A call to arms - End The Cull campaign photo

Next week brings a focused week of action involving all badger groups and supporters to highlight the expected 200,000 badgers killed milestone, which is up to half the estimated population.

Badger Trust has chosen next week as historically the cull figures for the previous year have been released in the last week of March. We know that 578 badgers were shot in Hampshire in 2021 and up to 1,586 will have been slaughtered here in 2022 due to an unscientific, unethical and ineffective policy. For the first time in history, badger setts across England sit empty.

Locally, we're already working really hard to raise awareness of the Hampshire cull, its location, and the absence of any confirmed epidemiology supporting it in this county. We're also lobbying relentlessly at both a constituency and Defra level and we won't be letting up on that any time soon.

As we await the release of the official figures for 2022 we're joining together with badger groups across the country, whether in a cull zone or not, to stand up for badgers, highlight the horrifying 200,000 milestone and tell everyone the cull is far from over. As part of this effort, we're organising a publicity photo of our group members holding up specially designed posters. These will be shared with Badger Trust, used in its press releases and shared on our respective social media channels at local and national level.

Clearly, we need your help with this! I'll be bringing the posters along to Sunday's Group Sett Survey so even if you're not able to join us for the entire session, please do come along between 9.45 and 10.00 am if you can and be included in a photograph. Please let me know beforehand if you're able to make it though as I don't want to waste anybody's time if we can't rally sufficient numbers.

As a back-up, we'd really like to arrange a group gathering at a location and time that works for most people so we can get a few photos. The options are:

5.30 - 6.00 pm on Monday 27th March

5.30 - 6.00 pm on Tuesday 28th

5.30 - 6.00 pm on Wednesday 29th

Probable locations Hartley Wintney (Cricket Green - private parking available), Zebon Copse Community Centre, Church Crookham (parking also available) depending on how many folk can make either location on the above days.

So...

Can you make it to Greywell on Sunday morning for a photograph?

If not, which of the above dates and locations can you make?

Please try and support this initiaitve if you possibly can and let us know.

Many thanks,

Nick

#EnoughIsEnough It is time to #EndTheCull