Aibu to ask who I complain to re badger set and old woodland being destroyed and all the bluebells being destroyed by Merlin... please who do I send photos too

Your local police will have a wildlife officer

You could check the conditions attached to the planning permission but they will probably be discharging them correctly - it would be very unusual if not.

Is it a castle OP?

If they have planning consent there is nothing you can do OP. It's too late to make a difference.

They do have planning permission.

I’m local too, OP. There’s been a lot of protests by locals, and attempts to stop planning being granted.

I’m far from defeatist but I’m not sure there’s much else that can be done here. As you’ve said; there has been masses of evidence submitted of the “usual” state.

Theres another nearby woodland that’s being shut down for access; too… worrying times.

We had the same problem when Bristol airport decided to expand. No-one gave a shit about the badgers or deer that were in the nearby wood. We tried getting various people involved but it proved hopeless. As others have said, it's all about Profit.

While I strongly disagree with the destruction of the woodland, incredibly strongly, if they had planning permission (have you checked?) then what exactly do you think can be done?

@Londonrach1 they must have had planning permission though? I can't imagine a company as massive as Merlin would skip that important detail.
You say locals complained - but did they all actually try to stop the planning permission?
Unfortunately if not enough people did then permission will have been granted.
If you believe that something illegal has been done then as I said upthread - contact your MP.

I hate it when natural idyllic woodlands and wildlife habits are trashed wrecked like this

Arseholes 💩 doing that...

It makes me cry too. I'm also livid about it. I

1. Badger Trust then police
2. Your local regional Wildlife Trust
3. Parish/town council and then county council esp wildlife and environment officers
4. Your local councillor parish/town/district/county
5. Your local MP
6. Your local newspaper and local bbc or talk radio station - esp if you can get other people who are as upset as you are to join you on a protest timed for morning or drivetime shows;

Send before and after photos with your emails.
If you're on Twitter post as often as you can using the handle for Merlin, the wildlife trust and the county council/district council

It would be worth trying to find out if there are any planning applications for it - they may have jumped the gun but as likely they've put forward a planning application which no one's noticed, it's been passed and this is the result.

Then the fact the local councillor works for Merlin is your potential lever

Badger sett removal requires a licence from Natural England check with your regional office .
However some will get a licence only large main ones won’t and therefore an offence is committed if it is removed ( or terms of licence not complied with ) The licence will say that the new alternative sett has to be up and running before the old one is destroyed: if the old sett is being destroyed now, I would be suspicious since the maternity season just after cubs are born , should be avoided .

what type of development is going on - clearing of woodland? Or actual develpment if it’s the latter that is easier to manage and complain about . But forestry management doesn’t need planning permission for example .

Both bluebells and badgers are protected in law.
Assuming no planning permission/ translocation/licences for this then contact the Police.
But - it's possible that they may have planning permission for work which could include licencing to disturb the sett and move the bluebells..

Who have you talked to on the Council? Were there tree protection orders on any of the trees? (If yes, then it's the council tree officer). Are you in a badger cull zone? If not, then I think it's illegal to kill them.

But you will soon find that nature, and those who love it, has few rights in this country, unless you're in a nature reserve, SSSI etc. If you'd known about this in advance, you could have whipped up some local opposition, but it seems as if that's a bit late now.

The local paper could well be interested in this. Who are Merlin?

It's illegal to disturb a badgers' sett.

Report to the ecology officer at your local council.

Also let your MP and parish council know.

Report damaging badger sets to the police: https://www.badgertrust.org.uk/badger-crime-types-of-badger-crime#:~:text=It%20is%20an%20offence%20to%20'damage%2C%20destroy%2C%20obstruct%20or,your%20dog%20and%20the%20badgers.

Get some grassroots support going and in touch and then contact the media and every local politico you can think of.

It won't immediately restore the damage,sadly, but I give you the example of the Crooked House pub. It might stop anything irrevocable.

Merlin are the company whose portfolio includes Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Legoland Windsor and other attractions

Merlin the entertainment company, Merlin the wizard or someone else?

Good luck. it’s heart breaking watching it and in truth no one seemed to care when it happened near me either.
any joy with your local wildlife trust?