As a child I was blessed to be in the midst of animals, both domestic and wild. It has to be said that Beatrix Potter did not really feature in my childhood, whilst some of my happiest memories feature splashing about in the stream with the dogs, catching a glimpse of electric blue as a kingfisher flashed by, and watching for hours outside a hole in an earthy bank which my mother assured me was a badger's sett. When I grew older, I became a devotee of Gerald Durell, whose book My Family and Other Animals captivated me. It still does: I read the same, dog-eared paperback, every summer. But, most of all, Sheila Burnford cast a spell over me with The Incredible Journey. Even today, when discussions come up about favourite films, people talk earnestly about Citizen Cane and the genre of the film noir, but when I tell them that my favourite is the Disney classic The Incredible Journey they are taken aback, and get very sniffy. Trust me when I say that, from the moment that someone lightly dismisses that one film, they and I have nothing in common.

Maybe it is this very spirit which defines us in the world of animal welfare - and it defines you, My Friend, for surfing the web for sites about badgers and clicking on the New Forest Badger Group. In the middle of a world which is preoccupied with financial crises and the toppling of Arab dictators, we in the Badger Group are so politically incorrect that we would rather cheer for the New Forest, its character, its ancient ways and the welfare of its animals - right now, the animals whose lives are being put at risk in order to satisfy Westminster's need for political popularity in constituencies that may otherwise wobble a bit at the next general election.

In the UK, the badger enjoys more protection under the law than any other single species of wildlife. But there are constant threats which put their welfare under stress, and undermine the robustness of that statutory protection. Let us applaud loudly the recent Appeal Court decision dismissing the appeals of two hunt employees in Leicestershire who had been convicted of wildlife offences, but we should not be under any illusion: this news item has made headlines because it is a rare victory upon the rough seas of disappointment, and a great deal needs to be done.But it can be done, with your support. I welcome you warmly to the New Forest Badger Group website.

But I want a bit more from you; I want you to care. Maybe you will join us - I hope that you do - but even if you just move on to the next website, remember, at least, to Care about the New Forest and its badgers. So next time you get fed up with the 'X Factor', and catch something about badgers on another channel, stay with it, just for five minutes. You could make a real difference.