Wildlife trust 'really disappointed' by 4x4 damage
cotswolds_closeups/InstagramA wildlife trust has said it is "really disappointed" after what appears to be tyre tracks were left across one of its nature reserves.
A video posted by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust showed churned up mud across its Sapperton Valley nature reserve, which it claims was left by "a few irresponsible 4x4 users".
The site near Cirencester is a feeding area for the marsh tit, which is on the red list of birds of conservation concern, meaning it is at danger of extinction.
The trust said it reported the incident to Gloucestershire Police.
'Very upsetting'
A video of the damage was taken on Friday morning by a visitor and Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust believes it happened the previous night.
"We are really disappointed to see this damage caused to our land," a trust spokesperson said.
"We are in a biodiversity crisis, with limited space set aside for nature. Spaces like Sapperton Valley are crucial to our cause.
"Staff and volunteers have worked hard over a number of years to create this important habitat for wildlife, seeing it undone by a few irresponsible 4x4 users is very upsetting."
Lorna Baggett/Gloucestershire Wildlife TrustThe trust said in addition to providing feeding areas for bats and birds, Sapperton Valley hosts rare plants and invertebrates.
Molluscs, including the protected species of the mountain bulin and Roman snail, and the silky snail, which is hairy, also call the valley home, as does the grass snake.
"These wet grasslands provide an important role in slowing the flow of the river Frome in high flows, thereby reducing flood risk downstream," the trust said.
"This damage undoes a lot of the hard work of staff and volunteers to create this habitat which helps both wildlife and humans."
The BBC has contacted Gloucestershire Police for comment.
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