VWTImpactReport28Oct2025PT - Flipbook - Page 5
Why does this matter?
The future habitability of our planet depends on our efforts
to protect and restore nature. We are threatening our way
of life, and ultimately our existence through the ongoing
destruction and degradation of ecosystems, wild species
and natural processes.
“
Without VWT… there are crucial
mammal conservation issues that
would not have been addressed fully,
e昀昀ectively or swiftly enough.
Dr Johnny Birks, Retired Director of Swift
Ecology. Ex-Chair of Mammal Society and
former VWT sta昀昀 member.
More locally, wild mammals are interwoven in the history,
culture and communities of Britain and Ireland. They are found
in place names, stories and literature. When seen in the wild,
they thrill and excite people. They are part of our lives and a
vital component of our cultural as well as our natural heritage.
We can change this together
Vincent Weir’s visionary support and long-term funding for
VWT’s work on bats and mustelids demonstrates the impact
of sustained funding in addressing issues too complex to 昀椀x in
the short term. His vision, quiet determination and 昀椀nancial
generosity kept the Trust 昀椀nancially secure and 昀氀eet of foot,
allowing VWT to plan conservation in perpetuity over
necessarily long time frames.
©Andrew McCarthy
We’ve shown that transformational change is possible and
that we can deliver conservation with longevity and long-term
impact. But we need your help to scale up our impact for
threatened mammals and achieve that vision for the future.
Supporters can be secure in the knowledge that investment
in scaling up conservation of threatened mammals has
longevity and long-term impact.
Vincent’s endowment means that VWT’s basic running costs
are covered, long-term programmes such as bat roosts and
populations can be managed in perpetuity, and VWT can plan
for long-term, impactful conservation programmes at scale.
This means donations can be spent directly on achieving
conservation impact.
Major
Donations
7%
How VWT’s funding model and donations
helped conservation — Lodsworth Sussex Bat Appeal 2021-2023
• Working with Sussex Bat Group, VWT launched
The Sussex Bat Appeal in 2021 for the purchase
and repair of a signi昀椀cant greater horseshoe bat
roost in West Sussex (see Chapter 5).
Individual
Donations
Donations
from
Organisations
• Our wonderful donors contributed a generous
57% of the total £411k needed (see pie chart)
to purchase the building, safeguard it from
development, and repair it so that we could
enable the recovery of greater horseshoe bats
in southeast England.
• Due to VWT’s unique funding model, the Trust
was able to underwrite the project, and contribute
23% of the cost itself. By partnering with VWT, funders
and donors can be part of scaling up impact for a positive
future for threatened species.
31%
19%
Sussex
Bat Appeal
2021-2023
Grants
VWT
20%
23%
Vincent Wildlife Trust 50 Years Impact Report 2025
5
