Local Badger
Groups
Local badger groups – a lifeline for badgers
​Badger Trust is the voice for badgers in England and Wales. Through our campaigns and national services, we work to promote and enhance the welfare, conservation, and protection of badgers, their setts, and their habitats.
We have an affiliated network of over 50 local badger groups, all run by dedicated volunteers who work to deliver services to help badgers on the ground. This ‘badger army’ is a lifeline for badgers. Local badger group volunteers give their time and energy to provide services that help and often save badgers, here and now.
Read on to find your nearest badger group and discover more about what badger groups do and how you can get involved. We’d love to have you join our clan!
"When a rescue is successful and the badger is subsequently released it is truly magical, a badger who still has a life to lead because a group of people decided they would help."
- Jeff Cater, West Kent Badger Group
What local badger groups do
Local badger groups are run by volunteers, and the services that they offer can vary from group to group, depending on how many volunteers they have and when they’re available.
Local Badger Group services can include:
Rescue and rehabilitation
Rescuing and facilitating the rehabilitation of injured or orphaned badgers that cannot be returned to their natal sett.
This is often carried out in conjunction with local wildlife rescue centres (and in accordance with the Badger Rehabilitation Protocol).
​
Credit: Essex Badger Protection Group
Badger protection
Responding to threats to badgers, their setts and habitats, including monitoring setts known to be under threat, liaising with local police or other interested parties, licensed sett protection work, or responding to road traffic collisions where a badger needs help or where there may be orphaned cubs.
​
Credit: Mid Derbyshire Badger Group
Badger advice
Advising landowners, agencies and others on the legal management of badger issues.
The rapid rise of property and road development across England and Wales means that development now represents the most significant risks to local badger populations.
​
Credit: Oxfordshire Badger Group
Badger talks and events
Delivering talks on badger ecology, the challenge they face, and the role of the local badger group. Attending events to raise awareness, engage the community, and support fundraising efforts. These activities help inform and involve the public in both local and national badger conservation issues.
​
Credit: Essex Badger Protection Group
Badger sett surveying and monitoring
Surveying, recording, and monitoring badger setts helps protect them, detect interference and help inform planning decisions. This work may also include creating artificial setts for orphaned cubs, and offers a rewarding opportunity to observe badgers in their natural habitat.
​
Credit: Lancashire Badger Group
National support
Supporting and raising awareness of Badger Trust national campaigns at a local level.
​
Credit: West Kent Badger Group
What are Affiliated Badger Groups?
Affiliated Badger Groups are local organisations that work in partnership with Badger Trust to promote the welfare and conservation of badgers, their setts and habitats. By joining, groups agree to follow membership standards, including good governance, collaborative working and adherence to rescue and rehabilitation protocols.
​
There are also other, non-affiliated groups working to help badgers. As they are not affiliated, we are not familiar with their operations or practices, so we recommend contacting them directly for more information about their work and approach.
​
Badger Trust welcomes collaboration with unaffiliated groups and is always open to exploring membership opportunities with those who share our values.
Credit: Gloucestershire Badger Group
“I have met many interesting and lovely people & learned so much about this magnificent, shy mammal. I feel enriched and so happy that I have had this opportunity”
- Affiliated Badger Group Committee Member
What to do in a badger emergency
If you come across an injured badger or suspect a wildlife crime, try not to panic. We know it can be upsetting, but acting quickly and safely can make a big difference. We're here to guide you through the next steps so you can help in the best way possible.
Rescue - Injured Badger
If you find an injured or sick badger:
-
Do not approach or touch the badger. They can bite when scared or in pain.
-
Note the exact location – use landmarks or What3Words if possible.
-
Call for help:
-
RSPCA: 0300 1234 999
-
Try and stay nearby, but at a safe distance to monitor, but don’t block its escape route.
-
Never try to move a badger yourself. Listen to the advice you’ve been given from those with experience.
Quick action saves lives. Always report the sighting, even if the badger has moved off.
​
Credit: Northamptonshire Badger Group
Crime - Blocked or damaged sett
If you witness a crime or discover a blocked or damaged badger sett, it's important to act quickly:
If a crime is in progress, call the police on 999 immediately. If the crime has already happened, call the police on 101.
-
State that you are reporting a wildlife crime.
-
Provide details of the location and what you have witnessed.
-
Take notes, photographs, or videos only if it's safe to do so.
​
All suspected badger crime should be reported to:
-
The police
Learn how to Recognise, Record and Report badger crime.
​​
Credit: Essex Badger Protection Group
Development
If a development threatens a badger sett or is near one that may be unknown:
-
Gather Evidence: safely take clear photos/videos and record the location, date and signs of badger activity (latrines, prints). Note developer details (e.g. company name, signage, machinery).​
-
Contact Your Local Badger Group: They can provide expert advice and may already be aware of the site.
-
They, or you, can also:
-
Check planning conditions for badger protection.
-
Contact Natural England/Natural Resources Wales to check if a licence exists.
-
Inform the Local Planning Authority.
-
-
Call 999 if a sett is being damaged without a licence.
​
Credit: Northamptonshire Badger Group
Badgers and Road Traffic Collisions (RTC)
IMPORTANT: If the badger is alive, contact your local badger group or a local wildlife rescue centre immediately for help, then submit our RTC report form online.
​
To find your nearest group, search "[your town/county] badger group" or use our Badger Groups Map. Where possible we'll forward your report to a local affiliated group.
​
For the fastest response, always contact your local group directly before submitting the form.
Report deceased badgers to us online via our RTC report form. We will pass on your RTC report form to the local badger group, if there is one.
Get involved in your local badger group
Getting involved in your local badger group is a rewarding way to contribute to wildlife conservation and connect with like-minded individuals.
Whether you're passionate about protecting badgers or simply want to learn more about these fascinating creatures, there are various ways to participate. From volunteering for local events to joining informative meetings, your involvement can significantly impact your community. Together, we can ensure a safe and thriving habitat for badgers and promote awareness about their importance in our ecosystem.
Volunteer
Volunteering is a fulfilling and impactful way to connect with like-minded individuals, develop or discover new skills, and build your confidence, all while making a real difference for local badgers. It’s a flexible way to fit around your existing commitments, offering opportunities to explore new interests, meet new people, and even enhance your career prospects!
​
Credit: West Kent Badger Group
Skills Needed
You don't have to walk for miles doing sett a survey to contribute! Aside from practical activities, other vital skills include treasurer/accounts, social media, web design, marketing, fundraising, and administration. Whether you're tech-savvy or have a knack for organising, there's a place for you.
​
Credit: Mid Derbyshire Badger Group
Badger Knowledge
If you already have some knowledge about badgers, fantastic! But if not, don’t worry. Experienced & knowledgeable group members can teach you everything you need to know about this incredible animal. What matters most is your passion for wildlife and your willingness to get involved.
​
Credit: Binfield Badger Group
“It is wonderful to be helping badgers with like-minded people who start off as strangers but who end up as good friends.”
- Badger group member
Find your local badger group
Most badger groups have a website or social media presence, where you can find their emergency contact information, learn about their work, and see how to get involved.
Use the map below to search for a Badger Trust Affiliated Badger Group near you. Please give them time to respond – they are all volunteers and will prioritise badger rescue and rehabilitation work first.
How to Use the Map
-
Enter your postcode, town or county into the search box below and click the arrow.
-
You can also zoom in manually to explore the map.
-
You’ll see if there is an affiliated group in your area, plus their contact details.
​
Please note: Your closest group may not cover your area; group areas vary in size, so please look at the details provided for more information about each group. You might not have an affiliated group in your area.
No affiliated group in your area? Scroll down for more organisations that could help as well as how to set up your own badger group.
If there is no affiliated group, these might help:
Non-Affiliated Badger Groups
There are a few groups that are not affiliated with Badger Trust. Google ‘badger group in my area’ and there may be one you can contact.
As they are not affiliated, we are not familiar with their practices or standards.
Wildlife Rescue Centres
There are many fantastic Wildlife Rescue Centres that rescue and treat badgers. HelpWildlife.co.uk has a comprehensive list, searchable by area. NB: not all have experience with or can accommodate badgers.
RSPCA
Cruelty and neglect calls are their priority, but they do go out to badgers (large wildlife). Tel: 0300 1234 999
Set up your own local badger group
Unfortunately, we don’t yet have groups in every area. We’d love to change that, but it all depends on having dedicated local volunteers who can lead and support a group in their area.
​
If there's no group near you and you're interested in starting one, we’d be delighted to hear from you. We can explore what's possible in your region, connect with local Badger Trust supporters, and even help raise awareness, perhaps by hosting an introductory meeting or working with local media to spark interest.
​
Our goal is to grow the network so more badgers benefit from the presence of people who care and know how to help and we are here to support anyone who wants to be involved.
​
Please contact groups@badgertrust.org.uk for advice on starting a group.
"Badger Trust has been invaluable in supporting our group, ranging from advice about legal issues, support with our campaigns and arranging online meetings. With the Groups Coordinators' help and advice, our group is thriving."
- Badger group member
More ways to get involved
Here are some more ways you can get involved and show your support for badgers. Whatever you do could make a real difference in their lives.
As a registered charity, Badger Trust relies on donations from people like you to continue our work to protect badgers, their setts and their habitats. Please donate if you can — every pound counts.
​
Your donation helps us provide grants at a local level to Badger Groups and campaign nationally for badgers.
​
Credit: Wildlife Aid Foundation
Find badger-themed gifts in our Brock Shop!
Whether you buy a gift for yourself or your loved ones, you can shop with us knowing that 100% of the profit from every purchase helps us protect badgers for future generations.
Become part of our badger family by joining our clan as a Badger Friend.
Badger Trust supporters are the backbone of our charity. You help fund exceptional work to protect and conserve badgers across England and Wales, making a difference to badgers every day of the year.
The badger is one of the UK's most recognised and popular mammals, a living symbol of the British countryside.
​
Learn more about the fascinating lives of badgers, Britain's iconic and ecologically important native mammal.
​
Credit: Russell Finney Photography
The biggest threats to modern badgers are road traffic accidents, government-sanctioned culling, wildlife crimes, developments, and habitat loss.
​
Badger Trust's national campaigns educate and advocate to protect and conserve badgers and their habitats.
%20_edited.jpg)
Do you get our regular e-newsletter?
Keep up-to-date with all the latest badger news — sign up for Badger News now.