National Badger Day
Today, on 6 October, we join nature lovers across the UK in celebrating National Badger Day, a day dedicated to honouring one of Britain’s most fascinating and secretive mammals. These striped, subterranean engineers are vital to our landscapes and here at Rewild Things, every sett, tunnel and dusk patrol matters.
Why Badgers Matter in Our World
Far more than a creature of moonlit legend, the European badger (Meles meles) plays a critical ecological role:
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Their digging and foraging aerate the soil and help with seed dispersal, subtly shaping woodland and meadow structure.
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Their setts (multi-entrance underground burrows) offer micro-habitats for amphibians, invertebrates and small mammals.
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They are part of a balanced ecosystem, contributing to nutrient cycling and the health of edge habitats.
Yet badgers also face many challenges: habitat loss, road collisions (tens of thousands each year) and controversial cull policies tied to bovine TB. Wikipedia+1
National Badger Day is both a celebration and a reminder: that each one of us has a part to play in protecting these creatures and their homes.
What We’re Doing at Rewild Things
As part of the Elmore Estate’s rewilding vision, we are working to restore nature’s balance and that means giving badgers a place to settle, roam and thrive.
Here’s how we’re supporting them:
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Protecting and expanding woodland edges and hedgerows to connect habitats
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Avoiding disturbance of known sett areas during seasonal works
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Encouraging wildlife corridors across our land so badgers (and other animals) can move safely
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Monitoring signs and using nature surveys to inform our approach
We believe that rewilding isn’t just about reintroducing species - it’s about nurturing the conditions where wildlife, land and people flourish together.
Five Ways You Can Celebrate (and Help)
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Watch from afar, quietly - If you’re lucky enough to see a badger at dusk, enjoy it silently and respectfully (do not approach).
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Protect local green spaces - Support your local wildlife trusts or land-use groups protecting habitat.
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Report wildlife crime - Badger setts are legally protected. If you see activity that may be illegal, report to local conservation authorities. Wildlife and Countryside Link
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Make a wildlife corner in your garden - Leave log piles, undisturbed patches or native shrubs to support foraging.
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Share the story - Use the hashtags #NationalBadgerDay, #Brocktober, #LoveBadgers and spread awareness on your social feed.
Join Us at Rewild Things
To mark this special day, over the coming week we’ll share videos from our land showing tracks, habitat spots and (we hope) the occasional badger trail. We’d love for you to walk with us - virtually or in person.
If you’re inspired, consider booking a stay in one of our treehouses, joining a wildlife walk or simply bringing your curiosity to our next rewilding open day.
Let’s honour the badger – and the wild places they call home.
