Our strategy: 2025 - 2030
Growing hope for a wilder future
Pine marten (Martes martes) youngster in woodland, Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, Wester Ross, Scotland, UK - Mark Hamblin/2020VISION
We want everyone in Gloucestershire to value and enjoy wildlife in the county and believe strongly that nature matters, not only in its own right, but for the benefits it brings to people.
We aim to play a central role in tackling the ecological and climate emergencies, working closely with local communities and our partners in the county. We manage over 1,100 hectares of nature reserves and work with farmers and landowners across Gloucestershire. Nature’s recovery depends on people and re-connecting their sense of belonging in the natural world.
Our strategy is separated into three strands, centred around the theme of growing hope for a wilder future.
View our strategy
Bigger, better, more and connected landscapes for nature
Our nature reserves remain at the very heart of what we do. As well as caring for these local spaces for the benefit of both communities and wildlife in Gloucestershire, we are managing these vital strongholds to create opportunities for nature’s recovery.
In 2010, the landmark Lawton Report called for UK conservation to focus on sites that are bigger, better, more, and joined up. Our current reserves form the backbone of that vision. Now we must continue to ensure that they’re better connected and supported for wildlife.
Nature Recovery Zones (NRZs) are our response to this. These are large, connected landscapes centred on our key reserves. Guided by our Nature Recovery Network map we are expanding and linking habitats by acquiring land and working with farmers, landowners, and communities to create thriving, wildlife-rich places
Connecting people with a sense of belonging in nature
At the heart of virtually every single problem faced by wildlife in the UK is that we – as individuals and society as a whole – have become disconnected from the natural world. Re-kindling people’s sense of belonging in the natural world is therefore mission critical for our work, not least because people taking meaningful action for nature is paramount to our success.
Our focus is on connecting people with nature in whatever way suits them – be it on their doorstep or across the county. Nature is for everyone, and we aim to ensure equitable access to wild places is available to all, alongside opportunities to experience nature in daily life
Ensuring we are fit for the future
Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust was founded in 1961 by a group of volunteers, led by Sir Peter Scott. Since this moment, we have gone from strength to strength.
Today we are powered by a team of over 100 colleagues and 600 volunteers. We care for more than 1,100 hectares of land in the county and successfully deliver projects worth millions of pounds involving a complex range of stakeholders and funders.
Our growth and scale of ambition for 2030 means that it is important to focus attention on the foundational aspects of our work, ensuring that we continue to thrive as an organisation and are best-placed to deliver our goals for nature and for people in the county for years to come.