A FUNDRAISING campaign launched on Friday, May 8 by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust, marking the centenary of world-renowned naturalist Sir David Attenborough.

‘Mission Wild’ is the Trust’s most ambitious fundraising campaign to date, which sets out a £3 million vision to restore wildlife across Gloucestershire at scale, creating bigger, better and connected landscapes where nature can recover and thrive.

The campaign will focus on restoring landscapes, bringing back native species, including the Eurasian beaver, and inspiring more people to connect and take action for wildlife, recognising that nature’s recovery depends on people as much as habitats.

Andrew McLaughlin, CEO of Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust said: “Over the last 50 years, our wildlife has silently disappeared from our landscapes, and one-in-six UK species are now at risk of extinction.

“As this has happened, we have lost more than just wildlife - we have lost our connection and sense of belonging in the natural world.

“Sir David has been a huge inspiration for so many people and has brought the world’s attention to the plight of nature, urging us all to act, urgently and at scale.

“Mission Wild is about accepting that challenge and setting out to achieve a wilder Gloucestershire, with benefits for people, communities and nature.

“Local examples of recovery, including pine martens and large blue butterfly, show what can be done, and promise great hope for nature’s recovery.”

The Trust said the campaign celebrates Attenborough’s lifelong message that protecting the natural world is not only vital, but urgent, and needs scale to bring the biggest benefits to both nature and people.

Funding raised through Mission Wild will help to put boots on the ground and support change in 11 Nature Recovery Zones.

Donations are open now, and over the coming months the Trust will be appealing to a range of partners, businesses, donors and supporters, developing opportunities for active involvement as well as financial support.

You can find out more via the Trust’s website.