5
But why is a decline happening? Very difficult to answer.
It is not just simple human pressures of disturbance,
because Benfleet and Basildon are very urban places! It
could be the change to arable farming, the greater use
of agricultural pesticides, more gassing of setts or more
likely a combination of these and other factors. It
could be increased badger watching, but I doubt it because
I know someone in Benfleet who has watched his own sett for
20 years regularly, and it is still lovely and active.
Bob Cowlin.