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

[Londonrach1]

Local to me we have an old woodland...it has an old badger set, bluebells...it's perfect..Merlin have destroyed it.....the council not interested...money talks .. please I need names to send photos to.. Midlands area..the locals have complained...I bet this be removed but quick I need names I can report too...

The wizard?

Local MP and all the opposing party candidates.

Local councillors and wildlife group?

Who are Merlin?

Is it council maintained or Woodland trust?

Can you send pics to your MP on twitter and your local paper? Maybe Woodland Trust?

I assume they have planning permission?
Your local MP would probably be your best bet.

Chris Packham. Get him on board. Or Brian may.
I presume you mean merlin who own Alton towers?

Natural England

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?

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

Thanks...it be removed I know.....the photos I have in previous years ..It make you cry....

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

Woodland privately owned by Merlin...locals had access for 20 plus years but huge notices saying private but allow access...this year tte badger sets and blue bells are destroyed....

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.

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.

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.

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?

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..

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 .

Local councillor works for Merlin....... I'm Midlands ..work out which place I'm talking about... It's below the car park...they building a hotel... Locals have complained...the badger set is vvv old... Over 40-50 years

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

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.

Thanks. Dealing with bedtime...we mums are so upset...it was such amazing wood..the children loved it.. please someone screen shot this in case it goes..the sett and blue bells have gone

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