"Goat carcasses dumped" in woodland

Mystery surrounds the dumping of some animal carcasses in woodland between Wiveliscombe and Fitzhead village.

Local residents and the farmer who owns the land were surprised to learn of it from an official notice attached to a railing at the top of a steep drop through woodland on a path called Cats Ash off Croford Hill.

Heart of the South West Trading Standards Service confirmed that they had received a report from a member of the public that four goat carcasses had been dumped at a quarry.

An officer visited the site the same day and located the carcasses, which had had their identification removed, in an inaccessible area.

“Attempts were made to identify the landowner, including through a Land Registry search, but these were unsuccessful. A sign was therefore put up at the site last month to deter any further illegal disposal of farm animal carcasses in the area,” a spokesperson said.

“We have received no further reports or feedback relating to the site. Officers may continue to visit the area when they are nearby for other business.

“The illegal disposal of farm animal carcasses can present a disease risk and is a criminal offence…(which) can result in an unlimited fine and/or up to two years’ imprisonment on conviction.”

The notice at the site called on anyone with information regarding the “illegal disposal of farmed animal carcasses in this area” to contact [email protected]

A local farmer, who asked not to be named, told us that “the first I knew was when I saw the notice when I went by, but I don’t know anything about it. It is my woodland, and I wish someone would come and tell me what is going on.”