The war on wildlife and the environment has been won by the developers and politicians

 

Over the years I've made connections with various people and some even in Bristol City Council (though the "bosses" don't know that. I rarely ask them to check things for me but after a blank refusal to respond to four emails on wildlife under/overpasses I asked someone to see if anyone was working on the response.

Apparently, some people at BCC think of me as a "pain in the ass". Well, score 10 for me. I was told that "It's always been this current council and Mayor's stance that if they do not respond people will go away or if they do respond it is on something that does not address any of the questions put to them".

Oh I am so 'shocked'.

Here is the thing that shows why voters need to get written guarantees from people they elect. The Mayor Marvin Rees and Bristol City Council call themselves champions for the environment yet they continually lie about keeping green spaces safe, they allow the use of rodenticides and even of allotments, they cut down trees, dig up hedgerows and knowingly connive with contractors and developers to 'not know' about badger and other wildlife habitats.

In fact, BCC has been thuggish to the extent that they have now committed wildlife and environmental crimes (Yew Tree Farm) out of plain malice.

Why the hell will Bristol groups trying to save green spaces and sites of scientific interest from the council and developers not unite and do a mass protest outside the council house and get press/media coverage to embarrass Rees and BCC???

Worse still is the fact that the current Labour council have committed far more environmental damage and destruction of wildlife habitat and the Green Party has simply allowed it to do so as the Green candidates I spoke to were all intent on building and getting more businesses in Bristol and were flummoxed by my questions on the environment!! The original Green Party of Germany should never be considered as similar as they DO consider the environment which is why they carry a lot of political clout.

If the voting public just cannot be bothered with the environment and wildlife issues then their elected representatives will not. The UK can be symbolised by what is going on in the City and County of Bristol and I am fed up of trying to explain what needs to be done and trying all I can behind the scenes.

The war on wildlife and the environment has been won by the developers and politicians while the public are too busy with soaps and reality TV.

Terry Hooper -About

 

Born Bristol, England  June 1957

Naturalist and author set up the Fox Study in 1976 which later became The British Fox and Canid Study which still continues work on current foxes as well as long British fox types.  The Fox Deaths Project is focused on the City and county of Bristol and has been yielding unexpected information on disease, etc.  Hair gathering from foxes around the UK is taking place to hopefully submit for a DNA analysis project.

Specialising in wild canids and felids, Terry has looked at existing, threatened or extant species particularly from Japan and Hong Kong and the work has been incorporated into The British Fox and Canid Study.  He is also credited as observing the first raccoon dogs in Lippe in the 1970s.

In 2021 the British Canid Historical Society was set up to look at various aspects of foxes.

From 1977 until (officially) 2016 Terry was an exotic species consultant specialising in felids and advising UK police forces via the Exotic Animals Register (EAR) as part of the Partnership Againgst Wildlife crimes. During this time he contributed to various technical papers and helped University of Wales Swansea and its Exotic Cat Group which presented findings to the Eastern Cougar Foundation Conference on the evidence regarding large ‘exotic’ cats in the UK.

 

Papers and Books

1. A Method For Grading Sightings Of Non-Native Cats: Application to South and West Wales, UK: Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register.

Proceedings of the 2^nd Eastern Cougar Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia, 2004  

2. Exotic Cats In Britain: An Historical Perspective, Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register, Proceedings of the 2^nd Eastern Cougar Conference, Morgantown, West Virginia, 2004  

3. (Contributor) Survey effort and Sighting Probabilities for Non-Native Cats in Carmarthenshire, Professor Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea, Swansea Geographer 2004  vol. 39

4. The Biography of Perceived Encounters with Pumas and Other Exotic Cats in South and West Wales, UK; Alayne Street-Perrott, Alaric B. Smith Exotic Cat Group University of Wales Swansea and Terry Hooper-Scharf Exotic Animals Register. 2004

5. Felids: Wildcats, Ferals and Hybrids, Terry Hooper-Scharf. Vale Wildlife Group, 2000

6. UK National Wolverine Population and Evidence, Terry Hooper-Scharf, Vale Wildlife Group, November 2000

7. The Red Paper: Foxes, Fox-Domestic Dog, Hybrids, Arctic Foxes, Wolves, Jackals and Coyotes: An Extensive Study of Vulpes vulpes in the United Kingdom and Releases/Escapes of Non-Native Canids; Terry Hooper-Scharf.  Black Tower Books, 2011

8. The “Girt Dog” of Ennerdale: Hyena, Thylacine or Escaped Exotic Cat: A Naturalist’s Assessment of the Evidence. Terry Hooper-Scharf. Black Tower Books, 2018

9. The Red Paper: Canids (2010)

10. The Red Paper 2022: Volume 1 Canids

11. The Red Paper 2022: Volume II Felids

12. The Current Threat To UK Fauna And The Introduction Of New Fauna Species April, 2022

13. Did The Lynx Survive Until The 18th Century In The UK? May 2023

14. The Scientific Need For DNA Testing Of Old Wild Cat and Old Fox Specimens February 2024

15. The Extirpation of Wild Cats and Introduction of New Wild Cats To Britain March 2024

Various other unlisted papers and articles 2000-2024

Terry also applied his knowledge of the natural world to look at subjects ranging from gorillas and other primates as well as 18^th -19^th centuries mysterious predators in France, the UK and Ireland.

Can The Development and Destruction of Bristol's Green Spaces Be Stopped?

 

We are repeatedly seeing Bristol City Council and its elected officers breaking the law for the sake of development and profit -the Yew Tree Farm environmental/wildlife crime being the latest. 

I have heard from people over the last 4 years alone of areas surveyed for conservation where badger setts and fox dens are located (Lockleaze)  and Council contractors move in to dig up the area despite locals pointing out the setts/dens and the fact that it was cub season. Interfering or destroying a sett is completely illegal and damaging or digging up a fox den particularly in cub season is illegal.

I have tried to step in when trees were being cut right back with crow nests in them and was told by the council; contractors to "**** off" and phoning the council I was told "contractors have surveyed the area and do not talk to the public in that way". Winterstoke Road once had thick heading next to the park there and in the middle of nesting season it was dug up -the council stated that no nests were in the hedges which was an outright lie.

I have stepped in to advise on two occasions when developers began to clear areas around established badger setts despite a survey having been carried out and had it not been for locals in both instances getting in touch those setts would have been destroyed. Both sites were then fenced off so no more 'accidental' work could be carried out there. 

The council has shown that it is definitely not championing the environment and under Marvin Rees it has allowed rodenticides to be used on Council allotments (illegal) despite protests from other allotment tenants -in fact they gave two fake names to myself and some of those tenants of officers who would deal with the matter. I found out, as did others, that those council officers did not exist.

The fight by people to keep green field sites and sites of scientific interest in the City is one the council will attempt to win. A promise from the council, even on paper, is meaningless and there are plenty of examples of that. A green site with trees and great views are the site developers want because those homes can be sold at a high price because of the views and area.

There is only one way to try to stop this behaviour. Embarrass the mayor and city council with bad publicity. "Good faith" is gullibility.  If each of the groups attempting to preserve/save their areas united that makes it far more difficult for the council and developers to get away with dirty tricks.

In the years up to the 2000s large protests outside the council house/city hall attracting press and media made councillors listen. The threat of  voting for more honest people curtailed a lot of bad behaviour and to be honest unless these groups unite then one by one the council and developers will pick away until they get what they want.  Never expect an easy ride as there is big money involved and not just for the local authority.

Here is what Danic Priest wrote on the Change.org petition:

Yew Tree Farm is Bristol’s last working farm and a designated site of nature conservation interest. Sadly on Thursday February 22nd, contractors have ravaged the landscape, slashing through ancient hedgerows and trampling species-rich meadows. The desecration witnessed is an affront to nature. This wildlife haven faces further desecration as Bristol City Council plows forward with plans to extend the South Bristol Cemetery onto these protected fields.

 Despite the outcry from Avon Wildlife Trust and the discovery of dormice, a legally protected species, the relentless march of destruction persists. 

We stand at a crossroads where the preservation of Yew Tree Farm's ecological tapestry hangs in the balance. Join us in demanding an immediate stop to the wanton destruction of Yew Tree Farm before more irreparable harm befalls this natural treasure.

https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-destruction-of-yew-tree-farm

Ashton Vale & Bristol Wildlife Group f 1994

For those interested

 https://www.facebook.com/groups/315237280619688

Is There Negative Local Authority Kick-back On Wildlife Work? YES

 

 I was asked if I wasn't worried that I might get kick-back from the council over what I do?

I have had the council harassing me for years and since I started the Fox Deaths Project (which Bristol City Council stated they would assist in) and rodenticide use was mentioned...and the council allowing people on its allotments to use rodenticide despite other tenant complaints I have certainly had "kick-back".

Since I started on the wildlife corridors the harassment has picked up. Of course, nothing in writing but utter silence on every issue and a sudden "we need to remind you of your tenancy agreement" and not one single outstanding repair has been carried out in 7 years....?

About 8 years ago, after I made a formal complaint about council contractors ripping up a roadside hedgerow that had nesting birds in it as well as destroying crow nests in trees, two council officials (one was head of the department) visited and told me that every tree in my garden would need cutting down and that where I lived was "due for demolition in the next three years" anyway. The "nasty one" was trying to intimidate with aggressive pointing at me and raising his voice until I explained that he had better lower his tone and explained where I would be placing his finger if he continued..oh, and flower pots in the garden were a health and safety issue so needed removal. Long story short I got a full written apology from head of estate management over their harassing behaviour and pointing out that everything they had said was untrue.

A month later they tried it again. Pro wildlife and conservation has made me an enemy of the council since the 1990s so I get used to it! But we should be working together but those lucrative contracts....

I was once told that two badges I wear "will get you in trouble one day!"

Too late

I mention all of this as I think it worth showing how nasty Bristol City Council ("champions for the environment") can get and the dirty tricks they employ and get away with -like promising to leave green spaces alone and then trying to slip through construction on those sites -money talks.

Oh and because I used to be handed sick and injured pigeons the anti-wildlife folk left little messages. A dead crow one time and this at my front gate one morning

Do not expect an easy ride if you get into wildlife work and always expect more negative than positive.

I Am Not Joining The Badger Survey

 

 It seems that I need to make my as well as a few others' decision to not take part in the Badger Trust Survey to find setts.  

Firstly, I have nothing personal against the Trust but being honest they have pushed for an end to the badger cull and many other things and I have signed their petitions and...nothing. I know after over forty years that you can have a petition signed to overflowing and the response will be that "The House has a full roster of items for this Parliamentary session" and the rest of the response is that the petition will be considered later. That is, to put it crudely, a "piss off not interested".

You can get anti-snaring, anti-trail hunting and anything else fully signed or even thousands more signatures than required and the same thing.  They did the same with the Brexit petition which has still never been discussed and neither has the anti-snaring petition and numerous others. It's a joke.

I am not a member of the Badger Trust because I do not feel the need to pay £50 to be registered so that I and the Bristol Badger Group can go on doing what it has been doing since 1994 but be placed on a member group map.

When it comes to a national survey to list badger setts I refuse to take part. Again, I have no idea who would handle the data gathered and saying everyone must sign a non Disclosure agreement means nothing. Who handles and collates and puts the data on computer? Who sees the data because if you state fact you will need to back it up and that means disclosing information. As a signee of the PAWS -Partners Against Wildlife Crime- I saw how that was twisted and changed whenever DEFRA felt like it. The one reason I signed off of it was because I was told "You give us copies of all your records, maps and other data or else"

There is no such thing as 100% security and although it would be interesting to see what remains of badgers in England it would also highlight how many badgers/setts there are and that is useful to the cull -read the various posts on this blog about that.

After forty years I can tell anyone interested that wildlife conservation is a war. We are seeing 200,000 foxes and badgers killed on the road each year and you'll find a blog post about wildlife road deaths: We know that there are shooters that kill many foxes

https://foxwildcatwolverineproject.blogspot.com/2024/01/how-many-animals-killed-on-uk-roads.html

We know that there are shooters that kill many foxes and other wildlife (including badgers) for 'fun' each week. We know there is snaring going on. And much more. Even the British Trust for Ornithology have stated that foxes may need to be Red Listed. 

I keep a rough location of badger setts in case a lactating sow is found dead and cubs need to be rescued and that information is given to me under strict confidentiality and trust and that is important -far more important than a survey that I know other badger people will not take part in.

Until the cull stops and full protection is given to badgers I do not intend to even roughly outline where a sett is. Snaring was made illegal in Wales but it is still going on. To me the safety of wildlife is far more important and that is why I do not cooperate with these things.

Badgers and foxes are heading for extinction, otters are being killed and we are fighting without the support of the public where 52,000 sign a petition to rescue a 'lonely sheep' while the death of 250,000 badgers does not get an eye lash to move.

Stop Talking: BUILD Wildlife Under/Overpasses

 Another badger and another fox death on the black spot known as Hick's Gate.

I have sent a response to Dan Norris's email:

"Hello.

"Thank you for your response.

"I have today received another fox and badger death report from the Hicks Gate stretch of road. The current number of foxes listed killed so far this year is 41 -in the start of cub season so vixens dying results in cubs dying. We have four badger deaths and, again, in cub season.

"People looking at the “issues” is fine but it calls for action as 250,000 badgers have already been culled in the UK and 100,000 per year are killed on the roads and even the British Trust for Ornithology is calling for the fox to be Red Listed now as it suffers similar road deaths each year as well as ‘sport’ shooting and snaring. The financial cost of wildlife corridors should not be the stumbling block. Species extinction is the problem and if we can help by even reducing road deaths then the environment and eco system reliant on these animals will not suffer.

"Apologies but recording death after death on an almost daily basis I see the urgency in resolving some of the problems.

Regards

Terry

British Fox and Canids Study (f 1977)"