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East Riding Council Praises Yorkshire Wildlife Trust As Charity Celebrates Eightieth Anniversary

East Riding Council has expressed its sincere appreciation for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust as the conservation charity prepares to mark its eightieth anniversary with a series of special events this May.

East Riding Council has praised the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust for its eight decades of dedication to the local environment as the charity prepares to celebrate its eightieth anniversary.

The conservation charity was founded in 1946 by chocolatiers and naturalists Sir Francis Terry and Arnold Rowntree to look after the Askham Bog nature reserve. Over the last eighty years, the organisation has flourished from a tiny office into a major environmental force with nearly two hundred staff. Today, the Trust is supported by over a thousand volunteers and forty-four thousand members, with its work ranging from managing nature reserves to peatland restoration and marine monitoring.

To mark the milestone, the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust is hosting a variety of celebration events taking place in May across the region. At the Spurn Point National Nature Reserve, a special eightieth birthday party will be held on the second of May. The charity has announced that the first eighty visitors to the Spurn cafe on that day will be treated to a special surprise.

Other events planned for early May include opportunities to visit some of the region's most wildlife-friendly open gardens, as well as member-exclusive wild rambles at various nature reserves.

The Trust is also launching the Wildlife Heroes Awards to shine a light on the people making a real difference for local wildlife. The awards will honour individuals, groups, businesses, and communities whose actions are helping nature to thrive across the region.

East Riding Council has taken the opportunity to highlight the vital work the Trust does for the local area. Councillor Paul West, Cabinet member for the Environment, expressed his gratitude for the charity's long-standing commitment to the region's natural landscapes.

Councillor Paul West said:

"In the East Riding the Trust's conservation work plays a vital role across some of our most significant landscapes, from the River Hull and the Yorkshire Wolds to our much valued coastline.

They manage many of our key natural reserves, including internationally important coastal sites at Spurn and Flamborough Cliffs, as well as the thriving North Cave Wetlands.

These, along with many reserves, are essential in protecting biodiversity and providing opportunities for residents and visitors to connect with nature."

The need for action to save, protect, and restore wildlife is considered more urgent than ever. The Trust notes that nearly one in five species in the region have declined by more than twenty-five percent in the last thirty years, including water voles, swifts, and red squirrels.

In response to these challenges, the charity continues to work closely with local authorities and agricultural workers to ensure the natural environment is protected.

He added:

"The Trust's work with landowners is vitally important to helping to encourage nature-positive farming across a county where agriculture plays such a significant role in our local economy and in supporting the UK's food security.

As the Trust celebrates its 80th anniversary, we offer our sincere thanks for their dedication, expertise and long-standing commitment to the East Riding's natural environment.

We look forward to continuing our work together to protect and enhance our extraordinary natural heritage for generations to come."

As the charity enters its next chapter, it continues to campaign and hold power to account in decisions that affect wild places, ensuring that the voice of local wildlife is heard for generations to come.

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