Children were reportedly left in tears after coming across dozens of dead birds on a popular walking path.
Jeanie Fox first heard the sound of gunshots from her back garden on Croxteth Park Estate around two weeks ago. The 50-year-old said she assumed it was fireworks at first, until she saw residents on the Nextdoor app talking about birds being shot in the local area.
The gunshots were being fired from Larkin's Farm on School Lane in Prescot. When approached by the ECHO, a spokesperson for the farm said the birds were shot as part of "periodic pest control to stabilise pigeon’s population in order to stop their crops from being decimated."
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Jeanie said many of the dead birds have fallen onto a public path near to Croxteth Park Estate which is popular with dogwalkers. Jeanie told the ECHO: "It's been going on for about two weeks. When I heard it I thought it was kids with fireworks.
"Kids are crying. Dogs and kids are terrified because these shots are going off all the time. You're sitting in the garden enjoying the sunshine and all you can hear is gunshots. It's absolutely appalling.
"They're on the walkway where people walk their dogs through between Croxteth Park Estate and Croxteth Park."
Jeanie said she has complained to a local councillor about the issue which she described as "inhumane." Liverpool City Council and Knowlsey Council told the ECHO they had not received any complaints about this.
Jeanie added: "I will do everything I can to get this stopped because it's cruel. It's inhumane and it's sickening. It's upsetting me so much what's happening, I love animals.
"I've fed birds and squirrels and hedgehogs for years. We don't want animals being slaughtered on our doorstep."
Jeanie is one of a number of residents who have heard the gunshots going off in the area in recent weeks. Posting in a public forum on Facebook on August 5, one resident said: "All day I have heard what sounds like gunshots. Sounds like a firing range.
"Not sure if it's coming from the farmers' fields the other side of Dam woods but one of my dogs is ridged and panting with stress . Any ideas?"
Replying to the post, one woman said: "Same with my dogs, driving them crazy all day", while another added: "my dog's also scared of the noise it’s gone on for ages."
People also reported hearing a high pitch sound in the area in recent weeks, which the farm confirmed was a faulty security alarm which has now been repaired. A spokesperson for Larkin's Farm said: "The land is farmed by Ollerton & Sons to grow crops, he, like most farmers around the country carry out periodic pest control to stabilise pigeon’s population in order to stop their crops from being decimated. This is carried in accordance with the guidelines from Merseyside police."
A spokesperson from Merseyside Police said: "We received a report on Friday 5th August of gunshots in the Craven Woods area. Enquiries were carried out and it was established that pest control was taking place at a nearby farm."
A spokesperson for Knowlsey Council said: “We have not received any complaints about noise or activities in relation to the farm or surrounding area. Should our Environmental Health Team receive any, we will of course investigate.
“Complaints that are received by Liverpool City Council from their residents would need to be investigated by Liverpool City Council as per the guidance set out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.”
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