We face an ecological and climate emergency that is already impacting the three pillars of sustainable living: nature, people and our economy. Our strategy sets out how Wiltshire Wildlife Trust will restore nature rapidly and at scale, with two clear goals:

1. Nature will be in recovery in Wiltshire and Swindon
2. People will be taking action for nature

To achieve goal two, we need:

1. 1 in 4 people taking meaningful action to drive nature’s recovery locally and nationally.
2. Health and wellbeing of people improved through their engagement in and with nature.  
3. Opportunities for all children and young people to nurture a lasting interest in nature
4. Nature and climate at the hear of decision-making locally and nationally

The Connecting People with Nature Fund has been set up to support our work in this area.

We already have a track record of working with communities across Wiltshire and Swindon:

• We work with over 70 schools, reaching over 5,000 children annually
• We now have 9 Wildlife Watch groups running on weekends across the county
• In 2023/4, our adult wellbeing team support 144 participants across five groups, contributing 2,570 volunteering hours to support natures recovery
• We have our 700 active volunteers, contributing almost 12,000 hours a year

To achieve our goal of 1 in 4 people taking action, we need to expand our reach and work with even more groups to inspire people to get involved and in turn, feel the benefits of being in nature.

Your support will help us to:

• Expand our community outreach programmes and work locally to enhance neighbourhoods. From community gardens and organising workshops to setting up new Wildlife Watch groups. Our experienced and knowledgeable staff will inspire and empower people to take action in their communities.
• Create "Wild Wellbeing" resources and workshops for both young people and adults. These will focus on the therapeutic benefits of nature, incorporating activities like mindfulness in nature, nature-based art therapy, and forest bathing to improve mental and emotional health.
• Grow our Young Ambassador Programme to help young people integrate nature into their lives and learn how to support wildlife throughout their lives
• Advocate the health and wellbeing benefits of the natural environment and offering people opportunities to have greater engagement with nature and green exercise.
• Host events and talks to ensure the natural environment is accessible and interesting for a growing and diverse community across Wiltshire and Swindon
• Stay connected with local and national issues, sharing campaigns and ensuring nature and climate are at the heart of decision making.

Will you take positive action for nature and donate today to help us engage all communities with the natural world?