Purpose of Badger Groups
What do badger groups actually do?
The purpose of each individual Badger
Group is defined in its own constitution. Accordingly, one group may
have slightly different aims and activities from another group. Many (although not all) badger groups are members of the
Badger Trust,
so they can generally expected to have many common aims and objectives.
History
Despite the fact that badger baiting was made illegal as long ago as
the 19th century, the practice continued, making a serious impact on
badger numbers in some areas.
By the 1970s, there was enough of a groundswell of public opinion to
make the possibility of a proper badger protection act a real
possibility. After much argument in Parliament, the Badgers Act 1973 was
put on the statute books. This important new law made it illegal to
take, injure or kill badgers, to ill-treat badgers, or to dig for
badgers. Before the Act, concerned members of the pro-badger community
could do relatively little to protect badgers. Now, with a proper act of
Parliament, people began to feel that they could make more of a
difference to the lives of badgers, and a flurry of new badger groups
was founded.
The movement grew apace, and by 1986, there were so many badger
groups that the Badger Trust
was formed.
Usual Aims
The most common basic aim of most of the UK's many badger groups is
to "enhance the welfare and conservation of badgers"
in their local areas. Typically
this will be something along the lines of a County, or a major part of
one.
"The world of badgers is in some ways analogous with the
human world. Like us, their behaviour is greatly influenced by their need for
homes and living space, and being social like we are, they too have their
problems of learning how to live together ..... and with us" |
Ernest Neal
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Usual Activities
In order to enhance the welfare and conservation of badgers, most
badger groups do a similar range of activities. Typically these can
include:
- Giving Advice if Badgers Cause Problems (sometimes known as a
Householder Service)
- Rescuing Trapped and Injured Badgers
- Rehabilitation of Injured or Orphaned Badgers - feeding young cubs
and releasing them back into the wild so they can survive through to
adulthood
- Recording Badger Setts - to help stop badgers being persecuted and
to help protect green-spaces from being concreted over by
unsympathetic developers
- Recording Road Casualties - to make sure badgers and people can
use and cross roads safely. Also advising road construction
companies and local authorities about how to install wildlife tunnels, underpasses and
bridges.
- Dealing with Property and Land Developments - helping badgers live
with the consequences of developments, or getting those developments
modified or stopped
- Education and Information - for example talks and lectures in
schools, youth clubs, colleges, libraries and country pubs
- Fund Raising - raffles, books, leaflets, T-shirts, sweat-shirts,
table mats, etc, etc
- Membership - individual, family, or corporate membership schemes
- Political Campaigning - trying to persuade our politicians to
allow badgers to live natural safe wild lives in the countryside
Some badger groups also do educational talks to schools and colleges.
At these talks children will be able to see pictures of badgers and how
they live, with possibly videos, and samples too. A few badger groups
have stuffed specimens (taxidermy), which they can use to educate children how big a
badger is and what its teeth, claws and paws actually look like.
Other badger groups may also maintain hides or rehabilitation setts, where
members can watch or even photograph badgers.
Many badger groups publish regular newsletters, and may be registered
charities.
Badgerland are confident in saying that every badger group in the UK
offers value for money, so go and join your local
Badger Group.
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