DERBYSHIRE: ‘A dark day for wildlife’ as badger cull begins

The pilot bloodbath started in Somerset yesterday as part of the Government’s measures against bovine tuberculosis (TB).

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust chief executive Ed Green said: “This is a dark day for our wildlife and countryside.

“It is a tragedy that badger culling is going ahead despite the weight of both scientific evidence and public opinion against them.”

Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is about to start its own badger vaccination programme in a bid to highlight alternatives to culling and is appealing for donations to support this work.

The programme is being co-ordinated by conservation manager Tim Birch.

He said: “We are very conscious of the hardship that bovine TB causes in our farming community.

“But culling is not the answer – we support alternative methods such as badger and cattle vaccination and improved biosecurity.”

If you would like to support the trust’s badger vaccination work, send a cheque made payable to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust Badger Appeal, East Mill, Bridge Foot, Belper, Derbyshire, DE56 1XH.

Alternatively, to find out more and donate online, visit www.derbyshirewildlifetrust.org.uk