Voting to abolish spring hunting is “a vote for our children’s future”, according to the anti-spring hunting lobby.

Addressing a press conference at the Sant’Antnin Family Park yesterday, lobby spokeswoman Moira Delia said ending the contentious hunting season would allow future generations to enjoy the countryside more freely.

She argued that in the two years during which the spring hunting season was closed, in 2008 and 2009, beautiful birds had abounded. “During these years, beautiful birds returned to breed here in Malta and Gozo. Just imagine what our countryside could look like in five, 10 or 20 years,” she said.

Abolishing the practice, Ms Delia said, could leave a lasting legacy of spring seasons with plenty of birds. Anti-spring hunting campaigners spent the sunny afternoon handing out leaflets to families at the park. The leaflets included 10 reasons why the lobby feels the public should vote No to spring hunting.

Among other things, the leaflets says that “enjoying the countryside is a right” and “if the referendum is lost we would have turned back the clock”.

Also included is a specimen of the referendum ballot to help people come to terms with the “complicated” question being put. The question, in a nutshell, is whether voters agree with retaining the law that permits the spring hunting season.

Campaign spokesman Mark Sultana said the question as drafted had forced the anti-spring hunting lobby to hold what appeared to be a negative campaign as they were calling for a No vote. However, he insisted, the campaign was informative and positive.