Concern for birds as supermarket clears bushes

Police say officers are investigating after concerns were raised about a supermarket chopping down bushes during bird nesting season.

Residents in Ashbourne, Derbyshire, said they had seen birds flying in and out of the shrubbery at the Sainsbury's store prior to the work being carried out.

Derbyshire Police's Rural Crime Team said it had received a number of reports and an investigation was ongoing.

However a Sainsbury's spokesperson said the retailer had "processes in place" to ensure wildlife was not disrupted.

The decision to chop down the bushes was criticised by worried nature lovers.

Carol Tuck, who lives in the town, told the BBC: "I come down here all the time and every time I pass, there's birds going in and out so I'd be very surprised if there wasn't some nests.

"Even if there aren't nests, why do it now when you know there's a possibility? Big companies and organisations should lead the way in this area.

"Other people see them cutting hedges and might think it's OK to do that at this time of year."

The move was also condemned on social media.

Kel Louise said: "There were birds going in there last night and making a noise... definitely be nests in there. That's terrible."

Mands West wrote: "Utterly disgusting and a complete eyesore, poor wildlife."

A spokesperson for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) said: "Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is an offence to intentionally take, damage or destroy the nest of any wild bird whilst it is in use or being built and it is also an offence to intentionally take or destroy the egg of any wild bird.

"It is recommended that before any clearance work, the vegetation should be checked for any signs of breeding activity first. This can include frequently observing the hedge over a period of days to look for signs of active nests such as birds carrying nesting material or food to and from the area.

"If there were active nests in the hedges and the person responsible was informed and the work still continues this would be an offence."

A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "We're committed to being a responsible retailer and want to reassure the community that we have processes in place which ensured no wildlife was disrupted during the essential maintenance of the hedges outside our Ashbourne store."

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