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Tuesday, 30 September 2025

The Numbers Rise

 


Yesterday I announced that the number of KNOWN dead foxes reported in Bristol stood at 300 (the highest figure recorded in recent years). This morning I added 4 more to that number.

Badgers deaths (known) now totals 76.

Thankfully I do not record every species killed on the roads though I can add one otter into the mix.

If these deaths were all related to pet dogs being killed by speeding cars that do not even stop to check if the animal is dead or report hitting them so someone can check -there would be a public outcry. The fact that there isn't is what helps the Bristol City (Green Party run) Council and South Gloucestershire ignore things....and those biscuits and cups of tea take a lot of concentration.

This is Bristol so if we have lost a (known) 304 what are the losses like elsewhere. Some idiot at The Guardian writes that there is a fictional boom in the fox population while those in the know believe we have lost 60-65% of the UK fox population.

With new government regulations for development that it wants to push through Parliament badger protection (such as it is) will be gone. Badgers have lost over 50% of their population.

By the 2030s foxes, badgers and hedgehogs will be a rare sight -where they have not become extinct.

Monday, 29 September 2025

Bristol City Council Are Not Interested But We Just Hit A Record Fox Deaths Number



 We have no idea how many badgers have actually died in Bristol this year but the register says 75.

I can tell you that the current number of KNOWN dead foxes this year in Bristol just hit 300. The real total I do not want to think about.

Bristol City Council (GREEN party) has made it clear that they do not care about wildlife death or tackling it. South Gloucestershire Council simply shrug in silence.

I have done everything one person can do and at this rate I expect to see the kn own total hit 400 by end of year.

Wednesday, 24 September 2025

Why Is It Local Wildlife Groups NEVER Cooperate?

 


Back in 1997-1999, as most people will know, I was asked to be the wildlife consultant for Terry Adams Ltd and their plans to turn the old Yanley tip into a park for Ashton Vale. 

SAVE (Save Ashton Vale's Environment) and those involved at the time were opposed to this plan which would have seen a small woodland park with benches, a water and wildlife features. I received a lot of verbal abuse and even vandalism to my garden and planting projects -which the City Council knew about. I stuck with it but Terry Adams Ltd decided against the project.

I have recorded and observed wildlife in Ashton Vale since 1994 and I have never stopped recording. I observe the changes caused by work to build new homes and so on.

When the Longmoor 'village' project was announced I found that no one was interested locally. The same thing still applies but I put in objections based on the impact of building based on the 1998 survey which showed the presence of protected species (a couple others have appeared since 1998).

I had no idea that SAVE was still going and asking neighbours they were unaware that it was still going so I assume that this is a localised area SAVE?

The question is, if you are objecting to a development based in part on the potential impact to local nature WHY do you not contact the local wildlife record keeper? My being in Ashton Vale is no secret and I am easily contactable.  

Then there is a wildlife map apparently put together by the "Greater Bedminster Wildlife Group" -again, I have posted frequently on BS3, BS4 and other wildlife groups so I assume there is no interest in the records already available.

I have had some nasty "you ought to retire and pass all the info on to the GBWG" messages in the past and I just do not understand WHY wildlife groups do not cooperate unless it is because of ego and "this is MY/OUR group" stances.

I will stop doing what I do when I am unable to and I don't intend that to be any time soon. I've been doing this 50 years so ....

Tuesday, 23 September 2025

Just so you know

 To be honest after ten years of trying to battle Labour and Green BCCs to take measures to protect and conserve wildlife and habitats in and around the City, the Fox Deaths Study (6 years) with the report officially suppressed and arguing with the BCC and developers about badgers sites and no help from the Badger Trust I am worn out.


At times I seem to be regarded as "law enforcement" for wildlife in the City and I do appreciate the people who give up time to help out when they can but I am only one man. I set up the BBG in 1994 when the Avon BG went defunct and I have pushed it as much as possible but even amongst wildlife groups there has been no interest.


In fact, foxes and badgers rather like otters and deer are often looked at as "the nasty, smelly" wildlife.


I am just exhausted.

Sunday, 21 September 2025

Eastville Park and How No One Wants To Stop Sale To Developers

 


With regard the Eastville Park land grab I can report that all of those named in the post never responded -apart from BRERC who then got a tad narky over absolutely nothing. Not even the Friends of Eastville Park have responded.   

As I have always found with Bristol the City Council and public always shouts about how green it is and how it is fighting the current ecological emergency.... there is no interest. Guzzling pizzas and watching TV while the money "floats around" is all you get. That and complete and utter silence.

Bristol City Council (supposedly Green) and the people of Bristol...look up the phrase "hang your heads in shame"

Saturday, 20 September 2025

Total Fox and Badger Deaths (in Bristol) As Of 20 09 2025

 


Remember that I do not get every dead fox (those that are seen) reported to me and that Bristol City Council under both Labour and Green Party have flatly refused to cooperate; the current death toll of foxes in Bristol stands at 292.

If I included reports with vague locations or just "I saw a dead fox driving through Bristol" along with vague dates then this total would exceed 300.

Badgers, again, no cooperation from local authority (they pick up dead animals so a quick message is not that great an inconvenience) and the public -even on wildlife groups in the City who know I record the deaths- rarely report. Number of known badger deaths in the City is 74.

The daeth toll in London of foxes I would prefer not to think about.

Still the deadliest spot for wildlife from deer, foxes, badgers etc and this will one day result in a human (driver) fatality is Hicks Gate. In 2024 a very large was hit by a car and killed but the driver did not stop or report the collision so the animal could have led there suffering for hours. Police estimate that by the size of the animal and the speed the car had been going at least £200-£300 worth of car damage must have been caused.

It needs to be mentioned that the very poor lighting in the Hicks Gate area has also resulted in two near collisions with people.


Thursday, 18 September 2025

There Is No Such Council Plan as "'Managing for Nature'


Above a walkers map of Eastville Park...it really needs a lot more private housing on it (sarcasm)


Wildlife News 33:25 arrived in my email today. I had to laugh at one point as I have written about this so many times in the past:

"'Managing for Nature'
"This is BCC's rather vague term underlining their current policy designed to achieve 'an ecologically resilient, wildlife-rich Bristol by 2030'. There is more information about this on the webpages: Managing parks and green spaces for nature - in particularly there is a downloadable pdf about management of grasslands. There's also information about how to volunteer with the BCC rangers in the various parks which would be a way for people to get involved, if desired. (Thanks Katherine for this link).
The information on the site is helpful and interesting, but does not seem to answer the simple questions that Wildlife News has been asking.
"Perhaps in an effort to appear 'scientific' BCC's basic strategy includes various percentages and dates. For example, it is claimed that around 15% of parks and green spaces are currently being 'managed for nature' and the target is at least 30% by 2030. But, how is this calculated? Say, you have a 15 acre park and a third of it is being developed into a wild flower meadow, does that count as 5 acres or 15 acres towards the 30%? Does 3 square yards of wild flowers also count as 15 acres? And 30% of what: the whole city; land owned by BCC, land administered by Bristol Parks, something else? We've had different answers from various people.
"We know that some good work is being done. Many Wildlife News readers will be involved in helping with this process, both as paid staff and volunteers. All we are asking is a little more precision so that we know whether or not we are on track, failing badly or about to achieve a biodiverity dividend of staggering proportions. At the moment, all you can do is guess. What's your guess?"
There are two rules Bristol City Council (whether Labour or the Green Party) follows and this is based on 30 plus years of dealing with them.
1) If it costs nothing but there is a lot of publicity making us look good -go for it.
2) If it costs anything financially -ignore it.
Thousands of wild animals from deer, foxes, badgers, otters and others are killed in and around Bristol EVERY year and there are certain wildlife death hotspots we know. Mow back the tall grass and weeds at the sides of the roads so drivers can see wildlife and vice versa. Put up, as in most civilised European countries, signs reading "Drive Slowly Wildlife Crossing".
Simple but Labour said "We can't do that" (end of conversation and no explanation as to why they could not). Green Party "it would cost money" -BCC Highways people "We've looked at that -no money" so what if people donated for signs to be made and put up? "That would be illegal and you could be prosecuted".
The attitude does not change if you contact the Green Party HQ.... despite what you write they bounce it back to BCC so when it comes to the "Environmental emergency" the official Parties all have the same line "No money" to which can be added "Let it die".
At the moment BCC wants to have a £400K money grab by selling a part of Eastville Park for development very close to long established badger setts. It is eyeing up other Green Site areas and typical is the Longmoor development -a "new suburb" of Bristol and bang smack in the middle of ;land that was full of wildlife -who cares as it is money coming in.
Without getting involved I watch a Green Party canvasser and "name" locally being lambasted by a now former Green voter. The Green lady was challenged about attempts to build on green sites and all the new housing wanting developed on those sites while every other building in Bristol since 2000 has been converted for students (easy and guaranteed money) and why was the "affordable housing" in Bristol being pushed in London?
The responses were all the same: "We need to build the City for business and that money goes into housing and more development. The Green Party is committed to that" (I was actually told this same thing by a Green candidate that came to my door but walked off when I pointed out that build, build and build was not the stated Green policy.
When the woman continued on that the reason she voted Green was for a change she was told to contact her Green Councillor. Any policy is obviously false because, as I can tell you as I was involved in anti corruption work in the 1970s, BCC is all about making deals and earning money one way or another.
Since 2018 I have been telling all the "Save our green space" groups in Bristol that they need to unite to stop BCC tricks bu8t nothing has happened. As it stands we are likely to lose even more Green spaces because "divided we fall" and we have already seen that happen.
As far as the Labour and Green Party (shockingly) are concerned I am a "pain in the ass conservationist" (and I know from people at BCC that this is the politest I have been called). Re the Eastville Park money grab -BCC, Leader and Deputy leader as well as other officers involved are refusing to respond. That is their "ultimate weapon" in these cases where they cannot justify things. I have asked twice now on the Friends of Eastville Park group whether anyone is organising a protest or challenging the council.....the silence is deafening. Sell and build on it once and get away with it then build a second, third and fourth time.
After all these years I can tell you that Green sites are going to be lost. Wildlife and the environment are not as interesting as money.
I hope that clarifies things.

Tuesday, 16 September 2025

Eastville Park and Potential Damage To Existing Badger Setts

  This is what is being sent out today to all parties concerned or who should be concerned

This will be the last badger sett development case I work on. The total lack of support in these cases locally (barring one) involves a lot of time and stress,



Hello.

I am writing as a Bristolian as well as a naturalist/mammalogist regarding plans that have been forwarded to me re development on the Eastville Park site. As a child growing up in St Werburgh’s fine days were spent walking to the Park and enjoying activities there. From the 1960s on the Park has become even more important to people in Bristol as it is a green oasis surrounded by busy roads –which once you get into the Park you can ignore and enjoy the environment. Some of my first experiences with wildlife as a child were in the Park.

Eastville Park was established in 1889 when the Bristol City Council purchased land from Sir Greville Smyth to create a public park for working-class residents. Key features include a Victorian-designed ornamental lake and a bowling green, while historic elements like the Grade II listed boundary wall remain and it now includes a modern community garden.

I have attached links to the various items regarding the development (proposed or otherwise) and the site earmarked is close to badger setts.

Development near Badger Sett Eastville Park; as a guide, any work within 30m of an entrance to a badger sett (or 100m for pile driving and blasting work) could result in disturbance of a badger in the sett, or block or damage tunnels that radiate from the entrance to the sett.

According to the Badger Trust Guide for Developers

“Planning and development activities are some of the most common threats to badgers reported to Badger Trust. Over 50% of badger crimes reported relate to sett interference, and 20% of these are related to housing and development projects. Even if sett interference is accidental, any act (malicious or negligent)  which disturbs badgers and their setts is illegal under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992. Therefore, as a Developer, it is in your best interest to protect yourself by protecting local badgers.

“Badger Trust has created Guides for Developers, Ecologists and Planners, which are freely available. The document is designed to guide Developers through appropriate steps to protect badgers and their setts from development activities, with advice on legal responsibilities and badger harm mitigation strategies.

  “Badger Trust also encourages local councils to liaise with local Badger Groups who may offer advice and information on local badger populations.”

I have included a link to DEFRA and Badgers: protection and licences What you must do to avoid harming badgers and when you’ll need a licence.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/badgers-protection-surveys-and-licences

Badgers: protection and licences - GOV.UK

What you must do to avoid harming badgers and when you’ll need a licence.

www.gov.uk


Land for sale with planning permission right by the old swimming pool in Eastville Park.  There is still an active badger sett in the woods behind the old walled swimming pool.  Past conversations with people who frequently use the Park and watch wildlife suggests that the badger sett may run beneath the  old pool which is consistent with my own sightings pre 2019.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CtaZrFkk4/

This is a direct link to the right move listing.

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/166736504?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=commercial-buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=COM_BUY

Check out this Plot for sale on Rightmove

Plot for sale in Development Site | BS5 for £400,000. Marketed by Hollis Morgan Auctions Bristol and West Country, Bristol


    We have so far lost over 300,000 badgers in the cull and Bristol each year loses 70+_ badgers on its roads as the Labour and current Green Party run City Council were made aware as I have discussed this with them as well as supplied copies of the Bristol Badger Deaths Registers which I maintain (if you require copies I can forward those). Disturbances could drive badgers on to the main roads around the Park or collapse sett tunnels. 

    The very idea of wanting to sell off parkland to a developer shows the most crass attitude towards not just the wildlife –mammal, bird or insect- but also the Green environment that Bristol City Council constantly declares itself proud of during “this ecological and environmental emergency”.  More it is a slap in the face of the public and residents who will not just have a construction site in the Park but will not find the peaceful haven they are used to and I am fully aware that many people with mental health issues visit the park because of the environment there which can be quite peaceful even on busy summer days.


    With so many Brown sites going to waste using a valuable Green space like Eastville Park sets a precedence that cannot be allowed to be unchallenged –the further development implications for a cash grab are obvious and what one currently run City Council promises can be disregarded in future; I have had first had experience of this over the last 30 years and so have many others.

    I would politely suggest that another (non Green Space) be considered for development and that Eastville Park, its badgers and other wildlife be left in peace.

Terry Hooper


Chair Bristol Wildlife Group/Bristol Badger Group




Bristol City Council and Badger Sett Destruction

    This is the thing that is happening and BCC KNOW they are lying which is why they never respond to evidence or emails presented. DEFRA s...