A century working for our wildlife In May 1912, Charles Rothschild held a meeting at the Natural History Museum, London to discuss his radical idea about saving places for nature. This meeting led to the formation of the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves, which would become the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. It signalled the beginning of UK nature conservation as we know it. In parallel, the seeds for local conservation organisations, the forerunners to Wildlife Trusts, were beginning to germinate. The first was in Norfolk in 1926, followed by Yorkshire in 1946 and Lincolnshire in 1948. The 1950s saw more and more groups beginning to form and by the end of the decade the Society took on the role of a national association to represent them. The Scottish Wildlife Trust was formed in 1964 and Trusts now covered the whole of Britain. The movement expanded further in 1978 with the formation of the Ulster Wildlife Trust and urban Trusts in the 1980s. There are now 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK and we have more than 800,000 members. We work for nature’s recovery on land and at sea, manage 2,300 nature reserves and run marine conservation projects around the coast. We are 100 years old in 2012. Rothschild Reserves In 1912, Charles Rothschild started a survey of areas most ‘worthy of preservation’ in the British Isles and Ireland. He identified 284 proposed nature reserves, including Hartslock Wood in Oxfordshire (indicated in red, above, on this archive map). Survey documents and archive maps for all Rothschild Reserves can be found in a new interactive database on our website, as well as further information about our history. Details on other centenary materials including a film and commemorative history book are also available. Visit wildlifetrusts.org/100
Shows back and front of postcard holder. Holder has 100 years logo with spot UV varnish on front.
1912-2012
Our founder 100 years ago, banker and entomologist Charles Rothschild established the Society for the Promotion of Natures Reserves (now The Wildlife Trusts). Rothschild’s vision was to safeguard the places where wildlife lived – the moors, meadows, woods and fens that were fast disappearing from the landscapes of Britain and Ireland.
Photo: Charles Rothschild (1877-1923) © The Rothschild Archive, London Postcard No. 1 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves The Society for the Promotion of Natures Reserves was founded by Charles Rothschild in May 1912. Based at the Natural History Museum in London, its first objective was to draw up a list of Britain and Ireland’s finest wildlife sites with the intention of protecting them as nature reserves. By 1915, a list of 284 sites, known as the ‘Rothschild Reserves’, was complete. A number of these are still managed by Wildlife Trusts today.
Photo: Our first logo Postcard No. 2 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
The first Wildlife Trust Formed in 1926, Norfolk Wildlife Trust is the oldest Trust. That year the Trust took on the ownership of Cley Marshes on the Norfolk coast, which had been purchased by Dr Sydney Long. He was keen that the area – which was renowned for birds – should be prevented from falling into unwelcome hands. It remains a Trust nature reserve today.
Photo: News clipping reporting the sale of Cley Marshes, 1926 Postcard No. 3 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
Woodwalton Fen One of the last remaining fragments of the once extensive Huntingdonshire Fens, Woodwalton Fen was the first, largest and most important nature reserve owned by the Society for the Promotion of Natures Reserves before the Second World War. It was purchased by Charles Rothschild, who gifted it to the Society in 1919. Today it is part of the Great Fen – an ambitious Living Landscape partnership scheme that is restoring a large area of fenland.
Photo: Woodwalton Fen, pictured in 1935 Postcard No. 4 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
Trusts begin to spread After the Second World War, Wildlife Trusts began to form across the UK. Lincolnshire founder Ted Smith was instrumental in helping Trusts establish around the country, arguing that each area needed an “independent organisation devoted primarily to conservation… deriving its support from a much wider section of community than the average natural history society.”
Photo: Max Nicholson and Ted Smith, Gibraltar Point, 1960 Postcard No. 5 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
The movement continues to grow With the formation of the Scottish Trust in 1964, Wildlife Trusts covered the whole of Britain. By now the Trusts had asked the Society for the Promotion of Natures Reserves to act as their national organisation. Throughout the 1960s and 70s Trusts acquired hundreds of nature reserves and developed their memberships.
Photo: Detail from an archive Berks, Bucks and Oxfordshire Naturalist Trust (now Wildlife Trust) poster, 1980 Postcard No. 6 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
Urban nature conservation In the 1980s a new type of conservationist emerged – people passionate about wildlife in cities. Urban conservation groups soon sprang up in cities including Bristol, Birmingham and London, some of which later became fully-fledged Wildlife Trusts.
Photo: Tree planting at Holly Hill Community Park, early 1980s Š Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and Black Country Postcard No. 7 of 14
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1912-2012
Standing up for nature From key political acts to massive fundraising and awareness campaigns, from improving legal protection for badgers to peat bogs, influencing and campaigning is a key part of what The Wildlife Trusts do. We’ve successfully lobbied for new laws to protect nature, and continue to ensure policy is made with wildlife in mind.
Photo: David Attenborough helps launch the British Wildlife Appeal, 1985 Postcard No. 8 of 14
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1912-2012
Protecting species and habitats The Wildlife Trusts work to give all the UK’s species and habitats a voice. Since the 1960s Trusts have been at the forefront of efforts to protect and restore otter populations. Following a crash in numbers linked to the use of pesticides, Trusts have worked with hundreds of landowners to create a healthy habitat for otters and restore them across their former range.
Photo: Otter Š Terry Longley Postcard No. 9 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
A volunteer movement Volunteers are the lifeblood of our movement. The Wildlife Trusts have more than 30,000 volunteers who are willing to give up their free time to help local wildlife. They carry out a huge range of vital tasks – from dealing with wildlife enquiries and surveying underwater habitats, to managing local nature reserves, running Wildlife Watch groups for children and working as trustees.
Photo: Diver surveying seaweed off the east coast Š Rob Spray Postcard No. 10 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
Our members We have more than 800,000 members who are vital in supporting our work to protect and restore natural habitats, and the species that live in them, across the UK. Together we can stand up for wildlife on sea and land, ensuring that politicians and decision-makers give nature a chance to recover.
Photo: Essex Wildlife Trust celebrates its 5000th member at Fingringhoe Wick in 1973 Š Essex Wildlife Trust Postcard No. 11 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
Inspiring the next generation Education is an essential part of what Wildlife Trusts do. Introducing people - young and old - to the wonders of the natural world is incredibly important to ensure current and future generations value nature. Our junior branch branch, Wildlife Watch, began in 1977 and now boasts 150,000 members. Many reserves regularly host school and community visits, and we work with thousands of schools every year.
Photo: Children putting up nestboxes in Betty Daw’s wood, 1964 Postcard No. 12 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
A Living Landscape A Living Landscape is a recovery plan for nature championed by The Wildlife Trusts since 2006 to help create a resilient and healthy environment rich in wildlife and provide ecological security for people. All 47 Wildlife Trusts work with landowners, local communities and partners to restore nature on land.
Photo: Harebells in the Lakeland Living Landscape, the Lake District Š Cumbria Wildlife Trust Postcard No. 13 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
1912-2012
Living Seas The Wildlife Trusts work to secure the future of the UK’s marine and coastal environment, and secure Living Seas. We’re involved with many marine conservation projects around the UK, surveying and collecting vital data on the state of our seas. We led a campaign that resulted in the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009.
Photo: Starfish larva, Isles of Scilly © Keith Hiscock Postcard No. 14 of 14
wildlifetrusts.org
A century working for our wildlife In May 1912, Charles Rothschild held a meeting at the Natural History Museum, London to discuss his radical idea about saving places for nature. This meeting led to the formation of the Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves, which would become the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts. It signalled the beginning of UK nature conservation as we know it. In parallel, the seeds for local conservation organisations, the forerunners to Wildlife Trusts, were beginning to germinate. The first was in Norfolk in 1926, followed by Yorkshire in 1946 and Lincolnshire in 1948. The 1950s saw more and more groups beginning to form and by the end of the decade the Society took on the role of a national association to represent them. The Scottish Wildlife Trust was formed in 1964 and Trusts now covered the whole of Britain. The movement expanded further in 1978 with the formation of the Ulster Wildlife Trust and urban Trusts in the 1980s. There are now 47 Wildlife Trusts across the UK and we have more than 800,000 members. We work for nature’s recovery on land and at sea, manage 2,300 nature reserves and run marine conservation projects around the coast. We are 100 years old in 2012. Rothschild Reserves In 1912, Charles Rothschild started a survey of areas most ‘worthy of preservation’ in the British Isles and Ireland. He identified 284 proposed nature reserves, including Hartslock Wood in Oxfordshire (indicated in red, above, on this archive map). Survey documents and archive maps for all Rothschild Reserves can be found in a new interactive database on our website, as well as further information about our history. Details on other centenary materials including a film and commemorative history book are also available. Visit wildlifetrusts.org/100
Shows back and front of postcard holder. Holder has 100 years logo with spot UV varnish on front.