In May 2013 there was a meeting at Dorchester town hall to discuss the impending badger cull and the possibility of it coming to Dorset. All eyes were focused on the stage, were the stars of the movement against the cull – including Brian May and the head of the RSPCA – spoke. But it was in the crowd, listening quietly and unassumingly, that the real lynchpin of the group to protect Dorset’s badgers sat, she just didn’t know it yet.

Sue Chamberlain came to the very first meeting of what became Dorset for Badger and Bovine welfare and she didn’t miss a single one from that moment. In fact it was Sue who organised the meetings; setting the dates, letting people know, answering the emails, posting on facebook, circulating minutes… and that was just the beginning. We cannot overstate just how much Sue did to  grow, maintain and keep the group grounded.  Sue was our rock; our administrator, our merchandise queen, our fundraiser, coordinator, liaison with the authorities, the person who got things done, who made sure that when the badger cull came to Dorset that everyone knew where they needed to be in order to save as many animals as possible. Sue could be out in the field one night, and on the phone dealing with any problems that arose all the next day. Nothing was ever too much trouble, no problem was insurmountable.

This is all the more remarkable given that Sue was fighting her own private battle against cancer, and on Wednesday 13 January it became the fight she could not win and the animals and a great many people lost a true and brave friend.

Sue, we love you and miss you. Rest well, you more than earned it.

Firstly,  huge thanks to everyone who is doing their best to save badgers’ lives.

There are just 7 days left till the end of the 6 week cull period. We expect a big push from the cullers to achieve their minimum target of 615 badgers by 14 October. There are rumours that targets may have been reached in Somerset and Gloucestershire, if so there will be even more pressure on Dorset.

If you haven’t been able to help so far:  Now is the time to get out into the cull zone to protect Dorset’s badgers. There are nightly patrols leaving from Blandford and daytime patrol from Camp Badger. Maps of the routes will be provided and the patrols will be of varying lengths to suit differing requirements. For details of what you are advised to wear and bring please click here.

This is a very busy week for us ,we are getting a lot of media attention!

You may have seen the articles on our Facebook page.

In Saturday’s Dorset Echo there was an article about our National Badger Day patrols.

MORE PATROLLERS = MORE BADGERS SAVED!

We are getting a steady stream of patrollers out each evening but no great hordes so far. The patrols have been well targeted and are being very effective at disrupting shoots, simply by their presence in the area. On occasions patrollers may have been unaware of the effect they have had and the lives they have saved.

Dorset Badger Vaccination Project

The Dorset Badger Vaccination Project was also mentioned in the Echo on Friday, as well as in the double page spread in the Daily Mirror on Saturday.

117 Dorset badgers have been vaccinated this season, many of them from land inside the cull zone.

DORSET’S BADGERS NEED YOU TO GET ACTIVE NOW – THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON IT!

It’s National Badger day on Tuesday 6 October! Right now beautiful badgers are being shot in Dorset, Somerset and Gloucestershire under the guise of ‘preventing the spread of bovine TB in cattle’. We are making a difference by being out in the cull zones patrolling the footpaths and safeguarding the setts.

More patrollers = More badgers’ saved.

If you agree that this senseless slaughter of our precious badgers is a cruel, callous and costly distraction: Unite with us and join our peaceful protest walking the public footpaths and rights of way of the North Dorset Cull zone. You’ll be looking for wounded badgers and any other injured wildlife.

There will be both day time and evening patrols on Tue 6th October (when we’ll be joined by Peter Martin, Chair of the Badger Trust):

• 1.30pm at Sturminster Newton Station Road Car Park

• 7.30pm at Tescos Car Park in Blandford DT11 9PU (Turn off the Badger Roundabout on the A354) – this is the meet-up point and location for patrols every evening during the cull, so even if you can’t make it on the 6th please come along another evening.

The patrol routes will vary in length and each patrol will have a leader with a map of the route and all the tel. contacts needed.

We recommend you bring:-

Suitable clothing for all terrain, including strong waterproof boots/shoes
A hi viz vest/jacket for evening patrol
A torch with spare batteries for evening patrol
Whistle
Mobile Phone
Water and snacks

If you have them please also bring:-

A camera/camcorder
OS Maps 118,129
A GPS device

N.B. Police Presence at our Patrol Meeting Places
The police will be there to ensure that patrollers are not harassed or intimidated by any pro cull supporters. We do not advise the police of the patrol routes, but they will keep a watchful eye on any patrols that have requested their help. They will also respond to any reports of intimidation, abuse or anti social use of vehicles against our Badger Protectors.

Speaking about the importance of National Badger Day the CEO of the Badger Trust Dominic Dyer said:

As we celebrate National Badger Day badgers are being killed in Gloucestershire, Somerset and Dorset in a desperate attempt to reduce the spread of bovine TB despite all the evidence showing us this policy is a disastrous failure on scientific, animal welfare and cost grounds. Badgers are one of our most important native species that have survived in our landscapes despite the constant threat of persecution, destruction of their habitats and death on our roads. It is time we recognised their value and importance to our eco system and celebrated their strength, beauty and resilience in the face of the many threats they encounter every day.