Wiltshire Wildlife Trust are rejoicing at the generosity of its supporters who have donated over £50,000 to help save the wildflower meadows at Morningside Farm.
Despite their national importance, these wildflower meadows between Swindon and Royal Wootton Bassett have no legal protection. They were put on sale and advertised as suitable for activities that could have ruined them forever.
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust stepped in and offered to buy these meadows for £451,000. An appeal was launched to raise the £50,000 deposit needed by the end of November and so secure the future of this nationally important treasure.
Dr Gary Mantle MBE, Chief Executive of Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, commented: “There has been an incredible response to the appeal by our supporters. We would like to give a big thank you to everyone who has contributed. As a result of your kind and generous support we have raised the £50,000 needed for the deposit.
"We can begin the legal process to buy the land as a both a haven for local wildlife and as a place for people to enjoy, for generations to come.”
Wiltshire resident, writer and local business owner of web agency Aerian, Paul Goodenough donated the remaining £15,000 needed to secure the deposit.
Paul explained: “Rewilding and creating breathing spaces for nature is essential, not only for wildlife, but for humankind too. I couldn't sit idly by and wait for it to be someone else's problem, or responsibility, because it is my problem and responsibility, and it's groups like Wiltshire Wildlife Trust that inspire us all to reverse the decline of wildlife in the UK. So given the choice between spending the money on something self-fulfilling like a new car, or supporting the appeal and saving lives, it really was a no brainer."
Wiltshire Wildlife Trust now has 22 months to raise the rest of the money needed to complete the purchase of Morningside Farm and will be putting in fundraising bids to Charitable Trusts and other organisations.
To learn more about Morningside Farm and how you can help as well as keeping up to-date with progress, visit www.wiltshirewildlife.org/morningsideappeal
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