Bilton’s Peter the Peacock living his best life in Lancashire

Bilton’s Peter the Peacock is now happily living among fellow peacocks on a farm in Lancashire.

Peter had wandered around the Tennyson Avenue area for years and was considered part of Bilton. Facebook and Twitter accounts were set up in honour of the enigmatic bird.

But in June last year Peter vanished, which shocked the local community.

It emerged a resident had contacted the RSPCA about Peter after he was seen limping, and the colourful creature was whisked away to the vets for treatment.

Residents in Bilton mobilised and considered launching a campaign to bring the bird back. Bilton councillor Paul Haslam even offered to rehome him on his farm.

But their efforts were in vain, as the RSPCA said they had already found a new home for him.

A year on from the saga, the Stray Ferret asked the RSPCA for an update on Peter, and it’s good news.

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After visiting the vets, Peter crossed the Pennines for rehab with a specialist keeper in Lancashire.

He has since been happily rehomed on a farm with other peacocks, also in Lancashire.

His new owner said:

“Peter is doing really well and he enjoys wandering around on 400 acres of nearby farm land. He no longer limps on his right leg and he enjoys sleeping in his own barn.

“He tends to keep himself to himself but has the company of three other peacocks when he is feeling sociable. We love having him and are delighted that he is happy here.”

An RSPCA spokesperson said it’s the “perfect home” for Peter:

“Peter lived for many years on his own but was found to be injured.

“He was returned to full health in our care and a new home was found with many other peacocks for company where he will be able to spend the rest of his days.

“We are grateful to the residents who cared for him but it would have been illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 to release him back into the wild in Bilton because peacocks are classed as a non-native species. Fortunately, we were able to find him the perfect place to live in Lancashire.”

‘Somebody knows something’ — Killinghall peacock mystery deepens

A Killinghall woman has contacted the RSPCA as part of the attempt to solve the mystery of the village’s missing peacocks.

A muster of peacocks has roamed the village for years but there are fears about 10 have been killed.

The number of peacocks rose sharply in the last couple of years, prompting some residents to say they were sick of the noise and calling for action.

Just two peahens remain, prompting fears somebody has taken matters into their own hands.

Sarah Leanne Hughes said it was possible the birds had been re-homed by the animal charity, which re-homed Peter the Peacock from Bilton. She added:

“I have spoken to three different people at the RSPCA. I’m just asking for advice to see if they have been reported.”

“All I want to know is where the birds have gone. It’s the not knowing that’s awful. People are starting to point fingers. Somebody’s name has been mentioned a couple of times but it’s not a witch hunt.”

Ms Hughes set up the Killinghall Peacocks Facebook page two years ago to celebrate the peacocks, which used to visit her garden regularly.

She moved to Killinghall from Bilton and whereas sightings of Peter were rare, she saw the Killinghall birds regularly. Her home, on Cautley Drive, is close to the tree where the animals roost.

Killinghall peacocks

Peacocks roosting in Killinghall last summer.

Ms Hughes said the number of page members had doubled recently amid concern for the peacocks’ welfare. She said:

“It’s causing a lot of upset in the village. Somebody knows something and they should do the decent thing and say what has happened.”

Ms Hughes has asked Killinghall Parish Council to discuss the peacocks at tonight’s monthly meeting.

The Stray Ferret has asked the parish council if the matter will be raised and whether it plans to take any further action to investigate the plight of the birds.

Sue Reid, the clerk, said the peacocks were not on the agenda for the monthly meeting at 7pm but the annual parish meeting, which followed at 8pm, was an open forum that gave residents the opportunity to raise any subject they liked.

 

Have missing Killinghall peacocks been secretly killed?

There are fears that about 10 peacocks have been secretly killed in Killinghall.

A muster of peacocks has roamed the village for years. But the number exploded last year to as many as 16, upsetting some residents with their loud screeching and damage to gardens.

There were calls for the peacocks to be rehomed — but it seems someone may have taken matters into their own hands.

Killinghall Parish Council said in a statement on social media yesterday it was “made aware that there are concerns regarding our resident peacocks”.

It added:

“There have been sightings of only four of the birds and people are speculating as to what has become of the rest.

“If action was taken to remove any of the peacocks, the parish council is unaware of this and certainly had no involvement.”

Parish council unfairly blamed

Last year, after receiving complaints about peacock anti-social behaviour, the parish council had suggested working with residents to address the problem.

It floated the idea of rehoming and even looked into the possibility of neutering — an idea that was dropped as impractical.

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The parish council said yesterday it hadn’t received any further communication from residents since last year.

Nevertheless, its attempts to respond to concerns.have led to some unfair speculation on social media that it was responsible for the missing birds — something it has been keen to clarify that it wasn’t.

Speculation is now rife about the fate of the peacocks, with some suspecting a disgruntled villager may be responsible.

There are also fears for the safety of the remaining birds, which tend to roost in a large tree in the new development at the back of Cautley Drive.

Some residents in nearby Bilton were upset last year when its resident peacock, Peter, was rehomed by the RSPCA animal charity after concerns for his welfare. He is believed to be in Lancashire.

 

RSPCA dashes hopes of Peter the Peacock returning to Bilton

The rumours are true — Peter the Peacock will spend the rest of his days away from Harrogate and will not be returning to Bilton.

The beloved bird had not been spotted at his usual haunts around Tennyson Avenue over the past week.

Bilton resident Claire Hamer said on Monday an RSPCA inspector told her Peter had injured his foot and the charity had taken him to an animal sanctuary to recuperate.

Responding to questions by the Stray Ferret, An RSPCA spokesperson confirmed Peter was taken in after members of the public alerted it to the bird’s injury.

After taking Peter to a vet for immediate care, the charity then took him to a “specialist boarding establishment”, believed to be across the Pennines in Lancashire.

The spokesperson added that Peter will soon be placed in a new permanent location where there are other birds, including peacocks, to keep him company.

 An RSPCA spokesperson said:

“We were called to reports from concerned members of the public about a peacock in Tennyson Avenue, Harrogate, earlier this month.

“It was reported to us that he was injured and unable to bear weight on his right foot and because of this he was also unable to roost in his usual tree.

“The RSPCA sent an animal rescuer to the area and the peacock was taken for immediate veterinary care.

“Peter lived for many years on his own but he has now been taken on by a specialist boarding establishment and he will be found a new home on an estate with many other birds, including peacocks, for company where he will be able to spend the rest of his days.”

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However, Peter may not be flying off into the sunset just yet.

Bilton residents who have cherished Peter’s presence over the past 12 years are mobilising and could launch a campaign to persuade the RSPCA to bring Peter back to where they consider to be his rightful home.

Andrew Hart, who owns the local post office, said the plight of Peter has been the talk of Bilton over the past week and he might start a petition for his return.

He said:

“He’s an attraction. He belongs to Bilton and we want him back”

Speaking to the Stray Ferret, the RSPCA spokesperson said it would be illegal under the Wildlife and Countryside Act to release back into Bilton because peacocks are classed as a non-native species.

The spokesperson did give residents’ some hope, though, by suggesting that Peter may be able to return if someone with the correct accommodation to house a peacock offered to adopt him.

‘We want him home’: Bilton bids to bring back Peter the Peacock

Residents in Bilton are considering launching a campaign to bring Peter the Peacock back from exile in Lancashire.

Peter has wandered around the Harrogate suburb for years and is part of the community. Facebook and Twitter accounts have been set up about him.

But Bilton resident Claire Hamer said yesterday an RSPCA inspector had told her the enigmatic bird had injured his foot and the charity had taken him to an animal sanctuary in Lancashire to recuperate.

According to Ms Hamer, when Peter is back on his feet he will be re-homed and will not be returning to Bilton.

The Stray Ferret has asked the RSPCA whether it is treating Peter but has not yet had a response.

Ben Rothery, who set up the Bilton Community Group Facebook page, told the Stray Ferret he was considering rallying residents behind a campaign to return Peter to the streets around Tennyson Avenue.

It could involve the community adopting Peter if it can persuade the RSPCA he’s well looked after.

He said:

“I don’t see why he can’t be returned. He’s lived here for 12 years, which is more than half my life.

“He’s like a pet for a lot of residents.

“He’s a well known figure in Bilton. It’s a shame to have him taken away and I’m going to try to bring him back.”

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Andrew Hart, who owns Bilton’s Red Box card shop and post office, said “everybody is talking about Peter” this week.

Mr Hart said the RSCPA had taken Peter away previously a few weeks ago and returned him, so he saw no reason why he couldn’t come back again.

He suspects there may have been a complaint to the charity from someone in Bilton who does not like Peter.

Mr Hart is considering setting up a petition to put pressure on the RSPCA and may even ask Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Andrew Jones to back a campaign.

He said:

“He’s an attraction. He belongs to Bilton and we want him back”

Has Peter the Peacock left Bilton for good?

A peacock that has strutted around Bilton for years and nested in people’s gardens appears to have left the area for good.

The streets of Bilton have been curiously quiet in recent days without the distinctive squark of Peter the Peacock, and there are murmurings on social media that the bird has flown the nest.

Concerned Bilton resident Claire Hamer told the Stray Ferret that an RSCPA inspector called her this afternoon to say Peter had injured his foot and the charity had taken him to an animal sanctuary in Lancashire to recuperate. 

According to Ms Hamer, when Peter is back on his feet he will be re-homed and will not be returning to Bilton.

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Bilton has been Peter’s home for 12 years and one superfan even set up his own Facebook page for the peacock that has amassed over 500 followers.

Its last post was on June 5.

He told the Stray Ferret today that Peter had not been seen for weeks and that rumours of his departure could be true.

Ms Harmer said Peter would be “greatly missed.”

“I enjoyed seeing him, he was very tame, I used to give him seeds, so beautiful.

“He could make a big noise but I got used to it. He would roost in our tree.

“I will miss him, bless him.”