buffy, re the chaffers: I think the pics make it look more dry & dead than it is; I took the pics in the evening after a sunny day. Also the grass hasn't been topped or grazed sufficiently so there's a lot of dry strawish grass in there. most of the turves once unrolled and placed right side up were still green and some (on the big patch pictured) must have been there a bit longer as the grass was starting to yellow. add to that the soil here is the opposite of dry and sandy and I'm moderately sure it's not those beasties you describe (certainly hope not).
VF; Actually, the last two nights I've been out patrolling (no more destruction so far
) I have been 'marking my territory', as has the dog, in case it might work; it can't hurt. Trouble is my bladder doesn't seem to work like a dogs so I struggle to do more than one spot on a trip.
DL; there are one or two with pigs but I'm doubting pig attacks for the same reasons I'm now doubting wild boar - no hoofprints. Also, I tend to doubt they'd attack that particular field as it's sandwiched between a sheep farm and a beef farm (ignoring the scrubland that forms the nearest boundary of the field); there'd be much more convenient fields for pigs to find - I think.
Badgers do seem to be the main suggestion and the pawprints and droppings I've seen are probably consistent with that theory; and with several acres of untamed wilderness on hand and forestry land, I'd be surprised if there aren't badgers in the area - there are lots of foxes and millions of rabbits.
ooh, it's dark - just popping out to check...
