Making your Will

Woman in a field

Matthew Roberts

A gift in your Will

How to include a gift in your Will

Frequently asked questions

What information do I need to include in my Will?

Registered Charity Name: The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire

Registered Charity Number: 1000412

Registered Charity Address: The Manor House, Broad Street, Great Cambourne, Cambridge, CB23 6DH

Why do you need a Will?

According to research, the most commonly cited reason for not having a Will is that people have not gotten around to it yet, followed by believing you are too young or have too few assets. 

Yet, a Will is the only legally-enforceable way of ensuring your wishes are carried out after your death.

If you die without a legal Will, the government may have the right to decide how your estate is divided and certain clauses can mean that those you intend to inherit your wealth, such as your partner, may receive nothing.

For more information on making a Will, please visit Making a will - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

When to make or update your Will?

  • When you buy a house
  • Have children
  • Get married, remarried or divorced
  • Turn 18 - Because every adult should have a valid Will

In what ways can I make a gift to the Wildlife Trust BCN?

Residuary - A gift of all or part of your net estate (what is left after all taxes, costs and specific bequests have been paid), expressed as a share of percentage, e.g. a tenth or 10%. These gifts are safeguarded from rises in inflation and make sure your gift has the maximum impact intended.

Pecuniary - A fixed sum of money, e.g. £10,000. Inflation can chip away at the value of these gifts so it is advised to update your Will regularly.

Specific - A gift of a specific item or asset, e.g. books, a painting, shares. If you wish to leave us land please do contact us first so we can discuss your gift.

What to do next?

Think about what type of legacy you want to give to those around you.
Spare a few moments to write down your possessions and assets and then add up any debts you may have. Then give some thought to how you would like your assets divided.

Go and see a solicitor

The Wildlife Trust always recommends that you visit a solicitor or professional Will writer who will ensure your wishes are legally and correctly represented.

Visit the Law Society website to find a list of impartial solicitors in your area.

Can you give legal advice about making my Will?

While we’re unable to provide specific legal advice, we are happy to talk to you about how your gift could be used to protect wildlife and wild areas. 

Remember a Charity work with many Will writing professionals and solicitors that can help you to write or update your Will. 

The Law Society can also provide you with a list of local solicitors.

Do you accept gifts of land?

Land given to the Wildlife Trust by generous donors has played a significant role in securing sites for wildlife in the past. However, the Trust isn’t always in a position to accept the gift of land, particularly where the costs of maintaining it are disproportionate, or because there are restrictions on the land that prevent us making the best use of the land for wildlife.

Larger areas of land, or sites next to existing nature reserves, are most likely to fit with the Trust’s objectives. However, in some cases smaller areas that can act as stepping stones, or which can be maintained for wildlife with low inputs, can be highly valuable for wildlife.

We would therefore advise anyone intending to give us a gift of land in their Will to discuss it with us in advance please contact our team for more information.

 

What if you already have a Will?

If you have already made a Will recently, you might not want to make another Will unless many things have changed. In that case you could add the Wildlife Trust as a beneficiary by amending your Will. You can do this by completing a Codicil form or letter of wishes. Please talk to a solicitor about this.

Depending on how long it is since you made your Will, we would recommend you talk to a solicitor or you might like to use one of our Will writing services.

I am the executor of a Will, which includes a gift to Wildlife Trust, BCN. What do I need to do?

Please contact Rachel Hopper in our Legacy team on 01954 713500 or email legacies@wildlifebcn.org

How to get in touch

For more information or to discuss your gift in confidence, please fill in our contact form, call our Legacy team on 01954 713500 or email legacies@wildlifebcn.org.

Gill Gent cutting our 50th anniversary cake

Gill Gent (1927-2018) cutting the cake as guest of honour of the Wildlife Trust BCN’s 50th anniversary event

REMEMBERING SOME OF OUR SUPPORTERS

Gill Gent (1927-2018)

Gill was Northamptonshire plant recorder for decades.

Gill’s botanical skills were incredible, but the most amazing thing about Gill was just how universally liked she was: the most incredibly patient teacher and advisor, giving up so much of her time to help others develop an interest in wildlife, particularly botany of course.

Gill’s encouragement of Wildlife Trust staff and volunteers over the years was unceasing.

Read more