WWT, the wetland charity, is inviting supporters to start something unstoppable. To leave a gift in their will to WWT and start a ripple effect that protects wetlands, whatever the future holds.
WWT’s latest legacy campaign highlights how gifts in wills can create positive change for wetlands, wildlife and the people who love these special places.
Thinking about leaving a gift in your will to WWT? Supporters can access a free guide explaining more about will writing, the different options available and common questions, helping you understand what to do next. Find out more about WWT’s free will writing service and access free, no-obligation advice.
WWT wetlands are places where people can make lasting memories, from spotting a favourite species for the first time and spending time with friends and family, to simply finding a moment of calm in nature.
Across the UK, you can see the impact of long-term investment in nature at WWT sites. In summer, in the Estuary Shoreline Garden at WWT Slimbridge, red-veined darter dragonflies fly above white waterlilies, while tufted ducklings dabble through the shallows in search of food. Just a few years ago, this landscape looked completely different. It was home to our flamingo enclosure, before we transformed it with wildflower meadows and native trees. It wasn’t long before wetland birds, butterflies and dragonflies moved in. The garden now buzzes with life throughout the year.
It’s a reminder that the choices we make today can have a lasting impact, creating new opportunities for wildlife and inspiring people to care for nature.
At other WWT sites, the stepping stones at WWT Martin Mere have quickly become a firm favourite with visitors, while Pelican Cove at WWT Arundel is now home to our resident Dalmatian pelicans. At WWT Steart Marshes, what was once farmland at risk of flooding has been transformed into one of the UK’s largest new saltmarshes.
The campaign comes as wetlands across the UK face unprecedented pressure. Climate change is reshaping these vital habitats, with prolonged summer droughts drying out marshes and pools, while increasingly intense winter floods can overwhelm and disrupt delicate ecosystems.
Yet WWT is showing what can happen when wetlands are given the care, support and time they need to thrive, from restoring and creating habitats to helping threatened species recover.
Gifts in wills help make this possible, supporting vital conservation work across our wetlands.
Around £1 in every £5 donated to WWT comes from gifts in wills, providing vital support for the charity’s conservation work.
Gifts in wills could help WWT deliver its ambitious plans to create 100,000 hectares of new and restored wetlands, bring threatened species back from the brink and deliver pioneering research. This includes discovering how saltmarshes can store carbon and help fight climate change, as well as finding better ways to restore wetlands, manage water and strengthen landscapes against extreme weather.
Mrs P A Morgan, who has pledged a gift to WWT in her will, said:
As a child, I became interested in wildlife when my parents took me to Slimbridge. Now I have grandchildren, and we spend many happy hours at WWT Llanelli. They build dens out of willow, identify wild birds and feed the tame ones.
WWT supporter, Jenny explained:
I love wildlife and made a choice that WWT should be included in my Will. The process was quick and easy, and I like knowing that wetlands I love will be protected into the future, with my support.
WWT hopes the campaign will encourage more people to consider the legacy they could leave for nature, helping create a safer, healthier, brighter future for wetlands and wildlife.
Ready to find out more?
Click here for more information on leaving a gift in your will to WWT
