VWTImpactReport28Oct2025PT - Flipbook - Page 2
Imagine a future where Britain and Ireland’s
native wild mammals are not just surviving,
but thriving, living in landscapes that are vibrant,
rich in wildlife, and valued by local communities.
In the face of today’s ecological crisis, this vision
might seem distant, even out of reach. But the work
of Vincent Wildlife Trust (VWT) over the past 50 years
shows that such a future is within reach. We have
demonstrated that, when given the chance,
conservation works.
For half a century, VWT has been at the forefront of e昀昀orts
to recover some of our most threatened and iconic mammal
species — otters, horseshoe bats and pine martens —
each a vital part of our shared natural heritage.
Thanks to the foresight of our founder, the Honourable John Vincent Weir,
and the generosity of our supporters, our impact has consistently
exceeded our size — and while nature faces unprecedented threats,
the species we work with are bucking the downward trend.
With this report, we are celebrating 50 years of conservation impact
and, more importantly, we set out our ambitions for the next 50 years.
The coming decades demand bold conservation action at a transformational
scale to secure the recovery and long-term resilience of our wild mammals.
We are building on strong foundations and we are ready to rise
to that challenge.
We invite all who share our vision to join us.
Professor Robbie McDonald — Chair of VWT’s Board of Trustees
Contents
P3 Chapter 1 Making an impact together for threatened mammals
P6 The cost of conservation
P7 Chapter 2 Fifty impacts
P11 Conservation innovations
P12 Chapter 3 Otters and water voles
P14 Chapter 4 Horseshoe bats in buildings
P16 Chapter 5 Horseshoes Heading East
P18 Chapter 6 Pine marten population recovery
P20 Chapter 7 Polecats and Irish stoats
P22 Chapter 8 People
P24 Chapter 9 Barbastelles and Bechstein’s bats
P26 Philanthropy and legacy
P27 Acknowledgements
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Vincent Wildlife Trust 50 Years Impact Report 2025
©Jason Hornblow
Foreword
