Leave a legacy

People and bluebells - Tom Marshall

Leave a gift in your Will

Become a guardian for a wilder future

We have a vision for a wilder future

The last century has seen significant changes to our landscape and environment, and a decline in our wildlife.

We believe Leicestershire and Rutland should be rich in wildlife for the benefit of everyone, with more wildlife, more wild places and more people having a strong connection to nature.

With your support, we can restore wild places, help nature recover and ensure future generations will be able to enjoy nature - just as you do today.

Honey bee (Apis mellifera) foraging on Common privet flowers (Ligustrum vulgare) at the Royal Crescent, Bath city, with tourists in the background, UK, June. - Nick Upton/2020VISION

Write or update your Will for free with Octopus Legacy

Once you have made sure your loved ones are looked after, you may want to think about leaving a proportion to those charities close to your heart. Leaving a gift to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in your Will, no matter how big or small, will have a tremendous impact on our work. 

Leaving as little as 1% of your estate can make all the difference.

Many of our members decide to leave a special gift in their Will; however, there is no obligation to do so if you wish to use the offer. 

 

Create your free will today
I’m sure that, like me, you’re concerned about the future of our planet. You too share a belief that it is important that we leave a thriving natural world for future generations to know and enjoy. That is why making a Will is one of the most important jobs any of us has to do.
Sir David Attenborough

What your legacy donation could help us achieve

  • Continue to care for and protect our nature reserves so that wildlife can thrive
  • Restore and reconnect precious habitats and breeding sites to support the recovery of threatened species
  • Purchase land to ensure more areas of Leicestershire and Rutland are protected for nature
  • Work with landowners to help them manage their land in a wildlife friendly way
  • Empower local communities to take action for wildlife
  • Expand our education work so we can inspire and educate more young people about the importance of protecting the natural world 

Our promise to you

  • We will respect your privacy. Your Will is a personal document expressing your wishes which we will respect.
  • We understand your family and loved ones will always come first.
  • We recognise that it is your decision and that you need to make it in your own time.
  • We’d love to hear from you if you would like to let us know you have left us a gift in your Will but equally we respect your decision if you prefer not to.
  • If you choose to let us know about your gift we can stay in touch and keep you informed of our plans, events and the work we do.
  • We respect your right, at any time in the future, to change your mind about a gift in your Will to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust.
  • We assure you that your gift will be used carefully and cost effectively.
  • We will treat any information you provide to us as confidential.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I make my Will?

Make your will online, over the phone or in person for free with our partners Octopus Legacy (formerly known as Guardian Angel). Octopus Legacy Wills are legally binding and checked by experts. Many of our members decide to leave a special gift in their Will; however, there is no obligation to do so if you wish to use the offer. Create your will for free online here or if you prefer, call 0800 773 4014, and quote our unique code LRWT-FREE.

The  Wildlife Trust is a member of Remember a Charity, an organisation dedicated to raising awareness of remembering charities in Wills and making the process as simple as possible. They have created an easy to follow guide for getting started on your Will.

Alternatively, contact a qualified legal professional. The Law Society can provide you with a directory of solicitors near you.

I don’t have very much to leave. Is it worth including a gift in my Will to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust?

Absolutely. We are so grateful for any amount you feel able to leave in your Will for wildlife and even a gift of 1% of your estate will make a huge difference. 

What kind of gift could I leave to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust?

There are three types of gift you can leave in your Will:

  • A specific sum. This is a gift of a set amount of money.
  • A share of your estate. This is a percentage of your estate after all other gifts and expenses have been paid. These gifts are very important to us as they usually maintain their value or increase over time. This also means you're less likely to need to amend it in the future.
  • A gift of land. This is a gift of a specific piece of land in your possession.

Can you give legal advice about making my Will?

While we’re unable to provide specific legal advice, we are happy to talk to you about how your gift could be used to protect wildlife. Remember a Charity work with many Will writing professionals and solicitors that can help you to write or update your Will. The Law Society can also provide you with a list of local solicitors.

You can also make your will online, over the phone or in person for free with our partners Octopus Legacy (formerly known as Guardian Angel).

How much does a Will cost?

The cost of writing a Will varies depending on how complicated it is. Your solicitor will be able to advise you.

Make your will online, over the phone or in person for free with our partners Octopus Legacy (formerly know as Guardian Angel). Octopus Legacy Wills are legally binding and checked by experts. Many of our members decide to leave a special gift in their Will; however, there is no obligation to do so if you wish to use the offer. Create your will for free online here or if you prefer, call 0800 773 4014, and quote our unique code LRWT-FREE.

What should I include in my Will?

It’s worth thinking about what you want to include in your Will before seeing a solicitor. You should consider:

  • Who you would like to be your executor, the person who will carry out the wishes in your Will.
  • What money and belongings do you have? For example, property, savings, pensions, insurance policies and bank accounts.
  • Who do you want to remember in your Will? List all your family members, friends and the causes you care about.

I’ve already made a Will. Do I need to make a new one?

If you already have a Will and would like to make some small changes, you do not need to make a new Will. Instead you can add a codicil to your Will and send it to your solicitor. A codicil is a document which allows you to make changes or additions to an existing Will and must be read in conjunction with it.

Do you have examples of legal wording when making a Will?

If you’ve decided you want to remember Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust in your Will, you can take the following wording to your solicitor. They will make sure your Will is valid and that your wishes are followed.

  • A specific sum of money

My bequest to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust for a set sum - a pecuniary legacy "I give free of tax to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (Registered charity number 210531 of The Old Mill, 9 Soar Lane, Leicester, LE3 5DE), the sum of £______ for the general purposes of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and I declare that the receipt of their Treasurer or other proper officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge.

  • A share of your estate

My bequest to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust of the residual estate (or a proportion of) - a residuary or percentage legacy "Subject to the payment of my debts, funeral and testamentary expenses, I give the whole (residuary) or ______% of my estate not otherwise disposed of by this my Will to Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust (Registered charity number 210531 of  The Old Mill, 9 Soar Lane, Leicester, LE3 5DE), for the general purposes of the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust and I declare that the receipt of their Treasurer or other proper officer shall be a full and sufficient discharge.

Should I let you know that I have included or plan to include a gift in my Will to the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust?

We really appreciate hearing that you have thought of Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust when making your Will. It allows us to say a big thank you for your generosity and keep you up to date with our work and plans for the future.

You can make changes to your Will whenever you want to and letting us know that you’ve thought of us in your Will is not legally binding in any way.

If you are happy to let us know then contact Jo Brailsford-Finnis in confidence.

What if I change my mind?

It is your Will, and we respect that you can change it as and when you want to. If you do, we would be very grateful to hear from you if you have changed, added, or removed a gift to the Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust from your previous Will.

Get in touch

If you have any questions or would like to talk to someone in confidence about leaving a gift in your Will, please get in touch by email at info@lrwt.org.uk