Kirk Ella & West Ella Parish Council is supporting the national ‘Give Badgers a Brake’ initiative, led by the Badger Trust, and is calling on residents to help raise awareness and protect local badger populations from road traffic accidents.
Why Badgers Need Our Help
Road traffic poses the number one threat to badgers in the UK, with an estimated 50,000 badgers killed on the roads every year – a figure that tragically makes them the most common mammal victim of road accidents. As the UK’s road network expands and traffic levels remain high, badgers – creatures of habit who use the same paths for generations – are increasingly at risk, especially on country roads like those in and around our parish.
How You Can Make a Difference
The ‘Give Badgers a Brake’ campaign encourages everyone to take three simple but effective actions:
- Slow Down: Be especially alert for wildlife when driving at dawn and dusk, and adjust your speed to match country road conditions—particularly in spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November), when badger activity peaks.
- Report Casualties: If you see a badger casualty, report it to the Badger Trust through their website. This data helps identify accident hotspots and enables local badger groups to act quickly, especially if cubs could be left unattended.
- Raise Awareness: Help spread the word on social media and in the community—simply talking to friends, family, and neighbours about the dangers badgers face can save lives.
Working Together for Safer Roads
Local councils, developers, and residents all have a role to play in making roads safer for wildlife. The Parish Council supports calls for better road planning and effective mitigation measures, such as wildlife tunnels and improved signage, to reduce the risk of badger deaths.
Shaun Horton, Chair of the Parish Council commented:
“Protecting our local wildlife is a responsibility we all share. By supporting the ‘Give Badgers a Brake’ campaign, we hope to make drivers more aware and foster a community committed to safeguarding our natural environment.”
For more information – and to watch the campaign’s short awareness film – visit the Badger Trust’s website or follow them on social media.
Together, we can help give badgers a brake and make our area safer for both wildlife and people.