Land owned by Prince Charles, which may include Highgrove in Tetbury, has joined Badger Cull, activists claim

The Gloucestershire Badger Office, a local group which endeavours to inform people about the ‘cullzones’ in the county, posted on Facebook last Tuesday, September 19 that it received “a tip-off from a credible source”.

It is alleged that farmland owned by the Duchy of Cornwall has been signed up to the cull, and that Highgrove in Tetbury may be signed up too.

But a spokesperson for the Duchy of Cornwall said they had no comment to make on the claims.

The post by Gloucestershire Badger Office, published on Facebook and on their website, wrote: “If that land was signed up, what other areas near the Glos-Wilts border would also be involved?

“With experienced people living locally and having already started to sett-survey the southern areas of Gloucestershire at the end of last year's cull in anticipation of future zones, we were straight on coordinating the area.

“Very soon reports were coming in that culling activity was being found south west of Tetbury, outside of the area initially thought to be the Wilts zone (including on land owned by Duchy of Cornwall). Activity was then found North East of Tetbury, again including land owned by Duchy of Cornwall.

“What is worrying is the vicinity of bait points on one of these bits of land that have been set up for 'free shooting' to the A433 and the limitations of directions available to shoot.

“We continue to search the southern areas of Gloucestershire, finding new information about areas involved in culling each day.”

Natural England, which grants the badger cull licences, said they were unable to confirm if land owned by the Prince of Wales was signed up due to the sensitivity of the issue.

Natural England previously explained to the Cheshire Wildlife Trust that publication of information about what land was signed up to the cull could “cause both unnecessary or unjustified distress or damage to the individuals; and may increase the likelihood of groups opposed to the policy disrupting control activity.”

Emma Sanderson, co-founder of Gloucestershire Badger Office, said: “We haven’t been into Highgrove, but we were tipped off.

“With Highgrove, they have so many ethical standards, then they are involved in something with so much bad press and no proof as having an effect against bovine tuberculosis.”

(Glos Badger Office checking for bait points and any signs of tampering with badger setts within a 'cullzone')

Speaking of the group’s concerns about badger culling, she said: “There is a worry about who is actually doing the culling? Are they trained? Is it safe?

“Another worry is when landowners are marking maps to say how many sets of land have badgers, landowners who want to eradicate badgers just have to say there are more than there are.”

Peter Martin (below), chairman of the Gloucestershire Badger Trust, the local branch of the national group, added: “We’re very disappointed but not surprised that the Duchy has signed up for culling. Prince Charles has had a history of supporting the culling.

“One MP described badger culling as medieval and that is certainly our view. It’s a crude way of dealing with a modern problem.

“Prince Charles should know this, he’s a very informed person. He has opportunities to get as much information as he needs, and yet, he’s gone against scientific consensus and public opinion.

“It’s shocking that Prince Charles, such a major landowner would sign up to something he shouldn’t sign up to.”