Oxfordshire nature charity makes 'urgent' donations appeal

Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire Wildlife Trust (BBOWT) says the projects will help to secure the future of species including water voles, nightingales, butterflies and reptiles.

The non-profit's call for support is part of its Nature Recovery Fund appeal which has managed to raise more than £400,000 since last autumn.

An otter (Image: Luke Massey)

The Nature Recovery Fund was established in October, following the release of the State of Nature 2023 report.

This report illustrated the decline of UK wildlife, saying one in six British species are at risk of extinction.

The funds raised through the appeal will back ventures that aim to reverse this trend, safeguarding endangered wildlife across the Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, and Oxfordshire.

BBOWT’s senior ecologist, Colin Williams, said: "Habitat loss, climate change, inappropriate development, and intensive agriculture all threaten wildlife and have led to the distressing declines we are seeing across the UK – and locally in our three counties.

“Data collected by more than 125 of our specialist volunteers shows time and again how vital our nature reserves are as refuges for wildlife.

"The Nature Recovery Fund will support life-saving projects to ensure our most vulnerable species have somewhere safe to live, breed and survive the winter.”

BBOWT's initiatives, such as the Adder Connections project, show dedication to preserving wildlife.

BBOWT has led an Adder Connections project (Image: Logan Walker and Jon Hawkins)

Two snake tunnels have been built in Berkshire after radio tracking revealed separate populations of adders were unable to cross this barrier.

The tunnels will encourage the snakes to form a larger population, more resistant to threats such as disease.

BBOWT also boasts the UK's longest-running water vole conservation project.

Their targeted habitat management has also led to record numbers of endangered southern damselflies.

Donations to the Recovery Fund will support these projects and aid in launching new initiatives to manage critical habitats such as woodlands for birds and butterflies.

A wren (Image: Andy Rouse)

Chief executive of BBOWT, Estelle Bailey, said: "We’ve been thrilled by the levels of support the Nature Recovery Fund has received and are extremely grateful for the generosity of everyone who has donated with a vision to see more nature everywhere.

“However, we are aware of the immense scale of action ahead of us to see water voles, nightingales, and other endangered species become a common sight – and sound – once again across our counties.

"With time running out and our half-a-million-pound milestone within reach, now is the time for greater ambition and to ensure that we all do our bit to bring nature back, urgently."