Last year Theresa May announced in the Government’s 25-year plan for the environment, that 2019 would be The Year of the Environment. Whilst this is true for a wildlife charity every year, to mark the start of 2019 Cheshire Wildlife Trust is asking everybody that loves nature to join the fight for the protection of our natural world, by becoming a member for only half-price this January.

The latest State of Nature report shows that we are losing our nation’s wildlife more rapidly than ever before. Since the 1930s, 66% of our barn owl population has now gone from our countryside, with 99% of our beautiful wildflower meadows also disappearing from since the 1960’s. The common frogs and water voles we used to see as a child have since seen a 90% decline since the 80’s and 90’s. Cheshire Wildlife Trust is demanding that this stops today and is urgently calling for supporters to join them and 13,000 others in creating a ‘wilder’ Cheshire for us all, for as little as £1.50 per month.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is the region’s leading independent wildlife charity, defending and improving wildlife havens across Cheshire East, Cheshire West and Chester, Halton, Stockport, Warrington, Tameside, Trafford and Wirral. The Trust manages homes for wildlife across more than 40 nature reserves in the area, with habitats ranging from grasslands and wet meadows, to reedbeds, coastal dunes and woodland. The Trust also ensures local communities have access to these wild areas, providing the tools for people to connect with their environment through communications, school visits, events and groups.

“Whether it be a hen harrier on a nature reserve or a zebra slug in the garden, nature is fascinating,” says Tracey Gibson of Cheshire Wildlife Trust. “It’s also essential – it’s literally the air that we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat. We need to stop taking it for granted. As a charity that receives no government funding, Cheshire Wildlife Trust can only continue to protect wildlife with the support of dedicated members.

“Lying in the wake of Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas, why not buck the consumerism and use the sales to give something back to our natural world? It’s also possible to give membership as a gift. It can be tricky to know what to buy for friends and family who seemingly have everything. Giving membership to the Trust is a unique, memorable and very worthy gift and lasts for a whole year.”

Membership to Cheshire Wildlife Trust includes a special welcome pack to get you started, including a guide to the local nature reserves in Cheshire. Members are also sent weekly email updates, as well as two copies of wildlife magazine The Grebe each year and discounts across the Trust’s exciting programme of events. Younger supporters also get a special welcome pack and four copies of Wildlife Watch, aimed at inspiring a love of nature at an early age. Members also have the opportunity to volunteer and help wildlife first hand throughout the year.

With HS2 plans being worked up for Cheshire and Brexit on the horizon for us all, Cheshire Wildlife Trust acts on behalf of members, voicing knowledge and expertise of local areas against developments and policy changes that would harm our precious region. Dormice, water voles and otters are just some of Cheshire’s special wildlife species that benefit from the work of the Trust, with maintenance of nature reserves and habitat conservation work just as important to preserve a wildlife-rich county for future generations.

“We have exciting plans for 2019. We’ve already planned lots of opportunities for members to get involved throughout the year, or simply be able to see how their support is helping on the ground” says Tracey.

Cheshire Wildlife Trust is dedicated to inspire, support and engage people of all ages and backgrounds to discover and take action for their local wildlife, so that everyone can continue to enjoy Cheshire’s nature and wild places today and in the future.

To find out more about half-price membership, please visit www.cheshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/membership.