The false rumour about Royal Devon North Golf Club started on Facebook (Picture: Royal North Devon Golf Club/Apex)

A historic golf course has been vandalised by animal activists after rumours surfaced that a badger’s den was being illegally blocked.

Pictures emerged on Facebook which suggested the Royal Devon North Golf Club had dumped piles of rubble on top of badger setts to block them in – a crime in the UK since 1992.

Dee Owen, who posted these images, also wrote that the golf club had ‘illegally blocked the entrances to a badger sett on their land.’

‘If anyone could get there to take them out I’d really appreciate it,’ she said.


She then updated her original post, adding that it appeared as though a group of badgers had moved out and the club was attempting to prevent their return.



Her post was seen by local animal activists, who dug up clumps of earth on the putting green and spray-painted the word ‘killers’ on the club’s signs.

The golf course dates back to 1864 (Picture: Royal North Devon Golf Club/Apex)

Royal North Devon wrote on Facebook that the club always avoids ‘causing any damage or disruption’ to ‘key wildlife habitats’ (Picture: Royal North Devon Golf Club/Apex)

The golf club defended themselves against these ‘incorrect claims’ on Facebook.

A spokesperson told how they had recently fallen victim to ‘a number of acts of vandalism, prompted by incorrect claims that the club had caused damage to a badger sett.’

They said: ‘Royal North Devon is a golf club which prides itself on being part of an area of outstanding natural beauty, and at the sheer variety and vibrancy of wildlife on and around our course.

‘Our green staff are aware of where the key wildlife habitats are on our course, and always avoid causing any damage or disruption to these areas.

‘It is a shame that in this instance there were acts of unnecessary vandalism on our premises before any conversation with the concerned group could take place.

‘This vandalism now become a police matter, and as such the club will not be commenting further.’

In a final update, Dee wrote that her original post had ‘blown up far more than expected’.

She said: ‘I only wanted kind folk to check the sett was not being blocked and remove any obstruction if they felt able.

‘I did not expect for members of the public to vandalise the course or the property.

‘That is not the way civilised people behave.

‘Shame on those who have done this.’

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