Lamb death nature reserve in west London 'rocked' by crime wave, say campaigners

 
The two newborn lambs which were beaten to death in April
Tom Marshall14 May 2015
WEST END FINAL

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A nature reserve is becoming a ‘no-go area’ after being rocked by a surge in criminal activity including the brutal killing of two newborn lambs, campaigners have claimed.

Regular visitors to Bedfont Lakes Country Park in Hounslow, west London, say a growing “crime wave” is beginning to sweep the green space after the horrific lamb attack was followed by sculpture thefts and drug use.

The latest incident saw the theft of two 7ft-high wooden carvings worth £2,000 each which were commissioned by a widow in memory of her husband – only a week after they were installed in the park.

Visitors claim the problems started after Hounslow Council and its contractor Carillion PLC reduced park ranger hours in March.

Staff now clock off at 4.30pm whereas they used to work until the park closed, at about 9pm in the summer.

Mother-of-two Karen Teulon, who has launched a campaign calling for rangers to be reinstated in the evening, said: “It feels like the start of a crime wave and the signs are there that it's just going to grow.

"It’s really gone downhill, from a place that’s really safe and really clean to somewhere people won’t go because of all the undesirables hanging around.

"There’s just going to be more drug users there and wildlife is going to be destroyed, there's no question about it, unless something is done."

Ms Teulon, who recently found a large pile of used syringes in the park, also fears teenagers on dirt bikes will be invading the reserve before long.

More than 400 people have signed her Bedfont Lakes Safety Campaign petition.

The nature reserve hit the headlines last month when police appealed for witnesses after two newborn lambs were savagely beaten to death.

They were less than a day old when they were attacked on April 10, their skulls crushed and one of the carcasses flung into a tree.

Meanwhile, the two wooden bird statues were taken last Thursday by thieves who arrived at the carpark in a transit van, before clambering onto the roof to turn the CCTV cameras around and out of sight.

Both incidents took place after rangers had left for the day at 4.30pm.

Hounslow Council said there has been no staffing reduction, saying ranger shift patterns were changed to better suit the needs of visitors.

A spokeswoman said: “There has been no reduction in staffing hours at Bedfont Lakes Country Park.

“Staff do have more structured working arrangements to ensure the visitors centre is more accessible with regular opening hours, so that more visitors, schools and children can experience the wildlife, nature walks, educational talks, outdoor play and most of all the beloved animals at Bedfont Lakes Country Park.

“This change has been recognised positively by local residents and regular users of the park.

“Following public interest to the staffing of the park after the recent distressing attack on the lambs, the flock was moved to a secure home outside of normal working hours.

“All procedures are constantly reviewed to reflect the growing use of the parks and this includes staff scheduling, land management and community engagement.”

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