Somerset Wildlife Trust announces its participation in The Big Green Match Fund, the UK’s biggest match funding initiative. The Trust is hoping to raise £63,000 online in just one week to help native species return to Somerset, as part of its wider efforts to put nature back in recovery across the county. 

The Big Green Match Fund helps charities raise funds for good causes during a week-long campaign. From midday Thursday 20^th April until Thursday 27^th April, all online donations given to the Trust’s project will be matched thanks to the Reed foundation and other generous supporters, including the Reed Foundation. The total pledged is £31,500 – half of what the Trust needs. So every £1 donated online becomes £2, every £5 becomes £10 and so on.

Bringing back certain species to our landscapes is now becoming recognised as part of a wider, ’nature-based’ approach to help mend our broken ecosystems and tackle the ecological and climate emergencies. Somerset Wildlife Trust’s project, Co-existence: People & Wildlife Together, aims to support the Trust taking its first step to explore this exciting area of nature recovery work, with funds raised supporting the recruitment of a Human-wildlife Co-Existence Officer. 

Simon Clarke, Head of Nature Recovery explains more: 

“Species introductions are hitting the media headlines more and more. We know there are species ‘eco-engineers’ out there that can be part of a wider nature-based solutions approach to solving the ecological and climate emergencies, but it doesn’t come without its challenges. Whilst we have some amazing wildlife and landscapes here in Somerset, there are whole communities that have become disconnected from nature. We've forgotten how to live in harmony with wildlife, and it’s vital that we change this as a first step.“

“Funds raised through the Big Green Match Fund will support a Human-wildlife Coexistence Officer, who will work with communities and landowners across the county to create positive conversations around returning species such as beavers, pine martens and white-tailed eagles and the benefits they can bring - and how they can play a positive role in welcoming them back.  We need people to get behind the project and to reach our ambitious target, so please make a donation!”