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 should be informed by the locals

The attitude of Councils seems to be "Say Nothing. Do Nothing!"

 

See previous posts on this matter. The attitude of Parish and City Council (Green Party Council no less) seems to be silence.

sent to:

"cllr.mharris@longashtonparishcouncil.gov.uk"

"cllr.james@longashtonparishcouncil.gov.uk"

"cllr.abarrett@longashtonparishcouncil.gov.uk

"cllr.jfenton@longashtonparishcouncil.gov.uk"

"cllr.dwilkinson@longashtonparishcouncil.gov.uk"

Hello.

I contacted all of you on the 23rd September and so far have received no responses.

I asked that an ecological survey be carried out on the Long Ashton side of the Longmoor development. In 1998 Wessex Conservancy surveyed the area and noted badger setts (badgers have always been in the area and I first came across them in the 1970s) as well as bat nesting sites and since that time otters have returned to Colliter's Brook.

The impact of the building to be undertaken and possible pollution of water sources such as Colliter's Brook cannot be overlooked. I have been involved with wildlife as a mammalogist since 1974 and I know that these things do occur even if accidental. We lose enough protected and unprotected species each year and any and all efforts should be made to ensure that new developments do not pose a threat.

I would ask that an ecological survey is carried out to map out setts, etc. and offer suggestions. Development over our dwindling wildlife is not justifiable.

The Long Ashton side of Longmoor will be monitored but I would hope that Long Ashton Parish Council would share the concerns of some of its parishioners.

Regards

Terry Hooper

Bristol Badger Group (f 1994)

British Fox and Wild Canid Study (1974)

and

Sent to:

"Councillor Martin Fodor" <cllr.martin.fodor@bristol.gov.uk>; "Councillor Heather Mack" <cllr.heather.mack@bristol.gov.uk>; "Councillor Ed Plowden" <cllr.ed.plowden@bristol.gov.uk>; "Councillor Tony Dyer" <cllr.tony.dyer@bristol.gov.uk>; "Councillor Carla Denyer" <cllr.carla.denyer@bristol.gov.uk>

Hello.

I sent you all an email detailing the fact that the Longmoor development might impact on local badgers and otters as well as other protected species. Your response was silence.

I noted the proposal to sell off part of Eastville Park for development and that this area had established badger setts going back decades that would be impacted by development. Your response was again silence. The auctioneers have failed, despite being told, to note that the area is on active badger sett land -this should be legally declared but has not and BCC...silence again.

There is also knotweed on the nearby area. BCC -silence.

Three times this year BCC workers have destroyed dens with fox cubs in -they knew the den and cubs were there but state BCC told them they HAD to do the work. Do I really need to point out to you that this is a wildlife crime which is prosecutable?

Last week we were contacted as builders were pouring cement on a structure with an established badger sett beneath it. The concrete was broken, under our instruction, and we have camera monitored the site.

This is just part of a long list of Labour and now Green Party flouting of the law. I have tried repeatedly and politely to alert you to these matters but a line has now been drawn.

In future any suspected badger setts or fox dens must be surveyed to ensure that they are not being lived in or contain young. We can do that for BCC so it does not cost. As of 5th October, 2025 any action by BCC employees or contractors over active den/sett sites will be immediately reported to Avon and Somerset Police as a wildlife crime. The RSPCA will also be informed along with DEFRA. The sites in question (Eastville and Longmoor) are all monitored.

I have been trying to sort this out with BCC for 10 years now and we lose enough wildlife on our roads in Bristol but the local authority adding to deaths is unacceptable. I might have expected this from a Labour BCC but a Green Party run BCC?

All of this is a matter of public record now so ignore the emails but it won't help avoid legal action.

Terry Hooper

Chairman Bristol Badger Group f. 1994

RIP Jane Goodall 3rd April 1934-1st October 2025

 

Jane Goodall, known for her pioneering studies of chimpanzees, has died aged 91.

A post on her institute's Instagram page said she died peacefully in her sleep on Wednesday morning while in Los Angeles for a speaking tour.

"Dr. Goodall's discoveries as an ethologist revolutionized science, and she was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of our natural world," said the post.

Bristol City Council Is Now Under Warning

 

Since 2018 I have communicated with Bristol City Council both L:abour and Green Party. I have tried to show and explain all the data on wildlife deaths on our streets as well as threats to our Green spaces (when there are plenty of Brown sites.

They tried the "Oh, isn't that just terrible. Nothing we can do" response but when their own commitment to the environment and "Green Bristol" is quoted back at them they just ignore messages. I am considered, in one source's words "a pain in the ass conservationist" (that quote from a Green Councillor so I'll claim that one).

I have had badger setts interfered with, fox dens with cubs destroyed -all knowing what wildlife was present and claiming ignorance of any laws. One contractor "We just get told what to do by the Council and that's it" -the "I was only following orders" defence went out the window in 1945.

The Council is currently trying to sell off land for £400K to developers that has identified and decades old badger setts on it. The auctioneer of the land has illegally not noted that the land has badger setts on it. That must be declared.

I contacted BCC as well as as many Long Ashton Parish councillors as I could find to object to the expansion of the Longmoor "new suburb" into an area with established badger setts and other wildlife including otters. Who I contacted is on the record and I can tell you that after two weeks not one of those persons has responded

https://bristolbadgergroup.blogspot.com/2025/09/longmoor-development-and-impact-on.html

Filling in badger setts without a proper survey is also known.

I have tried and tried but this now has to stop. If you know of badger setts or active fox dens being blocked or destroyed (foxes mainly in cub season when they are protected) then get in touch with the police on 111 and let me know. It is important to get as much photographic/video evidence as possible to back up claims.

From now on I will be reporting every infringement of the law by the City Council, contractors working for them, etc., and they will need to face the consequences.

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.

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.

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 ....