Sponsor a grazing animal

Sponsor a grazing animal and you can help support Wiltshire’s wildflower-rich grasslands and all of the associated wildlife that goes with them. For as little as £20 a year, you can contribute towards providing habitat for all kinds of creatures from the elusive Stone Curlew to the recently reintroduced Great Bustard to scarce butterfly species such as the Duke of Burgundy and many more. 

The wildflowers of Wiltshire truly are something special, with two of the most species-rich grassland habitats in the world found right here. From the dramatic chalk grassland escarpments to the traditional wildflower-rich meadows, both of these landscapes depend on grazing animals to maintain the balance between delicate wildflowers and coarser more vigorous grasses and shrubs.

The Trust keeps its own cattle, sheep and ponies to manage these special sites. By owning livestock it is possible to ensure that suitable animals are available to provide the necessary grazing. This is increasingly important as changing farming practices and reductions in national livestock numbers mean that it is harder to find local farmers to graze more isolated sites with difficult terrain - the very sites where the wildflowers remain.

Having the flexibility to manage these sites has never been more important. Wiltshire contains 40% of the world’s remaining chalk grassland, which can support up to 50 different plant species per square meter and many more invertebrates. Since the Second World War 97% of our neutral hay meadows have been lost and the chalk is restricted to the steepest slopes. Yet the threat to these valuable habitats doesn’t end here, there is a new challenge - adapting to climate change.

Sponsoring a grazing animal will help us manage these precious and unique habitats by contributing towards the costs of keeping livestock.

Sponsor a grazing animal rates are:

• Herdwick Sheep: £20 each 
• Exmoor Ponies: £20 each
• Dexter Cow: £25 each
• Aberdeen Angus cow: £25 each 
• Belted Galloway Cow: £25 each

As a sponsor you will receive:

• Twice yearly updates in our grazing newsletter
• A certificate of sponsorship
• A jute bag with an exclusive Trust design

Sponsor a grazing animal today

You can sponsor a grazing animal on-line, it is completely secure and will take just a few moments. Or simply download the sponsorship form and return it to: Sponsor a grazing animal, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, Elm Tree Court, Long Street, Devizes SN10 1NJ. Contact us if you have any questions.