The National Trust has called in the police to deal with an on-going, and increasing trend of deliberate damage being caused to fences on the estate at Stourhead.

Vandals who are repeatedly cutting fences around the National Trust’s Stourhead are putting cattle and motorists at risk, warns the charity.

The fencing surrounding the Zeals Knoll area of the famous estate is the last barrier between the conservation herd and the busy A303 and local roads. Yet vandals have cut the wire three times in the last fortnight, and many more times in the last 18 months.

“It’s obviously deliberate, as there are not many people who set out for a walk with the necessary equipment to cut through barbed-wire fencing,” says Stourhead warden, Tam Holmes.

“We’re so worried that an animal could stray onto the highway and kill someone, we’re checking the entire fence for damage every day. So far we’ve found it cut in different places three times in the last two weeks alone.”

The cattle graze the chalkland between May and October, and are responsible for encouraging the stunning orchids, scabious and other rich wildflowers found at Zeals Knoll.