Jump to content

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust
Founded1962
TypeCharity. Membership organisation. Governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association. Registered charity and a company limited by guarantee (Company number 730536).
Registration no.266202
FocusCreating a sustainable future for wildlife and people
Location
  • Elm Tree Court,
    Long Street,
    Devizes,
    Wiltshire,
    SN10 1NJ
Members
20,000+
Key people
Dr Gary Mantle, MBE
(Director)
Employees
75+
Volunteers
1,700+
Websitewww.wiltshirewildlife.org

Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is a conservation charity based in Devizes, England which owns and manages 40 nature reserves in Wiltshire and Swindon. It also works to encourage Wiltshire's communities to live sustainable lifestyles that protect the environment.

It is one of 46 Wildlife Trusts across the United Kingdom, which together form the largest voluntary organisation dedicated to protecting wildlife and wild places everywhere – at land and at sea.

It issues a variety of publications including a members magazine, Wiltshire Wildlife. Its digital presence includes social networking, such as Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.

History

[edit]

Formed in 1962 as The Wiltshire Trust for Nature Conservation Ltd, with just seven members contributing £1 per year, the trust was incorporated under the Companies Act on 23 July 1962. Involved in the creation of the trust was acclaimed author and poet John Buxton. The inaugural meeting was held at County Hall, Trowbridge with some 160 people attending.

The trust began creating nature reserves in 1963 with the purchase of Blackmoor Copse. Within a decade, the trust owned nine more reserves, had received its first legacy gift and membership had grown to 800. As it reached its 20th anniversary, the trust owned 30 nature reserves and had 2,000 members. In 1989, the first Sarsen Trail & Neolithic Marathon was held, raising £21,500 which was used to buy Morgan's Hill nature reserve.

For its 30th anniversary, in 1992, the trust formally changed its name to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. In 1994, the trust employed its first otter habitat project officer; at that time, there were no known otters in the county. In 2012, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust featured three reserves in the "Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts's Guide to Otters", a testament to the success of the project.

In its 50th year, 2012, the trust owned and managed 37 nature reserves.

As of 2022, its 60th year, the trust owns and manages over 40 nature reserves, including three farming operations, and has over 20,000 members.

Programmes and projects

[edit]

The trust undertakes a wide variety of projects to engage local residents with its work, and to develop an understanding and love for the natural environment. As of 2022, these activities include:

Wiltshire has a large military population and the trust runs community-based programmes that encourage military families to get outside and connect with nature and local residents. It is also working with the charity Help for Heroes, aiding injured service personnel to recover through carrying out conservation tasks at Tedworth House.

Nature reserves

[edit]
Snake's head fritillaries at Clattinger Farm

The trust owns and manages 40 nature reserves[1] (including complexes of several adjacent reserves) across the county. Among these are the following Sites of Special Scientific Interest:

In 2013, the trust's nature reserve at Clattinger Farm was named as one of the first Coronation Meadows, to mark the 60th anniversary of The Queen's coronation.[2][3]

Living landscapes

[edit]

The trust is part of the national living landscapes project to restore, re-create and reconnect conservation sites with the wider countryside across England.

Services

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Nature Reserves Map". Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Retrieved 25 February 2020.
  2. ^ "Clattinger Farm, Oaksey". Coronation Meadows. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
  3. ^ "The Prince of Wales launches the Coronation Meadows". Prince of Wales. 5 June 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2018.
[edit]