Making Meadows appeal

For the butterflies and the bees, the birds and the memories; with your support, we’re making more space for nature. Please donate to help us bring back the wildflower meadows we’ve lost from our countryside

A little girl explores a wildflower meadow at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire — Exploring a wildflower meadow at Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire

Wildflower meadows provide vital habitats for much of our wildlife, but what if our nation's meadows disappeared forever? Thanks to your generous donations, we’re starting to create and restore 1,000 hectares of meadow land across the UK. But there's still more work to be done.

As a nation we’ve lost 97 per cent of wildflower meadows since the 1930s. This staggering loss has stripped our bugs, butterflies, small birds and mammals of their natural homes and contributed to a devastating decline in our wildlife population.

Donate to save more meadows

With your continued support, we want to create and restore flower-rich grass and meadowland habitats, so life and colour can flourish once again. Donate to our appeal, using the options below, and help bring back our magnificent meadows.

The figures are frightening, but you can help fight back

Since 1900, almost 1.6 million hectares of wildflower meadows have been lost
In the last decade alone, 72% of our butterflies have disappeared
The UK's turtle doves have suffered a 93% decline in population

Donate to Making Meadows appeal

Please select an amount

£15 could restore a patch of meadow of over 37 square metres

£30 could buy 6 small bales of green hay from local flower-rich fields, used to spread seeds across a new area of meadow

£50 could purchase about 40 yellow rattle flowers, ready for planting

Or enter your own amount

silver studded blue butterfly — Silver Studded Blue

Rescue plan for nature

Britain’s wildlife is in trouble; more than half of our species are now in decline. With your support, we want to bring nature's colour and buzz back from the margins of our countryside.

From Llanunwas in Pembrokeshire to Penrose in Cornwall, we aim to make the equivalent of over 33,000 Premier League football pitches worth of new wildlife habitats by 2025. But we need your support. Will you help us make more meadows by donating today?

Why meadows are so important

The orchard meadow at Sissinghurst in early morning sunshine

Walking along the family trail at Longshaw, Burbage and the Eastern Moors, Derbyshire

Homes for pollinators

When wildflower meadows disappear so do our pollinators. A third of British wild bees are in decline and two UK species of bumblebee have vanished.

Greening flower power

Meadows are useful for preventing flooding and help to combat climate change. They store and clean rain water, and capture carbon.

Protecting hundreds of rare species

Wildflower meadows provide food and shelter for many insects and plants that in turn support small animals and birds, like the skylark and the turtle dove.

Places for enjoying nature

There's nothing like the feeling of brushing your hands against long grasses in summer meadows. It's part of our childhood and natural heritage.

" Our newly restored meadows at Dunstable Downs are an island refuge for wildlife. Now alive with the buzz of bees and flutter of butterflies, the subtle shades of wildflowers build into a mosaic of colour. Deer and brown hares also use these vital fields as corridors. The longer you spend in the meadows, the more you discover."

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Video

Sights and sounds of creating a meadow

From the White Peak hay meadows, amid the sounds of skylarks and long grass swishing, Rachel Bennett, the National Trust’s Peak District lead ranger tells us what's being done to save these beautiful and vital wildlife havens.

Help us protect species like the large blue butterfly, the turtledove and the great yellow bumblebee before it's too late.

Nature-friendly farming

Our resident Welsh black cattle and mountain ponies are grazing in a new way to bring back 6000 hectares of wildflower meadows to coastal countryside across Ceredigion, in Wales.

Spreading seeds in Snowdonia

In just a few years, we’ve helped to turn the valleys of Snowdonia into a carpet of wildflowers. This benefits declining species like the rare marsh fritillary butterfly and the rare twite bird.

A beautiful hay meadow at Hill Top farm, Near Sawrey

Heyday for Potter’s meadows

Hay meadows at Beatrix Potter’s Hill Top farm in the Lake District have been restored to a traditional haven for wildlife, following 25 years of work. Benjamin Bunny would be delighted.

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We're a charity and rely on your donations to help our conservation work

Ways to donate

Why give to the National Trust?

As a charity, we rely on the generosity of supporters to look after the outdoor spaces in our care. Not only do our supporters help to conserve beautiful landscapes and protect precious plants and wildlife. But they also ensure that future generations have places they can find freedom from everyday life, reconnect with the natural world and make memories to treasure. Your donation will go towards this project and other vital conservation work in the outdoors at this special place. With your support, we can continue to protect the irreplaceable. For everyone, for ever.

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