DEFRA Attempts To Conceal Buzzard Management Trial Sites

As I blogged a couple of weeks ago, part of my response to the proposed Buzzard Management Trials was to make a Freedom of Information request to DEFRA to reveal the details and locations of the estates here in Northumberland that were claiming to have this huge issue with Buzzards taking Pheasant poults. I believe that this information should be in the public domain so that the estate(s) in question can be contacted and details of their evidence requested. It will also be interesting to see whether there is any obvious relationship between the landowner and the government minister who sanctioned this proposed trial.

After 20 days I received some communication today (full text below) asking if I now wanted to cancel my request. It appears obvious that they do not wish this information to be made public, what is it DEFRA and this landowner have to hide?
I have of course reaffirmed my desire to have this information provided with the full intention of publishing it here as and when it is supplied.

Thank you for your request for information about the recently-advertised research project that Defra was planning to carry out in to non-lethal methods of managing buzzard predation on pheasant poults, which we received on 24 May 2012. We are handling your request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs).

As you may know, the advertised research project your request concerns is no longer proceeding. Richard Benyon, Minister for Natural Environment and Fisheries, recently announced that, because of public concerns, he has decided to look at developing new research proposals on buzzards in collaboration with all the organisations that have an interest in this issue.

As the research project has been cancelled, I should be grateful if you would please confirm if you wish to withdraw your request for information.  It would be helpful if you could please reply by email or telephone (details below) by 4.00pm on Friday 15 June.