Badger sett in gateway

[Dry Rot]

Went to a recent talk on TB biosecurity, most of which was about badgers. The badger ecologist there worked for ADAS and he said there is not an issue getting a licence from Natural England to move /close down a sett where there is a safety issue, or damage to property which includes crops. Obviously with farm traffic through that gateway, let alone the poor rambling public, there is a strong risk of an accident. Other than a main sett, colonies often establish seasonal setts which is what I suspect this is, which would probably help your case.

The ADAS chap - a dairy farmer's son - had worked on badgers all his life and was extremely pragmatic and often gets involved with this sort of work. I am very surprised at the advice the NFU have given you.

I suspect this is the one you would apply on. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploa...ent_data/file/567686/A01_badger_sett_digs.pdf. Sadly I suspect this will cost you money one way or another. I would also talk to the Rights of Way Officer at your council - most are actually very sensible. Incidentally I think you would need a licence just to drive through that gateway now anyway - there seems to be a 20m exclusion zone for machinery!

None of us like red tape, least of all me! But I do think it is a good idea to apply for licences where necessary, rather than try to bend the law. If no one ever applies, it will be the view of the authorities that there is no problem. These people, and the badger huggers, use statistics to prove their argument. If no one applies, there is no problem. So no need to take badgers off the protected list.

 

[Kidds]

If you send a bird scarer rocket down there they won't come back. Not because of the bang, they just can't stand the smell of sulphur.
Wisp of hay sprinkled with sulphur, lit and poked down the hole would do it but not as much fun.