Pheasant farmer in plea to drivers

A farmer has appealed to speeding drivers to stop killing his pheasants. Christopher Crowther has even erected a warning notice on the A635 Greenfield to Holmfirth road.

A farmer has appealed to speeding drivers to stop killing his pheasants.

Christopher Crowther has even erected a warning notice on the A635 Greenfield to Holmfirth road.

Mr Crowther said: “We are having to take desperate measures to stop this slaughter and theft. As well as being killed by senseless drivers, some are being deliberately targeted and run down.

“Only the other day, I witnessed one motorist drive at a bird then put it in the boot of his car and drive off.”

Mr Crowther breeds pheasants at Upperwood House above Dovestone Reservoir and finds birds dead at the roadside virtually every day.

“I breed about 2,000 birds a year but we’ve lost so many I thought I’d put up a sign to try and get drivers to slow down.”