A couple of weeks ago we received internal Natural England documents relating to the two Hampshire cull zones; Area 56, which was introduced in 2021, and Area 67 which came into being in 2022.
The Natural England papers contain specific measurements of the cull zone boundaries from various protected areas of conservation such as Special Protected Areas (SPAs), Sites of Specific Scientific Interest (SSSIs) and Wetlands of International Importance (“Ramsar” sites). These measurements are helpful, especially when you can click on the link below, select HAMPSHIRE and see a handy map showing where every SPA, SSSI and Ramsar can be found.
https://designatedsites.naturalengland.org.uk/SiteSearch.aspx
Have a look yourself if you’re interested to work out where the Area 56 and Area 67 cull zones begin and end. If you live to the west, north or east of Basingstoke, you’re in Area 56 and if you happen to live in Mortimer, the local cull director is one of your neighbours. If you live in or around the New Forest, you’re in or pretty close to the Area 67 cull zone.
IC Area 56
Application for a licence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease (bovine tuberculosis) to domestic cattle.
Natural England has identified the following European Sites as being capable of being affected by the plan or project:
Porton Down SPA – 3.80 km from project area with mobile features.
Salisbury Plain SPA – 0.18 km from project area with mobile features.
Thames Bason Heaths SPA – 16.12 km from project area with mobile features
Natural England has identified and considered the following European Sites but ruled them out as bing capable of being affected by the plan or project (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects):
Hackpen Hill SAC: 16.37 km from project area.
Hartslock Wood SAC: 17.45 km from project area.
Kennet & Lambourn Floodplain SAC: 0.43 km from project area.
Kennet Valley Alderwoods SAC: 0.01km from project area.
Mottisfont Bats SAC: 15.30 km from project area.
Pewsey Downs SAC: 15.32 km from project area.
River Avon SAC: 6.58 km from project area.
River Itchen SAC: 9.50 km from project area.
River Lambourn SAC: 2.92 km from project area.
IC Area 67
Application for a licence under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992 for the purpose of preventing the spread of disease (bovine tuberculosis) to domestic cattle.Natural England has identified the following European Sites as being capable of being affected by the plan or project:
Avon Valley SPA – 2.27 km from project area with mobile features.
Avon Valley Ramsar – 2.27 km from project area with mobile features.
Dorset Heathlands SPA – 5.53 km from project area with mobile features.
New Forest SPA – within/adjacent to project area.
New Forest Ramsar – within/adjacent to project area.
Porton Down SPA – 0.20 km from project area with mobile features.
River Avon SAC – within/adjacent to project area.
Salisbury Plain SPA – 6.16 km from project area with mobile features.
Solent & Dorset Coast SPA – 11.05 km from project area with mobile features.
Solent & Southampton Water SPA – 9.28 km from project area with mobile features.
Solent & Southampton Water Ramsar – 9.28 km from project area with mobile features.
The New Forest SAC – within/adjacent to project area.
Next week we expect to learn how many badgers were shot under license in Areas 56 and 67. We won’t know until the Autumn what the 2023 cull targets will be for each area, by which time this year’s culling will be almost complete. We already know there’s not a shred of confirmed epidemiology showing a badger reservoir of bTB in Hampshire and there’s not a single confirmed case of badgers as a source of cattle herd infection here.
If you’re thinking of visiting the New Forest, or holidaying there, between August and November, be aware that pairs of people will be undertaking the controlled shooting of free-running badgers there in the night on a routine basis. And that daytime shooting will be taking place “to dispatch cage trapped badgers”. Better still, give the New Forest National Park a miss completely for the next couple of years.
ecolelogical 