Will Ben’s latest wildlife wheeze be a cat-astrophe?

THIS will set the cat among the pigeons! Financier Ben Goldsmith plans to introduce wildcats to his sleepy corner of Somerset. I can reveal the son of late billionaire Sir James Goldsmith is in the process of building a custom-made enclosure for a group of wildcats which he plans to keep in the 250acre grounds of his country home.

‘We will be housing two pairs of wildcats here in large and secure breeding enclosures from this summer,’ he confirms, insisting: ‘My neighbours are fully appraised and content.’

However, this is contradicted by one local farmer, who warns: ‘He has a proven track record of releasing animals which he has no right to be releasing, like red deer. I am not convinced by his intentions.

‘I can see them being released through an accident. He says releasing cats into the environment is a good thing, but how can releasing a predator be good?

‘I am not concerned for my livestock, but I would be concerned if I had a domestic cat.’

This newspaper previously revealed that Goldsmith was ‘rewilding’ his

£3.8million estate. After removing most of the livestock, he released between 20 and 50 red deer, apparently by accident. Neighbours complained these animals ate valuable grazing and caused serious damage to their farms.

Though wildcats still roam in Scotland, it is believed they were extinct in the rest of the UK by the end of the 19th century.

The feral felines are bigger than your average tom cat, but resemble a tabby.

Goldsmith, who believes that locally extinct wild animals including beavers and wildcats should be released across Britain, is acquiring the creatures from Devon-based breeder Derek Gow. He breeds all manner of strange animals he hopes to release, including lynx. Gow’s breeding project is financed by Goldsmith.

Gow tells me: ‘Ben will keep them in large breeding enclosures because they are very shy.

‘The idea is to slowly release them into the landscape where there are plenty of rabbits, voles, squirrels and mice for them to feed on.’

Goldsmith tells me: ‘There is now a plan, over time, to use captive breeding and reintroduction to restore wildcats in Britain.’