Bird cull at family park sparks social media row
An animal farm and attraction has found itself at the centre of a social media storm after several pigeons were shot at the site.
The Hop Farm has received dozens of negative one-star reviews on its Facebook page.
Some accused it of carrying out a shooting spree and exposing children to a “bloodbath” of dead and dying birds at the family park, near Paddock Wood.
But bosses deny the allegations, telling the KM they were carrying out normal pest control to protect customers’ health and safety, on a day when the attraction was closed to the public. The negative reviews, some written in German and Spanish, began to appear on Facebook last week. Many were left by people living outside Kent, and in some cases, the UK.
Pauline Shields said she had visited the Hop Farm with her two daughters and had witnessed the cull first hand.
She said: “Birds torn to shreds by bullets. Dead and dying birds lying on the ground in front of them.
“My kids have had nightmares since visiting and I have no words to explain to a five and seven-year-old your reasons for doing that to God’s little creatures. My girls and myself have been left utterly distressed, disgusted and horrified by the whole experience.” Paul Watkins also left a review. He said: “How can a so called family friendly place do this abominable thing. The blood of these murdered birds is well and truly on your hands.” Gaurav Dom said: “What kind of a “family park” serves murders to the visitors!!! “Are you guys really so shameless? Are you guys really so incapable of compassion and empathy?” Responding to one of the comments, the Hop Farm said the posts were based on fabricated information and said they were investigating where the claims came from. It advised the poster to remove reviews or comments ‘so no further action is taken’.
Speaking to the Kent Messenger, a spokesman said he was surprised and frustrated at the comments received.
He said pest controllers had been brought in as part of normal yearly maintenance and had recommended the pigeon population be reduced to safeguard customers’ health and safety. He added about half a dozen birds were shot, and the site was, and remains, closed to the public until February.
He said: “It is surprising as it is something we have not experienced before in this respect.”