Future of
Camberley,
Badgers
in Doubt
The sale of Tekels Park to a developer
puts future of the park’s badgers in doubt.
Badgers have been resident in Tekels Park
for centuries
Tekels Park Info
Tekels Park
is a 50 acre woodland estate near Camberley, Surrey,
England, It is owned by the Theosophical Society (Adyar) in England and has
been a Spiritual Centre since 1929 and has become a sanctuary for wildlife
including deer, badgers, foxes, squirrels stoats, bats, newts and many species
of bird. The sale to a developer is surrounded by secrecy but news is now
leaking out and many are unhappy. The future survival of the badgers and other
wildlife in the park does not seem to be a consideration.
The deer are not a
protected species and could be slaughtered.
What is the Threat
to the Badgers ?
There are fears that development will destroy
their foraging area on which they depend.
The law gives
more protection to badgers than it does to deer. It is illegal to harm a
badger, destroy or obstruct the entrance to badger setts
or to keep one as a pet.
In the
Protection
against the effects of development is less clear and badgers depend on a wide
foraging area which could be reduced or destroyed by development. Badgers’
routes to feeding areas and access to water can be disturbed or blocked by work
near a sett even if there is no direct interference or damage to the sett.
The survival of
the Tekels Park badgers living in an area of only 50
acres (small for badgers) enclosed on three sides by urban development and on
one side by the M3 motorway will be seriously threatened in the event of even a
small level of development.
Although the
actual setts have protection, developers can obtain licences for the use of heavy machinery within 30 metres of any entrance to a badger sett and 20 metres for light machinery. Manual digging can be permitted
within 10 metres.
The fact that a
badger sett is not disturbed may not ensure the survival of the badgers.
Short Film about Badger Tunnels at Tekels
Park
What Protection Does
Tekels Park
Have ?
Tekels Park has been designated a “Site of Nature
Conservation Interest” (SNCI). This sounds impressive but in fact simply means
that the flora and fauna in the park are monitored by various conservation and
environmental agencies. SNCI designation provides no statutory protection
against development.
Tekels Park
_________________________
Who’s posting this stuff?
Hi I’m Dave
& I’m opposed to the
killing of the Tekels
Park animals
I’m Dave Marsland. This is my website.
You probably don’t think much of it but
this
is a serious issue and it’s better than
nothing
Unfortunately I don’t show up on film so
There’s no picture but you can email me
on
davemarsland@walestheosophy.org.uk
________________________
Badgers’ Yearly Cycle
Badgers do not actually
hibernate, but often stay below ground during the winter, particularly in cold
or wet weather. This means they must have consumed enough food during the
summer to survive the winter period and disruption to their food supply means
they may not survive.
They emerge from
the sett just before dusk in May to November, and usually after dusk at other
times. Although they mate throughout the year, the embryo does not implant
until November. The cubs are born at the beginning of February, and first appear
above ground in early to mid-April. They are dependent on their mother for a
few more weeks until they are weaned, and learn how to fend for themselves.
_____________________
The Tekels Park
Badger Foraging Area
The British
badger is generally a forager rather than a hunter, and this behaviour is reflected in its diet, with the more active
mammals and adult birds occurring infrequently. Most foraging is carried out at
night, and badgers rely on their strong sense of smell and hearing to locate
food items. Badgers are highly opportunistic when it comes to their dietary
intake and when their primary food source is unobtainable they will exploit
whatever alternatives are available.
Despite the
adaptability of the badger, a reduction in foraging area will cause particularly
acute problems for the
__________________
A Sanctuary for Wildlife
Even many of the
Theosophical Society in England’s 200 members don’t know about the sale of Tekels Park and of those that have heard, many think that
the sale is to an organization similar to the Theosophical Society and not to a
developer.
“Insight”, The
official news journal of the Theosophical Society has been discontinued and
members are now relying on independent websites and news boards to find out
what is going on. As far as the Tekels Park
management is concerned, the fate of the wildlife is just not in the frame and
the issue is surrounded by secrecy.
Although the Tekels Park
Guest House is still being used for Theosophical Society events, many now feel
unable to stay there, knowing what may now happen to the park and the wildlife.
No mention is made of the sale on the
Tekels Park and its wildlife have long been
central to the tradition of the Theosophical Society in England as can be seen
from this comment by Madeleine Leslie-Smith, a long-term resident of Tekels Park;
“
From 'A personal recollection' by Madeleine Leslie-Smith 1996
_______________
The Fate of the
Other Wildlife
The
Foxes already
make forays into the surrounding gardens but despite their ability to adapt to
the urban environment, their numbers will probably be reduced by the loss of natural
habitat. Stoats, squirrels, weasels and bats may also survive in smaller
numbers. Newts may survive if the pond is not removed.
The park has
been home to many species of bird and the effect on them of any development
will inevitably be devastating.
Article about the Tekels
Park Badgers
of the Theosophical
Journal (Vol 36 No 2)
the Theosophical
Society in England’s
_____________________
Who actually decided to sell this
magnificent park to a developer ?
The whole deal is shrouded in so much secrecy that
even the majority of the Theosophical Society’s actual card carrying members
don’t appear to know what is happening but here are some contact points.
The Theosophical Society in
Tel 0207 563 9817
Please note that there is more than one Theosophical
Society. Only the Theosophical Society with its headquarters at
The Theosophical Society administers the
The Tekels Park
Estate Limited
RH15 9AE,
It doesn’t require a Diploma in Finance and even
someone with a Diploma in Astral Travel will know that this is a bad time to
sell
____________________
From the Website Owner:- Dave Marsland
I am dedicated to the future of the Tekels Park animals and have created this website in
support of saving them.
My main concern in posting information on this, and
related websites, is to draw attention to the sale of the 50 acre sanctuary for
wildlife to a property developer and the inevitable deaths of the animals by
slaughter or habitat destruction.
The killing of the Tekels
Park animals would be an obscenity and as a long standing student of Theosophy,
I cannot turn a blind eye.
I maintain that the Tekels
Park management and the Theosophical Society in England leadership have
attempted to keep the fate of the Park and its wildlife from public attention
and the attention of the Theosophical Society in England members.
Dave Marsland
You may contact me on davemarsland@aardvarktheosophy.co.uk
_____________________________________
Future of
Camberley,
Badgers
in Doubt
Concerns about Tekels Park
Wildlife
Tekels Park & The Loch Ness Monster
Tekels Park is Being Sold to a Developer
Article
describing Tekels Park and its much
cherished wildlife by
Theosophist and long
term Tekels Park Resident Madeleine Leslie Smith
Dave Marsland
Opposed to
the killing of the Tekels Park animals
davemarsland@aardvarktheosophy.co.uk