Friends, we have passed the very significant milestone of 49,000 signatories, and so have now formally submitted the petition and your signatures to Decathlon's Sustainable Development Director Isabelle Guyader.  

The significance of the number 49 is that this was the number of the original European Birds Directive enacted back in 1979 – Directive 79/49/EEC. Adopted unanimously, and updated to reflect EU protocols, it is the longest established piece of EU legislation on the environment, and one of its cornerstones. 

I am enormously grateful to all of you throughout the UK and far beyond who have supported, Decathlon have been asked for a comprehensive response by the 14th of November; I will keep you fully updated on that, and hope that they respond meaningfully to your heartfelt concerns.

Kind regards, Colin