Badgers heading off to a night of foraging….

….and an uncertain future.

The Outlook for Badgers

With a new Government in place, our concern over how bTB may be tackled is bound to increase. Neither of the two parties now responsible for decision-making has shown willingness to take the scientific evidence on board, believing instead that one element of the way forward is through culling.

The Badger Trust challenged the Welsh Assembly’s decision to deal with the problem in this way, and although the Judge commented that the Trust had a legitimate public interest in bringing the case, it was still rejected.

On May 5^th the Badger Trust announced that it would seek leave to appeal against this decision, so despite this setback the fight does go on. And of course, mounting another legal challenge will cost money, so the Trust hopes Members of Badger Groups will be willing to support them in their efforts.

Do go on the Badger Trust website for the most up-to-date news and information –

www.badgertrust.org.uk

NNBG  AGM 27^th March

Our walk along and around the Brampton Valley Way proved both good exercise and full of badger interest, so we were sorry that so few Members managed to come along too. There were plenty of holes to peer down, some  very large indeed! And it was encouraging to see setts with fresh digging and bedding – a hopeful sign of a new generation of cubs.

Our lunch at the pub in Maidwell was equally enjoyable, and followed the business bit of the meeting.

Brian reported on the year’s activities, with a special mention of the work he has been doing to help create another artificial sett at the same quarry location used some years ago, and reported in the last Newsletter.

This  shows the sett – please note the provision of a (paddling) pool!

Treasurer’s report 2009

Although our overall financial position remains satisfactory and we made a small surplus over the year, there has been a continuing fall in income from subscriptions which parallels our reduction in membership. This is perhaps a subject for discussion.

A slight drop in survey revenue, our major source of income, may reflect the general economic downturn. As always we are grateful for Pete’s unstinting work in this area.

Our major expenditure was donations to our local rehab. centre for their help with our badgers, and in contributions to our national body, The Badger Trust.

It was agreed to move the reserve account from the Nationwide to the Market Harborough Building Society as the former was paying an interest rate of 0.01%

We thank our auditor and everyone else who has contributed financially or in other ways to the Group over the year. If any member who was unable to attend the AGM would like a balance sheet, please contact me.

Ernie Parsons, Treasurer