A ROW has broken out over the decision by the British Association for Shooting and Conservation to exclude TV wildlife personality Chris Packham from speaking at the annual Game Fair being held this weekend.
The BBC Springwatch compere had been invited to face an audience for a question-and-answer session with Charlie Jacoby of the Fieldsports Channel.
He said he had been looking forward the opportunity to engage in "robust debate".
But the BASC has smelled a rat. They fear Packham has an ongoing agenda to embarrass the organisation.
In a statement, it says: “It is right that The Game Fair does not give a platform for an extremist like Chris Packham to air his anti-shooting views.
"Mr Packham uses his celebrity status granted to him by his position with the BBC to misrepresent the facts about shooting and its clear value to the environment and conservation.
"The Game Fair is about celebrating the people who live and work in the countryside and continued polarisation of the debate by Mr Packham and others is of no benefit in this or any other medium.”
An additional worry was that the presenter might be subject to abuse - or even violence - from attendees at the fair which is being
from today until Sunday at Hatfield House, off the A1 road in Hertfordshire.
It is understood that a counter-invitation has been offered to the Fieldsports Channel to attend a question-and-answer session at Birdfair on August 17 when Packham will be one of the panellists along with his ally, blogger, author and former RSPB executive Mark Avery.
According to the TV man, this will be a "rational forum with no risk of violence from birders".
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