The Nature & Wellbeing Act

The Case for More Marine Conservation Zones

The Wildlife Trusts, along with the RSPB and partners, are calling for the introduction of a new law to put nature at the heart of how our country is run: the Nature & Wellbeing Act. The act would set the world's first legally binding targets fot nature's recovery in a generaion.

This document sets out the pupose of the act alongside the impact that it will have on the health of the population, and the country's economy. It includes examples of how we and our partners put the ideas of the Act into practice to make a difference today.

First published 2016. PDF download.

In this report, The Wildlife Trusts set out their case for an interconnected network of Marine Conservation Zones. The report highlights the importance of protected marine areas, not only for the recovery of fragmented habitats, but for the longevity of our living seas.

First published 2016. PDF download.

Health & Wellbeing Report: Phase I

Health & Wellbeing Report: Phase II

This is the first stage of an independent assessment for The Wildlife Trusts by the University of Essex on the impact that local Wildlife Trusts have on people in the area.

It explores the activities that Trusts run with both the general public and with vunerable groups across the country and assesses the effects on those who attend the sessions.

First published in 2015. PDF download.

This is Stage 2 of an independent assessment for The Wildlife Trusts by the University of Essex on the impact that local Wildlife Trusts have on people in the area.

It explores the activities that Trusts run with both the general public and with vunerable groups across the country and assesses the effects on those who attend the sessions.

First published in 2016. PDF download.

A Living Landscape: summary

A Living Landscape: full report

This report outlines The Wildlife Trusts' approach to landscape-scale nature conservation in the UK.

It looks a range of Wildlife Trust projects and explores the barriers and opportunities for large-scale habitat restoration.

Updated in 2009 to include summaries of more the 100 Wildlife Trust Living Landscape schemes around the UK

First published in 2006. Updated in 2009. PDF download.

The full Living Landscape report describes the science behind landscape-scale nature conservation with many examples of The Wildlife Trusts’ pioneering large-scale conservation projects and schemes.

It details the policy changes needed to restore the UK’s ecosystems, including: using the planning system to enhance biodiversity; investing in management and restoration; tailoring policy and practice for landscape-scale restoration, and buying time to address climate change.

Published in 2006. PDF download (2.5MB).

A Living Landscape - The Wildlife Trusts' vision

Living Seas - The Wildlife Trusts' vision

This document outlines The Wildlife Trusts vision for A Living Landscape.

Published in 2010. PDF download.

This document outlines The Wildlife Trusts vision for Living Seas.   

Published in 2009. PDF download.

Basking shark hotspots in the UK

Nature's Place for Water - Working with nature to reduce flooding

This report is the culmination of more than eight years’ boat-based study of the UK’s largest fish.

The report identifies basking shark hotspots – places where sharks congregate at the surface - revealing a remarkable change in shark distribution over the study period with a marked decline in sightings in the south west of England.

To date it has been difficult to identify practical measures to address these threats and ensure the survival and recovery of basking sharks in UK seas. However, the conclusion is now clear: appropriate protection of basking shark hotspots may be critical to the survival of this threatened animal.

Published in 2008. PDFdownload.

The Wildlife Trusts’ report, Nature’s place for water, reflects on last year’s summer floods and examines how The Wildlife Trusts are working with nature to provide sustainable solutions to flood management for the 21st century.

Restoring some of the natural spaces for floodwater in our landscape through creating wetlands and using sustainable drainage systems (SuDS) will reduce the risk of flooding.

Not only that but working with nature, rather than against it, can bring many other benefits, such as improved water quality and greater biodiversity.

It includes examples of Trust projects which are aiming to reduce flood risk through restoring natural systems and illustrates how a catchment-wide approach to flood management could work.

 Published in 2008. PDF download.

Local Authority Services and Biodiversity

Celebrating the Landfill Communities Fund

The Natural Environment and Rural Communities (NERC) Act 2006 introduced a biodiversity duty on local authorities in England and Wales to conserve biodiversity.

'Local Authority Services and Biodiversity' provides a simple introduction to the duty; highlighting the benefits of and opportunities for protecting and enhancing the natural environment.

The leaflet draws on existing good practice and will be a source of inspiration for local authorities to consider new and additional ways of integrating biodiversity conservation throughout their activities.

 Published in 2007. PDF download.

This report is a recognition of the immensely valuable role the Landfill Communities Fund has played, and continues to contribute towards, achieving practical nature conservation on the ground across the UK.

It showcases some of the vitally important work the Fund has supported, from creating new reedbeds in the Great Fen, to conducting detailed surveys of the seabed in Dorset.

Published in 2014. PDF download.

Status of Local Wildlife Site Systems 2008

Heritage Lottery Fund Report

 Published in 2008. PDF download.

 This report details Wildlife Trust projects which have collectively received more than £72 million of National Lottery funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund over the last 10 years, providing enormous benefits to both wildlife and people.

Since its launch in November 1994, The National Lottery has raised more than £16 billion for good causes across the UK. The Wildlife Trusts partnership has received more than 317 separate grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund, for projects managed by the 47 local Wildlife Trusts.

The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme

The Wildlife Trusts' guide to wildlife gardening

The Landfill Tax Credit Scheme, now the Landfill Communities Fund, was introduced in 1996 allowing landfill site operators to contribute up to 6.7 per cent of their landfill tax liability to eligible projects in return for a 90 per cent tax credit.

In the last 10 years over £700 million has been provided to support 26,000 projects across the UK. Projects funded include the reclamation of land; the reduction or prevention of pollution; maintenance of public parks and amenities; the conservation and protection of the nation's biodiversity; and the restoration of churches and historic buildings. 

PDF download.

 Wildlife needs four things if it's to thrive in your garden - food, water, shelter and a place to breed. by providing some, if not all of these things, you will bring your garden to life.

This useful leaflet contains top tips for creating a wildlife friendly garden, including advice on building a pond, planting for butterflies and attracting garden birds.

First published 2008. Updated 2013. PDF download.

The RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts' guide to 'Nature Positive Planning'

Policies for Pollinators - The Need for Government Leadership in Backing England's Bees 

This report outlines the findings of an investigation conducted by the RSPB and The Wildlife Trusts into the effectiveness of the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). In cases where this is failing our natural environment, a series of recommendations are suggested for the role the planning system should play in the protection, and restoration of our wild places.

A report by the Bee Coalition with recommendations for Government action on pollinators. Produced by the Environmental Justice Foundation for the Bee Coalition (The Wildlife Trusts are part of the Bee Coalition – a group of organisations working together to express public concerns about the future of pollinators and the vital services they provide and to highlight to the Government the need for action surrounding their protection).

Published in 2015. Pdf download.

The Rothschild List: 1915-2015

The Green Blue Guide for Boaters - Royal Yacht Association (RYA)

In order to assess what has happened to the places on Rothschild’s List over the past century The Wildlife Trusts set out to collect as much information as we could using desktop research to measure the current state of the 284 Rothschild Reserves. Read our conclusions in the review here.

Published in 2015. Pdf download.

The Green Wildlife Guide for Boaters is designed to advise boaters on how to get the best experience out of their wildlife encounters by acting responsibly and cautiously to minimize the risk of disturbance while keeping participants and their boats safe.

Published in 2017. Pdf download.