A group of passionate campaigners marched to a Moray beauty spot to protest against the start of the shooting season yesterday.
Residents around Findhorn Bay fought to have wildfowling outlawed at the picturesque nature reserve, prior to hunters arriving to shoot at geese and ducks today.
They amassed more than 800 signatures on a petition backing a ban, and when Moray Council refused to impose a bylaw, the campaigners brokered an agreement with local hunters that shooting would be restricted during certain hours and at some parts of the bay.
However, the deal was torn asunder when the British Association for Shooting and Conservation announced it would discourage its members from obeying the voluntary truce – because it had not been present during negotiations.
Last night, more than 100 people staged an emotional demonstration in an effort to convince the local authority of the strength of feeling in favour of a ban.
As the throng of campaigners weaved from Kinloss and Findhorn Parish Church at 6pm, motorists beeped their horns and offered gestures of support.
Scores then gathered at a stretch of the bay on the outskirts of Kinloss, with placards bearing slogans such as “Stop fowling nature” and “Findhorn nature reserve, not killing field”.
They sang several loud refrains of “all we are saying is give geese a chance”, inspired by John Lennon’s Give Peace a Chance.
But the crowds grew sombre when Rev Louis Bezuidenhout requested a minute of silence in honour of the birds whose lives had been lost at the bay.
He said: “I would like it if we could think about the peace of the bay, and kindle the hope that things will improve.”
The youngest protestor was five-year-old Kinloss Primary School pupil, Ellie-Rose Hunter, who waved a sign, proclaiming: “Give geese a chance”.
The animal enthusiast said: “Our name is Hunter, but we are not hunters, we like watching the geese flying.”
Her 11-year-old brother, Logan, added: “We get the chance to live and the birds deserve the same.”
Protestor Suzanne Campbell said: “The geese are often found dead by children in our sports field, it’s heartbreaking.”
Local wildfowlers say they are willing to compromise with the campaigners, but add that banning the pastime would badly damage Moray’s economy.
