Thursday 23 January 2025 – 19:30 Stoneleigh Village Hall
We are delighted to announce that our very own Craig Fellowes MBE, founder of Warwickshire Badger Group and a leading figure in wildlife crime prevention, will be our guest speaker this month. In June 2024, Craig was awarded an MBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List, recognising his unwavering dedication to wildlife protection over four decades.
Craig’s journey began as a young police officer appalled by the barbaric practice of badger digging and persecution. This horror inspired him to establish the Warwickshire Badger Group, a grassroots organisation instrumental in raising awareness of badgers’ plight and campaigning for stronger legal protections.
Over the years, Craig has been at the forefront combating wildlife crime. From addressing illegal hunting to tackling the trafficking of wild species, he has seen and dealt with it all. His expertise in badger baiting—a heinous crime where badgers are forced to fight dogs—has been pivotal in bringing perpetrators to justice.
As a trailblazer in his field, Craig has trained over 10,000 police officers and volunteers across the UK and internationally, empowering them with the knowledge and skills to identify and handle wildlife crimes.
His training has led to improved detection, reporting, and prosecution of offences, ensuring better outcomes for wildlife and communities.
During his talk, Craig will share:
Personal Insights: How his journey began and why protecting badgers remains a vital mission.
Training Milestones: The impact of training police forces and wildlife and voluntary groups up and down the country in spotting and tackling crimes.
Challenges and Successes: Stories from the frontlines, including high-profile cases that highlight the complexities of wildlife crime.
Future Directions: National efforts to prioritise wildlife crime, including the critical role of organisations like the Badger Trust and the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU).
Craig will also discuss positive strides being made, such as increasing awareness within law enforcement and innovative strategies to combat crimes against badgers. He’ll provide insights into the collaborative work being done at a national level to spotlight wildlife crime, including his own efforts to advocate for stronger protections and improved enforcement.
As we move into 2025, Craig’s message is one of hope and determination. Despite ongoing challenges, his decades of tireless work remind us that we can make a difference—through vigilance, education, and collective action.
This is a talk not to be missed for anyone passionate about wildlife protection and making a difference for our natural world. Join us as we hear from one of the most experienced and dedicated advocates for badger conservation and wildlife crime prevention.
Let’s come together to learn, reflect, and be inspired by Craig Fellowes’ remarkable story and vision for the future.