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1 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
© Scottish Badgers
Annual Review
2019-20
Scottish Badgers (SCIO) Charity Number SCO34297
SCOTTISH
BADGERS
2 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
INTRODUCTION
In summary a good year but ending in difficulty and adjustments in March 2020 as
the UK went into lockdown due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Regardless, it has
been a continuation of growth and achievements.
Many thanks to trustees, advisers, members, and sponsors. A special mention to
Colin Smyth MSP and our LINK Species Champion for his parliamentary work. We
enjoyed again much co-operative working with other Scottish Environment LINK
members, to have a say in the work of both Scottish Government and the Scottish
Parliament.
ACHIEVEMENTS FOR THE YEAR
• The first year of our fourth project funded by the National Lottery Heritage
Fund, ‘Earn Your Stripes’
• A closer formal partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust, partners in the new
Lottery project and providing a part-time member of staff
• The second year of Scottish Badger Week in May 2019, with even more events
and some sponsorship from Siemens Rail Automation Ltd.
• Expansion of the role of the Species Protection Officer into the post of
Operations Coordinator, with the ability to deal with more diverse enquiries,
including planning matters and assisting with Police enquiries
• A first Parliamentary evening roundtable discussion event hosted by Colin
Smyth, MSP in October for NGOs, Police and MSPs on Wildlife Crime
• In the latter part of the year, co-operative working with other SE LINK
members, the LINK Advocacy Officer, and MSPs on the Animals and Wildlife
(Penalties) Bill, to try and ensure commensurate penalties for badger offences
• A wonderful Dinner and Awards Ceremony held at the Sheraton Hotel,
Edinburgh in December for the RSPB Nature of Scotland Awards. Scottish
Badgers was Highly Commended in the ‘Innovation’ category, a reward for
the 17 trustees, advisers and volunteers who attended
• Our Training Programme was refreshed and revamped by Steve Jackson-
Matthews, Trustee, and Ashleigh Wylie, Adviser
• Emily Platt, Operations Coordinator, ran our most intensive programme ever
of badger training for Police Scotland Officers, in nine different locations
around Scotland
• The trustees worked throughout the year on attempting to update and
improve the law on badgers generally, to improve investigation,
enforcement, and penalties
- Eddie Palmer, Chair
3 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE
TREASURERS REPORT
The past year has been excellent, with our income from memberships exceeding
£5,000, and training fees bringing in £4,500. Income from our important desk search
service for badger records came to over £6,000. A welcome source this year came
from members and volunteers taking part in the Kiltwalk – over £2,000! We also
received smaller amounts of money from Amazon Smile and Facebook Fundraising.
Gift Aid is also important, and very easy for us to access, and we claimed back £665.
Our main expenditure is obviously paying for our two contractors, Elaine Rainey, and
Emily Platt. Thank you all for your hard work and support
- Laura Carter-Davis, Treasurer
INCOME £
Membership 5,176
Data searches 6,410
Training fees 4,632
Grants 14,719
Donations 7,339
Merchandise 254
Conference fees 2,086
Gift Aid 665
Misc 7,347
Totals 48,628
EXPENDITURE £
NLHF Project 37,763
Operations Coordinator 26,496
Conference 1,343
Central Administration 12,170
Totals 77,772
48%
34%
2%
16%
NLHF Project
Operations Coordinator
Conference
Central Administration
11%
13%
10%
30%
15%
1%
4%
1%
15% Membership
Data searches
Training fees
Grants
Donations
Merchandise
Conference fees
Gift Aid
Misc
4 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
OUR FUNDERS
HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND
LUSH CHARITY POTS
PATAGONIA ENVIRONMENTAL GRANTS
SCOTRAIL
SIEMENS RAIL ENGINEERING
WE WOULDN’T BE WHERE WE ARE TODAY WITHOUT GIFTS AND LEGACIES.
We need nature on our doorstep, for our mental and physical health. And badgers need us. We give them a voice when no one else cares. We stand up for them when they are threatened and teach people how to value and enjoy their presence.
Gifts generously left in wills and as memorials are vital to all we do. Of course, your loved ones come first, but perhaps you might also consider leaving a gift in your will to Scottish Badgers. No matter what its size every single gift will make a lasting difference to our precious badger heritage – protecting badgers from inhumane treatment and their habitats from destruction. Good for badgers, good for all wildlife.
- Leaving a legacy won’t cost a penny and can save tax on what you leave.
- 100p in every pound is spent on our charitable purposes.
If you’d like to think about leaving a legacy or making a gift in memory of a loved one, we can send your our legacy FAQs, just drop an email to [email protected].
More ways to help protect badgers in Scotland:
- Join Scottish Badgers as a Member – the subscription is reasonable
- Delight friends and family for a special occasion, buy a Gift Membership
- Set up a small donation regularly, such as £3 a month, it can be a lifeline
- Consider switching to a Standing Order to free up admin time for us and you; it’s free and under your control
- When you can, consider a one-off donation, it’ll make a difference no matter the size.
5 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
‘EARN YOUR STRIPES – BUILDING SKILLS TO CHAMPION WILDLIFE’ -
NATIONAL LOTTERY FUNDING 2019-22
This year we built on our successful partnership with the Scottish Wildlife Trust though
a new skills development project – Earn Your Stripes. Supported by the National
Lottery Heritage Fund, the project aims to reach young adults who face barriers to
environmental volunteering.
The first year of the project has seen us link up with ENABLE Scotland, Police Scotland
Youth Volunteers, National Autistic Society, Adoption UK, Scottish Commission for
Learning Disability, and many community organisations focusing on tackling social
exclusion. We’ve seen great results with our four and six week programmes where
we introduce young people to mammal biology, ecology and field signs; practical
conservation; recording wildlife with trail cameras, and wildlife crime. Participants
receive completion certificates outlining transferable skills gained and individual
attributes recognised by the project team.
In March, COVID-19 restrictions resulted in project activity moving online. We
developed Let’s Notice Nature – an environmental education and nature
connection initiative for people of all ages. Let’s Notice Nature sits within a new style
of Facebook Group for social learning. We develop weekly topics with
downloadable resources, instructional videos, and support from the project team via
the Facebook Group. Participants can work towards Bronze, Silver and Gold
certificates as they work their way through the modules.
The initiative has over 1,000 participants and we have received positive feedback
and enthusiastic support from parents, teachers, and those participating to support
their wellbeing.
- Elaine Rainey, Scottish Badgers, and Lyndsay Mark, Scottish Wildlife Trust
6 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
BADGER PERSECUTION AND CRIME
Badger persecution is as ever incredibly prevalent, with no sign of both deliberate
and reckless incidences going down. A total of 72 incidences were reported through
to us, with 13 being deemed a non-incident following investigation. Reporting is
done either via members of the public, directly from Police Scotland, or through
other agencies such as the SSPCA or SNH.
The majority of reports generally coincide with seasons associated with surveying
(spring/autumn), when there’s a greater likelihood of encountering sett interferences
in particular. There has also been an increase in reports associated with forestry
work, suggesting there may be industry-wide issues.
Sett interferences saw the highest majority of cases reported (32), with 10 pertaining
to forestry incidences, 6 dug setts, and 5 for both blocked setts and incidences
pertaining to agricultural activities. Within the ‘Other’ category, of which there were
12 reports, 7 were in regard to dead badgers found in suspicious circumstances, 3
were concerns, and 2 reports of intelligence (which get passed to the relevant
investigatory authority)
Baiting/Fighting7%
Sett Interference
54%
Shooting2%
Traps/snares17%
Other20%
Blocking16%
Disturbance3%
Sett dug19%
Agricultural16%
Development6%
Forestry31%
Damage/destroy6%
Other3%
Council Area Total
West Lothian 8
East Lothian 5
North Lanarkshire 5
Aberdeenshire 5
Stirling 5
In terms of the areas with the highest number of
reports, the Lothians had a combined 13
incidences reported. This high number may be in
part to the extensive training provided to the
Lothians and Borders Police Scotland Division
during the 2019/20 year in identifying and
reporting badger crime, as well as the presence
of a full-time Wildlife Crime Officer.
7 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
ROAD CASUALTY REPORTS
Unfortunately, the year of 2019 saw the highest number of road casualty reports Scottish Badgers has ever received, with 1221 reported through (1155 for the 2019-20 year). The majority of these reports come from members of the public via our website online reporting form, but we also receive data through the SSPCA, local authorities, road maintenance operators, Police Scotland and others.
The highest number of reports came from Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City, with
167, 138 from South Lanarkshire, 130 from the Scottish Borders, and 121 from the Highlands (including Inverness-shire, Sutherland, and Caithness).
For the past few years now, the A96 has often topped the year as one of the ‘worst’
roads for badger fatalities, with this year being no exception as a total of 64 reports. Scottish Badgers is being consulted as a part of the discussions for the rerouting and dualling of this road to avoid these high numbers in the future. The A7 had a total of
41 fatalities, the M74 34 fatalities, and the A9 and the A71 both involving 27 fatalities.
SETT REPORTS
A total of 687 sett records have been logged or updated during the 2019-20 year,
including 117 live sightings. We now have an extensive network of sett monitors,
including those monitoring setts as part of their Level One training period, with the
majority keeping on these setts into the future. We currently have 167 setts allocated.
- Emily Platt, Operations Coordinator
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar
8 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
TRAINING AND EDUCATION
In 2019 we re-vamped our training offer. At last year’s conference we published our
first Training Prospectus, which set out a full suite of training activities, with courses the
length and breadth of Scotland. We were delighted to have had the opportunity to
re-develop our Level 1 Badger Surveyor Course; reducing costs and improving
geographical coverage, making the course more accessible to our members and
volunteers. Between November 2019 and March 2020 we ran 5 Level 1 courses in
Moray, Perth, Broxburn, Hamilton and Lockerbie, training almost 50 new Level 1
Badger Surveyor trainees. Our Badger Surveyors play a crucial role in the life of
Scottish Badgers, recording badger setts and adding to our extensive
database. Our Level 1 Badger Surveyor course helps us improve this reach.
In autumn 2020, we will publish our next Training Prospectus, through which we
intend to further develop our training offer, bringing badger survey skills to members
and volunteers of all abilities, all across Scotland.
- Steve Jackson-Matthews, Trustee, and Ashleigh Wylie, Advisor
Level One trainees in Elgin, Moray
9 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
Earlier in 2020 we launched our Development Planning Volunteer role, building on
the awareness raising activities we’ve already undertaken with planning authorities
and professional ecological consultants. Our army of Development Planning
Volunteers have received extensive online training in the Development
Management system in Scotland and have begun reviewing planning applications
in their local area, feeding back to planning authorities when badger surveys are
required to inform development proposals.
Over the coming months we’ll develop our coverage further; we aim to have a
volunteer working in each of Scotland planning authority areas. We’re just over half
way there so we’re keen to speak to any interested in helping with this role. The role
can be delivered from home and should take a few hours each month.
In 2021 we plan to further engage with Scotland’s various planning authorities,
strengthening the protections badgers are offered through the development
management process.
- Steve Jackson-Matthews, Trustee, and Callum McLaren, Advisor
ADVOCACY AND ENGAGEMENT
Scottish Badgers continues to engage with individuals and organisations in other
conservation bodies, the Scottish Government, Government Agencies such as
Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and the media. Much of this work is done through
Scottish Environment Link (SEL), in particular by being represented on the Wildlife
Crime Working Group, the Wildlife Working Group and, through SEL, the Species
Champion at the Scottish Parliament for badgers Colin Smyth MSP.
In October 2019 Colin kindly hosted a blue-sky meeting at the Scottish Parliament to
discuss wildlife crime and sentencing. The meeting was well attended by SEL
members including RSPB and Scottish Badgers as well as other Link members and
representatives from SNH, Scottish Government and the Scottish Parliament. We
were also joined at the meeting by MSP members of the Environment, Climate
Change and Land Reform Committee.
Throughout the year, SEL organised various receptions, seminars, and other events at
the Scottish Parliament and elsewhere to which Scottish Badgers sent
representatives in almost every case. As well as providing learning and discussion
opportunities on their own terms, these occasions were good opportunities for
Scottish Badgers to network with individuals and organisations across Scotland and
thus further expand its field of influence.
10 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
Our Chairman Eddie Palmer continued to feature regularly on BBC radio and TV
about badger and wildlife subjects.
On 17th June the Scottish Parliament voted in new measures in the Animals & Wildlife
Bill bringing in the highest level of penalties to those who damage setts, and
vicarious liability for landowners and managers for snares and traps offences. Sett
definition is to go to PAW Scotland because the present definition of ‘current use' is
too narrow. Corporate liability will also be explored further.
Many thanks from all of us as trustees to Colin Smyth MSP Species Champion, Mark
Ruskell MSP and Claudia Beamish MSP for their incisive thinking and amazing work in
championing the welfare of all wildlife – including badgers.
- Eddie Palmer, Chair, Ellie Stirling, Secretary, and Allan Bantick, Trustee
OUR AIMS FOR THE FUTURE
- We will set out our aims for the period 2022-27 concerning the continued
welfare of badgers in Scotland by mid-2021
- Along with the current workload envisaged in our Strategy, we will endeavour
to strengthen our work in the fields of forestry, agriculture, and development
to protect badgers
- Work will continue to build membership and train even more members in
badger surveying and further skills
- Social media presence will be further developed
- We will build on the experience and success in the Scottish Parliament during
the last year
11 ©Scottish Badgers 2020
CONTACT US
CONTRACT STAFF:
Operations Co-ordinator: EMILY PLATT
For issues related to badger crime, legislation, planning, mitigation, data
searches and to log badger records:
Project Officer: ELAINE RAINEY
For matters relating to our Earn Your Stripes – Building Skills to Champion
Wildlife project:
TRUSTEES:
Chairman: EDDIE PALMER
Secretary: ELLIE STIRLING
Treasurer: LAURA CARTER-DAVIS
Advocacy & Engagement: ALLAN BANTICK O.B.E.
Operations & Fund Raising: ANN INNES
Development Planning & Education: STEVE JACKSON-MATTHEWS
Scottish Badgers (SCIO) Charity Number SCO34297
