Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust

THE Berkshire, Buckinghamshire & Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust has launched its biggest ever fundraising appeal to tackle the nature and climate crisis locally.

The Nature Recovery Fund aims to raise £3 million in three years to help bring back wildlife and benefit climate and people.

The appeal follows the publication of the State of Nature report, which found one in six British species is at risk of extinction with birds, amphibians and reptiles under most threat.

In our three counties, habitat loss, climate change, pollution, intensive agriculture, housing developments and infrastructure projects, such as HS2, are impacting hugely on local nature.

Estelle Bailey, chief executive of BBOWT, said: “Wildlife in our three counties is disappearing fast — butterflies, wildflowers, 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. But we all need to do our bit urgently.”

BBOWT president Steve Backshall, a TV wildlife presenter and Berkshire resident, 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?”

The trust is aiming for 30 per cent of land across the three counties to be well-managed for wildlife by 2030.

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

To make a donation, visit www.bbowt.org.uk/nrf You can also donate by texting RECOVERY followed by your donation amount to 70480.

If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more about BBOWT’s work, please text RECOVERYNOINFO instead.

Pete Hughes