

“We are very pleased to welcome the new Secretary of State for Defra to her role at such an important time for the countryside and for the people who live and work in it. The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation is committed to engaging positively with government, and we look forward to building a constructive relationship that helps deliver practical and effective solutions for land and wildlife management across England.

NGO members are at the heart of conservation on the ground. Every year, thousands of hours are dedicated by keepers and land managers to the careful stewardship of our countryside. This includes the management of moorlands, which is essential not only for supporting a wide range of wildlife but also for reducing the risk of devastating wildfires. The skills, experience and commitment of gamekeepers in this work are increasingly recognised as vital to protecting landscapes and supporting biodiversity.

Our members are also actively involved in the protection of rare and vulnerable species, ensuring that iconic birds and mammals continue to thrive in their natural habitats. Alongside this, work is carried out to safeguard native fish populations, an often overlooked but critical part of England’s natural heritage. These are practical, hands-on contributions that make a real difference to conservation outcomes, and they highlight the value of close cooperation between those who manage the land daily and those who set policy at a national level.

We firmly believe that by working together, government and land managers can achieve shared environmental goals, balancing the needs of wildlife, habitats and rural communities. The NGO is ready to contribute knowledge and experience built over generations of land management, and we are keen to ensure that future policy reflects both scientific evidence and the practical realities of managing the English countryside.

We look forward to meeting the Secretary of State in due course to discuss how we can support her priorities while continuing to deliver the conservation benefits that our members provide. With a positive and constructive partnership, we believe there is a real opportunity to build on what has already been achieved and secure a thriving future for wildlife, the environment and the people who care for it.”

ENDS 

Notes to Editors:

The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation: The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation (NGO) represents the gamekeepers of England and Wales. The NGO defends and promotes gamekeeping and gamekeepers and works to ensure high standards throughout the profession. The National Gamekeepers’ Organisation was founded in 1997 by a group of gamekeepers who felt that keepering was threatened by public misunderstanding and poor representation. Today, there are 13,000 members of the National Gamekeepers’ Organisation.  www.nationalgamekeepers.org.uk