Stephen Fry has released a short film lending his support for The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 by 30, a public appeal to raise £30 million to start putting nature into recovery across at least 30% of land and sea by 2030.

The film is released on Giving Tuesday and asks people to “repay” nature for all the support its given people in tough times.

In the film for The Wildlife Trusts, Stephen Fry says:

“In my lifetime we’ve seen a catastrophic decline in our wildlife. Species are in danger of disappearing altogether and we’ve taken nature for granted for too long. Something big needs to happen to change this. I relish bold action and The Wildlife Trusts’ 30 by 30 ambition is the most audacious and courageous I’ve seen in a very long time.

“Simply put, by allowing nature to recover by protecting 30% of land and sea we'll see the natural world transform. It’s our best hope of turning the tide to make sure we have a thriving natural world to pass on to the next generation. Nature has been there for us all when we’ve needed it the most. Now is the time to repay it ourselves.”

Funds raised by The Wildlife Trusts’ new 30 by 30 appeal will go towards nature recovery projects that will put new land aside for nature as well as repair and link-up existing, fragmented, wild areas to enable wildlife to move around. The aim is to bring nature back to the places where people live.

The Wildlife Trusts are a movement of 46 charities with vast experience of restoring nature in every part of the UK. They care for more nature reserves than there are McDonald’s restaurants – 1,000 more – and their 30 by 30 ambition will help to establish a nature recovery network of interlinked wild land across the country.

People can donate to 30 by 30 at wildlifetrusts.org

Other well-known supporters to have backed The Wildlife Trusts’ vision include Liz Bonnin, Richard Walker and Alison Steadman.