Wiltshire Wildlife Trust facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust

Founded	1962
Type	Charity. Membership organisation. Governed by a Memorandum and Articles of Association. Registered charity and a company limited by guarantee (Company number 730536).
Registration no.	266202
Focus	Creating 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+

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust is a special charity that helps protect nature in Wiltshire and Swindon, England. It owns and looks after more than 40 nature reserves. These are places where wild animals and plants can live safely.

The Trust also encourages people in Wiltshire to live in ways that help the environment. This means using resources wisely and protecting our planet for the future. It is one of 46 similar groups across the United Kingdom. Together, these groups form the largest volunteer organization working to protect wildlife everywhere. This includes both land and sea.

The Trust shares its work through a magazine called Wiltshire Wildlife. You can also find them on social media like Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.

History of the Trust

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust started in 1962. It was first called 'The Wiltshire Trust for Nature Conservation Ltd'. It began with just seven members, who each paid £1 a year. A famous writer and bird expert, John Buxton, helped to create the Trust. The first meeting had about 160 people.

Early Years and Growth

The Trust began creating nature reserves in 1963. They bought their first reserve, Blackmoor Copse, that year. Within ten years, they owned nine more reserves. They also received their first gift left in a will. By then, they had 800 members.

When the Trust turned 20, it owned 30 nature reserves. Membership had grown to 2,000 people. In 1989, they held their first 'Sarsen Trail & Neolithic Marathon'. This event raised £21,500, which helped them buy the Morgan's Hill nature reserve.

Changing Names and Otter Success

In 1992, for its 30th birthday, the Trust officially changed its name to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust. Two years later, in 1994, they hired their first expert to help otters. At that time, there were no known otters in the county.

This project was very successful. By 2012, the Trust's work was featured in a guide about otters. This showed how much their efforts had helped these animals.

Milestones and Modern Day

In 2012, the Trust's 50th year, it owned and managed 37 nature reserves. By 2022, its 60th year, the Trust looked after over 40 nature reserves. This included three farms. They also had more than 20,000 members.

How the Trust Helps Nature

The Trust runs many projects to help people connect with nature. These projects also help people understand and love the natural world. Here are some of their activities in 2022:

• Action for Insects: This project works to increase the number of different insects on their nature reserves.
• Bay Meadows: They are creating a safe place for nature in Marlborough.
• Braydon Forest Marsh Fritillary Project: This project helps the marsh fritillary butterfly.
• Building Bridges: This program helps people in Swindon and Wiltshire learn new skills. It also helps them get education and find jobs.
• Care Farms: Lakeside and The Willows Care Farms offer special learning and work experiences. These are for children, young people, and adults with individual needs.
• Green Living: This project helps people live in ways that are good for the environment.
• Swindon Forest Meadows: This project works with Swindon Borough Council. They are restoring wildflower meadows.
• Wild Landscapes: This team creates green spaces for both wildlife and people.
• Well-being Programme: This program helps people dealing with stress or sadness. It uses nature to make them feel better.
• Unaccompanied Asylum Seeking Children: This project supports young people who have come to the UK alone.

Protecting Wiltshire's Rivers

Wiltshire has important rivers called chalk streams, like the Salisbury Avon. The Trust has a special program called the Wessex Chalk Streams Project. It helps fix parts of the River Avon and its smaller rivers that have been damaged. They make the river flow naturally again. This creates homes for animals like otters and water voles.

The Source to Sea and Wiltshire Invasive Species projects find and remove harmful plants. These include Himalayan balsam and Japanese knotweed. These plants are not native and can harm local wildlife.

Helping Military Families

Wiltshire has many military families. The Trust has programs that encourage these families to get outside. They help them connect with nature and local people. The Trust also works with the charity Help for Heroes. They help injured service members recover by doing conservation tasks at Tedworth House.

Nature Reserves to Explore

Snake's head fritillaries at Clattinger Farm

The Trust owns and manages over 40 nature reserves across Wiltshire. Some of these are very important and are called Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

In 2013, the Trust's Clattinger Farm nature reserve was chosen as one of the first Coronation Meadows. This was to celebrate 60 years since The Queen's coronation.

Living Landscapes Project

The Trust is part of a bigger national project called 'Living Landscapes'. This project aims to restore, create, and connect conservation areas. It helps wildlife move more freely across the wider countryside in England.

Other Ways the Trust Helps

The Wiltshire Wildlife Trust offers several services to the community:

• Weddings: You can even get married at some of their beautiful locations.
• Cafes: The Trust runs two cafes, the Kingfisher Cafe at Langford Lakes and the Dragonfly Cafe at Lower Moor.
• Venue Hire: You can rent their spaces for events.
• Care Farms: These farms provide special experiences for people with individual needs.
• Forest School Training: They offer training to become a Forest School leader.
• Workplace Wellbeing: Programs designed to help people feel better at work.
• Chalkhill Environmental Consultants: This is a team of experts who offer advice on environmental projects.
• Wiltshire Wildlife Community Energy (WWCE): This group helps with community energy projects.
• Wiltshire & Swindon Biological Records Centre (WSBRC): This center collects and shares information about wildlife in the county. It helps people understand what plants and animals live in Wiltshire.