Wildlife Trusts lead on badger vaccines

Local Wildlife Trusts will pursue badger vaccination as a means of tackling bovine TB in the pilot badger cull areas

Paul Wilkinson, Head of Living Landscape for The Wildlife Trusts, said:
“The Wildlife Trusts are taking the lead in using vaccination to address the problem of bovine TB. During 2011, Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust pioneered a badger vaccination programme on its reserves, which it is now expanding. Should the pilot cull go ahead, Gloucestershire and Somerset Wildlife Trusts will vaccinate badgers on their nature reserves within the pilot areas.

“A badger cull is not the right solution and the Government should be focusing on other measures to tackle bovine TB. The priority should be preventing transmission of the disease on-farm, through improved biosecurity, badger vaccination and making swift progress on a cattle vaccine.”

The Wildlife Trusts believe that Defra should pursue the following as a matter of priority:

• Support landowners to improve on-farm biosecurity and the deployment of the injectable BadgerBCG vaccine;
• Continue to develop an oral vaccine for badgers;
• Complete development of a cattle vaccine and secure change to EU regulation to permit its commercial deployment.

Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was the first non-governmental organisation to begin deployment of the injectable BadgerBCG vaccine on seven of its nature reserves. The outcomes from the first year of this five-year vaccination programme are available in a published report at: www.wildlifetrusts.org/badgers-and-bovineTB.

Invest in a love nest

Gardeners are urged to give love a helping hand this Valentine’s Day, by The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS).

By providing shelter, food, and wildlife corridors, gardeners can offer space for wild species to come together, and play a vital role for the next generation of UK garden wildlife.

Morag Shuaib, The Wildlife Trusts’ Big Wildlife Garden Awards Project Manager, said: “As mating season approaches, species from blue tits to butterflies are about to get busy building nests and laying eggs.

“With many a species looking to hook up and settle down, this is a great time of year to offer some hospitality and be in with a chance of winning The Big Wildlife Garden Competition, which closes on 20 May 2012.”

The Big Wildlife Garden Competition has been created to recognise the importance of individuals’ action for nature. It is run by The Wildlife Trusts and the RHS, with funding from The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra). To find out how to enter visit www.bigwildlifegarden.org.uk.

Prizes include a wildlife gardening masterclass at the Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, where the prize-giving ceremony will take place, along with membership of The Wildlife Trusts and the Royal Horticultural Society.