What’s new?
29 June 2009
Record numbers sign up to support wildlife
For the first time ever almost 35,000 individual members have made a pledge to protect wildlife close to home. The number of household memberships for the Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough has now toppedthe 16,000 mark.
This is good news for local wildlife across our three counties. Our members are vital to the future of the Wildlife Trust and the success of its work. Every member really makes a difference.
The Trust manages 135 nature reserves - all of them free to visit - in some of the area’s most important wildlife habitats from the fenlands of Cambridgeshire to wildlife-rich floodplains across all three counties. We buy new land to join up these reserves and create bigger and better habitats to help wildlife to adapt to a changing climate. By gathering valuable information about wildlife and working with other landowners we monitor and safeguard wildlife beyond the boundary of our reserves. And above all we want to inspire people to take action to protect local wildlife.
Nick Hammond, Chief Executive of the Trust, said, “Across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough 95% of the population live within five miles of a Wildlife Trust reserve and we work to engage as many people as we can in local wildlife conservation. I’m delighted that we have reached this membership milestone as it demonstrates the commitment of people in all three counties to wildlife and their support for our work.”
In 2008/09:
- Our education and community staff worked with 26,000 people including 11,000 children from 170 schools
- The Great Fen project received a £7.3 million grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund – the largest grant ever received by an ecologocial project
- There are now 13 local groups which provide opportunities for local learning and involvement
We could not do any of this work without our members. Despite our record figures, we need your support more than ever. In today’s climate, both economic and environmental, the work of the Trust is more important and involved than ever. We need the support of members to help us protect wildlife.
We use your money very carefully. £25 can:
- provide hand tools for a reserves volunteer for a year so they can help us manage habitats and allow wildlife to thrive
- pay the veterinary bills for a sheep for a year. Sheep are essential to graze our meadows so wildflowers can flourish
- pay for staff to check 300 planning applications and help fight development that can damage wildlife
- pay for a training workshop for a Trust volunteer so they can learn how to monitor plants and animals and help us work out the best ways to manage habitats for wildlife
- provide a local school pupil with an inspiring day out at one of our education centres.
As a member you can enjoy:
- Wildlife Action, our full-colour three yearly magazine updating you on our work, packed with fascinating articles, advice andwildlife pictures
- wildlife events, including guided walks, illustrated talks, family days, plant sales and volunteer opportunities
- our Where to see wildlife reserves guide – if you decide to support us by direct debit, you’ll receive our 148 page, colour nature reserves book listing over a hundred nature reserves – an essential guide in where you can see wildlife in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough
- wildlife fun for children – with family membership, your children would also receive Wildlife Watch membership, making finding out about the natural world fun for everyone
Anyone can become a member of the Wildlife Trust and help us protect local wildlife and provide wild places close to your home.
To find out how you can join in the fun, please click here
Of course, we also have many other supporters to whom we are very grateful - for example volunteers, legators and donors.
To find out other ways for you to support the Wildlife Trust do even more for wildlife, please click here