Strimming killing newts claims OAP
Strimming killing newts claims OAP
0 Comments | Citizen Gloucestershire, The, Jul 26, 2010 | by Chris Campbell
A PENSIONER who killed three great crested newts with a hammer has sparked a new row over strimming.
Newt expert Brian Butcher, (pictured) of Berkeley, called police to report his concerns the strimming and mowing of grass in a nearby field was killing newts.
The 75-year-old, of Canonbury Street, said he was worried the work was being done at a time when the newts were leaving their breeding ground.
He complained to the police after the work started last week.
His complaint sparked a multi-agency meeting involving police and an amphibian expert from Natural England – which concluded the strimming was not harming the newts.
Mr Butcher, who has studied newts since he was a boy, said July and August were the prime time for newts to leave their ponds and move on.
There are three ponds surrounding the field, all of which he said were used by newts.
Concerned Mr Butcher said grass debris was being left in the field, attracting newts to shelter, before it was disposed of.
He said he was concerned a meeting had been taken place without his knowledge.
“I’m upset that I haven’t been told or been part of it. I didn’t know anything about it,” he said.
Mr Butcher was sentenced at Stroud Magistrates’ Court earlier this month after admitting fishing three out of his pond and hitting them over the head with a hammer.
He was handed a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay Pounds 40 costs last week – but said he was prepared to kill more of the protected species to get his voice heard.
A police spokesman said: “On Wednesday, July 21, police received concerns from a resident that great crested newts were being harmed due to grass strimming near their habitat in Canonbury Street.
“A multi-agency meeting has since been held in the area alongside an amphibian expert from Natural England and it was determined that the strimming being undertaken was of no harm to the reptiles.”