Charity’s annual national award recognises dedication and commitment to badgers
- Badger Trust Staff Team
- Jul 11, 2024
- 2 min read
Nina Scotland of Essex Badger Protection Group receives The John Taylor Award for outstanding services to badgers.
On 6 July 2024, at the Badger Trust Symposium, nature campaigner Dr Alice Brough presented Billericay resident Nina Scotland of Essex Badger Protection Group with the John Taylor Award for Outstanding Services to Badgers.
Nina was nominated for her ongoing commitment to the group and her support and dedication to badgers and their habitats.
Nina has been a badger group member for over a decade and is a valued committee member, taking on the treasurer role. Her commitment has seen the group’s membership swell to over 140 members and, under her guidance, the group's finances have also swelled to over £9K. She is involved in many other aspects of the group's work, including writing and editing the group’s newsletter.
These are vital positions in the group, and Nina excels at them, but her real passion is helping badgers ‘in-the-field’.
Since becoming a member, Nina has recorded over 60 new setts and continues to monitor them. In the last four years, Nina has become the artificial sett coordinator, finding sites to build artificial setts for orphaned badger cubs through networking and perseverance. Under her project management, enthusiasm and sheer hard graft, the group has now released over 50 badger cubs into eight artificial setts. Nina is the driving force for these sett builds and cub releases.
Nina’s hard work in building key local relationships has also resulted in her becoming a valued volunteer for South Essex Wildlife Hospital, and she is involved in hand-rearing cubs.
Nina's commitment extends beyond her direct involvement in the group's activities. She is dedicated to educating and inspiring others in the group and the local community about the importance of badger conservation. Her willingness to support every aspect of the group’s activities is a source of inspiration for all those involved in badger conservation.
Peter Hambly, Chief Executive of Badger Trust, said:
“Badger Trust is delighted to honour Nina’s years of hard work and dedication to badgers and their habitats with the national John Taylor Award.”
“Nina’s ongoing enthusiasm and passion are why she has won this award. Her outstanding work for badgers, particularly her extraordinary efforts to find and create new homes for over 50 orphaned cubs, inspires badger protectors everywhere.”
About The John Taylor Award
The John Taylor Award is awarded to an individual who has shown dedication and commitment to badgers. The award is named after John Taylor, a founding member and first Chairman of the National Federation of Badger Groups (NFBG).
John Taylor was dedicated to badgers, conservation, and human social issues. As vice-chairman of the then Surrey Badger Protection Society, he galvanised support for the idea of a national body at its convention in 1985. John had the organisational and people skills to unite people to form the NFBG, which has now become the national charity Badger Trust.
Badger Trust recognises and honours John Taylor’s dedication and passion for badgers by naming this award after him. We thank Raymond Ings, John’s close friend and colleague, for sowing the seed of this idea.
Badger Trust sought nominations from affiliated badger group members, and the winner was chosen by a judging panel headed by Chief Executive Peter Hambly.
