Wilder Charnwood Appeal

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Help us raise £350,000 to secure the future of this vital expansion

We have secured match funding for the first £100,000 of gift aided donations!

Which means every donation will be doubled!

This is an exceptional opportunity to expand the Charley Wood nature reserve, significantly increasing the space for wildlife in one of the most important landscapes for nature across Leicestershire and Rutland.

In a time when nature is under pressure like never before, and across landscapes where wildlife is too often pushed to the margins, this acquisition offers something even more powerful than just space to breathe. It is space for wildlife to thrive and grow; a space for species to move, feed, breed and adapt; a space for habitats to connect and drive nature’s recovery across the landscape.

Help us secure more space for wildlife in Charnwood Forest

As soon as this land became available, we recognised the unique opportunity it offered to allow this important nature reserve to expand across the landscape. Lying right next to Charley Wood, this is one of the pinnacles of the Charnwood Forest landscape, land that could transform the future of wildlife in this area.

Why this land matters

Stand at the edge of Charley Wood and you can feel the contrast. Inside the wood there is shelter, birdsong, and the quiet vital work of nationally rare fungi sustaining a healthy woodland ecosystem. Step beyond the treeline and the difference is stark, a more depleted landscape, quieter and poorer in wildlife. Projects like this make existing reserves stronger and more resilient. Creating networks rather than isolated pockets ensuring that what thrives today can survive tomorrow.

We moved quickly to safeguard 16 hectares through a generous philanthropic loan, ensuring it could not be lost to other uses. Now, we must repay that loan so this land can be secured for the long term, protected for wildlife, and for future generations.

We have secured match funding for the first £100,000 of gift aided donations!

£50 will double to £100

If you gift aid your donation

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£100 will be worth £200

Providing you donate with Gift Aid

Donate now

£1000 will double up to £2000

Make sure you donate with Gift Aid too

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FAQ’s

How much was the land bought for?

The purchase price was £450,000.00 As with all our acquisitions we undertake a full and independent valuation of the land to ensure the price is fair. We have already raised £100,000.00 for this purchase which leaves the £350,000.00 to pay off the land and secure the loan.

What is the size of the land?

There are two parts of land, one plot is 6 hectares and has been funded by a mixture of private donations and a generous grant from the Woodland Trust. The other is 16 hectares and this is the area we are fundraising for.

What are our plans for the purchased land?

Our aim is to transform the land from a stark depleted landscape into a healthy thriving woodland ecosystem by expanding the Charley Woods nature reserve into the area and increasing the space for wildlife.

What is a philanthropic loan?

Philanthropic loans can vary, but essentially, they are loans that allows the charity to make a large purchase quickly, allowing a generous repayment term which gives time for the charity to raise the funds required for repayment over a longer period.

What happens if we don’t raise the total?

Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust are committed to safeguarding this land for future posterity and for the restoration of nature and we will not dispose of the land. If we don’t raise enough to pay off the loan in this appeal, we will continue to fundraise for this as a priority.

What happens if we raise more than the total?

If more than the appeal amount has been raised, the extra funds will be invested into the general conservation and future management of our Charnwood reserves.