Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s plans for leading nature’s recovery, inspiring people and communities to care, and mobilising people to act are far reaching, but in order to be sure the Trust can see them through, it needs to know it will receive income in the future. 

Leaving a gift in a will to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust is one way members and supporters can help make sure it can plan far ahead and achieve its vision of landscapes rich in wildlife, valued by everyone.

Thinking about making a will is something that lots of people put off, for all sorts of reasons, but when leaving a gift to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust people can be confident that their legacy, big or small, will make a real difference and will be put to good use meeting the most urgent conservation needs.

Speaking about legacy giving, Mark Heaven, Head of Fundraising at Derbyshire Wildlife Trust said:

“Derbyshire Wildlife Trust’s vision is a county with more wildlife, more wild spaces and more people coming into contact with nature. But we can only make that happen with help. We especially rely on the gifts that kind supporters leave us in their wills.

“A legacy gift could help us purchase and restore a new nature reserve, or even help save a threatened species such as the dormouse or nightjar. You can be confident that your legacy, big or small, will make a real difference and will be put to good, use meeting the most urgent conservation needs. Leaving just 1% to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust in your will can make a huge difference.”

Stephanie Bentley and Vicky Cross share the story of Sheila Bentley and her lifelong interest in nature:

“Our mother Sheila Bentley, who died in April aged 84, left a legacy of £1,000 to the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust in her will. She was very clear that she wanted to help the good work of the DWT, having been a member of the Trust for nearly 60 years. 

“Sheila had a lifelong interest in nature and especially in wild flowers and botany, which she had studied at school. She and our late father Roy Bentley were among the original members of the DWT when it first started in 1962, not long after they moved from London to set up home in Duffield.  

“They both loved the Derbyshire countryside, with Roy particularly interested in birdwatching, geology and the history of the landscape. Some years after Roy died, Sheila was very pleased and touched to be invited to an evening at the DWT’s headquarters in Middleton to commemorate the founding of the Trust. 

“For much of her retirement, Sheila was a keen rambler in Derbyshire. In later years she enjoyed family outings with her grandchildren to beautiful places such as Cromford Canal, where we spotted the little grebes amongst the moorhens and ducks.  

“Our mum left a legacy to the DWT because she wanted to help preserve Derbyshire’s wildlife beyond her lifetime. She wanted future generations to be able to enjoy precious nature just as she and Roy had done.”

Find out more about leaving a legacy gift to Derbyshire Wildlife Trust or information about a free Will here.