The English Heritage Trust has been criticised by a farmer from Devizes after anti-bird mesh was placed at Stonehenge. 

Tim Daw previously worked at the historic site and regularly shares his views about how he feels it is being managed. 

He said he saw the plastic mesh while attending the annual Summer Solstice on June 21. 

While he thinks the stones should be protected, the farmer has said he found it "very strange" that birds could be causing that much damage. 

Mr Daw has now written to the trust asking them to provide more details about what is going on, and why the mesh is needed.  

He took to Twitter saying: “I don't want to judge the necessity of the anti-bird netting at Stonehenge until the results of the trial are released but in the meantime I think we deserve to know how the trial is being conducted."

In his letter, he said: "As part of your valuable work looking after Stonehenge a spokesperson said on June 29 that a 'trial, conducted in consultation with Historic England, (which) is being "closely monitored over a year's cycle" is being undertaken on the effects of the anti-bird netting installed in September 2021 under some of the lintels at Stonehenge'. 

"Please could you supply all the details of the trial, including the pre-installation report, the trial design, monitoring etc, and when the trial is completed the results would also be appreciated." 

But the English Heritage Trust does not feel that the decision to place mesh at the stones has had a negative impact - and says the move comes after lockdowns saw more birds flocking to the area. 

A spokesperson for English Heritage Trust said: “Birds are still able to alight, perch and nest happily at Stonehenge, to the enjoyment of many of our visitors. 

“The bird population at Stonehenge grew during lockdown and last autumn a fine mesh screen was placed beneath a small number of the monument’s lintels, where the mortice holes were exposed, in an attempt to protect these areas in particular from an increase in bird excrement which was damaging the rare lichens on the surface of the stones, and would eventually affect the surfaces of the ancient stones themselves. 

“This is a trial conducted in consultation with Historic England, and the fine mesh screen was put in place prior to the nesting season. It is being closely monitored over a year’s cycle.” 

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