Avon Wildlife Trust

Who we are

Avon Wildlife Trust is the longest established charity working towards nature’s recovery across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset, and South Gloucestershire.

We were established in 1980, and have a strong track record of creating, restoring, and protecting vital habitats for nature.

Our region has an amazing array of different habitats, and we are working across them all. From our urban roots to the breathtaking Levels and Moors, through magical woodlands and precious grasslands.

As the first urban Wildlife Trust, we are leaders in engagement and community organising for nature within our cities, helping to sustain vital green corridors and connecting people with nature within urban areas.

We’re supported by an active membership from across our region, and more than 350 volunteers, including our trustees, who share their expertise and time to help us achieve our goals.

We are part of a wider network of 46 Wildlife Trusts across the UK and work with many partners to protect our natural environment and support an abundance of wildlife in towns, cities and countryside.

Our culture and values

Our aims:

Nature's recovery

• we need to make more space for nature to give our struggling wildlife the chance to reciver. We would like to see 30% of youy land and sea managed for nature by 2023. We'll create, connect and restore a diverse range of abundantly wild places and form thriving nature recovery networks across the region.

Empowering People

• Inspiring and resourcing people to take action for wildlife. The science shows that if just one person in every four takes action for wildlife, this can be enough to change the minds and behaviour of the majority, which will help to put nature in recovery. 

Nature-based solutions

• We want to restore and create good quality habitat to draw down carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, reduce local flooding and pollution while promoting an abundance of biodiversity across our region. Our vision is to see 1000 hectares of habitat across Avon restored, providing nature-based solutions to the climate crisis. 

Our values:

• We’re determined

Nature is facing huge challenges, but we have the skills, tenacity, and experience to help it recover and thrive.

• We get things done

Nature’s recovery takes bold and decisive action. Our ability to work locally and at a landscape scale enables us to make an immediate and effective impact.

• We’re collaborative

Nature connects us all. We work to bring like-minded people together, co-creating solutions that help nature and people flourish.

Equality, diversity and inclusion policy

We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to experience the joy of wildlife in their daily lives, that’s why we’re committed to putting equality, diversity and inclusion at the heart of our movement.  

We’re Wild About Inclusion! To us, this means inspiring, empowering and engaging people from all backgrounds, cultures, identities and abilities, to change the natural world for the better and take action to help wildlife in their daily lives.   

We know that not everyone has equal access to nature. Therefore, it’s important for us to better understand and address inequalities experienced by many communities in accessing nature, improve connection and inclusivity for all and ensure everyone is able to benefit from wildlife. 

We also recognise that the conservation sector is one of the least diverse professions in the UK.  We are committed to ensuring we reflect and represent all parts of society by improving access to jobs and training opportunities for groups currently under represented in our sector. 

Our people are very important to us, so we’re wild about cultivating inclusive work spaces that are free from discrimination, where differences are valued, everyone can be themselves and flourish, just like nature!