Flock of 25 sheep killed in 'monstrous' attacks in Northamptonshire

9 September 2019

A further 25 sheep have been found dead in a county where at least 143 have been illegally slaughtered this year.

The discovery was made at 08:00 BST in a field near Thornby, about 11 miles (17.7km) north of Northampton.

Northamptonshire Police said the pace of its investigation into this "monstrous" spate of killings was "unrelenting".

The force repeated its recent warning that illegally butchered meat may not be safe to eat.

Insp Tracy Moore said: "Unsurprisingly, the owner of these sheep is devastated and my officers are working around the clock to bring whoever is responsible for these monstrous acts to justice.

"The pace of this investigation is unrelenting and proactive officers continue to patrol the county's rural areas both day and night.

"We remain concerned about illegal meat entering the human food chain, as recent use of veterinary medication could mean it's unfit for human consumption."

Police urged anyone who has been offered cheap meat in suspicious circumstances to contact them and to only buy from reputable outlets.

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Back from the brink: chequered skipper butterfly takes to English skies again

Dozens of fast-flying butterflies released in a secret location in Northamptonshire forest after disappearing in 1976

Patrick Barkham

Thu 24 May 2018 09.07 BSTFirst published on Thu 17 May 2018 12.26 BST

It mysteriously vanished from England after the long hot summer of 1976, but the chequered skipper butterfly is taking to the skies again as part of a bid to revive 20 endangered species.

Several dozen mostly female butterflies have been collected in Belgium and released in a secret location in Rockingham forest, Northamptonshire.

What sounds like a simple operation has taken months of meticulous preparation by Butterfly Conservation scientists, who have surveyed suitable habitat, advised on how forest rides are mown, and identified the ideal region of Europe that best matches the climate and vegetation in Northamptonshire.

“It is a privilege to help return this charismatic little butterfly to its former stronghold of Rockingham forest,” said Dr Nigel Bourn, Butterfly Conservation’s director of science. “It has taken many years and a lot of hard work from many people to get to this point and I am very proud to be part of the team collecting these beautiful butterflies and returning them to England at last.”

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'Colossal' wasp nest found in Corby attic

A "colossal" wasp nest the size of a "barrel" with a tunnel attached has been found in the attic of a house.

The homeowner near Corby discovered the one-metre wide nest (3.2ft) while renovating the property, which had been empty for two years, as reported in the Northampton Chronicle.

Pest controller Gary Wilkinson said "luckily" the wasps had moved out about a year earlier.

Its size and long entry tunnel made it a "spectacular work of art", he added.

Mr Wilkinson was treating the house in Pipewell for woodworm, when the owner who wants to remain anonymous, said: "Can you come a have a quick look at this for me?"

"We just went, 'Wow', as it was colossal," Mr Wilkinson said.

"It's an impressive wasp nest alright - much bigger than a barrel.

"They can get to the size of a large football but this is something else altogether."

The tunnel itself measures about 1.4m (4.5ft).

Mr Wilkinson estimates anything from 6,000 to 10,000 wasps could have called the nest their home.

An "average" nest would "typically have up to 3,000 wasps", a company spokesman said.

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Great crested newts discovery halts Corby school build

Work on a new primary school for a Northamptonshire town has stopped following the discovery of great crested newts.

The first pupils at Corby Primary Academy in Oakley Vale, Corby, will have to temporarily move to a refurbished former junior school.

The school will open as scheduled in September 2013, but with fewer pupils than planned.

The rare amphibians are protected by EU and UK law.

'Setback' for school

Councillor Andrew Grant, county council cabinet member for children, learning and skills, said: "There's no denying that this is a setback but we appreciate the ecological significance of the situation.

"The presence of the newts means that we are not permitted to start work on site until spring after the newts have been relocated."

Corby Primary Academy is being built on the site of Exeter Primary School.

The council has decided to refurbish the former school's junior block so the school can open on time.

This means it will only have 60 reception places and 30 places in years one and two when it opens next September.

If the build had not been halted, the school would also have had places for Key Stage 2 children.

Wildlife experts are now deciding what should happen to the newts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-19916158