Neighbourhoods for Nature

£0 of £40,000 goal
An illustration of a wildlife friendly neighbourhood

When did you last see a Hedgehog? Does your garden buzz with bees, butterflies and birds like it used to? 

The wildlife which should enrich our lives is vanishing fast.

That’s why we’re aiming to raise £40,000 to scale up work with local people to create and connect wildlife-rich gardens, streets and public spaces across residential areas and community spaces.  

Let's work together for wilder communities

Working closely with local people, we’ll restore local habitats and help once-common species like Hedgehogs, House Sparrows and Slow-worms recover. We want to build a future in which wildlife of all kinds can move safely across town and country habitats to find food and shelter.  

Collective action is a powerful thing, and with your support we will encourage, empower and assist people of all ages and backgrounds to act for nature locally. 

Make a pledge for wildlife this spring, by taking action for nature or making a donation.

Why it matters

We’re losing precious wildlife – and fast. Woodlands, grasslands, hedgerows and wetlands in our towns and villages are shrinking and becoming disconnected. This traps wildlife in small spaces and increases risks from roads, development, pollution, drought and flooding. With fewer species and green spaces around us, many people have become disconnected from nature - with serious implications for our wellbeing. Hedgehogs are now “near threatened” on the IUCN Red List and one-third of Surrey’s species are at risk. Without help, many familiar birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians could vanish. 

Surrey Wildlife Trust’s Claire Harris says: 

“If more people work with us to help wildlife, we'll reverse its decline and bring the joys and benefits nature provides back to our daily lives." 

What your support will make possible

Your donation will help Surrey Wildlife Trust to: 

  • Provide advice and training to support the creation of nature-rich corridors through towns, villages and surrounding priority Landscape Recovery Areas, including hedgerows, orchards, road verges, churchyards, playing fields and playgrounds.
  • Help communities, schools and landowners to build, fund and maintain habitats themselves, guided by SWT’s experienced naturalists and ecologists. 

  • Work with groups including sports, church and gardening clubs in locations including Farnham, Haslemere, Guildford, Dorking, Redhill and Reigate. 

  • Train people to take part in citizen science, feeding back data through population surveys and species recording. This will help the Trust target conservation work.
  • Invest in education and youth action, including through the Trust's Wilder Schools programme, so the next generation understands how to help wildlife at home.
  • Inspire local people to adopt wildlife-friendly practices incorporating Hedgehog highways, nesting opportunities and insect-rich planting.

Help species like these

A Hedgehog in the garden
Species

Hedgehog

Threatened by the loss of places to nest and feed, and safe routes for roaming.
Common toad
Species

Common Toad

In trouble due to the loss of breeding ponds.
House sparrow on feeder
Species

House Sparrow

Numbers are falling as insects, hedgerows and nesting sites disappear.
Swift
Species

Common Swift

Under pressure due to global heating and changes to house building practices.
Small Tortoiseshell
Species

Small Tortoiseshell

Formerly one of our most common garden species, populations have plummeted by 86%.
buff tailed bumblebee
Species

Wild bees

Wild solitary bees and bumblebees are in serious decline due to habitat loss, intensive farming and the use of bee-killing pesticides.

Donate today!

Every neighbourhood has the potential to be a vibrant place where wildlife and people thrive side-by-side.

 

FAQs

How can I donate to the appeal?

Thank you for your support! You can donate in the following ways:

Online Click the button at the top of the page to make a donation by Debit/Credit card, Google or Apple Pay.
By post Send your donation to: Neighbourhoods for Nature Appeal, Surrey Wildlife Trust, School Lane, Pirbright, Woking, Surrey, GU24 0JN.
By phone Donations can be made to the appeal over the phone by calling 01483 795445 between 9 am and 5 pm, Monday - Friday.

  

 

How much do we need to raise?

We’re aiming to raise £40,000 through our Neighbourhoods for Nature appeal. 

By expanding our work across Surrey through partnering with schools, community groups, and landowners, we can create and link wildlife-friendly spaces for key species and build connected spaces that allow nature to thrive in our towns and countryside.

Supporters

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