A gift for a precious habitat
Heathland in bloom is a spectacular sight: a sea of purple and yellow. Joan Mary Buttfield wanted to do something for this beautiful and threatened habitat. That’s why she decided to leave a legacy to the RSPB. We work to protect existing heathland and we are restoring it at many of our nature reserves across the UK.
Our heathland nature reserves are home to some of Britain’s rarest and most exciting wildlife, from smooth snakes to Dartford warblers. It is a precious habitat, as it’s rich in wildlife, and extremely rare. Already, 85% of the UK’s heathland has been lost, and we are doing everything we can to protect this habitat for the wildlife that relies on it.
That’s why we’re so grateful to people like Joan Mary Buttfield, who loved heathland and wanted to protect it. We used Joan’s legacy to extend our nature reserve at Arne, in Dorset. It is now one of the best places to see heathland in the UK.
Joan’s legacy means we have moved one step closer to restoring Britain’s lost heathland. Joan’s gift to the RSPB helped to restore a precious habitat and its wildlife, which she loved.
Stepping up for Nature
The RSPB's Stepping Up For Nature is our way of helping. It's your way of helping. There are simple actions each of us can take, which, when we act together, will combine to make significant changes for wildlife.