Chance to own patch of nature

TO MARK their 60th birthday, Cheshire Wildlife Trust has launched a unique appeal and is inviting the public to be part of a new nature reserve.

Donations will help to buy and rewild 3mx3m squares of land at the new reserve.

For each donation, supporters will be allocated their own square which can be named and dedicated to something or someone special.

Once the target has been reached and the nature reserve purchased, they will receive a digital certificate with the precise location of their patch, mapped using what3words.

A £20 donation will help buy a 3mx3m square; a £65 donation will help buy and rewild a 3mx3m square.

The creation of a new nature reserve will increase the area of land managed by Cheshire Wildlife Trust and help achieve their ambitious goal to bring wildlife back to the region.

To buy and create the new nature reserve, they must urgently raise at least £200,000 before July 1.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is calling for at least 30% of our land and sea to be connected, protected, and managed for nature’s recovery by 2030.

It is estimated that around 22% of Cheshire, Halton, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, Warrington and Wirral’s land is currently good for nature.

Reaching 30% means doubling the region’s woodlands, restoring all drained peatlands, tripling wetlands, and creating 10,000 football pitches worth of species-rich grasslands.

The trust is planning to buy a plot of land at least 100 acres in size, the equivalent of 76 football pitches, which is currently of little benefit to nature. This provides the opportunity to create new habitats and connect with other wildlife havens.

Buying and restoring land that is naturedepleted will make a huge difference to local wildlife.

Depending on the site, new carbon-storing woodlands and hedgerows could create homes for birds, bats and small mammals.

New wetlands could support invertebrates, amphibians and wading birds.

To buy the new nature reserve, Cheshire Wildlife Trust estimates it will need to raise around £1m overall this year.

In addition to the public appeal, the trust is looking for major donors, corporate sponsors and funders.

Charlotte Harris, chief executive officer of Cheshire Wildlife Trust, said: “To reach our goal of 30% by 2030 and reverse nature’s decline we must be ambitious.

“This will be the largest land purchase Cheshire Wildlife Trust has ever embarked on.

“It is urgently needed if we are to address the nature and climate emergency.

“We’ve identified some potential sites and discussions are already underway.

“Once a site has been chosen, we’ll need to move quickly to complete the sale.

“We urgently need to raise the money, so we are ready to make an offer. Please help us buy more land to bring wildlife back.”

To donate to Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s 3mx3m appeal visit cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/3mx3m