Dive-bombing buzzard terrorises primary school
A dive-bombing buzzard has forced a primary school to ban pupils from going outside during breaktime following a spate of attacks.
Children at Dame Tipping Primary School in Havering-atte-Bower, north-east London, have had to stay inside since Easter for fear of the bird of prey.
The bird has been terrorising villagers for months, but because buzzards are a protected species, the school says there is 'nothing which can be done' beyond the outdoor ban.
The case strikes a startling resemblance to another bird of prey, a Harris Hawk nicknamed 'Bomber Harris' that attacked more than 50 people in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, in March.
Bomber Harris was eventually caught and later adopted by Wayne Housden, a falconer.
Stella McCarthy, the headteacher of the school, said the 'difficult decision' to ban outdoor play was made after the buzzard became 'highly present' in the playground.
She said: 'As a school, safeguarding and protecting children is of paramount importance.'
'Dead shocked'
The school rule comes after several incidents in the Greater London village, located north of Romford, with one woman claiming she was 'dive-bombed' by the buzzard while walking in the park in March.
Nikki Dix, 37, said she was 'dead shocked' when the bird attacked her from behind and left scratches on her head.
She said: 'I was scared, I was taken aback by it. He was giving me an evil eye so then I carried on my journey for quite a while just swinging my bag above my head because I was just like, 'hopefully this will deter him from coming to get me, because if he does try again to get me maybe he won't be so nice'.
'Nothing like that normally gets me so I'm a little bit on high alert at the moment, that's why I've stayed away from that area as well.'
The school has decided to use the situation as a learning experience for pupils, who have created posters promoting the protection of birds – and have even named the buzzard 'Brenda'.
Louise Whittle, a parents of one of the school's pupils, also narrowly missed being injured by the buzzard. She said Dame Tipping has handled the issue 'brilliantly'.
Footage shows the moment the buzzard flies down from the roof of a nearby house, appearing to aim for the mother's head.
Ms Whittle said: 'It's absolutely bonkers that there is a buzzard attacking people. But the school have been absolutely fantastic in prioritising the children's safety and finding other alternatives for getting out.
'If anything, it's been a great learning experience for the children – they have learnt all about buzzards that they otherwise wouldn't have done.'
However, Ms Whittle added that she is still concerned that 'the birds are being prioritised over the children' and said she is 'hopeful that they fly away so everyone can get back to normal'.
Ms McCarthy said: 'Luckily, as part of LIFE Education Trust, we have had excellent support enabling us to use the trust minibus to regularly visit The Frances Bardsley Academy for Girls where our children have engaged in outdoor learning activities, PE lessons and visited the school's farm.
'We have also introduced additional indoor breaks with lots of engaging activities including traditional boardgames, cup stacking competitions and puzzles.'
Dame Tipping has been liaising with Havering council and various bird organisations to find solutions to the issue.
The council said its health and safety team has provided the school's trust with 'detailed advice' on legal deterrents and hiring a falconry expert.
A Havering council spokesman said: 'The RSPCA has advised that the buzzard may be protecting its nest or chicks, which lines up with the information we have received.
' Buzzards are protected under UK law, therefore our intervention options are very limited, and we have advised that warning signs would be the easiest solution at this time.
'We completely understand how difficult and worrying this situation is for the school and local residents and we regret that there is not a quick or straightforward solution.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
EuroMillions results and numbers: National Lottery draw tonight, June 20
THE draw for tonight's National Lottery EuroMillions (June 20, 2025) has taken place, with life-changing cash prizes at stake. Check the results to see if you have just won a fortune and bagged enough to start that jet-set lifestyle you always dreamed of. Every EuroMillions ticket also bags you an automatic entry into the UK Millionaire Maker, which guarantees at least one player will pocket £1million in every draw. You can find out if you're a winner by checking your ticket against tonight's numbers below. Tonight's National Lottery EuroMillions winning numbers are: 05, 08, 24, 37, 47 and the Lucky Stars are: 03, 09. The UK Millionaire Maker Selection winners are: TNBC30976 HNBR22291 HNBG00357 XNBL07259 VNZV56928 HNBZ00729 VNBF50450 MNBC35019 ZNBP60221 JNZZ66637 HNZR99573 HMZR34844 JQDG19394 Tonight's National Lottery Thunderball winning numbers are: 09, 17, 32, 33, 35 and the Thunderball is 06. TOP 5 BIGGEST LOTTERY WINS IN THE WORLD £1.308 billion (Powerball) on January 13 2016 in the US, for which three winning tickets were sold, remains history's biggest lottery prize £1.267 billion (Mega Million) a winner from South Carolina took their time to come forward to claim their prize in March 2019 not long before the April deadline £633.76 million (Powerball draw) from a winner from Wisconsin £625.76 million (Powerball) Mavis L. Wanczyk of Chicopee, Massachusetts claimed the jackpot in August 2017 £575.53 million (Powerball) A lucky pair of winners scooped the jackpot in Iowa and New York in October 2018 The first EuroMillions draw took place on February 7, 2004, by three organisations: France's Française des Jeux, Loterías y Apuestas del Estado in Spain and the Camelot in the UK. One of the UK's biggest prizes was up for grabs on December, 4, 2020 with a whopping £175million EuroMillions jackpot, which would make a winner richer than Adele. Another previous UK winner who's whole life was altered with their jackpot was a player who wanted to remain anonymous on October 8, 2019. They walked off with a cool £170,221,000. Colin and Chris Weir, from Largs in Scotland, netted a huge £161,653,000 in the July 12, 2011. Adrian and Gillian Bayford, from Haverhill, Suffolk, picked up £148,656,000 after they played the draw on August, 10, 2012, while Jane Park became Britain's youngest lottery winner when she scooped up £1 million in 2013. The odds of winning any EuroMillions prize are 1 in 13. Could tonight's jackpot of £14 million see you handing in your notice and swapping the daily commute for slurping champagne on a super yacht or lying back on a private beach in the Bahamas? 2
Telegraph
an hour ago
- Telegraph
The assisted dying Bill is a case of good intentions leading to bad law
Thwarted in the search for British strawberries SIR – I wish I could buy British strawberries to add to my Pimm's (Features, June 13). Earlier this week, shopping in the local branch of a top-quality supermarket, I asked why there were no strawberries on the shelf and was told there was a supply issue with Holland. I'm disgusted that, in the middle of the strawberry season, British-grown fruit was unavailable. Likewise, the only asparagus on display was from Mexico and Peru – again, in the middle of our season. This is a huge disservice to growers and customers. Michael Weeden Ascot, Berkshire SIR – Without doubt, the best mixer for Pimm's is ginger beer (Letters, June 20). It adds a touch of fire. Blanaid Walker Witney, Oxfordshire SIR – My dad, ex-Royal Engineers Egypt 1942-45, used dry cider as the mixer for Pimm's. It takes away the cloying sweetness of the lemonade. On special occasions the fruit would be immersed in Pimm's for half an hour beforehand. No driving afterwards. Debbi Harris Hurst Green, Lancashire SIR – We find that cucumber tonic is the most refreshing mixer. Ros Mackay Helston, Cornwall SIR – I am surprised that none of your Pimm's-drinking correspondents have complained that its alcohol by volume was watered down not once but twice to the current level of 25 per cent. This probably explains why generations of Royal Navy officers attending sundowners on the bridge roof added liberal doses of gin, rum and brandy to the mix. I am unaware of any ever having fallen off into the sea.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
Firefighters tackle large fire at Letchworth industrial estate
Firefighters are tackling a large blaze at a building on an industrial estate. The emergency services were called to Birds Hill, Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire, at about 18:45 BST on fire engines and two aerial ladder platforms are at the scene. A fire service spokesperson has advised residents nearby to keep doors and windows road is closed between Pixmore Avenue and Norton Way and Hertfordshire Police has asked people to avoid the area. Follow Beds, Herts and Bucks news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
