Warwickshire Wildlife Trust 2030: what we can do to help nature
Amanda Evans (Warwickshire Wildlife Trust)
Amanda has worked for the Trust for over 15 years, helping to motivate people to volunteer, developing and delivering new and exciting opportunities for children and young people to find out more about the wonders of nature and helping people to feel better through actively spending time in nature. She enjoys working in partnership with others, particularly new organisations and looking at how to engage new audiences.
Amanda will talk about the Warwickshire Wildlife Trust 2030 strategy to have 30% of land in recovery for nature, and 1 in 4 people taking action for nature as part of the #TeamWilder movement. We'll hear more about the science behind #TeamWilder and the various ways we can all take action to help our local wildlife, and be part of a collective movement of people who share similar concerns for their local environment.
Report on the talk
Amanda has worked at the WWT for 15 years, and she told us about WWT’s #TeamWilder project and the 2030 strategy, with the theme of ‘Nature’s recovery – small actions can make a big difference’.
WWT was established in 1970 and there are now 28,900 members, 824 volunteers and 64 reserves in the old Warwickshire area. 15,500 children are engaged in various activities: they are mainly from primary schools, but now the trust is moving into secondary education. At the time of the pandemic a ten-year strategy was launched and all the wildlife trusts are sharing their missions:
Vision – Climate change, ecological and human health emergencies
Purpose – Bring wildlife back and involve more people
Approach – 30% of the reserves to be protected by 2030
#TeamWilder needs one in four people to take action to achieve their goals.
Between 1970 and 2016 19% of all species have declined, 16% of species is at risk of extinction - half of our wildlife has gone. Between 2010 and 2019, people’s concerns rose, especially about flooding. In order to reverse this trend, one in four people need to become involved, and this is based on scientific research. 94% of people value green spaces, however, only 4% volunteer to help. 25% of people getting involved is a tipping point for social change. The ‘multiplier effect’ means that if one person talks to four people, and those talk to another four each, and those 16 talk to another four each, etc, then this is the beginning of a positive movement.
‘The first follower transforms a lone nut into a leader.’ See Derek Sivers’ TED talk – How to Start a Movement.
Climate change and a nature emergency are interlinked.
- 80% of our peatlands are damaged and this results in more carbon dioxide going into the atmosphere. Everyone can help by not using peat-based compost. WWT is trying for a ban in shops.
- Hedgehogs are threatened by the loss of insects. WWT is trying to get developers to cut holes in fences to allow them a free run, and we all could do this.
- Tree sparrows have suffered a 93% decline. WWT is working with farmers to install ‘tree sparrow villages’ (ie, nests) and plant more crops for seeds. We can all feed birds in our gardens.
- Barn owls have lost their habitats and their food source (small mammals) due to intensive farming. Farmers are being encouraged to put up ‘barn owl boxes’ (which are quite large) and manage their lands for the betterment of the birds.
- Swifts have suffered a 60% decline since 1995. They are four years’ old before they breed, for life, and WWT is working with developers to install ‘swift boxes’. A Harbury woman has started a movement in her village and it now has 50 boxes!
- Wildflower meadows – Orbit Housing has committed to giving 30% of outdoor space to nature on its developments. We can all do this too!
- Amphibians are also suffering due to climate change. Twenty tonnes of toads are killed on our roads every year. We need to restore ponds for them, plus have logs piles and hedges on land. We could all have a pond in our garden – even just an old washing up bowl will do.
Individual actions really can have a collective impact, and WWT can give advice. A £1 donation can lead to £5 in grant funding.
This lively and interesting meeting led to a number of questions. There is good news, as some species are increasing. WWT is working with the Town Trust, e.g. in the Lench Meadows. It is important for us to report problems to the WWT and other organisations, like the RSPB.
Report by Helen Elliott.
