Hills gives half a million to wildlife projects

Wildlife projects and areas of biodiversity in Wiltshire have received a £500,000 grant from Marlborough-based Hills Group Limited.

The money has been granted to Wiltshire Wildlife Trust by Hills from funds available through the Landfill Communities Fund (LCF).

Mike Hill, chief executive of Hills Group, said: “We are long-term supporters of the Trust and have made this contribution to mark the occasion of their 50th anniversary. The funding will ensure that wildlife habitats are created and protected for future generations to enjoy.
 
“As a company we care about the locations that give us our living and do our best to give something back. It is a strong principle of ours and one which has benefited all communities in Wiltshire for a number of years.”
 
Gary Mantle, Wiltshire Wildlife Trust Director explained: “We have set ourselves a target of raising £1m in our 50th Anniversary year so we can keep protecting Wiltshire’s precious wildlife and help communities enjoy their local reserves. We have challenged our members and supporters to raise £500,000 and we are absolutely thrilled that Hills have agreed to match this with their £500,000.
 
“We will spend the Hills money at our reserves across the county, which include some of the best wildlife habitats in Wiltshire. For example, at Blakehill Farm we will reseed the meadows with green hay to increase the number of wildflowers and at Ravensroost Wood we can now install dormouse boxes.

“In the wood at Cloately Meadows we will start coppicing to provide the right conditions for butterflies to thrive and at Markham Banks a new bridge means we can use ponies and sheep to graze our meadows.
 
“And it’s not just wildlife that will benefit. At our Lower Moor and Langford Lakes Nature Reserves we will be improving our visitor facilities to make sure local people can easily access and explore their local reserves.
 
“Hills generosity inspires us to achieve more and more for Wiltshire’s wildlife and communities and we are extremely grateful for their continued support and encouragement” said Gary.
 
Since 1996 the Hills Group has contributed more than £5.3m to the Trust through LCF to support the conservation of biodiversity and the provision of public amenities in the region.