An allotment holder is being evicted from their plot amid allegations sheep have been slaughtered on the land and a sheep's head buried in a neighbouring potato patch.
The committee which manages Ely Great Farm allotments in Dyfrig Road, Cardiff, warned plotholders earlier this week that animal slaughter appeared to have been taking place on one of the plots. Cardiff Council, which owns the 170-plot community garden, is in the process of evicting the allotment holder believed to be responsible.
WalesOnline understands that the practice was discovered after another plotholder found a severed sheep's head buried above their potatoes. The head's ear appeared to contain a tag.
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The committee has asked gardeners to lock the gates and refuse entry to anyone who does not have an allotment at the site.
A council spokesperson said: “Following reports of a number of incidents involving a plotholder at Ely Great Farm allotment site, and an investigation in tandem with RSPCA [Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals] and DEFRA [Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs], a breach of the allotment tenancy agreement has been identified and eviction proceedings against the plotholder in question have begun.”
And a spokesperson for the allotments committee said: "I'm afraid we are unable to discuss the details at the moment as it is part of a multi-agency investigation." The committee has told plotholders that police are investigating but when we approached South Wales Police for a statement, the force said it was unable to find the matter on its logs.
WalesOnline also approached the RSPCA and DEFRA, which said the investigation was being handled by the Animal and Plant Health Agency.
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We’re aware of an on-going investigation by the local authority and APHA will continue to provide assistance. It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage.”
