Protect Earth, an environmental charity is on a mission to secure £40,000 to preserve a portion of woodland in Bristol city. The organisation has initiated a fundraising campaign intending to acquire Blackswarth Road Wood, an area designated as a Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI), located in the heart of Bristol. The acquisition of this land, according to Protect Earth, would not only ensure its protection from potential development but would also significantly contribute towards enhancing its biodiversity as a sanctuary for local wildlife.
Blackswarth Road Wood plays an instrumental role for wildlife. This Wood serves as an essential corridor along the Avon Valley. This corridor is vital as it facilitates the movement of various species, including deer, badgers, bats, and birds, into the heart of the city. Moreover, the Wood’s location on the steep edges of the Avon Valley enhances its visual appeal.
In the 1980s, the site was characterised as ‘deserted allotments and regenerating scrub and woodland’. Over the following decades, this description remained unchanged, with the area becoming littered with waste due to frequent fly-tipping.
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Blackswarth Road Wood has faced years of neglect. It will need an intensive clean up operation to clear away the decades of fly-tipping. [/caption]
Protect Earth aims to rehabilitate this space, eradicating the signs of neglect and, in the process, creating improved habitats for the resident creatures.
Where are we so far?
We’ve made significant progress with our crowdfunding campaign, reaching 100% of our funding objective in just one week! However, the journey is far from finished.
Additional funds will help us should we be outbid at the auction in September! The £40,000 + gift aid raised makes up a large chunk of the guide price, but we need to have more to ensure we can make a competitive bid. Auctions can go to much higher than guide price, so we need to keep raising funds to increase our chance of success. Nothing is guaranteed!
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We’ve surpassed the target! But, more funds will give us the ability to better tackle the years of neglect and fly-tipping Blackswarth Road Wood has undeservedly received. [/caption]
Also, it will take time, money, and effort once the land is purchased to clear the waste and years of fly-tipping from the site.
Helping with fundraising, we are thrilled to collaborate with the Aviva Save our Wild Isles Community Fund to further advance our cause of safeguarding this essential woodland. This Fund generously matches every pound raised with an additional two pounds - effectively tripling every £10 donation into £30 - up to a maximum match of £500!
This remarkable initiative brings us closer to achieving our target and preserving the Blackswarth Road Wood.
How to get involved?
Preserving Blackswarth Road Wood is about protecting nature and conserving a piece of our history and culture. Your contribution can play a pivotal role in this endeavour. You can support us by donating at our crowdfunding page.
Furthermore, amplifying our cause by sharing this campaign within your network can have a significant impact. Every effort counts in this crucial initiative to safeguard Blackswarth Road Wood.
Who are Protect Earth?
Protect Earth is an environmental charity dedicated to promoting and revitalising biodiversity across the UK. The organisation has made significant strides in environmental preservation, purchasing land in the South West and Wales. These acquisitions aim to transform these areas back into their original states of lush woodlands and temperate rainforests.
Additionally, Protect Earth extends its conservation efforts through collaboration with landowners, guiding environmental-friendly land development. This includes assisting farmers in constructing hedgerows, a strategy that decreases their energy expenses and enhances the fertility of their farm soil. Private landowners equally benefit from these initiatives, receiving expert advice on increasing the green cover on their properties.
Who’s apart of the effort so far?
Protect Earth is not the only group interested in preserving this area’s natural splendour. The charity is collaborating with local community organisations such as Friends of Troopers Hill and Bristol Tree Forum.
This initiative has gained broader attention and featured on platforms such as BBC News,BBC Radio Bristol,Bristol Post, andBristol 24/7.