A Wilder Future for our Wetlands
The Wilder Future Fund is an ambitious effort to raise £500,000 a year over the next three years - £1.5 million to help nature recover across our three counties.
With your support, we're already doing so much, but our wetlands are in vital need of more help.
Focussing on three critical areas, the aim is to:
- Put nature into recovery
- Help communities take action for wildlife
- Work on nature-based solutions for a changing climate
Our wetlands need you
Our three counties are at the heart of an opportunity to restore wetlands. The UK has lost 90% of these wonderful habitats – wetlands now cover only 3% of the landscape in the UK, but they are host to 10% of UK species.
Wetlands are frontline defenders against climate change too, including protection against flooding. By supporting this cause, you will have a triple impact: restoring nature, strengthening our climate defences and protecting people.
Wilder Future Fund
We know what we need to do
Thanks to your support, our work on wetlands across the three counties is already achieving so much. We know what we need to do to scale up our work (and you can read more about this in our five year plan), but to put nature into recovery and achieve our aims, we need your help.
Prehistoric pigs creating a home for wetland birds
An ancient breed of pigs are creating healthy wetland areas for wildlife by chomping on a problem plant, Crassula helmsii - also known as New Zealand pigmyweed – at our Lilbourne Meadows reserve in Northamptonshire.
Jane Pearman, Lilbourne reserve manager, said: “Lilbourne is becoming a fantastic place for nature, but there are species missing that we know should be here. I hope that once we’ve dealt with this invasive plant the wetland areas will be thriving with birds and insects once again – that’s what this reserve and the Wildlife Trust are here for, to protect habitats and bring species back.”
A Fentastic Journey
Our Junior Wildlife Ambassador Henry Day & James Anker completed an amazing challenge for wildlife – the pair took part in the first ever Fenathlon, travelling 36 miles between three of the area’s most important wetland nature reserves by bike, kayak and foot to raise money for wildlife conservation.
Beavers as habitat managers
This year, we reintroduced beavers to Northamptonshire - a species not seen in the region for at least 400 years. In their enclosure at Delta Pit at the Nene Wetlands, they have set about managing the trees and water to create a wetland habitat even more to their liking, in turn supporting a whole host of species. They have also attracted a huge amount of positive human attention, located, as they are, right next to a busy shopping centre.
Wilder Future Fund
Why people like you are donating to this cause
This donation is in memory of my good friend Alastair Robertson.£51 +£12.75 Gift Aid
The Trust is creating a community where everyone's contribution, however small, whether financial or voluntary, is essential and valued.£11 +£2.75 Gift Aid
More Wilder Future Fund Donations
You can be sure your money will go towards helping nature recover and achieve the vision of more nature everywhere.
Donations from the appeal will be classified as unrestricted and used by the Wildlife Trust BCN to achieve its charitable purposes, progressing work to restore wildlife, recover landscapes and engage communities.