Remembering the Trust in your will can reap benefits for local wildlife long after you’ve departed, says Ben Vanheems of BBOWT

The natural world is a beaut-iful thing. It provides pure joy as it feeds the soul and invigorates the mind. And perhaps without you even realising it, the landscape and wildlife all around us will have formed an integral part of who you are.

As an outdoor enthusiast there is no place I’d rather be than walking in stunning wild places alive with the sights and sounds of the creatures that thrive within them. Whenever I need to reset the clock and soothe my weary mind I simply head out into the local countryside where nature provides the tonic. Nature helps to restore that sense of perspective in a fast-paced world. It’s there whenever you need it and knowing it will be there for generations to come is hugely reassuring.

And yet it is all too easy to take nature for granted. The assumption is that because it is wild, it must take care of itself. This may have been the case before man made his mark but in today’s highly managed landscape wildlife needs our help if it is to stand its ground. Pressures from farming, development and pollution have made the work of conservation charities such as BBOWT crucial to protecting and enhancing precious spaces for wildlife. Having the resources required to do this has allowed the Trust to secure wildlife-rich sites in danger of being lost forever while protecting vulnerable species that have seen an alarming decline over recent decades. Thanks to the generosity of people like you it is also inspiring the next generation of wildlife champions.

One way of helping local wildlife is to remember BBOWT in your will. Gifts made this way will reap benefits for nature long after you have departed, preserving your memory in the swaying wildflower meadows or statuesque woodlands you cherish today.

“People attach unique and special memories to different places,” says BBOWT chief executive Estelle Bailey. “It could be a memory from childhood or a family day out, a poignant moment along a tranquil walk, or a solitary pause of reflection among the buzz of insects and the early morning haze.

“We are blessed with remarkable areas of natural beauty that will hopefully continue to create more special memories for future generations and preserve those precious areas we love.”

This week is Remember a Charity week, when we are asked to consider including a charity in our will. While it’s important to take care of loved ones first and foremost, sparing an additional thought for your favourite charity can make all the difference. Perhaps your legacy could go on to create a new nature reserve that your children and grandchildren will enjoy. What better way to leave a lasting legacy than one that’s highly personal to you?

Recent legacies have enabled BBOWT to step in and secure natural havens. For example, a substantial gift left by Gillian Burden contributed towards the purchase of Upper Common at Chimney Meadows near Bampton, now home to a growing population of water voles and nesting barn owls.

But every gift, no matter how big or small, counts — you really don’t have to be wealthy to leave an appreciable impact.

The most effective way of remembering a charity in your will is to leave a ‘residuary bequest’. This is expressed as a percentage of your estate rather than a specific sum, which is more likely to keep pace with inflation. Donations to charity are also exempt from inheritance tax (a satisfying thought!). If you have already made a will there’s no need to rewrite it; an extra clause or ‘codicil’ is very simple to add.

Let your mind wander to those wild experiences closest to your heart. Perhaps it is crunching through the leaves on a crisp autumn day at Warburg Nature Reserve near Nettlebed, or maybe you love taking in the nodding sea of speckled snake’s-head fritillary flowers at Iffley Meadows –— a sure sign that spring has arrived.

By remembering BBOWT in your Will your love of these extraordinary places can live on.