Making Space for Badgers
Badger Champions are needed now more than ever, as threats to biodiversity continue to impact badgers and their habitats. Our Space for Badgers campaign aims to promote sustainable human-badger coexistence and inspire new generations of Badger Champions. In making Space for Badgers, we can all learn to live alongside this iconic and ecologically important native mammal.
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Anthropogenic (human-induced) activity and badgers
One of the most significant threats facing badgers in Britain today is that of anthropogenic (human-induced) activity (outside the controversial badger cull and badger crime). These activities can take many forms, and have far-reaching impacts.
It’s important to remember that badgers are ecosystem engineers, and their presence in their native range provides many benefits to other species. Threats to badger spaces are therefore threats to biodiversity at large.
Building Homes. Burying Badgers.
The UK faces a housing crisis, but badgers aren’t to blame. The real issue isn’t wildlife — it’s developers delaying builds, lack of housing variety, and a shortage of skilled workers.
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The Planning and Infrastructure Bill is shifting the blame onto nature. If passed, it will allow developers to destroy badger setts and kill badgers under the excuse of speeding up construction. This strips away essential protections under the Protection of Badgers Act and risks pushing local badger populations to extinction.
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Badgers, like all wild species, deserve space to survive alongside us. With proper planning and early ecological surveys, 99% of developments already go ahead without harming wildlife.
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That’s why we're launching ‘Building Homes, Burying Badgers’ — a campaign to stop this reckless bill. We urge you to get involved too:
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Read our brief on the Bill to understand the implications for badgers.
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Contact your MP using our template.
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Read our response to the Planning and Infrastructure Bill.
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Make a donation or become a Badger Friend so we can continue to campaign for the protection of badgers.
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Sign up to our newsletter to stay updated.​
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Building Homes shouldn’t mean Burying Badgers.
Living with Badgers
Badgers have called Britain their home for 250,000 years, so they have been an integral part of our shared landscape for generations. Unfortunately, anthropogenic (human-induced) activity has forced more and more badgers into conflict with humans. Human-badger conflict can take shape in various ways from damage caused to lawns to dogs getting trapped in setts.
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Badger Trust’s Living with Badgers resources include guidance for gardeners, information on the badger’s protected status, and what to do if your dog ventures into a badger’s sett.
State of the Badger
The exact number of badgers in Britain is unknown, and there is an urgent need to understand the population health of Britain's largest remaining carnivore. Badger Trust’s first-ever State of the Badger survey will assess the current population trends for badgers in England and Wales.
With plans to launch an England and Wales-wide citizen science initiative to help monitor the badgers across their native range, the State of the Badger survey will bring people closer to nature and create new generations of Badger Champions.
Give Badgers a Brake
Every year an estimated 50,000 badgers die on British roads. Many of these are lactating sows, leaving cubs in their setts in need of rescue. Badger Trust’s Give Badgers a Brake campaign helps to protect badgers from the impact of roads.
We use badger road traffic casualty (RTC) data reported to us to inform our research and campaigns, as well as provide it to local groups to help guide their work on the ground.
Planning, Development and Badgers
The rapid rise of property and road development across England and Wales means that Planning and Development now represent one of the most significant risks to local badger populations. However, badgers and their setts are protected by law, and the Protection of Badgers Act (1992) strictly prohibits any malicious or negligent act which disturbs badgers or their homes (setts).
How can you make a positive impact for badgers and safeguard their future in the face of increasing development?
Our free guides will help you protect them from harm and avoid long-term problems: Guide for Developers, Guide for Individuals (if you plan to develop on your land), Guide for Badger Champions and Guide for Badger Groups.
Why are badgers protected by law in the UK?
Badgers are a protected species because of the high levels of mistreatment they face. In 1992, the Protection of Badgers Act (PBA) gave badgers across the UK unrivalled protection. The National Federation of Badger Groups (precursor to the Badger Trust), was instrumental in bringing this legislation to fruition.
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Unlike most native wildlife protections in Britain, the Protection of Badgers Act was initiated due to the unprecedented levels of species-targeted persecution faced by these unassuming nocturnal mammals. Thus, the Protection of Badgers Act is concerned with animal welfare as a priority, compared with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 which focuses more explicitly on wildlife conservation.
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Additional legal protection is sometimes provided by the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 and the Hunting Act 2004. Badgers are also listed in Appendix III of the Convention on the Conservation of European Wildlife and Natural Habitats.
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What is Badger Trust doing about making space for badgers?
Badger Trust campaigns to protect badgers from anthropogenic threats and promote sustainable ways to live with badgers.
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Badger Trust’s guide for developers is designed to safeguard badgers from planning and development activities.
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Our Planning and Development Working Group is designing specialist ecologist training courses.
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Our Living with Badgers guide helps keep gardens and badgers safe.
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Badger Trust's first-ever State of the Badger survey will monitor population health.
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Our Give Badgers a Brake campaign raises awareness of the high level of badger road traffic casualties and helps to protect badgers from the impact of roads.
Latest campaign news
Badger Trust is the leading voice for badgers in England and Wales. Read the latest Badger Trust news releases, Space For Badgers campaign updates and our views on issues that affect badgers, their setts and their habitats.
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More Space For Badgers information
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