Fox?
Crows after grass pests thingies whose name escapes me at the moment.

Leatherjackets. Thanks Owdboggy!

I would also say it is damage from Crows plunging their beaks into the grass. They are doing just that in my lawn right now!

Thanks Shirley!

Brain dead at times. Yes crows or magpies are likely culprits, unless you have jackdaws or jays which will also dig like that.

starlings are doing this to a neighbour's grass too.

Thanks all. Culprit has just been caught in the act…Badger!

Thanks Julia, I will pass that on. X

You would also need to find where it is getting into the garden and block it off.
In our last garden badgers ate over 3,000 of our tulip bulbs. We had to put wire netting fencing round the whole perimeter, cost a fortune.

Thank you. I will pass that on as well. X