THE tiny village of Newton Valence, near Selborne, is heralding the start of the New Year in an unusual way, by declaring “war on rats”.

Viewed as an endemic problem in the villages where they are attracted to the food supply provided by farms, chicken houses and stables, they are also seen as “a big threat to the area’s endangered native wildlife population”.

Villager Victoria Ewart said: “Rats love muck heaps and chicken food but they also eat baby hedgehogs and fledgling birds.

“We are working hard to restore our wildlife populations and so we want to blitz the rats before spring.”

However, the rules on the culling of rats have changed and they now limit the use of poison which, while killing rats, can also kill other wildlife. As such, it is seen as imperative that everyone understands which poisons are permissible and how to use them in a safe way.

“Also we need to understand how to prevent rats in the first place,” added Victoria.

On Friday, January 13, at 7pm, the village will host a public talk on ‘Rats - Wildlife Friendly Pest Control’ by Mike Swan of the Game Wildlife Conservation Trust in Newton Valence village hall.

For more details, call Victoria on 07970 485980.