Badger damage to graves in Witton Cemetery 'upsetting for families'

Several graves at Witton Cemetery, run by Northwich Town Council, have been damaged by the animals, including one where they’ve tunnelled right underneath the headstone.

The affected graves are in the south-west corner of the site, which borders a railway cutting, owned by Network Rail, where the badgers are thought to live.

There's also evidence of the creatures digging under the boundary wall between the two sites.

The town council is doing its best the keep the area tidy, within the law (Image: Newsquest)

A Northwich Town Council spokesman said the badgers only started to come into the cemetery after Network Rail’s recent work to shore up the embankment in the area.

The council have also put up notices explaining the ground disturbance, and are doing their best to tidy up the area on a weekly basis while staying on the right side of the law. 

One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “Badgers have been allowed to desecrate graves in Witton Cemetery by the railway and are making tunnels in the embankment.

Badgers and their homes are protected by law, and disturbing carries a prison sentence of up to five years (Image: PA)

“Does the railway company know? It’s a disgrace, and it’s upsetting for families.”

Badgers and their homes, called setts, are protected by law, and disturbing them can lead to a prison sentence of up to five years.

This is causing a major headache for the council, who sympathise with families who’s loved one’s graves are being damaged and are exploring every avenue for dealing with the badgers. 

The animals have burrowed under the cemetery wall from land owned by Network Rail (Image: Newsquest)

A town council spokesman said: “We have been experiencing issues with badgers coming into the cemetery over the last 12 months, which have increased recently.

“We have spoken to many agencies over this time for advice and guidance on how to deter the badgers from coming into the cemetery and causing distress to grave owners and family members.

Northwich Town Council are exporing every avenue to deal with the problem legally (Image: Newsquest)

“Badgers and their setts are protected by law under the Badgers Act 1992, and the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 

“It is a criminal offence for anyone without a licence to kill, injure, or handle a badger, or to disturb their setts, and for this reason it is extremely difficult to manage the badgers entering the cemetery.

“The badgers are currently entering the cemetery from the railway embankment, which is managed by Network Rail.

“The council has written to them, but they replied to say they would not be able to give any advice or help.

“We are now looking at costs to have an ecological consultant survey the area for a month and then advise of next steps to reduce this distressing situation.”

Network Rail were contacted for comment but did not respond.