Chris Packham reveals arson attack at his home

Chris Packham has revealed he was the victim of an arson attack after “two masked men” set fire to the gate of his New Forest home.

The wildlife expert and campaigner said the men drove a car up to the gate at around 12.30am on Friday morning before setting it on fire, causing “extensive damage”.

Posting a video to Twitter on Sunday, Mr Packham queried whether the men were part of a number of conservation groups or if they were toxic internet trolls that fill his “timeline with hate”.

He said trolls routinely posted defamatory and libellous comments aimed at damaging his interests.

Mr Packham expressed frustration that nothing could be done to tackle what he refers to “torrents of abuse” he faced online.

He added that his was not the first incident of harassment he had faced, revealing that people had left dead animals at his property.

“It isn’t normal to come home and find dead animals thrown in front of your property,” he said.

“Now it’s escalated because they’ve taken to damaging that property and I wonder where it’s going.

“What happens next? Do they burn the house down? Do they beat up my step-daughter? Do they cut the brake-lines on my partner’s car? Or do they come for me directly? Are they going to kill me at some point?”

However, he said he would not bow to the pressure to support activities he did not agree with, such as “illegal shooting” and trail hunting.

“If you think that by burning down those gates that I’m suddenly going to become a supporter... then you’re wrong,” he said.

“I will just carry on, because I have no choice. I cannot and will not let your intimidation sway me from my cause.”

In 2019, the BBC Springwatch presenter spoke about a “very calculated” death threat he received after campaigning for measures to protect birds from being shot.

The fire at his property came a day before he delivered a 100,000 signature petition to Buckingham Palace, which called on the Royal Family to conserve nature on their estates and reintroduce animals like beavers and wild boar.

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