Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) has today launched its biggest-ever fundraising appeal to tackle the nature and climate crisis locally. The Nature Recovery Fund aims to raise £3m in three years to help bring wildlife back, and benefit climate and people.

The urgent appeal follows the publication of the State of Nature 2023 report, which found one in six British species at risk of extinction, with birds, amphibians and reptiles under most threat. In Berks, Bucks and Oxon, habitat loss, climate change, pollution, intensive agriculture, housing developments and infrastructure projects such as HS2 are having a huge impact on local nature.

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Estelle Bailey, Chief Executive of BBOWT, said:
“Wildlife in our three counties is disappearing fast - butterflies, wild flowers, hedgehogs, birds, frogs, bees - it’s shocking. Unsustainable development and intensive farming are wiping wildlife off the map right here on our own doorsteps, and our climate is in chaos.

“We all need nature, for food, fresh air and water, and for our own wellbeing. And we know we can’t fix the climate crisis without restoring nature, the two go together. The choice is clear: no nature, no future, no us. But it’s not too late. Our Nature Recovery Fund will help create more nature everywhere, which is good for climate and people in our three counties too. But we all need to do our bit, urgently.”

The UK is one of the worst countries in the world for wildlife, with only 53% of its biodiversity left: 97% of our wildflower meadows have been lost since the 1930s, along with 90% of our wetland habitat in the last century. Around 70% of the UK’s ancient woodland is gone and more than half of our native plants are in decline. These trends are being felt across our three counties, with inappropriate development, intensive farming and climate change pushing wildlife to the brink.

The Nature Recovery Fund will target three critical areas of BBOWT’s work – nature, climate and people. The Trust hopes the fund will help protect more land to bring nature back, restore more woodland and floodplain to guard against climate change, and inspire communities and young people to care for wildlife. It could enable the Trust to work with more landowners, local charities, councils and farmers, to put nature’s recovery first.

The appeal has been backed by life-long nature lover, wildlife presenter, Berkshire resident and BBOWT President Steve Backshall, who said:
“We are lucky enough to have otters, kingfishers and a whole array of aquatic bird and invertebrate life appearing across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire every day. This is a part of the world I treasure, but we all have a responsibility to look after it. Sadly, the nature we know, and love is under serious threat - the call of the wild is being silenced.

“That's why BBOWT is launching its biggest ever appeal with an ambitious goal. We want to bring nature back - it's that simple. In our countryside, our towns, and our villages - we want to give nature a fighting chance. But we can't do that on our own - we need your help. Nature is sending us an SOS - will you answer the call?”

BBOWT has more than 80 nature reserves, 150 staff and some 1,700 hard-working volunteers. It’s aiming for 30% of land across the three counties to be well-managed for wildlife by 2030 and needs as many people as possible to join the fight to achieve that. Money raised by the Nature Recovery Fund will give the Trust the eco-boost it needs to fast-track nature’s recovery, before it’s too late.

The Nature Recovery Fund has got off to a flying start, with £160,000 already pledged by some of BBOWT’s most valued and long-standing donors – but there is still a long way to go and every donation counts, however big or small.

You can do your bit to help bring nature back by giving to the Nature Recovery Fund today at www.bbowt.org.uk/nrf. You can also donate by texting RECOVERY followed by your donation amount to 70480*.

* Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from BBOWT. If you would like to donate but don't wish to hear more about BBOWT’s work, please text RECOVERYNOINFO instead.

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