Mission Wild - Bringing nature back

Not too long ago, Gloucestershire’s rivers, forests and grasslands were filled with extraordinary wildlife. Eels and beavers migrated through healthy waterways, butterflies fluttered across flower-rich grasslands, and ecosystems remained in a balance with the species that depended on them. 

Today, many of these species are in decline or have disappeared altogether, and we see fewer signs of abundance than used to be the case. 

Through Mission Wild, we intend to reverse that loss and bringing nature back to Gloucestershire before it’s too late. 

We have already led the recovery of priority species such as the pine marten and large blue butterfly in Gloucestershire, working in partnership with Vincent Wildlife Trust and Royal Entomological Society to make this a reality. But our work doesn’t stop there. Over the coming years, we aim to reintroduce beavers to their natural habitat living alongside humas, and restore the Duke of Burgundy butterfly, whose range has declined by around 89% since the 1980s.

Bringing back nature is about more than restoring individual species. By improving habitats, recovering river health and creating more connected landscapes, we can give vulnerable species the best possible chance to recover.