03-04-2025
Apology after foxes culled on Enfield Golf Club' grounds
A north London golf club has apologised to residents after foxes were culled on its course. Enfield Golf Club carried out pest control and shooting on the evening of Wednesday 26 incident has caused outrage among wildlife groups, with Protect The Wild saying foxes were not pests and should be treasured and a statement, the club said the culling had not been sanctioned by the Club Committee and apologised.
The BBC understands local authorities were notified of the legal culling at about 1830 GMT on the Wednesday and that it would last until 0200 on 27 March. Residents called local authorities in the evening to report hearing what sounded like gun shots coming from the back of golf club confirmed the incident happened at 20:00 GMT.
'Incredibly poor decision'
Robert Pownall, founder and CEO of Protect the Wild, said: "We see the presence of foxes in urban areas and spaces like golf clubs as a sign of the natural world's remarkable resilience in the face of the destruction of wild spaces." He added: "Foxes, badgers and other animal species should be treasured and protected. They are not 'pests' - they are sentient beings, important to ecosystems, and an essential part of the living landscapes we all depend on and enjoy."The club, which has an 18-hole course, said it was an "incredibly poor decision by internal management to allow an external group to conduct an unauthorised culling".The statement continued: "This was not sanctioned by the Club Committee. The Club and its members are extremely disappointed this happened and can guarantee it will never happen again."We are a club that supports the local community and provides an excellent place for all, we are saddened by these events and regret any distress this has caused in our local community."
