This Christmas, Dorset Wildlife Trust are offering a selection of eco-friendly gifts which don’t include excessive packaging or plastic while directly supporting conservation efforts to help Dorset’s wildlife thrive. From digital adoptions and Christmas e-cards to gift memberships and nature courses, wild gifts are perfect for anyone who cares about nature and the environment.
A choice of digital adoptions includes hedgehog, beaver, red squirrel, seahorse, and barn owl. With no physical packaging and a minimal carbon footprint, digital adoptions bring the assurance that all the profits go towards making a real difference to wildlife in need. New this year is the hedgehog adoption. Once a common sight in Dorset’s gardens, hedgehogs have seen a sharp decline. Hedgehog adoptions support the work to promote wildlife-friendly gardening across Dorset and the preservation of vital hedgerows on our nature reserves, creating safe habitats where hedgehogs can thrive.
For those passionate about red squirrels, the funds from these adoptions will contribute towards maintaining the habitat for red squirrels on Brownsea Island, while proceeds from barn owl adoptions will contribute to conservation work on nature reserves including Lorton Meadows, where a popular barn owl webcam has kept track of barn owls nesting, breeding, and fledging for several years. Dorset is home to two species of seahorse, and seahorse adoptions will support the incredible work of the Dorset Marine Conservation Fund to help protect our coastal ecosystems and marine wildlife.
Laura McLellan, Dorset Wildlife Trust’s Head of Individual Giving, explains:
“With 1 in 40 species previously present in Dorset now extinct, according to the last State of Nature report, it’s more important than ever to protect our local wildlife. All the proceeds from adoptions, e-cards, courses, gift memberships, and commemorative plaques support Dorset Wildlife Trust’s conservation work to enhance and extend habitats for both common and rare species. Wild gifts also provide a meaningful way to connect with loved ones over a shared love of wildlife, which is so important. We need to come together to tackle the ecological and climate crises facing us and Dorset’s wildlife.”
More wild gift options include a Dorset Wildlife Trust gift membership for friends and family encouraging them to explore and connect with nature or remembering a loved one with a commemorative plaque on the Brownsea Memory tree. Wildlife-themed courses such as fungi foraging or bird identification at Kingcombe Visitor Centre also make unique, thoughtful gifts. And sending e-cards this year would reduce waste – and the cost of stamps! – whilst supporting conservation.
For those who prefer to shop in person, the Wild Chesil Centre at Portland offers a delightful shopping experience with a great range of wildlife-themed gifts in the shop plus delicious refreshments at the Salt Pig cafe. Open daily (from 10am – 4pm) except on Christmas and Boxing Day.
Explore the range of eco-friendly wild gifts, at dorsetwildlifetrust.org.uk/shop
Photo: Red squirrel eating nuts, Brownsea Island Zoe Allen
