The Wildlife Trusts

The Wildlife Trusts
PredecessorThe Society for the Promotion of Nature Reserves
Formation1912; 112 years ago (1912)
TypeCharitable trust
Registration no.207238
Location
President
Liz Bonnin
Chairman
Duncan Ingram
Chief Executive
Craig Bennett
Websitewww.wildlifetrusts.org

The Wildlife Trusts, the trading name of the Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts, is an organisation made up of 46 local Wildlife Trusts in the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man and Alderney. The Wildlife Trusts, between them, look after more than 2,300 nature reserves, covering around 98,500 hectares (243,000 acres). As of 2020, the Trusts have a combined membership of over 870,000 members.[1]

The Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT) is an independent charity,[2] with a membership formed of the 46 individual charitable Trusts. It acts as an umbrella group for the individual Wildlife Trusts, as well as operating a separate Grants Unit which administers a number of funds.

King Charles III serves as the patron of the Wildlife Trusts.[3] David Bellamy was president of The Wildlife Trusts for ten years between 1995 and 2005,[4] and was succeeded by Aubrey Manning. Sir David Attenborough, Simon King and Tony Juniper are all Presidents Emeritus.[5] Stephanie Hilborne OBE was chief executive for 15 years, and left in October 2019. Craig Bennett became CEO from April 6, 2020.[6][3][7]

  1. ^ "About". The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  2. ^ The Charity Commission, Charity 20738
  3. ^ a b "How we are run". The Wildlife Trusts. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  4. ^ "David Bellamy - a tribute from The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  5. ^ "How we are run | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 20 July 2020.
  6. ^ "New leader for The Wildlife Trusts – environmental campaigner Craig Bennett | The Wildlife Trusts". www.wildlifetrusts.org. Retrieved 12 December 2019.
  7. ^ New leader for The Wildlife Trusts rarebirdalert.co.uk accessed 14 December 2019