“Outrage as Swans Are Shot, Ducks Disappear, And Badger Setts Destroyed-Has Havering Given Up on Wildlife?

Enough Is Enough – Havering’s Wildlife Is Under Threat

Photos of swans with arrows through them. Badger setts destroyed. Ducks stolen from parks. Our precious wildlife is being harmed, abused and erased – and it feels like no one is listening.

There is a growing concern across Havering and nearby areas that our wildlife is suffering deeply, and the protection it deserves is not being delivered. Incidents of cruelty and neglect are rising, and while legislation exists to protect our animals and green spaces, the action to enforce it often lags behind.

In late 2022, several horrifying acts of animal cruelty were reported. In Beam Park, Dagenham, and Ardleigh Green, Havering, geese and swans were shot with crossbows, bolt guns and ball bearings. The attacks took place over several weeks in August and September. “It’s happening far too often,” a resident told The Havering Daily. “We need better protection for our wildlife, and faster responses when crimes are reported.”

The destruction hasn’t stopped. Just last week, a goose was removed from Raphael’s Park by a couple who walked away carrying the animal in their arms. Despite bystanders being horrified, no action was taken. Elsewhere, badger setts have been destroyed in North Ockendon, and there’s been little consequence for those responsible.

The UK’s Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Animal Welfare Act 2006 make these acts criminal. It is illegal to disturb, harm or kill protected animals – but legal protections are meaningless if they are not enforced.

Our borough has long prided itself on being home to some of the most beautiful green spaces in London. But how long will that last?

The ongoing destruction of greenbelt land, particularly around Beam Park and the new housing developments, is pushing wildlife to the edge. In one example, builders illegally removed a line of council-owned trees backing onto a new property because the trees were seen as “unwelcome”. In doing so, they destroyed habitats for birds, insects and mammals. “For every tree that is destroyed, an entire ecosystem goes with it,” said a local environmentalist.

Species like swallows, once common across London, are now vanishing. The endless march of development is destroying nesting spaces and cutting off nature’s corridors. Fewer hedgerows, fewer safe ponds, and more concrete mean fewer birds, insects and animals for future generations to enjoy.

Meanwhile, the police – who already face significant resourcing issues – are often unable to respond to reports of wildlife crimes. “They come too late, or not at all,” one campaigner told us. “By the time someone attends, the damage has been done. And the culprits are long gone.”

It is time for a wake-up call. These are not isolated incidents. The removal of ducks from parks, the abuse of swans, the destruction of habitats, and the desecration of protected species’ homes are becoming normalised.

But we say: enough is enough-but will enough one listen?

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