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Somerset Wildlife Trust launches appeal to raise funds needed to modernise the way it cares for its nature reserves

Somerset Wildlife Trust is asking for support as it launches its annual Nature Reserves Fund appeal. First launched in 2016, the Fund enables the Trust to care for and maintain its 68 nature reserves.

These special places - safe havens for a variety of special wildlife species - represent some of Somerset’s most precious habitats including areas of ancient woodland, flower-rich meadows, and precious peatlands - now essential for our ability to store carbon in the face of climate change. They are also vital in helping to build a strong and resilient nature recovery network across the county that can endure the challenges we know lie ahead and to help us achieve our goal of 30% of land and sea managed positively for nature.  

The cost of looking after these nature reserves rises each year. The Trust estimates that it costs over £2,600 a day to maintain them, which means that raising funds is more important than ever in a climate where funding has decreased by almost 25%.  This year’s appeal is focused particularly on raising funds to replace out-of-date, broken equipment, which makes the job of delivering basic maintenance work much more time-consuming than it should. An example being a 23-year-old compact tractor; this single piece of equipment had become a major issue in terms of its age, lack of power, reliability and compatibility with other ancillary equipment - it was unable to carry out the simplest of grassland tasks.  

David Northcote-Wright, Senior Nature Reserves Manager at Somerset Wildlife Trust, explains:  

“Since I started working at the Trust almost 34 years ago, I have seen an enormous amount of change. Not just changes in species abundance, but the changes in our climate and the habitats we manage, and also huge changes in the practical way we manage and care for the reserves – from the conservation approaches we take, to the equipment and machinery that is needed to support our reserves teams. 

“Doing things manually simply isn’t an option anymore, so giving our staff and volunteers the right modern equipment to manage our grasslands is absolutely critical in keeping on top of the basic maintenance from season to season. We have tried to extend the working life of what we have, but we are at the point now where we desperately need the funds to replace and modernise some key pieces of equipment - like the tractor - to stay on top of things and reduce our longer-term costs.  We really hope that the appeal will help us do that and appreciate any and all donations, large or small that the public can spare, at what we know is a difficult time economically for many.“ 

 

HOW TO DONATE: 

Any gift you can give to the Nature Reserves Fund will always go straight to our nature reserves. To donate, just visit: https://www.somersetwildlife.org/reservesfund 

Alternatively, you can also donate by telephoning Zoë on 01823 652429. 

Editor’s Notes

For interviews and further information, please contact: 

Kirby Everett: 01823 652413 / kirby.everett@somersetwildlife.org 
Emily Weatherburn: 01823 652400 / emily.weatherburn@somersetwildlife.org 

You can find out more about Somerset Wildlife Trust on our website and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. 

Images are attached for use with this press release. They are granted on a one-time use basis, in association with this release, and the photographer must be credited. More images are available on request. 

About Somerset Wildlife Trust: 

Somerset Wildlife Trust is a nature conservation charity. Its purpose is to restore and protect the populations of species across the county and the habitats they call home. Climate change is one of the greatest threats to nature, natural habitats and the ecosystems that support our life on earth.  Our aims are to help address both the ecological and climate crises and put nature back into people’s lives. 

Nature reserves and protected sites on their own are not enough. In order to reverse the decline in species’ diversity and abundance, and create resilient landscapes and habitats for wildlife and for people that can adapt to climate change, we need to:  

  • encourage and support landowners to manage their land positively for nature; create more space for nature; 

  • connect wildlife-rich spaces across the wider landscape to create a robust Nature Recovery Network for Somerset; and 

  • create a movement of people – at least 1 in 4 – that take action for nature’s recovery across Somerset as part of Team Wilder.  

This is at the core of our new 10-year strategy. Nationally the Wildlife Trusts are calling for at least 30% of land to be managed positively for nature by 2030. What we do in Somerset must contribute to that national ambition. You can read our full 10 year strategy, Wilder Somerset  here. 

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