HALSTEAD- Neil Yeo
Hands up!!! Huge guilt trip!! I've not been giving my Halstead members the attention they deserve, but then again I think we are all pushed for time these days. I hope I will be able to rectify this in the future somehow.
We are no longer meeting at the Onley Arms in Stisted, but I'm going to try and arrange some Badger watching evenings or if anyone has any other ideas please phone me.
I had an extremely successful day cycling 45 miles on one of the hottest days of the year to highlight the proposed cull which has now been consigned to Elin Jones' wheelie bin in her back garden just beside the little pile of peanuts she throws to her badgers every night!!!
BRAINTREE - Renee Hockley-Byam
June saw our first new format Section Meeting with a visit to the hide. I've got other ideas for evenings out during the summer months and will let you know by e mail.
For me personally, a recent highlight was dealing with a little cub found out and about during the day. He had obviously become separated from his mum and didn't know how to get home. I knew where he came from, so released him later in the evening. He happily disappeared down one of the entrances - very special!
The summer show season is under way and it would be good to see more NEEBG members on the stall at these events.
COLCHESTER -David Jones
The local badger population in this area appears to be increasing, with several new setts being added to the list. Further sites will need to be investigated in the autumn when the foliage thins out.
A local lady in Colchester was walking her dogs when they saw a big hole and ran into it. She said she thought it was a rabbit hole, but locals said badgers had been using it for years! One of the dogs came out very quickly but the other stayed underground for more than six hours! Eventually it emerged covered in blood (its own). The dog has lived to tell the tale and the badgers have carried on using the sett as before!
TENDRING - Gill Hagger
As a result of one of the coldest Winters we have had in a long time, sett checking has been delayed, although those living near to a sett were lucky enough to see badger prints in the snow. The late Spring allowed access to setts longer than usual but the undergrowth now prevents access to many.
Our monthly meetings continue to be well supported, but the venue is often crowded and we may need to look for somewhere new to meet in the future.
There are some large planning issues in the area which are being watched closely for progress and proximity to badger setts. Further news on these as applicable.
FOR MORE DETAILED REPORTS, WHY NOT JOIN OUR GROUP AND RECEIVE THE FULL NEWSLETTER?