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The Guardian
7 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
‘They could poo for England': the mystery of the peacocks plaguing a village
In a village there are many things that cause neighbours to argue: differences in politics, disagreements over hedge maintenance, disputes over who will be Santa this Christmas. In east Staffordshire, however, the battle lines have been drawn over something far more unusual. Over the past 25 years, the village of Tutbury has been the home of an ever-growing pride of peacocks and hens who some residents say destroy crops, leave large amounts of mess and whose distinctive calls can be heard at all hours of the day and night. George, who owns a patch of land in the village's allotment where crops are fortified to avoid being ransacked by the peacocks, says the birds are like 'marmite' to the village. 'The people who love them really love them, and the people that hate them really hate them,' he says. Like the situation itself, the peacocks' origin story is a unique one. According to residents, decades ago three peacocks were housed in Tutbury Castle, which sits on a hill overlooking the village. Who put them there and cared for them is a source of debate, but all accounts say that one day whoever fed and looked after them, for reasons unknown, stopped, causing them to scavenge for food in the village. Some people also claimed that, possibly due to the Tutbury Castle being part of the Duchy of Lancaster, the peacocks are also technically owned by the king, hence the lack of action to control them. The disagreements have created such a divide that many of the doors you knock on refuse to speak on the record as people try to avoid conflict with their neighbours. Humphrey and Jackie Toon, 78 and 64, are two of only a few people in the village who feel comfortable making their feelings known publicly. The couple, lifelong residents of Tutbury, believe the peacocks don't mean any harm and are good-natured, but have become a nuisance. 'They wake us up at half four every morning – it's ridiculous,' says Jackie. 'They stop buses, they attack cars if they see their own reflection and they poo everywhere. They could poo for England.' Their sentiments are shared by others. One resident, who wished not to be named to avoid conflict with the peacock-loving household across the road, likened the experience of being surrounded by the birds to being trapped. 'It's like being in a zoo: they're around you, you can't get rid of them. It's like you're in the cage with them; day and night they're there.' They also said the constant noise from the peacocks has made it hard for he and his partner to recover from separate surgeries, and that they planned to move away from Tutbury to escape them. The local parish and borough councils said they were aware of the issue but that neither could do much to help because that was the responsibility of 'whoever owned the peacocks'.
Telegraph
02-06-2025
- General
- Telegraph
Squawking peacocks ‘terrorising' village
Villagers have claimed they are being terrorised by a flock of peacocks that are destroying their gardens and keeping them awake past 2am. The noisy birds, in Tutbury, Staffordshire, have become such a problem that council bosses have issued a warning urging people not to feed them. Locals say the peacocks trample their plants, leave droppings on driveways and vehicles, and can be heard 'squawking' in the early hours of the morning. Marion West, a 71-year-old retired dinner lady, said: 'They're up half the night squawking and keep you awake. I squirt them with a water pistol if they come near me. 'If you're not careful, they poo everywhere, and it's such a mess. They eat your flowers too. They're a pain in the backside. And when they walk on your roof, it sounds like you've got burglars.' Another resident, who did not wish to be named, added: 'They're such a nuisance, getting all on your plants and making a mess everywhere. 'I mean, they're lovely birds, but when they're up at 5.30am squawking you don't need it. 'The other night they were noisy until 2am and then back here at 5.30am the next day. As to who owns them, I don't think anyone really knows.' But Heather Hunter-Harris, 63, who has been living in the area for more than 16 years, claimed the peacocks were part of Tutbury's charm. She said: 'They're alright – they are loud, and they're up early. But most birds are. They're cheeky, and if they can get food out of you they will, but I just don't feed them. 'The peacocks have always been in Tutbury. I feel like if you take those out, you're taking Tutbury away. 'People come here to see the peacocks, and when they put their tails up, it looks lovely. You've just got to be tolerant, keep out their way, and let them get on with it.' Tutbury parish council, which described the birds as a 'serious problem', has urged villagers not to feed them as it makes them harder to deter. Francis Crossley, who chairs the council, said he believed there were 26 peacocks during the authority's last count but there could now be up to 40. He added: 'Some people love them, but some people can't bear them. It's a Marmite situation. They're nice to hear in the background, but not outside your house. 'They wouldn't attack anyone, but when they see their reflection, they do peck – like if they see a reflection in a car. They roam around and eat vegetables growing if they aren't covered up, and they are up as soon as it's daylight. 'We just ask that people don't feed them, as neighbours are being disturbed by them. I can understand people's frustration if they end up on your roof because your neighbour is feeding them.'
Daily Mail
02-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
It's the Peac-y Blinders! Thuggish gang of 40 peacocks are terrorising families living in once-quiet village
Residents of a quaint village have spoke of their hell at being terrorised by a flock of 40 peacocks destroying gardens and keeping them awake at night past 2am. The noisy birds have been ruffling feathers in Tutbury, Staffordshire - to the point where council bosses have now issued a warning urging people not to feed them. Fed-up locals say the peacocks trample their plants, leave droppings on driveways and vehicles and can be heard squawking between 5am to 2am the next morning. Villagers say the pesky flock has become an 'invasion of their privacy' as they regularly climb on rooftops as well as munching on their vegetable patches. Retired dinnerlady Marion West, 71, said: 'They're a bit of a pain - they're up half the night squawking and keep you awake. 'I squirt them with a water pistol if they come near me. They eat your flowers too - they're a pain in the backside. 'And when they walk on your roof, it sounds like you've got burglars.' Another local resident, who did not wish to be named, said: 'They're an absolute nuisance, making noise first thing in the morning. Fed-up locals say the peacocks trample their plants, leave droppings on driveways and vehicles and can be heard squawking between 5am to 2am the next morning 'When I moved here 12 years ago, there was one peacock and a peahen, and now there's well over 20. 'They gather on the roofs and keep us all awake - they're absolutely terrible.' Another unnamed resident added: 'They're such a nuisance, getting all on your plants and making a mess everywhere. 'I mean, they're lovely birds, but when they're up at 5.30am squawking, you don't need it. 'The other night they were noisy until 2am and then back here at 5.30am the next day. 'For the people that take photos, they're fine and lovely, but not when you live with them. 'As to who owns them, I don't think anyone really knows.' But Heather Hunter-Harris, 63, who has been living in the area for more than 16 years, said the peacocks were part of Tutbury's charm. She said: 'They're all right - they are loud and they're up early, but most birds are. 'They're cheeky, and if they can get food out of you they will, but I just don't feed them. 'But the peacocks have always been in Tutbury. 'I feel like if you take those out, you're taking Tutbury away. 'People come here to see the peacocks, and when they put their tails up, it looks lovely. 'You've just got to be tolerant, keep out their way, and let them get on with it.' Tutbury Parish Council has now encouraged villagers not to feed the peacocks, as it makes them harder to deter, after admitting they had become a 'serious problem'. Council chair Francis Crossley said he believed there were 26 peacocks during the council's last count but there could now be up to 40. He added: 'As a parish council, we haven't really taken a view as they're not ours. 'Some people love them, but some people can't bear them - it's a Marmite situation. 'They're nice to hear in the background, but not outside your house. 'They wouldn't attack anyone, but when they see their reflection, they do peck - like if they see a reflection in a car. 'They roam around and eat vegetables growing if they aren't covered up, and they are up as soon as it's daylight. 'We just ask that people don't feed them, as neighbours are being disturbed by them. 'I can understand people's frustration, if they end up on your roof because your neighbour is feeding them.'
BBC News
30-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Peacocks in Tutbury village are a 'serious problem', says council
A growing population of peacocks are "creating serious problems" for residents in a village, says the Parish Council in Staffordshire is asking everyone in the village to stop feeding the birds after residents have complained that they are becoming an "invasion of privacy".The council said feeding the peacocks leads to them roosting and making loud, early-morning calls near homes; droppings left on driveways and vehicles; and some have even been spotted on residents' chair Francis Crossley said: "We want to encourage the peacocks to find their food elsewhere, instead of coming to people's homes." 'Number is the problem' He believed there were 26 peacocks during the council's last count but said there could now be up to council said the peacocks were becoming more confident and "harder to deter", especially around homes where food is being provided for them."Residents are becoming distressed by the number of peacocks and the noises they are making; there are definitely more peacocks than there used to be," said Mr Crossley."They aren't aggressive to residents or attacking anybody; the number of them is the problem."He added that he would "hate" to see anybody get rid of any of the peacocks."They don't belong to anybody; they just roam around the village, so there is nobody to deal with them," said Mr Crossley."They are beautiful animals, so I can see why people like to have them around. We would just like them to find their food elsewhere and not around people's homes."In a statement, the parish council said they would be "exploring responsible and humane solutions, including working with local wildlife organisations". Follow BBC Stoke & Staffordshire on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram.
