I AM the education officer for Durham County Badger Group.

I read with interest, the letter in Aug 14th’s Northern Echo, by Jennifer White from PETA. I have emailed Jennifer on the subject, and I thought you might also be interested.

I am a police volunteer for Durham Constabulary and, for the past few years, I have been going into primary schools across the county, talking to older primary children about wildlife crime. It is just one part of the Junior ED Scheme. I can speak to around 1,000 children a year during term time.

The talks have been very well received, and the children are always very enthusiastic though somewhat shocked on the subject of animal protection.

They all take a Badger Group leaflet home, so that they can discuss what they have heard with their parents.

We can only hope that, in a few years’ time, when these children are grown up, we might see a tailoff in badger and wildlife crime across the county. Fingers crossed.

Graham Temby, Bishop Auckland