The Naturesave Trust

08/10/2026

There are lots of brilliant environmental projects looking for funding. So what makes one stand out?

Wild Pets brings together several things we really value at the Naturesave Trust: practical conservation, young people, local action and an idea with the potential to grow.

Wild Pets was created by two young Devon conservationists, Eva and Emily, who have already spent years breeding harvest mice and working towards their return to the wild. Their first release of hundreds of captive-bred mice has already shown promising results, with the mice surviving and breeding at the release site.

But what really caught our attention was what they wanted to do next.
Rather than keeping the project as their own experiment, they want to bring other young people into conservation.

The new Wild Pets programme will recruit 20 children aged 8–13 from Devon, giving them training, equipment and a pair of harvest mice to care for and breed at home. The aim is to collectively raise around 250 mice for release into the wild in 2027.

And that's important because these children aren't simply learning about biodiversity, they are becoming part of the solution.
🌱 They're caring for a threatened native species
🐭 They're contributing directly to species recovery
🧒 They're developing practical knowledge and responsibility
💚 They're building a relationship with the natural world that could last a lifetime

We also love the fact that the project starts small and achievable but has much bigger ambitions. The Wild Pets team hopes that the model could eventually involve other native species too, creating a much wider network of young conservationists.

We're really pleased to be supporting Wild Pets. And honestly… we're rather looking forward to seeing what 250 tiny harvest mice can do. 🐭🌿

Find out more about the project and how to get involved: https://wild-pets.org/

📷 Karen Robinson

25/09/2026

Well it has been a record breaking couple of years for the Trust, which has meant we have been super busy with admin but we wanted to pop on here with a story from one of the projects we funded this year.

The One Ocean Roadshow, run by the Marine Conservation Society, has spent the past year bringing ocean learning to communities across northern England - including many who don't live anywhere near the coast. Thanks to funding from the Trust, thousands of people from Manchester, Leeds, Bradford and Liverpool have had the chance to visit the sea, take part in beach cleans, learn about marine wildlife and connect with the ocean, many for the very first time.

It's a brilliant reminder of what your support - and the funding we're able to give out - makes possible.

Read the full story here: https://www.mcsuk.org/news/article/five-ways-connecting-inland-communities-with-sea/

From the rivers that flow through our towns and cities to the litter dropped on our streets, our everyday actions can have an impact on the sea. Yet for many people living inland, opportunities to experience and learn about the ocean can be limited. 

08/05/2026

🌱 Our May funding window is open!

Over the past year, we’ve seen a huge increase in applications, which is both encouraging and a reflection of how challenging the funding landscape has become.

To help create a clearer fit and give applicants a stronger chance of success, we’re taking a slightly different approach this round 👇

Theme: Creative Action for Nature: (Devon)

We’re looking to support projects in Devon that use creative approaches to engage and inspire young people to connect with environmental issues and take action.

From art and storytelling to film, workshops and community projects, we’re interested in ideas that build connection, spark curiosity and create real impact.

If you’re working at the intersection of creativity, young people and the environment, we’d love to hear from you.

🗓 Deadline: 12 noon, 26th June 2026
📎 Apply here: https://www.naturesave.co.uk/naturesave-trust/apply-to-the-naturesave-trust/

23/04/2026

The Naturesave Trust team met for our AGM at the beautiful Dartington Hall this week, which made a change from our usual online sessions! We are lucky to have District Councillor Georgina Allen on our Board of Trustees, who gave us a tour around the estate. The bar has been set very high for the next AGM!