Future of
Camberley,
Badgers
in
Doubt
The sale of Tekels Park to a developer
puts future of the park’s
badgers in doubt.
Badgers
have been resident in Tekels Park
for centuries
Tekels Park Info
Tekels Park is a 50 acre woodland estate
near Camberley, Surrey, England, It is owned by the Theosophical Society
(Adyar) in England and has been a Spiritual Centre since 1929 and has become a
sancuary for wildlife including deer, badgers, foxes, squirrels stoats, bats,
newts and many species of bird. The sale to a developer is surrounded by
secrecy but news is now leaking out and many are unhappy. The future survival
of the badgers and other wildlife in the park does not seem to be a
consideration.
The deer are not a
protected species and could be slaughtered.
What is the Threat
to the Badgers ?
There
are fears that development will destroy
their
foraging area on which they depend.
The law gives
more protection to badgers than it does to deer. It is illegal to harm a
badger, destroy or obstruct the entrance to badger setts or to keep one as a
pet.
In the
Protection
against the effects of development is less clear and badgers depend on a wide
foraging area which could be reduced or destroyed by development. Badgers’
routes to feeding areas and access to water can be disturbed or blocked by work
near a sett even if there is no direct interference or damage to the sett.
The survival of the Tekels Park badgers living
in an area of only 50 acres (small for badgers) enclosed on three sides by
urban development and on one side by the M3 motorway will be seriously
threatened in the event of even a small level of development.
Although the actual setts have
protection, developers can obtain licences for the use of heavy machinery
within 30 metres of any entrance to a badger sett and 20 metres for light machinery.
Manual digging can be permitted within 10 metres.
The fact that a badger sett is not
disturbed may not ensure the survival of the badgers.
Short
Film about Badger Tunnels at Tekels Park
What
Tekels Park Have ?
Tekels Park has been
designated a “Site of Nature Conservation Interest” (SNCI). This sounds
impressive but in fact simply means that the flora and fauna in the park are
monitored by various conservation and environmental agencies. SNCI designation
provides no statutory protection against development.
Tekels Park
_________________
Badgers’ Yearly
Cycle
Badgers do not actually hibernate, but
often stay below ground during the winter, particularly in cold or wet weather.
This means they must have consumed enough food during the summer to survive the
winter period and disruption to their food supply means they may not survive.
They emerge from the sett just before
dusk in May to November, and usually after dusk at other times. Although they
mate throughout the year, the embryo does not implant until November. The cubs
are born at the beginning of February, and first appear above ground in early
to mid-April. They are dependent on their mother for a few more weeks until
they are weaned, and learn how to fend for themselves.
_____________________
The Tekels Park
Badger Foraging Area
The British badger is generally a
forager rather than a hunter, and this behaviour is reflected in its diet, with
the more active mammals and adult birds occurring infrequently. Most foraging
is carried out at night, and badgers rely on their strong sense of smell and
hearing to locate food items. Badgers are highly opportunistic when it comes to
their dietary intake and when their primary food source is unobtainable they
will exploit whatever alternatives are available.
Despite the adaptability of the badger,
a reduction in foraging area will cause particularly acute problems for the
__________________
A
Sanctuary for Wildlife
Even many of the Theosophical Society in England’s 200 members
don’t know about the sale of Tekels Park and of those that have heard, many
think that the sale is to an organization similar to the Theosophical Society
and not to a developer.
“Insight”, The official news journal of the Theosophical Society
has been discontinued and members are now relying on independent websites and
news boards to find out what is going on. As far as the Tekels Park management is
concerned, the fate of the wildlife is just not in the frame and the issue is
surrounded by secrecy.
Although the Tekels Park
Guest House is still being used for Theosophical Society events, many now feel
unable to stay there, knowing what may now happen to the park and the wildlife.
No mention is made of the sale on the
Tekels Park and its wildlife have long
been central to the tradition of the Theosophical Society in England as can be
seen from this comment by Madeleine Leslie-Smith, a long-term resident of
Tekels Park;
“
From 'A personal
recollection' by Madeleine Leslie-Smith 1996
_______________
The
Fate of the
Other
Wildlife
The
Foxes already
make forays into the surrounding gardens but despite their ability to adapt to
the urban environment, their numbers will probably be reduced by the loss of
natural habitat. Stoats, squirrels, weasels and bats may also survive in
smaller numbers. Newts may survive if the pond is not removed.
The park has
been home to many species of bird and the effect on them of any development
will inevitably be devastating.
_____________________
Who actually decided to sell this magnificent park to a
developer ?
The
whole deal is shrouded in so much secrecy that even the majority of the
Theosophical Society’s actual card carrying members don’t appear to know what
is happening but here are some contact points.
The Theosophical Society in
Tel 0207 563 9817
Please
note that there is more than one Theosophical Society. Only the Theosophical
Society with its headquarters at
The
Theosophical Society administers the
The
Tekels Park Estate Limited
RH15
9AE,
It
is reported on some news boards that the Tekels Park Estate Limited hope to get
£6Million for the Estate.
_____________________
Future of
Camberley,
Badgers
in
Doubt