Locked up in Trafalgar Square!
On Tuesday – one of the hottest days of the year so far – I had the dubious pleasure of being locked away in a tiny cage in Trafalgar Square. Why? To show members of the public the appalling conditions which millions of hens are still enduring. Here I am, trapped in a cage with Bill Oddie!
I’d been asked to join the wonderful people from Compassion in World Farming who organised a petition-signing and march to support the ban on barren battery cages for hens. The ban is meant to come into effect in January 2012 but several European countries say they won’t be ready. But we have to make sure it goes through – no excuses, no delays!
We marched around Trafalgar Square, down the length of Whitehall and through Westminster before handing in our petition and documents to the European Commission and DEFRA.
It was a brilliant day and I felt very privileged to have met so many people who are passionate about animal welfare. My own four ex-battery hens – Dotty, Minnie, Alice and Dolly Clare – would like to thank everyone who took part.
If you’d like to see a short film about our day, visit the CIWF site here.
My son often says to my ( ambitious) daughter – when you’re prime minister, the only thing I want you to do is ban battery farming….hope we don’t have to wait that long
Your son sounds like my kind of person, Kathryn!
It’s a wonderful thing you’ve done for your hens. The girls are very lucky to have found a new home with you, hubby and Molly. I do hope the ban comes in to effect soon and that more people follow your lead and help poor girls find new homes.
PS Happy Publication Day!!! xxx
Thank you, Trish! I’m passionate about animal welfare and it was brilliant to take part in this march. All fingers crossed for that ban!