Trust facing conflict on cull

Apr 29 2008 by Sam Wood, The Journal

THE National Trust is facing conflict with its tenant farmers after saying it would not co-operate with planned badger culls unless forced to.

The trust, which owns almost 60,000 hectares in Bovine TB hotspots, has attacked plans for a targeted cull in Wales as counterproductive and ineffective.

Now the organisation says it will not join in any voluntary cull.

It added yesterday that it will actively encourage its tenant farmers to do likewise but conceded that, in many cases, it does not have the power to force them. The organisation’s comments follow the announcement of a pilot cull by the Welsh Assembly Government.

No decision on culling in England – where the trust owns about 53,000 hectares in areas considered to be TB hotspots – has been made but its position could also prove a major obstacle to any cull there.

The trust insisted that it is not opposed to culling per se but wants a “strategic approach” which includes testing, vaccination and biosecurity measures.

A spokesman said there are fears that a targeted cull could actually lead to the disease spreading by forcing infected badgers to move into new areas.

“If it is a voluntary cull we would be unlikely to participate in it,” a spokesman said.

An NFU spokesman said: “Any badger culling that is carried out will be authorised under licence and we would be very disappointed if the National Trust were to attempt to prevent its tenants from applying for a licence or being part of a group licence.

“Whether the trust was able to prevent a tenant from taking part in a licensed cull would depend upon the precise terms of the tenancy agreement.

“We are surprised and disappointed that the National Trust does not see the logic of attacking every aspect of the TB problem in a concerted effort to bring under control a disease which is threatening the health of wildlife, as well as the welfare of cattle and the livelihoods of farmers.”