Our year forThe Wildlife Trusts’ wildlife impact report 2019/2020 Together, we can do it In these pages you’ll see examples of what, together, we are able to achieve. That’s together as a collection of Wildlife Trusts, together with our collective members, supporters, volunteers, funders and stakeholders. Together, with you. From the places saved, to the wildlife protected or the people inspired and nurtured to become the next nature warriors, we couldn’t do it without you. Yet, we know that our natural world continues to be in trouble, with wildlife disappearing at an alarming rate and the threat of climate catastrophe a constant worry. That is why The Wildlife Trusts are calling for at least 30% of land and sea to be connected and protected for nature’s recovery by 2030. So these pages are testament to your support — and we thank you — but it is just the start; 2020 has been a difficult year, but the next ten years must be about renewal and rewilding our lives. We hope that you’ll continue on this journey with us. Peta Foxall, Craig Bennett, COVER: © NEIL ALDRIDGE. P2: PINE MARTEN © MARK HAMBLIN/2020VISION © MARK ALDRIDGE. P2: PINE MARTEN © NEIL COVER: Chair Chief Executive 2 | Our year for wildlife ELDERLY LADY GARDENING © PENNY DIXIE; FROG © STU BROWN; THICK-LEGGED FLOWER BEETLE © ALAN PRICE; HERMIT CRAB © AMY LEWIS; OUTDOOR LEARNING © HELENA LEWIS; OUTDOOR LEARNING © HELENA AMY CRAB © ALAN PRICE; HERMIT BEETLE © FLOWER THICK-LEGGED BROWN; DIXIE; FROG © STU © PENNY GARDENING LADY ELDERLY PARKINSON/2020VISION ANDREW © COOT SRWT; FOR DOLBY Our year for wildlife | 3 A year for wildlife Some highlights from across the Wildlife Trusts SEPTEMBER London Wildlife Trust, Butterfly Conservation and the Natural History AUGUST Museum launched Brilliant Butterflies MAY JUNE 284 water voles were with the aim of JULY released into streams creating and restoring After decades of Gwent Wildlife that flow into the chalk grassland campaigning by The Trust celebrated the Rare insect-eating Kielder Reservoir by habitat, working with Wildlife Trusts for scrapping of plans to plants were returned the team behind the volunteers and local APRIL protection at sea, a build a new motorway to a north-west Restoring Ratty project, communities. Funded further 41 Marine over the Gwent Levels nature reserve after which takes the total by the Dream Fund Sussex Wildlife Trust Conservation Zones after years of standing a 150-year absence. number reintroduced Award thanks to players and Friends of Rye were announced by up for the precious Reintroductions of the into the area up to 1,489 of People’s Postcode Harbour Nature the Environment wildlife that live there. fascinating sundew since June 2017. This Lottery, it provides an Reserve joined forces Secretary, Michael The area is Wales’ and bladderwort fantastic project to excellent opportunity to fundraise for a new Gove, marking the most equivalent of the plants took place on boost numbers of this for residents to work Discovery Centre on significant expansion Amazon rainforest in Risley Moss and on endangered animal is alongside specialists the site. The centre of England’s ‘Blue Belt’ terms of sheer diversity Lancashire Wildlife a partnership between to learn new skills will transform the to date. Stretching and is like no other Trust’s Astley Moss as Northumberland including surveying experience of all that from Cornwall to place in the UK. It was part of the £265,000 Wildlife Trust, Kielder and identifying, as visit the Rye Harbour Northumberland, a long and hard-fought Manchester Mosslands Water and Forest Park, well as practical nature reserve, sharing the new protections battle but goes to show Species Reintroduction Forestry England conservation skills; the the rich heritage of safeguard 12,000 km2 that people can make a project, of which both and Tyne River newly created habitats the place, as well as of marine habitat. difference by standing The Wildlife Trust for Trust, and was made should also burst into explaining more about With 50 zones already together and speaking Lancashire, Manchester possible thanks to a life with butterflies, the very special natural designated in 2013 and out for what is right for and North Merseyside £421,000 grant from wildflowers and insects environment and 2016, this takes the total the future of people, and Cheshire Wildlife The National Lottery in abundance in wildlife found here. number up to 91. wildlife and our planet. Trust are part. Heritage Fund. coming years. 4 | Our year for wildlife Photo credits: April © Emma Forward; May © Paul Naylor; June © Neil Aldridge; July © Ben Hall/2020VISION; August, October © Terry Whittaker/2020VISION; September © Chris Lawrence; November © Jon Dunkelman; December © Amy Lewis; January © Chris Wood; February © Craig Allardyce; March © Steve Davis JANUARY With plans for HS2 NOVEMBER forging ahead, The Wildlife Trusts OCTOBER The Wildlife Trusts in published a report south-west England that revealed the vast MARCH 18 pine martens were commissioned an scale of destruction released into the important report into DECEMBER the railway’s route FEBRUARY The UK’s first ‘super’ Forest of Dean, thanks insect declines and why will cause to nature. National Nature Reserve to the hard work they matter, authored With the hugely The report, What’s the Scottish Wildlife Trust has been created on of Gloucestershire by expert Professor popular Attenborough damage? Why HS2 will welcomed the Scottish Purbeck Heaths, thanks Wildlife Trust and Dave Goulson. The Nature Reserve near cost nature too much, Government’s decision to a collaboration partners on Project Pine report summarised Nottingham up for collated data from to save protected between Dorset Marten. Once common the best available sale, Nottinghamshire the 14 Wildlife Trusts, wildlife site, Coul Wildlife Trust and six throughout the UK and evidence of declines Wildlife Trust other charities and Links, from becoming other neighbouring Ireland, pine martens and proposed a set launched an appeal to landowners affected a golf course after they landowners. Comparable have undergone an of actions that could purchase it — and were by the plans to provide refused permission in size to Blackpool, extensive decline due be taken at all levels blown away by the a comprehensive for the damaging this super site is home to habitat loss and of society to recover support they received! assessment of the development plans to to rare and varied predator control in both insect diversity Donations flooded broad range of impacts go ahead. The move wildlife, which will recent decades. This and abundance. in thanks to none of HS2 on protected to protect arguably benefit from the area clever mustelid is not This kickstarted a other than Sir David wildlife sites, species Scotland’s most being bigger and better only a charismatic and new Wildlife Trust Attenborough giving and landscape important wetlands joined up. Sand lizards, attractive part of our campaign, Action for it his backing, as well restoration projects. was the result of many the Dartford warbler British fauna, but also Insects, which calls a generous donation The publication months of hard work and silver-studded blue an important woodland for change in policy from long-term culminated in a publicly and campaigning, with butterfly are just some predator, with its own and behaviour, whilst supporter Broxtowe backed campaign to ask thousands of people of the wonderful and unique role within the providing practical Borough Council and a the Prime Minister to lending their voice and rare species that will natural dynamics of actions that we can grant of £750,000 from Stop and Rethink standing up for nature stand a better chance woodland ecosystems. all take. Biffa Award. the project. in support. of survival. Our year for wildlife | 5 The Wildlife Trusts GREY SEAL © ALEXANDER MUSTARD/2020VISION © SEAL GREY 6 | Our year for wildlife More than 850,000 members More than 42,500 volunteers including corporate volunteers taking part in Wild Work days More than 46 2,300 Wildlife Trusts nature reserves = Wildlife Trust nature reserves Our year for wildlife | 7 OUTDOOR CLASSROOM © HELENA DOLBY © HELENA OUTDOOR CLASSROOM 8 | Our year for wildlife 94,442 people spoke up for nature through one of our campaigns 14.4 million visits were made to our nature reserves, 12,736 where people enjoyed and found solace in people gained new skills wild places cared for by the Wildlife Trusts on our training courses 388,000 1.66 million people connected with nature through hours were given by 37,038 volunteers with an additional our annual 30 Days Wild challenge 38,808 hours by 5,557 corporate volunteers 368,457 children and adults reached through Wildlife Trust-led sessions with schools, 407,642 people attended events care homes and community groups Bringing wildlife to local communities Carrie began volunteering at Suffolk Wildlife Trust in April 2019 as a full-time student, before going on to fulfil a summer internship with the Conservation Team. During her time at Suffolk Wildlife Trust, she gained new skills and brushed up on her natural history knowledge, learning how to complete water vole, dormice, badger, bat and botany surveys. Carrie also gained experience of working in an office, where she wrote up surveys and gained insight into responding to planning CARRIE © SUFFOLK WILDLIFE TRUST WILDLIFE © SUFFOLK CARRIE applications, assessing the impact on wildlife of each individual case — a skill Meet Carrie she could put towards her degree. Whilst all these new skills were very afternoon tea, sweep netting for insects or In fact she enjoyed her internship so valuable, Carrie felt that she gained even making butterfly wings and woodland much that she continues to be in touch the most through the outreach and creations using natural materials such as with her Wildlife Trust colleague, Lucy, engagement work she took part in — blackberries and leaves as decoration.