Wild Futures: Double the Impact!

Support from our followers has helped raise an incredible £13,664 in just seven days through our Wild Futures Big Give Christmas Appeal, opening up opportunities for even more children and young people to experience and enjoy nature.

Earlier this year our Garden Wildlife Survey asked what you would like us to do more of. Eighty two percent of responses said the same thing, that we should support children to feel connected and engaged with nature. This clear message shaped our appeal.

With match funding secured from E.ON (£5,000) and The Reed Educational Trust (£5,000), every donation made during the campaign had double the impact. Our community responded with huge generosity. The public donated £6,832 which was doubled to reach £13,664 plus additional Gift Aid.

What this means

Thanks to your support, we can inspire more children and young people through:

School-ground nature programmes
Transforming school grounds into wildlife-friendly spaces that are ready for outdoor lessons and play. We provide tools, ideas and guidance to help teachers bring nature into school life.

Regular engagement with nature
Creating frequent experiences for children who might not have access to parks or green spaces at home. Every child deserves to explore nature, no matter where they live.

Reducing nature access inequalities
Children from under-served or disadvantaged communities will have equal opportunities to enjoy nature and benefit from its wellbeing advantages. Our work is guided by our Nature Equity Map so support reaches the places where it is needed most.

Wildlife and wellbeing

Children are curious and enthusiastic about wildlife. These early experiences can shape a lifetime of care for the natural world. Evidence now shows that nature also supports mental resilience and wellbeing. With research showing one in five young people may live with a mental health condition, time outdoors, discovering wildlife and learning new skills can make a positive difference.

Nature is home to wildlife and it is also a vital part of human health. This funding will help young people take action for nature and discover the benefits it brings to their own lives and communities.

Voices from the project

“It’s amazing that we’ve had so much support for our Wild Futures appeal, funding is vital in helping children connect with nature. Thanks to these donations, in 2026 we’re able to continue to support schools, teachers, children and young people to connect with and take action for nature. We know how much nature can support and inspire young people so there’ll be an even bigger emphasis on building new skills and boosting the resilience they need for the future. When we invest in nature based learning, we are investing in stronger, healthier and more confident young people.”
Caitlin McKiernan, Nature Connection Manager, Sheffield & Rotherham Wildlife Trust

“For some of our children these will be first time experiences and will hopefully have instilled a love of their local area and the nature around them, creating lasting memories and a desire to protect these beautiful spaces that are on their doorstep.”
Teacher at an Outdoor Learning session

Thank you

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who donated and helped spread the word. Your kindness has created real and lasting opportunities for young people to learn, explore and grow through nature.

Find out more about how we are supporting young people here.