‘WILL YOU BE A LIVING LEGEND?’
ASKS WORLD LAND TRUST
September 2014: Every day, people are doing legendary things for good causes. Donors to Suffolk based conservation charity World Land Trust (WLT) are no exception.
WLT’s supporters have attempted a range of extraordinary activities to raise valuable funds for conservation. Space-hopping the length of a Cornish beach (Roger Auster), running a half marathon dressed as Elvis (Dave Scott) or completing 1,000 push ups in two hours (Steve Ware) – these are achievements beyond the reach of most of us!
Particularly amazing are the efforts of older people, who sky dive, climb mountains and run marathons to raise funds for charity. During Remember a Charity in your Will Week (8-14 September 2014), we celebrate older people who support charitable causes – they are our living legends.
But, being a living legend doesn’t mean you have to throw yourself out of an aeroplane or hike to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro. Leaving a legacy to charity is an equally legendary act, and those people who support WLT with a charitable bequest are helping the Trust’s work – and their own memory – live on.
Here in East Anglia we are very grateful to two of WLT’s living legends – local supporters who have named the Trust in their will.
Richard Porter is a WLT Council member. He lives in North Norfolk and his career has been dedicated to conservation, having worked for the RSPB for many years. Author of Birds of the Middle East, he advises BirdLife International on their Middle East programme and he is also adviser to Nature Iraq on its conservation projects.
Richard has named WLT in his will. He told us: “RSPB and National Trust membership tells us that over two million people on Britain care for our heritage and our wildlife. I suspect many do worldwide. If each left just £1,000 – not so much these days – in their will to conservation how much more could we do? I rest my case. I have left a legacy to four conservation organisations, including the World Land Trust, of which I am proud to be a Council member.”
Bernard Segrave-Daly is another active, local supporter of WLT who will be leaving the Trust a gift in his will. A former director of Adnams Southwold, Bernard is an energetic volunteer on conservation projects supported by WLT.
Bernard and his wife Oonagh live in rural Suffolk but have a passion for Patagonia’s great open spaces, the stars at night and the wildlife that survives in this rugged terrain. Now in his 70s, Bernard says: “We discovered Patagonia through World Land Trust which funded the purchase of Estancia la Esperanza (Ranch of Hope) nearly 15 years ago, and we have been regular visitors since 2001. There is nothing we love more than volunteering on the reserve – it is an important part of our lives and we will ensure that our legacy will live on.”
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Will you be a living legend?
WLT is fortunate to have one of the world’s most famous living legends as our Patron, Sir David Attenborough.
Sir David has spoken about the value of donating to the Trust: “The fate of the creatures which share out planet lies entirely at the hand of mankind – it is within our power to protect them or watch them become extinct. Let us choose the first route. In terms of saving ecosystems for wildlife I know of no better charity to support than World Land Trust.”
Remember, within our lifetime we all have the power to make a difference to the wild world. Every legacy received by WLT, whether large or small, will help safeguard the world’s remaining wilderness areas in perpetuity.
If you are thinking about leaving a donation to WLT in your will, or would like more information, please contact John Burton, WLT Chief Executive, by phone (01986) 874422 or by email ([email protected]). Or you can write to him at WLT, Blyth House, Bridge Street, Halesworth IP19 8AB.
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International charity World Land Trust (WLT) was formed in 1989 to acquire threatened land of high biodiversity value for the purposes of nature conservation. WLT’s Patrons are Sir David Attenborough, David Gower and Chris Packham. (Registered charity 1001291.)
Remember a Charity (RaC) was formed in 2000 and now works with more than 140 of the UK’s favourite charities with the aim of making legacy giving a social norm. Remember a Charity in your Will Week runs from 8-14 September 2014.
To find out more about Lowestoft College ring 0800 854695
