The UK is facing a nature crisis and many of our most-loved species are becoming harder to spot due to habitat loss. That's where we come in. With help from our partners, WWF, we're making the unseen seen.
WHAT ARE OLD MOUT DOING TO HELP?
As New Zealanders we’re inspired by nature, so we want to look after it. That’s why we’ve partnered with WWF to help protect species from extinction and restore nature. We're in our 5th year of partnership with WWF with donations to WWF totalling £1 million! We're determined to see populations flourish once again so that our quirky animal friends have safer places to live.
Meet a few of our UK animal friends here…
Bees
Small but mighty winged workers
Bees
The UK is home to 270 species of bees! Each one plays a special role in keeping our meadows, woodlands, heathlands and hedgerows alive as bees are part of the backbone of our wild isles.
Globally, around a third of our crops are pollinated by insects, so we need farming and bees to be able to work together. If we lose bees, we will lose the possibility of a wilder future. They may be small, but they are critical for nature, food systems and our own survival.
We need to restore wild areas and plant more wildflowers. We need to support our farmers to produce food in a nature-friendly way and reduce the use of harmful pesticides. And we need to continue to fight for a stable climate.
Hedgehogs
Hedgerow hibernator
Hedgehogs
Historically, the hedgehog has been common in parks, gardens and farmland throughout mainland Britain and Ireland. They prefer woodland edges, hedgerows and suburban habitats where there is plenty of food for them!
They begin hibernating in November and end around Easter, but this is much affected by the weather. Hedgehogs normally wake up several times throughout winter and often build a new nest. In the spring they might spend a few days active then enter hibernation again during a cold snap.
Sadly, hedgehogs are declining nationally, with up to a 70% decline in rural areas. The biggest threat is thought to be habitat loss. There are threats caused by the change from pastoral farming to arable crops, increasing field size, the use of chemicals in gardens and intensive farming which kills the creatures hedgehogs need for food and may also poison them directly. If we can support more nature-friendly ways of living, this will be a huge help in protecting our hedgehogs.
Puffins
Clown-like seabirds on the brink
Puffins
Puffins are a much-loved bird, but their UK population is predicted to nosedive by up to 90% in the next 30 years.
They spend most of their lives out at sea, where they feed by diving for fish. Every spring the UK welcomes the puffins as they reunite with their lifelong mate and lay one precious egg. They work together over the next six weeks to keep their egg warm.
When the chick, or ‘puffling’, first emerges from its egg, it weighs only 40g – less than two AA batteries. Six weeks later it weighs about 320g. That kind of weight gain requires a lot of food.
If the climate crisis goes unchecked, and puffins can’t find food for their chicks, they could decline by up to 90% by 2050. Working to reverse the climate crisis is so important if we want to protect our oceans and the amazing wildlife that call them home.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
If you think this is a cause that you’d like to get involved with, why not join us in the fight for your world with WWF? There are so many different ways, both big and small, in which you can help to ensure more species and spaces are able to thrive – visit wwf.org.uk to find out how you can make an impact.
Established in NZ. Made in the UK.
