A MAJOR wildlife charity has expanded its major citizen science project to Hampshire. 

Badger Trust launched a project earlier this year called State of The Badger and had previously been undertaking pilot studies in two regions of England.

Now, the North East Hampshire Badger Group have received an invitation to participate, which it has gladly accepted.

The project involves training citizen science volunteers to conduct surveys for badger setts and signs of badger activity across randomly selected one-kilometre squared survey plots.

Volunteers don't have to be a member of North East Hampshire Badger Group, although it has said it would be 'thrilled' for volunteers to consider joining up.

READ PREVIOUS: More than 1000 badgers killed in Hampshire cull despite none tested for bovine TB

Basingstoke Gazette: Photo of badger Photo of badger (Image: Neil Longhurst)

Volunteers will be asked to attend, or watch, a virtual training session, followed by a practical workshop in a field to familiarise themselves with badger signs, types of sett and different habitat features.

Those who offer their time will be provided with a virtual survey pack containing all the necessary information, and will be allocated a square in Hampshire, as close to their home as possible, to survey either in November 2023, or between February and April 2024, with the plan to complete 50 Hampshire survey transects in this time. 

Volunteers can complete one transect or as many as they like.

SEE ALSO: CCTV catches woman fly-tipping twice dumping rabbit hutch and gazebo in Basingstoke

Founder and chair of North East Hampshire Badger Group, Nick Cole, said: "I'm a huge fan of citizen science and this is a terrific example. It's a great chance for wildlife lovers to get free training on badger ecology, habitats and how to spot signs of badger activity in the field whilst making a personal contribution to a crucial and much-needed research project.

"Many of our group have signed up as volunteers already and it would be great to be joined by other badger-loving Hampshire residents who enjoy spending time in nature."

If anyone is interested and would like to find out more, they can sign up at badgertrust.org.uk/state-of-the-badger. For those wishing to get involved with North East Hampshire Badger Group, this can be done by following the same link, registering your details and selecting North East Hampshire Badger Group in the drop-down menu.