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Protect local wildlife

The Wildlife Trusts

There are 47 individual Wildlife Trusts covering the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man and Alderney.

  • Together The Wildlife Trusts are the largest UK voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places everywhere – on land and at sea.
  • We are supported by more than 800,000 members, 150,000 of which belong to our junior branch - Wildlife Watch.
  • Every year The Wildlife Trusts work with thousands of schools and welcome millions of visitors to our nature reserves and visitor centres.
  • The UK-wide part of our organisation was founded in 1912 by the banker and naturalist Charles Rothschild. By the end of the 1960s Wildlife Trusts had been formed across the Bitish Isles (usually, but not always, at a county-wide level). Trusts were often set up by local activists determined to save what they could - the last remaining meadows, ancient woods, heaths - in the face of widespread devastation to our natural environment.

Our purpose is to:

lead the way in achieving our vision of an environment rich in wildlife for everyone

through pursuing our mission of:

creating Living Landscapes and Living Seas

Our objectives are to:

  • demonstrate how nature works
  • inspire people and communities to value and take action for nature
  • champion nature and our work

Creating A Living Landscape

The Wildlife Trusts work in partnership with thousands of landowners and businesses across the UK in towns, cities and in the wider countryside.

  • Using the our existing network of more than 2,000 nature reserves as a cornerstone, The Wildlife Trusts have a recovery plan for the UK’s wildlife and fragmented habitats.
     
  • Known as A Living Landscape, it is being achieved through restoring, recreating and reconnecting large areas of wildlife habitat, helping to safeguard the ecosystems that we depend on for so much.

Securing Living Seas

Kelp forest (credit Paul Naylor)The Wildlife Trusts are also working to protect the UK’s marine environment and secure Living Seas.

  • We are involved with many marine conservation projects around the UK, often surveying and collecting vital data on the state of our seas.
     
  • Every year we run National Marine Week in August – a two-week celebration of our seas with hundreds of events around the UK.

Inspiring People and Encouraging Action For the Environment

Our overall aim at The Wildlife Trusts is to achieve a UK richer in wildlife – for the benefit of all.

  • We stand up for wildlife and want to inspire the nation about the nature on our doorsteps.
     
  • Whether you fancy getting into the great outdoors or being an armchair supporter, there are opportunities for all.
     
  • From volunteering and the chance to get some fresh air on one of our nature reserves, to taking part in one of the many events we run... or perhaps leading one of our junior Wildlife Watch groups to inspire the next generation of naturalists.
     
  • Your local Trust will be pleased to advise you about the opportunities on offer in your area.

Your local Wildlife Trust

People

Patron

  • HRH The Prince of Wales

President

  • Simon King OBE

President Emeritus

  • Sir David Attenborough OM CH CVO CBE FRS
  • Professor Aubrey Manning OBE

Vice Presidents:

  • Professor J Chris Baines
  • Professor David Macdonald CBE DSc FRSE
  • Julian Pettifer OBE
  • Professor Sir Robert Worcester KBE DL
  • Chris Packham
  • Nick Baker
  • Bill Oddie OBE
  • Bill Bolsover CBE

René Olivieri - Chairman of The Wildlife TrustsRené Olivieri, Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

Stephanie Hilborne OBEStephanie Hilborne OBE, Chief Executive

 

 

More

The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts

All 47 Wildlife Trusts are members of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. (Registered charity number 207238). RSWT also operates a separate Grants Unit administering major funds on behalf of the Big Lottery Fund and the landfill Communities Fund.