SHROPSHIRE Wildlife Trust has expressed their concerns over plans to expand badger culls across the county.

The government recently published its response to a consultation on culling and vaccination in Edge Area counties – these are counties close to those where bovine tuberculosis is more widespread such as Shropshire.

Some of these areas will now be targeted for government culling.

In the recent consultation the Wildlife Trusts recommended a minimum of 7km between cull and vaccination areas.

However, the new consultation response says the government will allow culling with only very small buffer zones of between 200 metres and 2km.

Fears the badger cull will be expanded and vaccinated badgers will be shot despite Government commitment to move away from lethal control.

The Wildlife Trusts bordering these buffer zones are deeply concerned that vaccinated badgers will be shot in several new areas this autumn.

The small size of the proposed buffer means that badgers which have been vaccinated may be shot – despite the fact that government funding has helped Wildlife Trusts develop badger vaccination programmes.

At least seven new counties could see a badger cull starting this September.

These include Shropshire as well as areas of Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Warwickshire, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire.

Colin Preston, Chief Executive Officer for Shropshire Wildlife Trust said he was disappointed to hear of the upcoming badger cull.

"We are deeply saddened to hear the cull is coming to Shropshire," he said. "We've run a vaccination programme on one of our reserves plus the local badger group are vaccinating in several areas.

"The cull will be disruptive and could see vaccinated badgers killed which is a total waste of resources."