Jon Hawkins - Jon Hawkins - Surrey Hills Photography
This appeal has now closed and we have raised the funds needed to purchase the meadow
Thank you to everyone who donated to our Meadows Appeal, we raised a staggering £115,000!
Thank you so much to everyone who supported the appeal, we are overjoyed by the amazing response.
We initially set out to raise £100,000 needed to save the threatened meadow in the Charnwood Forest, thanks to your generosity, we surpassed our target and have now purchased the meadow.
The diverse habitat was at risk of being lost to development, which would have meant all the beautiful wildflowers growing on the land and all the birds, insects and mammals that called it home could be lost. The Charnwood Forest meadow will now become part of our network of nature reserves, and will be protected for wildlife for the future. Our dedicated team of conservation staff and volunteers will manage the land to ensure it is full of wildflowers and buzzing with life.
Amy Lewis
The Charnwood Forest Meadow
This meadow sits within the Charnwood Forest, beautiful wildflowers grow including marsh thistle, meadow vetchling, tormentil, pignut, milkwort and betony.
Insects including five and six spotted burnet moths, chimney sweeper moths, antler moths, meadow brown butterflies, ringlet butterflies, and small skipper butterflies have all been recorded on the site.
Birds including starlings and goldfinches are regular visitors, foxes have been seen and there are signs that badgers forage nearby.
What does the future look like for the Charnwood Forest Meadow?
The meadow will now become part of a mosaic of other good quality meadows including a Site of Special Scientific Interest and one of our nature reserves.
Wildlife will thrive
Our dedicated team of conservation staff and volunteers will carefully manage the land to ensure it is full of wildflowers and buzzing with life.
We will use methods such as cattle for grazing or taking hay cuts to create the optimum conditions needed for a diversity of species to thrive.
Thanks to you, the meadow will now be protected for nature.
Vaughn Matthews
Nature is in trouble and it needs our help
The Wildlife Trusts are calling for 30% of land and sea in the UK to be dedicated to nature’s recovery by 2030. By creating more space for nature, beautiful wild places will be restored and struggling wildlife will have the chance to recover. We can help achieve this goal in Leicestershire and Rutland through strategic land purchase like this one and by expanding our nature reserves.
By taking positive nature conservation actions, we can protect wildlife for future generations to enjoy.
Andrew Mason