Graves at Beeston Cemetery are at risk of damage after suspected badger setts were found on the site.
Last Thursday (August 21), families involved in ongoing discussions with Broxtowe Borough Council over tributes being left at the cemetery were part of a group that walked around the site with council officials to discuss maintenance and grounds issues there.
One of the holes went underneath a memorial box near some graves, leaving the corner of the stone box exposed.
Other holes could be seen under an older, sunken grave and a sizeable hole was found on the side of the site.
It hasn’t officially been confirmed which type of animal is responsible for the holes, but anecdotal stories of badger sightings at the cemetery point towards the woodland mammal being responsible.
Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said that the tunnels appear to have been made by badgers.
The RSPCA has also confirmed that a “sick” badger at the cemetery was reported to them in May. The badger was taken to an independent vet for examination, where it was “put to sleep to prevent it suffering further”.
Badgers prefer woodlands and open green space to live, but they have also been found to make homes in suburban areas, including parks and gardens.
They live in burrowed setts, which are networks of underground tunnels and chambers, with some having multiple entrance points.
Concerned bereaved families first notified Broxtowe Council of the problem in an email with photos of the holes on July 17, 2025, but no action was taken to mark the impacted spots until the August 21 walk-around, when council staff coned and taped off affected areas.
Badgers are a protected species, making it illegal to kill or trap them without a licence.
A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Wildlife Trust said in a statement : “Without a proper site visit, it isn’t possible to be absolutely certain, but from the photo, it looks likely that the holes have been created by badgers.
“It is also an offence to damage, destroy or obstruct a badger sett. Before any action is taken, the site would need to be surveyed by a qualified ecologist, and any mitigation measures would require a licence from Natural England.
“Badgers are a wonderful part of our biodiversity, but as one of our largest mammals, their activities can sometimes bring them into conflict with people, and they can be displaced by development activity elsewhere.
“As a protected species which continues to suffer considerable persecution, it is important to ensure that measures are taken to ensure that they are not harmed or disturbed unnecessarily and that any measures to exclude them from areas are done with specialist advice and under the appropriate licence from Natural England.”
A spokesperson for Broxtowe Borough Council said: “Officers visited Beeston Cemetery [on August 21] to discuss maintenance concerns raised by residents.
“On site, they were shown additional holes that had been previously reported, which may have been dug by badgers. These holes will be complex to deal with as badgers are a protected species, and the council is monitoring the site and taking advice from ecologists.
“We understand that it can be upsetting to loved ones to see these holes.”