For Cheshire Wildlife Trust, the day serves as a timely reminder that wildlife can only thrive when it has the right places to live.
Across the UK, habitats have been lost and fragmented on a significant scale, with Cheshire among the counties most affected by historic habitat loss. As natural spaces continue to disappear, many of the species that depend on them are facing an uncertain future.
In Cheshire's Peak District, birds such as curlew, lapwing and golden plover are becoming increasingly scarce. Once a familiar sight across the landscape, these iconic species have experienced significant declines as the habitats they rely on for feeding, nesting and breeding have been lost, degraded or broken up.
To help reverse these declines, Cheshire Wildlife Trust is working to create, restore and connect habitats across the county. As part of this effort, they launched their biggest-ever fundraising appeal earlier this summer, aiming to raise £250,000 to purchase a new nature reserve, Fox Hill
Fox Hill is a 58-acre site in Cheshire's Peak District, located in the heart of the Todd Brook Valley. The land sits alongside the Trust's Aldred's Lea Nature Reserve and just 300 metres from Greenbooth Nature Reserve. The purchase would bring a total of 118 acres of connected land under Cheshire Wildlife Trust's care, creating a larger, more joined-up landscape for wildlife.
Fox Hill contains a rich mosaic of habitats, including upland grazing pasture, species-rich grassland, wetland alongside Todd Brook and low-density woodland. Among its natural features are mature hawthorn trees that were first recorded on the site more than 150 years ago.
These diverse habitats provide food, shelter and breeding opportunities for a wide range of wildlife. By safeguarding and restoring Fox Hill, Cheshire Wildlife Trust hopes to create a more connected and resilient landscape, helping nature recover and ensuring threatened species have the space they need to thrive for generations to come.
Kat Wade, Fundraising Manager says:
“I’ve visited Fox Hill a number of times now, and it’s got huge potential for wildlife. It’s so important that we protect and restore these vital habitats where struggling species can move across the landscape to feed, nest and breed. To be able to build on our existing work in Cheshire’s Peak District and protect even more space for nature for generations to come, is an unmissable opportunity.
“We’ve had an incredible response to our appeal so far, but we still need help to reach our target. Every species needs somewhere to call home. Every donation helps safeguard this special place.”
To donate to the Fox Hill appeal, you can do so here.