Three leading conservation charities launch campaign to Save Our Wild Isles
Nature’s incredible, and it can be for everyone. We all need it to live. But it’s in trouble – and we can all help protect and restore it.
The National Trust, WWF and RSPB have joined forces for the first time to launch a major campaign to Save Our Wild Isles, calling on everyone in society to take urgent action to halt and reverse the loss of UK nature. The campaign was inspired by the new Wild Isles series, narrated by Sir David Attenborough, which showcased the beauty and fragility of UK wildlife but also highlights the threats it faces. According to a recent YouGov poll commissioned by the campaign partners, over three-quarters of people in the UK are worried about the state of nature, and 70% are concerned about how nature loss will impact their lives.
The charities say that the UK is one of the most nature-depleted countries in the world, with many species and habitats under threat from human activities such as intensive farming, urban development and climate change. They warn that we have just seven years left to prevent irreversible damage to our natural world, and that we need to act now to restore nature for our own health, wellbeing and survival.
The Save Our Wild Isles campaign aims to engage the public and inspire them to act for nature, by committing to “Go Wild Once a Week”. This could involve planting wildflowers, eating less meat, joining local community projects or urging leaders and businesses to implement a crisis response to the nature emergency. The campaign also offers a £1 million community fund, supported by Aviva, to help local groups across the UK to protect and restore nature in their areas.
Sir David Attenborough said: “We must act now to Save Our Wild Isles. Nature is our life support system and it is in crisis. But there is hope. If we all work together, we can bring nature back from the brink and secure a brighter future for ourselves and for wildlife.”
Emma Marsh, RSPB Executive Director, said: “Community groups and volunteers are already doing incredible work across the UK to protect and restore our wildlife, and we’re constantly amazed and inspired by their stories. The Save Our Wild Isles Community Fund will give them a boost to scale up their efforts and achieve even more for nature.”
Community groups can apply for the fund online at https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/save-our-wild-isles until 30 June 2023. The fund is open to projects in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.