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16 October 2009
Will for Wildlife Week
Wildlife lovers in the county are being encouraged to remember local wildlife in their will.
Will for Wildlife Week (from Monday 19th October to Sunday 25th October) aims to encourage wildlife lovers to pledge to leave a gift in their Will to The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire and Peterborough.
The Wildlife Trust relies on voluntary donations to protect local wildlife. Donations, large and small, in supporters’ Wills have helped The Wildlife Trust protect wildlife for the future.
Over the past 50 years, legacies have helped the Wildlife Trust restore habitats and landscapes to the beauty and variety we once took for granted.They have helped us to save sites from the threat of development, and look after rare species, such as the otter and barn owl, which were once such a common feature of our countryside. Legacies are a way of protecting these precious species and sites so that they can be enjoyed by our grandchildren, and great-grandchildren - forever.
An example of how legacies can help the Trust can be found in the story of Jacquie Gulliver Thompson, who was only 65 when she died.
A successful painter and art designer, Jacquie worked on many Dorling Kindersley wildlife books. The outdoors was her passion and her husband, Christopher Thompson, felt that when she passed away it was important her love for wildlife should live on.
A gift from her will was made to support Pegsdon Hills, Bedfordshire.
Christopher, who now lives in London, told us why the area was chosen:
“This walk was loved by both of us. It’s a Wildlife Trust nature reserve so it was wonderful to be able to support the Trust by giving something from her will. Jacquie’s particular love wasn’t insects or birds but she was very keen on habitat, on the whole thing. What we both felt about the Wildlife Trust was that its emphasis isn’t species specific but is rather geared to the whole habitat”
Support to The Trust comes from people of all backgrounds.
John Marshman Robinson was a member of The Wildlife Trust for many years and was born and brought up in Northamptonshire.
His love of walking in the country, of wildlife and photography, for which he won numerous prizes and accolades, encouraged him to remember The Wildlife Trust in his will.
In Cambridgeshire Jack and Marjorie Browne, from Waresley, had a piece of land named in their memory after they left a legacy to The Trust.
Their gift is helping to enlarge two nature reserves; Gransden and Waresley Woods.
Together with Gamlingay Wood and Sugley Wood (less than half a mile away) this site is part of the Wildlife Trust’s plans for a huge South Cambridgeshire Forest.
Will for Wildlife Week is an opportunity for you to protect local wildlife for the future. Leaving a gift in your will to your local Wildlife Trust makes a real difference to our work.
If you would like more information about leaving a gift in your will for local wildlife, please contact Laura Elliot Laura.Elliot@wildlifebcnp.org 01954 713518.
ENDS
Photographs:
Christopher Thompson on commemorative bench and plaque on bench at Pegsdon Hills, Bedfordshire.
Photograph showing Pitsford Reserve, Northamptonshire- credit- David Price.
Photograph showing Waresley Woods, Cambridgeshire.
For more please see our website www.wildlifebcnp.org or contact Laura Elliot or Bernadette Mooney, Communications Officer on 01954 713551 or email bernadette.mooney@wildlifebcnp.org
Notes to Editor
Bringing people together to take action for wildlife is the Trust’s mission. We manage 129 nature reserves - all of them free to visit – and 95% of the population live within five miles of one of our reserves. We are working to make these wildlife havens bigger, better and more joined-up – vital to help wildlife to adapt to a changing climate. By gathering valuable information about wildlife and working with other landowners the Trust also monitors and safeguards wildlife beyond the boundary of its reserves.
For more information see www.wildlifebcnp.org