Badgers are one of Britain's most loved wild animals they have lived alongside people for centuries.

However, there are many threats facing badgers increasing traffic, badger baiting and towns ever creeping into badger territory.

Swindon is blessed with many badger setts around the town but the rapid growth taking place has seen many of our badgers put at risk.

In addition, some people are not happy at sharing their garden with badgers.

The Federation Of Badger Groups is a UK-wide organisation dedicated to protecting badgers.

It has produced a booklet, Badgers In Your Garden, to give advice to people wanting to know what to do when finding badgers are their neighbours.

Sadly, badger baiting still takes place. The NFBG works with the police to detect and prosecute these cruel people who find it fun to torture and kill badgers. DEFRA is also still killing badgers in an experiment that has been taking place for more than 25 years to find the cause of TB in cattle.

NFBG is constantly providing evidence to DEFRA to show that the badger is not to blame and lobbying for a vaccine for cattle.

Swindon Animal Concern supports the NFBG and will be running a stall in the Parade on Saturday to give out advice about badgers.

We also support the need to protect wildlife sites around Swindon so will have the a forest not a stadium petition for people to sign.

MARILYN HARRISON

Toothill