Environmental Damage

During a demonstration at Hoghton Tower in 2007 police threatened to arrest a protester for placing placards in the ground claiming Hoghton Tower had complained it would damage the grass!

Placards near Whealton police station

The protestor asked the police if it was ok to put the placard in the ground on a eight foot wide area of grass that didn't belong to Hoghton Tower. Being helpful the police officer said no because it would block a public right of way, despite the fact that no-one walks on the grass as there is a tarmac path next to it.

A few hundred metres from Whealton police station, where the police officer is based, placards are regularly placed on a narrow strip of grass adjacent to a busy road despite them being left unattended for a week even at night. Police have never objected to them or threatened to arrest anyone for placing them there.

Hoghton Tower's concern for 'grass' is very nevertheless heart-warming but, as usual it's utter nonsense. Take a look at the two photos below from Hoghton Tower, these are public footpaths damaged by vehicles belonging to Hoghton Tower's gamebird shooting activities. Obviously damage to grass doesn't matter when it involves money.

Below, the Hoghton Tower shoot, showing how one of the footpaths ended up in such as mess.