We are excited to welcome Cath Baker from the Calderdale Badger Protection Society.

Join us on an exploration of the fact and fiction of ‘our’ badgers, what happens when our worlds collide, and a chance to find out more about the work of our local badger protectors.

A source of fascination for many, these elusive animals maintain an air of mystery and wonder. Celebrated by many, vilified by others, meet the badgers whose land we inhabit, through the eyes of a volunteer with Calderdale Badger Protection Group.

Cath has a lifelong interest and involvement in wildlife protection. She is a committee member of Calderdale Badger Protection Group and Halifax Scientific Society, a Trustee of Full of Joy Animal Sactuary and a Director of Bridestones Rewilded CIC.

Her badger obsession began when she spotted small conical holes in her lawn. Since that time 10 years ago she has fully immersed herself in the secret world of these magnificent crepuscular creatures. A social worker by day, but badger enthusiast by night (and weekends), her voluntary work has brought her up close with these iconic animals. She rarely lets life get in the way of badgers.

What we witnessed in Cath Baker’s evening on the secret world of Calderdale’s badgers was a masterclass in storytelling. She knew exactly to whom she was talking – local aficionados of the natural world – and she catered for our passion with true aplomb. As soon as she was introduced there was a whoop and a clap from the audience, and then she was off, taking us on a snuffle through the secret world in which she so clearly revels.

She won us over completely when she told us that she was not a public speaker, that she does not have a PhD or even a degree at all – just a natural enthusiasm for wildlife, and in particular badgers. Later, she joked that if we had found her in a pub and asked her about badgers, we would have received exactly the same talk, but at no cost. That was her style throughout, and we loved it: honest, frank, enthusiastic, funny, and highly informative.

Those of us not already steeped in badger lore learned a great deal – from the fact that their diet is around 60% earthworms, to a sense of smell some 800 times stronger than our own. We discovered how they create a shared clan scent by rubbing against one another, how badgers can identify other individuals from their droppings, and how their setts can function like vast natural larders, where worms fall from scratched walls and ceilings. The talk was rich in insights like these – the kind that linger and could transform our next walk in the countryside

We also gained a real appreciation of the work that goes on behind the scenes. As a volunteer with the Calderdale Badger Protection Group, Cath has spent a decade immersed in the lives of these elusive and powerful animals. She is also a committee member of the Halifax Scientific Society, a Trustee of Full of Joy Animal Sanctuary, and a Director of Bridestones Rewilded CIC – but badgers remain her abiding passion.

Her work truly came alive in the stories of individual rescues. Annie, for example, was a badger whose recovery began with little more than a runny tummy. When, to Cath’s great delight, Annie’s droppings became –as she put it – “quite enormous,” it was a sign of returning health. “You show more excitement about Annie’s poo than you ever did about ours!” her children complained. It was a moment that perfectly captured both the dedication and the humour behind the work.

The evening was enriched by a series of short video clips showing badgers at different stages of rescue and recovery –being weighed, exploring their surroundings, and settling back into the wild after release. and being admitted to the rescue centre called Secret World run by Pauline Kidner – a leading national expert. These glimpses into a normally hidden world were met with audible delight from the audience. The atmosphere reached its peak when two baby badgers appeared on screen, their high-pitched squeaks drawing a collective response that nearly lifted us from our seats.

The question-and-answer session that followed demonstrated just how engaged and knowledgeable the audience was –and how thoughtful and well-informed Cath’s responses were in return. For someone who claimed no specialist credentials, only an enthusiasm to help these remarkable animals, she gave us exactly what we hope for on a Saturday night in Hebden Bridge: warmth, humour, and a wealth of insight into the secret world of Calderdale badgers.