Report by Duncan Williams for Pulman's Weekly News
A once-popular children’s play area in Ilminster has been permanently closed following significant disruption caused by a growing badger sett.
The play area, located at Blackdown View, has been deemed unsafe after months of increased badger activity that has left the ground unstable and riddled with holes. Somerset Council made the difficult decision to close the site after considering various options - none of which proved feasible due to strict legal protections surrounding badgers.
In a statement, a spokesperson said: “Due to badgers being protected, Somerset Council are unable to do anything to prevent the badgers from digging further holes or to fill in the ones that have already been dug. Somerset Council looked at ways to move them, but this could not be done in a viable way.”
The badgers, which had long been present in a nearby hedgerow, recently expanded their territory into the play area, causing serious damage.
One particularl…
