Why did Natural England allow film crew access to sensitive habitat just as scarce birds were breeding?

Promotional image for The Witcher - could that bird in flight be a Nightjar?

                                            

GOVERNMENT body Natural England has today been urged to come clean on a controversial incident that took place in summer.

It allowed filming for what is reported to have been an episode for the next series of the Netflix drama, The Witcher, to take place on its Thursley Common nature reserve between June 6 and 11.

The Surrey-located heathland is home to many scarce breeding birds including Nightjars, Dartford Warblers and Woodlarks, some of which will almost certainly have been disturbed by an influx of up to 100 crew and staff using smoke, noise and other special effects.

Other birds that may have been affected by the incursion include Crossbills, Tree Pipits and Woodcock.

Now the wildlife group, Wild Justice - whose directors include TV broadcaster Chris Packham and former RSPB executive Mark Avery - are demanding an explanation from Natural England.

It wants to know who authorised what happened and what monies - if any - were paid for the consent. 

Wild Justice is also seeking clarification on what steps, if any, were taken to safeguard nests and whether the post-filming impact has been assessed.

So far, Natural England is staying tight-lipped, though it has released a map showing the possible locations of  nightjar nests  and the areas where filming took place.

In response, Dr Avery says: "Having seen the map of Nightjar territories for the site we find it inconceivable that filming in mid-late June would be disturbance-free. 

"But evidently NE persuaded themselves that it was.

 "We have been pressing NE for information  since we first wrote to them on July 4. 

"There are over 150 emails in our files on this important issue.

 "NE has been slow to respond to us and has not been as forthcoming with information as we feel they should have been." 

The board of Natural England is expected to discuss the Wild Justice challenge - and whether to respond - at a behind-closed-doors meeting tomorrow. 

The Wryneck says: Considering it is almost entirely funded by the taxpayer, we think Natural England has a duty to be up-front and transparent. The questions put by Wild Justice are entirely reasonable. It may be possible (just about) that there was no disturbance. It may be that, if any fee was paid by the film company, it has been earmarked for enhancing Thursley Common's fragile habitat. If so, why the secrecy? Natural England's chairman, Tony Juniper, or chief executive Marian Spain should share the information. If not, a local controversy risks becoming a national scandal.

How could this activity not have disturbed wildlife? (photo: Facebook)

'Minimal' ecological impact? But why permit any impact at all? (photo: Facebook)

The sketchmap obtained by Wild Justice with the blue circles indicating potential breeding sites of scarce birds

What does she make of the controversy? Another publicity pic for the popular drama