Environment & Climate Health & Wellbeing 2025
The Wildlife Trusts (Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts)

Our Year for Wildlife and Climate: Impact Report April 2024–December 2025

The Wildlife Trusts' 2024/25 impact report covers the work of its federation of 47 independent charities across the UK, Isle of Man and Alderney, united under Royal Society of Wildlife Trusts (RSWT). With 945,000 members, 33,000 volunteers and 4,100 staff, the federation manages 2,600+ nature reserves welcoming 14 million visitors annually and engages 231,000+ young people. Highlights include the Nextdoor Nature programme reaching 1,600 communities, major political campaigning ahead of the 2024 general election, and the landmark Rothbury Estate acquisition appeal. RSWT income (central charity) was £43.66m in FY2024/25; combined federation income across all Trusts was £230.4m (2024 data).

View Report
Report snapshot
1 Views

📋About

Nature reserve management and habitat restoration; species reintroduction (beavers, pine martens, osprey); rewilding and land acquisition (including Rothbury Estate £30m appeal); urban nature and green social prescribing; Nextdoor Nature community programme; youth engagement and Wilder Schools; marine conservation and highly protected marine areas campaigning; policy influencing and political advocacy; nature markets and anti-greenwashing

📊Key Metrics

945,000 members and 33,000 volunteers across 47 independent Wildlife Trusts; 4,100 dedicated employees managing over 2,600 nature reserves Key Metric 1
231,000+ children and young people engaged from over 2,400 schools, colleges, universities and youth groups; 7,300 corporate volunteering days facilitated annually Key Metric 2
10,120km of watercourses and 112,000 hectares of land managed by Wildlife Trusts; almost 14 million visitors welcomed annually to nature reserves and 120 information centres Key Metric 3

✅Key Outcomes

  • Nextdoor Nature (£5m National Lottery Heritage Fund programme) reached over 1,600 communities — eight times the original target of 200; 95% of participants reported greater collaborative working between residents and local organisations
  • Campaigned in 580 of 650 constituencies ahead of the 2024 General Election; held 15 local hustings and a national hustings putting nature firmly on the political agenda
  • 4,400+ planning applications responded to on behalf of wildlife; Rothbury Estate appeal raised over £800,000 in days following Sir David Attenborough film launch; puffin population on Alderney tripled over 20 years to 330 active nests in 2024

📍Geography

UK-Wide

Related reports

All Environment & Climate reports →
2025 Enhanced
Marine Conservation Society (MCS)

Annual Impact Report & Accounts 2024-25

61,819 native oysters deployed across UK restoration projects in 2024/25
Key Metric 1
15,064 people participated in the Beachwatch beach clean programme, submitting 1,256 litter surveys — the highest in the programme's 31-year history
Key Metric 2
17,613 young people engaged through in-person or online youth programme sessions
Key Metric 3
£11.5 billion Ofwat investment package secured for storm overflow cuts in England and Wales following sustained MCS advocacy
Environment & Climate Policy
View
2025 Enhanced
Cats Protection

Cats Protection Annual Report 2024

191,000 cats and kittens helped — 525 a day (2023: 184,000); 29,000 cats rehomed; 168,000 cats neutered including 13,000 feral cats; 93,000 cats microchipped
Key Metric 1
£96.9 million total income (2023: £89.3 million); £108.5 million net assets; £50.1 million legacy income; 9,800 volunteers (2023: 9,200)
Key Metric 2
430 cat owners helped to flee domestic abuse with 750 cats given temporary foster homes (Lifeline) — up from 229 in 2023; 5.9 million website visits; 1,290 welfare talks to 37,700 people in schools and community groups
Key Metric 3
Mandatory microchipping for cats in England came into force June 2024 — direct result of years of Cats Protection campaigning; Pet Abduction Act came into force August 2024 making cat theft a specific criminal offence; Cat Manifesto sent to every election candidate with 111 newly elected MPs having responded
Environment & Climate Research
View
2025 Enhanced
The Royal Parks (charity)

Annual Report and Accounts 2024-25

32,000 people participated in learning activities; 65,000 volunteer hours contributed; 250,000 biodiversity-boosting plants and bulbs planted; 24,000 snowdrops planted by Royal Parks Half Marathon runners
Key Metric 1
94% of public rated their visit as good or excellent; 5 consecutive years all 8 parks awarded Green Flag; 160,000+ members making 300,000+ visits; membership generated £5.8m plus £814k Gift Aid
Key Metric 2
1,000 free plants donated to local charities, community groups and schools; 200 old noticeboards and maps replaced; 12,500 enquiries handled by visitor support team; Greenwich Park flagship restoration project completed
Key Metric 3
Queen Elizabeth II Memorial Garden at Regent's Park received planning permission and is progressing — opening Spring 2026; Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Playground renewal received planning permission — opening Spring 2026; Greenwich Park flagship restoration project completed — new meadows, shrubs, community facilities
Environment & Climate Sustainability
View