Brockwatch

Why become a member?

First, there are benefits for Brockwatch (and therefore for the badgers!). As with other organisations, our membership provides us with our core income in the form of subscriptions. But our members pledge more than just their money - they also pledge their support for our work. In many cases this support is simply through being a member - moral support for the work we do. A number of members also provide valuable practical support, volunteering to help us with various aspects of our work.

Second, there are benefits for members - informative newsletters providing updates on the work of the group, opportunities to take part in 'badger walks' and other activities, and the chance to get more involved in our work.

Ways to get involved

There are a number of voluntary roles which our members can undertake:

Sett Warden. Sett Wardens 'adopt' one or more local setts and visit them regularly to check for evidence of persecution and to record signs of badger activity. Details are passed on to Brockwatch, and if persecution is discovered actually in progress, the police are called.

Local Badger Recorder. Local Badger Recorders take on a specified area and carry out sett visits and survey work so that our knowledge of badgers in that area is as complete as possible.

Survey Team Member. From time to time we are asked to carry out surveys of specific areas to locate setts and other evidence of badger activity. Survey Team Members assist with this work as part of team, and learn as they go.

Events Team Member. Collections are a vital source of income for Brockwatch, but we cannot carry them out without collectors! We also attend events such as the Northampton Green Festival, where the main aim is to educate and inform people rather than raise funds. These are the tasks undertaken by members of our Events Team. Dressing up as a badger is optional!

RTA Checker. When we receive a report of a dead badger on a road, we have a few RTA Checkers who go out to the casualty, log its exact location, record the sex and approximate age of the animal, and check to see that it is a genuine road casualty and not a badger which has been snared, shot or baited and dumped on the road. The RTA Checker then moves the body from the roadside so that it is out of sight, and makes a report to the Badger Conservation Officer. More RTA checkers are needed, to give better coverage of our area.

Rescue Assistant. Sometimes an injured badger is reported in a location which is some distance away from the nearest Rescue Officer. In these situations, it is helpful if someone closer to the casualty can attend and watch over the animal, and then assist the Rescue Officer on their arrival. This is the role of the Rescue Assistant.

Committee member. Without a committee to organise the work of the group, Brockwatch would not exist. For this reason, new committee members are always welcome. Expert knowledge of badgers is not required! The committee typically meets once a month to discuss the issues affacting badgers and the groups' activities and to agree future action.

How you can join us

Simply download and print off our membership application form in Word or PDF formats, fill in the form and send it to us with your subscription. If at all possible, please pay by standing order direct from your bank account - this saves us a great deal of administration work, and saves you from having to remember to write a cheque out each year! Our minimum annual subscription rates are as follows:

Single membership: £5.00

Joint / household membership: £7.50

Non-profit groups - £10.00

Corporate membership - £50.00