Send for Santa! Rudolph’s ranch faces threat from HS2
THE future of England’s largest reindeer farm is under threat from the construction of the controversial HS2 rail line.
And the owner of Blithbury Reindeer Lodge in Staffordshire – which is visited by thousands of families each Christmas – has warned that his 200-strong herd could be put down if the business is forced to close.
The threat comes from a plan by HS2 bosses to use part of the 30-acre farm to park construction lorries during the second phase of the high-speed rail link.
Steve Swinnerton, who has run the farm for ten years, said: ‘They want to take over one of my fields to build a car park. But if they do this, I’ll lose the adjacent four fields as well because there’s no way I could put reindeer in those fields next to all the noise, dust and fumes from the trucks.
‘I can’t relocate the herd because reindeer are very sensitive animals and they would probably die of stress if I tried to move them. The only choice I would have is to cull them – it’s so cruel. It would be heartbreaking.’ Phase one of the £56 billion HS2 project will run from London to Birmingham and is due to open in December 2026. The second stage will extend the line to Crewe in Cheshire, passing less than half a mile from Blithbury.
Last night, an HS2 spokesman said: ‘We have visited Blithbury Reindeer Lodge and met with its representatives to look at the impact on their business and listen to their concerns.
‘We are actively looking at alternative options and we expect to meet with them again soon.’