A Brief History
The Northumberland Wildlife Trust Badger Group, was formed in 1987 following a meeting initiated by the Wildlife Trust and chaired by Tony Tynan as Hon. Sec. of the Trust. The meeting was attended by representatives of Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Northumbria Police, R.S.P.C.A. and Northumberland Natural History Society.
The meeting was called because of a collective concern by all agencies represented, for the safety and well being of badgers against attacks by badger diggers and badger baiters.
At this time there was only one act of parliament in existence which specifically protected badgers, i.e. The Badgers Act, 1973. The main concern of the Act was to protect badgers from diggers and baiters, since then legislation has moved on until now The Protection of Badgers Act, 1992 which embodies the 1973 Act and subsequent Acts provides protection for badgers from almost every intrusion upon themselves and their habitat.
From it’s inception the aims of the group have remained the same.
To assist in the conservation of badgers and their environment within the county boundaries of Northumberland, Newcastle upon Tyne and North Tyneside.
The group has always worked with the Police, RSPCA and other enforcement agencies to fight badger crime and values the good links it has with these organisations.
On 1st April 2009 following discussions with the Northumberland Wildlife Trust and within the group over a period of months the group became independent of but still affiliated with the Trust. This will have benefits to both organisations but will not affect the work of the now renamed Northumberland Badger Group in protecting and conserving badgers.