Bluebells dug up in Fakenham

Police are investigating

Author: Sharon PlummerPublished 7th Apr 2021
Last updated 7th Apr 2021

Police are appealing for witnesses after thousands of Bluebell bulbs were uprooted from a privately-owned wood.

Officers attended the wood in the Fakenham area at about 5.45pm on Tuesday 23 March 2021 after receiving a call from a member of the public who reported seeing people acting suspiciously in the wood a short while earlier.

When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered several large sacks and mail bags filled with approximately 8000 bulbs that had recently been uprooted.

Two men aged in their 30s and two women aged in their 20s and all from Lincolnshire have been interviewed in connection with the incident. No arrests were made and officers are continuing with their enquiries.

The landowner is now in the process of replanting the bulbs.

Officers are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information about the incident to contact PC Rebecca Barnett at Fakenham Police Station on 101 quoting investigation number 36/18996/21.

British Bluebells are protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act along with all other native wild plants and bulbs. This means it is an offence to intentionally uproot any wild plant unless authorised to do so. Anybody who witnesses anything suspicious is asked to contact Norfolk Police on 101.

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