Vinnie Jones' plans for a country shooting retreat scuppered by barn owl experts

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Vinnie Jones' plans to build a country sports retreat are no hoot…according to owl experts. The actor and ex-Premier League player hopes to transform farm buildings at his West Sussex estate into accommodation for shooting events.

But officials at the local wildlife trust say the plans aren’t very wise – as the site is home to a load of protected barn owls. Under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it is illegal "to take [or] harm [their] nests while in use."

An official said: “[We are] concerned that the proposed development would result in disturbance to many of these species, primarily the nesting Barn Owls, both during construction and the proposed year-round occupation by up to 14 clients, with daily visits by caterers, cleaners and other services."

Vinnie’s neighbours have also flown off the handle. One said the plans “feel totally inappropriate for such a rural site" and would “impact the local environment.”

Another moaned: “In the UK Barn Owls have experienced significant declines. There would be ongoing and long-term damaging impacts from increased disturbance caused by the buildings and by the yard and buildings being used and occupied, rather than deserted and empty. We consider that the mitigation measures proposed fall very short of protecting this Barn Owl population.”

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Douglas Briggs, whose architecture firm is representing Vinnie, said the wildlife trust's judgement was skewed by many false assumptions and fear-mongering about long term harm to the barn owl population. He pointed out that the trust officials do not show any professional qualifications and said an independent barn owl expert had already surveyed the site, advised on mitigation, construction disturbance and long-term breeding.

But a conservation officer at the trust hit back, saying: "We are concerned that the proposed development would result in disturbance to many of these species, primarily the nesting Barn Owls, both during construction and the proposed year-round occupation by up to 14 clients, with daily visits by caterers, cleaners and other services."

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Vinnie, 60, is no stranger to rural life. In 2023, his Disney+ show Vinnie Jones in the Country saw him take on 2,000 acres of farmland and agricultural buildings. The Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star is also recently described himself as “a British conservationist” who wants to “protect our way of life for future generations.”

In 2017, he told how revealed that he regularly accompanied his father on game shoots in Hertfordshire as a child, saying: "My perfect day would be to get up early, get to the hideout, shoot pigeons all day, bagging 200, then go lamping all night and get half a dozen foxes,” he said.

The South Downs National Park Authority will decide on the plans in due course. Vinnie's representatives were approached for comment.