New annual award recognises dedication and commitment to badgers
- Badger Trust Staff Team
- May 17, 2023
- 2 min read
Dave Williams of West Surrey Badger Group receives The John Taylor Award for outstanding services to badgers.
On 13 May 2023 at the Badger Trust AGM in Coventry, Dave Williams of West Surrey Badger Group was presented with The John Taylor Award for outstanding services to badgers.
John Taylor was one of the founding members and cornerstone of the National Federation of Badger Groups (NFBG), which later became Badger Trust. This annual award is presented in John’s name as a tireless champion of badgers.
The first recipient of the award is Dave Williams of West Surrey Badger Group. Dave has worked to save badgers and protect their spaces for decades, both on the ground and through his involvement with local badger groups and Badger Trust.

Peter Hambly, Executive Director of Badger Trust, said:
“Dave’s tireless commitment to badgers will inspire badger champions everywhere.”
“Over many decades, Dave has saved so many badgers through his hard work and dedication to this incredible creature. So it is fitting that the first John Taylor Award goes to Dave Williams.”
John Taylor’s wife Carol and Ray Ings, another founder of the NFBG, presented Dave with the award in front of affiliated badger groups from across England and Wales.
About The John Taylor Award
The John Taylor Award is awarded to an individual who has shown dedication and commitment to badgers and 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 bring people together for the formation of the NFBG, which has now become national charity Badger Trust.

Badger Trust is recognising and honouring John Taylor’s dedication and passion for badgers by naming this award after him. We offer thanks to Raymond Ings, a close friend and colleague of John, for sowing the seed of this idea.
Nominations were sought from affiliated badger group members. The award recipient was selected by a judging panel, including a trustee and staff from Badger Trust, alongside Ray Ings from East Surrey Badger Protection Society, who worked closely with John.