Help protect wildlife from devastating wildfires - PHONE

What needs to be done?

Although it’s winter now, cast your mind back to July and you’ll remember how a record-breaking heatwave swept across Britain, with temperatures reaching 40°C for the first time. As a result, fires broke out all over the country including at some of our nature reserves.

They caused a huge amount of damage, that will cost thousands of pounds to repair. Hotter temperatures mean drier ground, and this make wildfires more likely every year. A wildfire can devastate vital wildlife habitat in minutes. This winter, we urgently need to make the city’s wildlife habitats safer and more resilient to each summer’s accelerating climate change and today, you can help.

You perhaps know about the fire at Gutteridge Wood, where July’s dry conditions made the fire spread at tremendous speed. It swept across the fields, reduced about 70% of the meadow to burnt earth and damaged 600m of fencing. Meanwhile at Ten Acre Wood, half of the bridge which provides access for walkers on the beautiful Hillingdon Trail was completely destroyed by wildfire.

It’s no exaggeration to say that wildfires are fast becoming one of the major threats to wildlife and nature reserves in London and we must take urgent action now. 

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Fencing

The fencing at Gutteridge Wood is important, because it enables us to use livestock to graze the meadow safely. Through livestock-grazing, we’re able to keep the site in the best condition for a wide variety of key species, including bats, birds and pollinators. Grazing also helps the land play its important role in storing carbon, a major protection against climate change.

London can’t afford to lose more meadows. Even before the summer’s fires, meadows have become increasingly rare and a habitat of high conservation priority. Unless we can repair the fencing in time, we won’t be able to put cows there to graze next year, because it won’t be secure. That would result in the meadow suffering even further.

Firebreaks

Firebreaks are another top priority in our winter workload. By clearing scrub at the perimeters of sites, we can create firebreaks to prevent fire spreading to neighbouring land and housing, fencing, stiles and gates. Creating the conditions to prevent fires from spreading will give wildlife the best opportunity to reach safety in an emergency.

Reducing wildlife risk

With your help, we can carry out the essential work our reserves need to protect them from wildfires and climate change. For the wildlife that depends on them, and for people to enjoy. Limiting fires isn’t just about preventing emergencies, but for the long term too. Every fire release CO2 into the atmosphere, so by reducing wildfire risk, London wins twice over. There’s precious wildlife and habitat near you that’s depending on your support.

Please give your Christmas donation today and help London Wildlife Trust repair the damage from this summer and make wildlife reserves resilient to future climate change danger. 

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All donations to this appeal are unrestricted and will be used where they are needed most to protect London’s wildlife.

If you would prefer to support London Wildlife Trust with a regular donation you can become a member.

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You can also donate:

• By post - please download and complete our donation form and send a cheque made payable to London Wildlife Trust: London Wildlife Trust, Dean Bradley House, 52 Horseferry Road, London, SW1P 2AF.

If you aren't able to print our donation form please send a note with your cheque including your name and contact details and let us know if you would like to Gift Aid your donation, so we can send you a Gift Aid declaration form in the post. Unfortunately, we cannot claim Gift Aid from your donation unless you have filled in a Gift Aid declaration form. 

You are welcome to donate anonymously if you wish.

• Alternatively you can donate by phone - call 0207 803 4272 (Monday – Friday, 9.30am – 5.30pm).

Thank you