After another excellent hotpot/cheesebake supper, this year's meeting, (22nd April 2006 at Broughton Village Hall) was followed by a talk and slideshow presentation by Pauline Kidner from the "Secret World" wildlife rescue and rehabilitation charity. The Centre was begun as a diversification project within a dairy farm business in 1989, and achieved fame with the Bluebell observation Sett after fostering baby badgers Bluebell, Willow and Primrose. Of the three, Bluebell retained links with the humans who had raised her after she was set free. In the early days the Bluebell cubs were taken for walks to get them used to freedom, and it was interesting to hear how Mrs. Kidner was often joined on these walks by wild local badgers. There is a lot still not known about badgers and since the Centre has fostered around two thirds of all the known cases in the country, Mrs. Kidner's experiences over the years have yielded much useful information. An injured sow which gave birth to cubs took no food for four weeks and no water for three, showing that it is normal for her to remain with the cubs for several weeks after the birth without emerging from the sett to forage, for example: and Colditz-like outside pens in the early days soon provided examples of how well badgers are able to climb, with the young badgers popping out and back in at their leisure until fences were substantially raised and strengthened!

badger Secret World helps all species of wildlife, and with people bringing in orphaned and injured creatures on a regular basis there is a wide diversity of species present at any one time. Badger cubs tend to be brought in between December and April. They have to be fed every hour day and night for three weeks, during which time they will put on over 50g a day. Their eyes open at five weeks. They are released in groups at around eight weeks old. After rigorous TB checks, identichipping and tatooing, fostered or injured badgers are released either in an area with no resident badgers, or where they were found, in the case of an injured badger. They are territorial and strange badgers will not be automatically accepted into an established community. Since the aim is always to return a sick, abandoned or injured wild animal to its natural habitat, birds and animals brought to the Centre have their injuries treated, or are reared until weaning, and are then transferred to a pen with minimal human contact, preparatory to release back into the area where they were found. In the case of groups of badgers this prepares them to rely on each other as opposed to humans and form their own community prior to release into a suitable area. It is the Centre's policy never to treat a creature which would not be able to survive in the wild. A young animal with a congenital defect, or one where repair of an injury would likewise leave the animal crippled and unviable in its natural habitat, is therefore euthanased rather than forced to spend its remaining days in captivity.

A series of hour-long tv wildlife dramas by Simon King featured the Secret World (part of his film about "Dusk" the Badger was made at the Lancashire Badger Group's hide). "Tito the Barn Owl" was very instructive as to the value of clever cutting of film footage. A series of painstaking clips of birds flying and alighting filmed at the Centre were cut together to give the appearance of the owl being mobbed by other birds; similarly a dog apparently put down a badger sett was the result of imaginitive editing in order to tell the fictitious story of an individual animal's experiences.

The Centre's staff are used to the media and film crews showing an interest in the animals. Young badgers which learnt to climb while being raised under a heat lamp set in a disused fireplace were the subject of a "badgers up the chimney" story, and much interest has been shown in the family of young otters currently being raised, especially when they had to be taught to swim in the bath. There were the "bats in the bra" too: the centre has fostered all sixteen British species of bat at different times. The best way to keep them warm and content is to let the tiny creatures cling to one's T-shirt. If a Secret World helper is seen to raise her jumper to display her chest, and does not seem to object to onlookers peering at her whilst exclaiming "Oh, aren't they beautiful!", you may be sure there are orphaned baby bats being fostered!

Mrs. Kidner has contributed enormously through her books and campaigning to the cause of wildlife. Secret World has established a protocol or recommended procedure for raising orphaned badgers, and the Black and White Campaign is currently at the forefront of opinion against the culling of badgers in the misguided attempt to prevent the spread of bovine TB (more on their website). Many swans and other water-birds are brought in injured by discarded fishing-tackle, which has prompted the centre to design a special poster warning of the dangers and advising on best practice, which can be obtained from Secret World in two sizes for display by angling clubs etc. A TV series featuring the animals caused the number of orphaned and injured cases being treated to increase from 1000 to 3000 in one year: unfortunately this sort of thing does not necessarily increase income so donations or fundraising volunteers are always very welcome. Regular contributors receive a very interesting newsletter and have the satisfaction of knowing that they are undoubtedly helping a very worthy cause indeed.

The Meeting

Membership remains steady and finances are good, with sundry debtors including an outstanding tax refund. A donation had been made from funds to the "Secret World" charity, and three more GPS units were purchased for accurate pinpointing of sett locations. Members are asked to let the Committee know of vulnerable setts which would benefit from capping, so that this protective work can be carried out.

Less survey work has been available this year, however; this was a valuable earner for the group, but it is thought that contractors are learning to carry out the work themselves. There seems to have been a drying-up of information tendered about forestry work planned as well: seemingly there has been a glitch in communication here as it is not feasible that all forestry operations have suddenly ceased, so the Group will look into this. Planning policy is attempting to become more environment-friendly, with more protection potentially being offered to the habitat of protected species. The Group responds to all queries, which is time-consuming, but good feedback has been obtained and it represents a good opportunity to highlight the issues pertaining to badgers. Slide shows and talks were given at all sorts of venues from garden fêtes to the Royal Lancashire Show. These are good fundraisers and another good opportunity to "put the record straight" on behalf of badgers.

A large development of houses in Rossendale proved to have a badgers' sett present. There have been good communications with all concerned, with badger literature being given to the developers at two meetings. An exclusion zone was created around the sett, which is within 100m of the development, and people are regularly checking the sett.

The hide needs a new roof; the work will be done this year along with new lights with squirrel-proof wiring; it is hoped to get the work done before the busiest part of the badgerwatching season (May/June). The footbridge was repaired last year. Please remember that the hide tends to be oversubscribed at peak times so make a reservation early if you want to come along! Volunteers to help with visitors etc. will be most welcome too.

The NFBG is now known as the "Badger Trust", in accordance with its change of status to Charitable Company as reported last year. LBG Members attended the NFBG Conference last year, at Millfield School in Somerset. Booking forms are available for members wanting to attend this year's Conference, at Newport in Gwent (dates from Badger Trust website), and you are reminded that you may apply to the committee via the Badgerline for travel and accommodation costs. The Conference runs from Friday evening to Sunday evening, with accommodation available on site. The Group asks that you report back on the proceedings and/or write an article about it for the newsletter. It is expected to be very interesting this year because of the TB situation.

badger sett entrance Life Membership of the Group along with a painting of badgers at the hide by the well-known local Ribchester artist Geoff Rollinson was presented to Martin Hey, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to the Group and to Lancashire's badgers. Thanks were extended to Members who have been helping with the hide, badgerline etc. and to those who have taken over these valuable duties. The newsletter is being ably compiled by a new editor and is now outstanding, and filled with information. Badger talks continue to be very popular and a great educational tool with growing demand.

Volunteers are still being sought for the position of Vice Chairman, so if anyone out there fancies the job please ring the badgerline!

A Badger Group Library has now been established, with a wealth of useful information, documentation and books about badgers available for Members to borrow for as long as they like. Much of this is also available on disc. This is a real bonus for the Group and an opportunity for anyone who wishes to expand their expertise and knowledge of badgers.

Badger News

The Group has always sought to highlight the importance of the position of Police Wildlife Officer (see last year's AGM) and are pleased that the post has now been reinstated. Strong links have already been forged with P.C. Duncan Thomas, whose appointment is seen as a real bonus to the Group's work.

There were 24 reports of badger road traffic accidents (RTAs) this year. This compares with 30-35 for the last three years, but the true figure is believed to be around three times this, taking into account RTAs which are not reported. This is still relatively low compared to other counties and is probably not getting any worse. In the Ribble Valley RTA badgers are not only picked up and removed but also the Group is then advised of location and other details, which is very helpful. For example, if an RTA proves to be a lactating sow it is then possible to attempt to find and help her orphaned cubs. Rossendale continues to report relatively high badger RTAs but the police in this area are also very helpful, as are the forces of Darwen, Blackburn and the Pennine Division.

The worryingly high badger RTA rate in the Edenfield area prompted an approach to the Highways Department of the County Council in an effort to try and improve the situation. Matters are proceeding slowly: some response has been received and there are hopes of opening up an existing sewer pipe and dry line pipe as a badger underpass.

New setts have been discovered in Great Harwood and the Briarcliffe area of Burnley, and in the Wycoller area. From Slaidburn, someone e-mailed us a picture of a sett near his house, which was very useful.

A Preston badger incident was featured in an article in a local paper; this sort of thing is helpful in highlighting the issues involved.

Bracewell Incident

Of ten men arrested near Barnoldswick for badger digging all but one were convicted and sentenced to three months' prison and a fine. Out of these, all but one appealed and were bailed. Sadly, they won their appeal on the technicality that the RSPCA representative present could not be sure he had actually seen them put a dog down the Sett. All other evidence - the dug sett, their presence in the middle of the night with van, dogs, spades and other equipment etc. - was ignored.

Badger Day

Badger Day this year is on Saturday 17th June at Turton Tower and the Group has been asked to get involved. Volunteers who would like to help between 2 - 4 pm on that day will be very welcome. Suggested events include a talk and someone willing to dress up as a badger for the day!

Also this year is the Brockathon, organized by the Badger Trust. People are invited to take part in any walk on that day, in support of the badgers. See the Badger Trust website for details.

The TB situation

Whilst Lancashire's badgers do not have TB, the Group is active in its solidarity with other areas in opposition to any cull of badgers in their areas. At the end of 2005, DEFRA sent our a "culling consultation" paper to try and establish opinion on whether we need to cull badgers, and if so how it should be done. Group members organized a petition, which along with moves such as Pauline Kidner's Black and White Campaign is intended to put pressure on the Government to look at the situation again. They have ignored scientific advice which said that culling will have little effect and make the situation worse if done on a small scale, but would be only 19% effective even if carried out on a large scale in the worst affected areas. They are under political pressure from the NFU (Farmers' Union) to focus on culling badgers rather than measures to eliminate TB from the cattle population. The Badger Trust is supporting an Early Day Motion which calls for the Government to note the scientific evidence that culls would be inhumane and ineffective, the vast majority of badgers not being infected, and calling on them to increase testing etc. Few MPs are aware of the scale of the problem. The Group has written to MPs lobbying for them to sign the Early Day Motion: Group members are similarly urged to write or e-mail their MP.

Incidents this year

The Preston badger digger was convicted: he had gone into Staffordshire in order to bait badgers, where he was found at the sett along with dead badgers. The RSPCA was involved with the case, along with other experts, forensics, SOCO etc. who examined his vehicle and implements. Pollen samples, and DNA and blood found on his spade were important in attaining the conviction, which unfortunately did not result in a custodial sentence. He was banned from driving for three months, however, because a vehicle was used in the incident.
A number of setts were found to have been interfered with in the Edgworth, Darwen, area. The police were involved and the radio and local paper took it up.
An "injured" cub discovered in Rossendale in the early summer of 2005 was found to have been born with a defective leg. Because it was unable to survive in the wild, the animal sadly ended up being euthanased by the RSPCA. Two hitherto unknown setts were found and documented as a result of this incident, however.
Following an incident last year when dead badgers were found in a canal, extensive searching located an active sett which had been dug. This will now be monitored to try to prevent more problems.