Berks, Bucks and Oxon Wildlife Trust

THE Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust has achieved its largest-ever land holding and increased its membership to its highest level.

It now manages 86 nature reserves covering 2,700 hectares and has more than 28,000 members.

In the past year, the charity also completed a £2 million project to create a new channel of the River Thames, surveyed 170km of roadside verges for wildlife, launched two urban community projects and commented on 56 major planning applications.

Estelle Bailey, chief executive, said: “In the period covered by our 2022 annual report, our country was fighting a pandemic that battered the economy, hit millions of people’s personal finances and caused untold national suffering.

“Despite that, people in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire showed record-breaking support for our work, giving us more power to help wildlife than ever before.

“We are in the midst of a nature and climate crisis and despite the incredibly difficult times we are living through, both financially and emotionally, people still chose to support wildlife on their doorsteps.

“For that we are eternally grateful but we know we still have a lot of important work to do.”

Pete Hughes