The funding, made possible by National Lottery players, was awarded through the Heritage Emergency Fund, which made £50 million in emergency funding available to organisations most in need across the heritage sector. 

The funding will ensure the continuation of work preserving and enhancing the natural environment across Wiltshire. This includes funding towards over 35 existing nature reserves and a contribution towards the new Willows Care Farm, for which fundraising was interrupted by COVID-19 but still continues as further funds are needed.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown began, we have worked hard to ensure all our nature reserves remain open, free and safe to visit for staff, volunteers and visitors. We have also had to cope with an increased amount of vandalism and fly-tipping across our sites:

Fly-tipping and arson on our nature reserves this year.

Staff across the Trust have worked tirelessly to ensure that essential activities continue to happen, from keeping reserves open to our Wellbeing and Education programmes adapting to more remote delivery. 

We continue to keep all our reserves open and safe for visitors, such as our popular Langford Lakes nature reserve.

Debbie Bentley, Trust and Grants Officer at Wiltshire Wildlife Trust said:

Thanks to the National Lottery and its players we can now start to look at the future for nature and wildlife in Wiltshire. Environmental charities are one of those that have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and we are sincerely appreciative of the support we have received. I think there’s one thing a lot of people will now agree on, and that is the importance of our outdoor spaces both to nature and to our own wellbeing. We’re grateful that The National Lottery Heritage Fund is supporting us at this crucial time – it’s a lifeline to us and others who are passionate about sustaining heritage for the benefit of all.

To find out more about how The National Heritage Emergency Fund is supporting the sector at this time , visit their website.

Press contact:

Eleanor Dodson

Communications Assistant, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

E: [email protected]