‘Most people only encounter badgers with roadkill’

A charity which has built a wildlife hide said most of its visitors had only encountered badgers through roadkill.

The RSPB said interest in badgers living metres from its hide at Wild Haweswater in the Lake District, Cumbria had “hugely grown” because visitors get the chance to get close-up to the UK’s largest land predator.

The site’s manager, Annabel Rushton, said its “dedicated volunteers” had nurtured the hide, which has increased operating to five nights a week.

However, despite “beaming smiles” from people, Rushton said the majority of visitors had only ever seen badgers “dead at the side of the road”.