Help us set up the Debbie Bailey Foundation for Badgers

Debbie Bailey was an award-winning wildlife conservationist who was working to protect badgers right up to the very end. It was while digging in traps for the Derbyshire badger vaccination project that she suddenly collapsed and was rushed to hospital in an air ambulance. She passed away in hospital on 1 August at 15:55, surrounded by her family.

This page has been created by Debbie's family to raise funds to set up the Debbie Bailey Foundation for Badgers (the exact name is to be confirmed). The Foundation will continue Debbie's life's work, keeping her memory alive by protecting badgers for the future. The funds raised here will be shared with local wildlife groups in desperate need of cash to carry out their work protecting, conserving and rehabilitating badgers. We will also donate a portion of the funds to the air ambulance.

Debbie dedicated over half of her adult life to protecting, conserving and rehabilitating badgers. With Derbyshire Wildlife Trust, she set up the country's first and biggest volunteer-led badger vaccination programme in 2014 to offer the government a viable and humane alternative to the growing demands for a national badger cull. She also campaigned hard to successfully delay the start of the badger cull in Derbyshire. Debbie's persistence and determination has resulted in almost 1500 badgers being vaccinated against bovine TB in Derbyshire over the past 10 years.

Debbie was the driving force behind the High Peak Badger Group, which has saved countless injured badgers and orphaned cubs. Many of these were released close to where they were found or as part of new clans and continue to live wild and free in Derbyshire. Debbie opened her home to many of these badgers in desperate need of care, providing round the clock feeding in the case of cubs.

Debbie and her passion for protecting the country's wildlife will be sorely missed. Nobody will ever be able to replace her, but we can all come together to carry on the work that she cared so deeply about.

If we achieve our funding goal, the money raised would roughly be used as follows:

Please donate as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. No funds donated here will be used for the administrative costs of setting the Foundation up, meaning whatever you donate will go directly to the causes that need the funds.

Funeral arrangements

Debbie’s funeral will take place at Stockport Crematorium on Wednesday 20 August at 2:30pm. For those unable to travel to the Crematorium, Whaley Bridge Bowling Club will also be streaming the funeral service live. For anyone unable to attend either venue, the link to the service will be shared on www.debbiebailey.org

The wake will then take place at Whaley Bridge Bowling Club from 4:00pm. Everyone is welcome to attend both the funeral and the wake.

Funeral attire is not required. Everyone should wear what they feel most comfortable wearing.

Family flowers only.