The fact that I am literally being told by some people to just give up my work or "carry on quietly" is very insulting and shows how backward the UK is for wildlife. There was no one dealing with badger calls in the City in 1992-1993 because the old Avon Badger Group had folded and the RSPCA were not responding.
I started setting things up and the Bristol Badger Group was formed in 1994 (officially). It has taken 32 years to build up trust with people who have regular badger visitors and to list and map out where there is badger activity and setts. We even have a qualified wildlife rescuer who can handle badgers if required.
People in the City and County are generally of the "Who gives a crap" but there are people who do care for and keep badgers safe. I had to earn their trust and here is the problem: the only person from the old Avon group is getting on in years and flatly refuses to forward information ("I will proudly take it to my grave") that will make it possible for us to protect setts,
That written, in the last five years alone I have had to advise as well as fight to stop established badger territories within the City from being destroyed ('accidentally') by developers and also land being sold off without declaration of their being badgers present. That is not a cushy 9-5 job but one that goes on day in and day out and it has gotten me a lot of negative kick back and a lot from the City Council.
A new group sets up in Bristol it will takes decades to get where BBG is today. To show that Badger Watch knows full well of the Bristol group here is a response from them on FB in 2023 (they already had my details after asking in 2015, 2017, 2018)
17/01/2023, 09:01
"Hi
Terry, thanks for your message and getting in touch. We list Badger Trust
groups on our website, who are full or associate members of Badger Trust - do
you think this in something you'd be interested in for your group? I can ask
Sally, our groups coordinator, to drop you a line. Either way please let me
know the name and any contact details for your group, so I can add it to our
contact list for badger rescues. I believe
To be listed as on the Badger trust it would cost £50 per year and inclusion on its map was it. Everything else "do what you are already doing". No support or back up. Re the "rescues for that area" -they could supply no details.
When I have asked for support in a case all I get are the same responses that they can do nothing but this is the legislation. I was involved in wildlife law and legislation since the 1970s so I know the law full well.
Here is the call by the Trust for a badger group in Bristol to prove this is a genuine thing.
The fact that they even use "Bristol Badger Group" is insulting.
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