About
Created for the protection of Badgers.
The West Wales Badger Group was formed in 1987 to encourage the study and protection of Badgers and their habitat throughout West Wales. For many years International Badger Expert Mrs Ruth R Murray was the President of West Wales Badger Group. She helped found the group and shared her extensive expertise on Badgers until her sudden death in 2000.
Expert Mentor
Ruth assisted the late 8th Earl of Arran in the drafting and private sponsorship of the Badgers Act 1973, which protected Badgers from indiscriminate slaughter and cruelty. This legislation makes it ILLEGAL for any person to KILL, INJURE or TAKE A BADGER. It is also an offence to CRUELLY ILLTREAT A BADGER under any circumstance. The Badger is the only wild animal to have legal protection of this kind in the wild state. Further protection was given to Badgers under the Badger Setts Act 1991. All legislation related to Badgers is now consolidated in the Badger Act 1992. Ruth was instrumental in all of this.
Mrs Ruth Murray was our help and mentor over many years, it is through her knowledge and advice that has enabled out Badger Group to be so successful in the work we do for Badgers.
Through the Groups work with Badgers, we are often involved in helping and working with other organisations and Groups.. We are happy to do this. But the West Wales Badger Group is not affiliated to any other organisation. The Group is totally unilateral.
Voluntary.
All members of the Group work voluntarily for the good of Badgers. Much of this work is to record all dead Badgers found, check existing sites and new setts. We offer practical advice on all Badger related incidents to members of the public, Veterinary Surgeons, Police and many other organisations too numerous to mention.
Some of our members specialise in their field of work within the Group. Our Patrol Officer has many tasks including work with a team of helpers who are constantly looking out for anyone interfering with Badger setts, Badger digging or Badger baiting, all is still a constant worry.
Area representatives organise members to carry out survey work for developers building new roads, industrial sites and housing developments. We are not against progress, but we must make sure the Badgers and their setts are not harmed by the developments in any way.
Our Environmental Scientist and his team of consultants work with developers and liase with the Countryside Council for Wales to carry out survey work concerning badgers and also other forms of fauna and flora.
The President continuously writes letters to help Badgers. Our Vice-President keeps an eye on what is going on in the killing fields concerning the Badger culling by the Ministry.
The Group Organiser and Liaison Officer give advice on Badgers and all Badger related incidents to the Police, Veterinary Surgeons and members of the general public who require help from all over the UK.
Publicity Officers make sure that any important Badger news is given to the media. Our fund raising Organisers arrange events, to help pay for vet bills, holding kennels, equipment and administrative costs. Donations are always welcome, no matter how small, even a few postage stamps are gladly received.
Members receive quarterly Newsletters. The twelve members of the Committee hold monthly Committee meetings. Any member can contact the Secretary to ask for items to be put on the agenda for the Committee to discuss.
Our Annual General Meeting is held in March and our Members day in November which includes some form of fund raising for the Group.
We arrange slide shows, talks and lectures to schools and colleges. We also arrange Workshops for members to learn about Badgers and what to do if called out to a Badger emergency.
Expertise.
Because of Mrs Ruth Murray’s mentorship help and association in the past with the West Wales Badger Group we have attended and receive annual invitations to the Council of Europe Bern Convention in Strasbourg. The West Wales Badger Group is not only a Badger Group for West Wales, but also an International Group.