| Links to the story | Key Stage 2 and 3 programmes of study | Possible learning outcomes | Big ideas |
| The badgers of Nowhere Wood – a February story | They should observe life-cycle changes in a variety of living things…animals in the local environment. Year 5 Science | Animals can live alongside humans and be rarely seen | adventures in time and space being and becoming winter stories the sustainable park Harmony principles: Interdependence Diversity Adaptation Oneness |
Badgers are common predators of both town and country. Even so, they are rarely seen, living alongside people, whilst hiding in plain sight. The arrival of badgers into Nowhere Wood is exciting – we had suspicions last year, but without night-enabled trail cams, it is difficult to be sure. The setts are accessible, despite being hidden, and we will try to study the badgers more regularly. Hence, this is a February story – we hope other stories will follow.
Although the world of the badger is largely underground, visiting the surface only when it is dark – they are not particularly reclusive, and will visit safe gardens (no dogs!), especially if food and clean water is provided. On a wet February or March night, a badger may forage within a few hundred metres of the sett, covering several kilometres in looping paths without ever ranging far from home. The paths become well worn, which is a sign of badger activity.