Badgers are getting more active - and so are we !

February is certainly living up to it's reputation for being WET but thankfully it also seems to be getting a bit warmer.  Ideal conditions (apart from the floods) to wrap up, get out and do some serious sett mapping.

We're entering  the season where most badger cubs will be born and badgers start moving around. In other words,  the expected upsurge in road casualty reports, territorial battles, badgers in need of rescue and not forgetting inquiries  from people wondering what badgers are doing in their gardens ! So our focus in this newsletter is about sett mapping and reporting plus some other badger news.

We have some great events coming up  so read on, grab your tickets and get involved.

Saturday 21st February between 10:30 and 13:00 

The Raymond Room, The Chalet, Wytham Woods. (pictured above)

This event will be suitable for everyone interested in fieldwork, and we particularly invite new members to come and meet us and top up their knowledge and understanding of how we know that badgers are about.  Members who have joined us sett surveying before are also welcome to refresh their knowledge and also to share their experiences of looking for signs of badgers.

For more information and to reserve your place please visit https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/oxfordshire-badger-group-event-sett-survey-training-for-members  

We’re delighted to announce that Becci Cooper - who many of you will know - has kindly agreed to be our new Records Officer. It is good to have this pivotal post filled once again. So get out there and be sure to send your sett records and badger sightings in – Becci wants to hear from you !

We’d like also to thank Barbara Witkowski who stood down as records officer at the AGM in October. Her sterling work over many years has meant our sett records are in good order and continue to underpin so much of our work  to help badgers.

This is an important time of year for  as badger cubs. Please check and report any road casualties (if safe to do so) to us ASAP.  We have a team of volunteers across the county waiting to spring into action - they will go out and check for lactating females - and occasionally help rescue a badger that has survived collision with a vehicle. 

The Facebook post below explains what to do and why it is important.

First, be as accurate as possible when giving the location and as much detail as possible.  We need to know if any action needs to be taken – so think what you’d like to know if you had to send someone out to check the area.

If it is an emergency - a  badger in need of rescue then see https://www.oxonbadgergroup.org.uk/report/emergencies/

Otherwise, you can use our online form at https://www.oxonbadgergroup.org.uk/report/ - be sure to select the right type of report as this will open the correct form.  Alternatively report via the Badger Trust website – they are very good at forwarding reports on to the responsible badger group.

If it is not urgent email obg@oxonbadgergroup.org.uk or send your  sett reports directly to Becci via settrecords.oxonbadgergroup@gmail.com  - this works best if you want to provide a photos or videos.  If you have a non-urgent road casualty report (e.g  not lactating or 'squashed' or unsafe to investigate)  then email   rtas.oxonbadgergroup@gmail.com

Our Badger RTA or Rescue WhatsApp volunteer  groups will  coordinate and respond quickly when needed. Any incoming reports that need action are anonymised and posted to the appropriate group.  If you are interested in volunteering  please get in touch.

All reports are valuable and will help us look out for badgers - including the squashed badgers on the A34 and the happy day sightings of a new sett, active digging  or a visiting badger. Please keep the reports coming in.

Not to be missed - tickets just £10 and proceeds support Oxfordshire Badger Group. 
Our thanks to Matt for 'volunteering'  his time - let's get together and fill the room.

Do you like Bluebells? Can you spare a couple of hours to help us?

Oxfordshire Badger Group (OBG) needs a couple of people to help plant 250 Native English Bluebells ‘in the green’.

When: Saturday 14th February from 10:30 for a couple of hours
(Or Sunday 15th if too wet on the 14th)

Where:  Old Hutchcomb’s Copse, off Cumnor Hill, Oxford - for directions see https://www.hutchcombs-copse.org.uk/ 

What do you need: a hand trowel, kneeler (if wished), gardening gloves, old/waterproof clothes, walking boots or similar  (the Copse slopes steeply and is slippery after heavy rain). And a mug!

A couple of hours to spend in the wood with us, starting at 1030am.

We will be delighted to give you a tour of this magical, private copse. There are no public footpaths, and access is by invitation only. We will provide hot drinks and cake afterwards  to reward everyone.

Thank you for reading! Please get in touch if you are able and would like to help. Eileen

Background: OBG has purchased this 2-acre ancient and semi ancient woodland to save and protect it as a wild place for nature to thrive. We were particularly enthused to see signs that the bluebells planted by the Scouts last year are growing up through the leaf litter. It is part of our restoration plan to encourage ancient woodland markers to spread. So we are planning to plant more on a yearly basis.

Those of you who attended our AGM in October will have seen Peggy Seager's wonderful video "the Mother" which is now available to view on youtube with a campaign update here 

Sadly, Oxford City Council have blocked  proposals to remove the Iffley Horsefields (that are home to Luna the white badger and her clan ) from the local plan. The campaign continues.

https://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/25802361.oxford---calls-remove-meadows-local-plan-blocked/

The Badger Trust have recently posted an update on the end of the badger cull licences and the need to continue campaigning to STOP THE CULL.

We are reliant on grants and crowdfunding and welcome any contribution you can make - whether time or money.  We currently have two crowdfunders - one to raise money for our general work and the specific Hutchcomb's Copse Conservation Appeal. Thank you for reading.