Wildlife in Crisis Appeal

Terry Whittaker/2020VISION

Appeal update

WE DID IT! Thanks to the generosity of our brilliant supporters, we’ve reached our target to raise £280,000 to help local wildlife.

We launched our Wildlife in Crisis appeal last year at a critical point. As the scale of the nature crisis has grown, our costs have continued to rise. We decided to ask for your help and what a wonderful response we've had!

We've been blown away by support from people all around our area who have stepped up to support nature through donations, grants and legacies - thank you so much. The funds raised will go to the heart of our conservation work, allowing us to continue restoring vital ecosystems and supporting our most vulnerable wildlife. For instance:

Wildflower meadows

Wildflower meadows are vital habitats for bees and other pollinators. But with 97% lost nationally since the 1930s, protecting them and their wildlife is critical. Our Frogmore Meadow Nature Reserve is a perfect example of what expert management can create, alive with birdsong in spring and shining with all the colours of the rainbow in summer.

Ancient woodlands

Ancient woodlands were once widespread, but sadly these irreplaceable, wildlife-rich habitats now only cover 2.5% of the UK. Special woodlands, like Balls Wood Nature Reserve, provide a vital home to many vulnerable and declining butterfly species including the White Admiral butterfly, which benefit from our ongoing dedicated woodland management.

Chalk streams

Chalk streams are globally important – with just 260 in the entire world. In Hertfordshire we are proud custodians of around 10% of these precious habitats. These rare and unique river systems support some of our most endangered species, including Water Vole, the UK’s fastest-declining mammal; now thriving thanks to our reintroduction projects at the River Stort, Ver and Beane.

Reedbeds

Reedbeds can support a wide range of wildlife, if a variety of vegetation growth and structure are present. Following years of hard work creating more reedbed habitat, our commitment has paid off - last year a male Bittern was heard calling for a mate (‘booming’) at our Amwell Nature Reserve – the first time in recent history in Hertfordshire.

Of course there are still challenges ahead and there is always more that we can do to help wildlife in crisis. Your continued support means that we can move forward with confidence, protecting local wildlife, knowing that there is a wonderful community of people backing us.